First off....tip of the hat to
@JELG ... DAMN fine build!
I went a different direction with mine. I love the sound of a loping carburated SBC with retarded timing. So I went the classic generation 1 route. (read as: i couldn't afford the LS1 route, lmao!!)....we all tell ourselves the things we need to hear to be whole, lol....
Long story short, I bought the car from a gentleman in Ohio, swap complete, with a 700R4 automatic transmission. It was better done than my own 302 conversion, but that transmission was God aweful. I drove the car hard for several years, hoping something would break, and eventually, I blew the rear main seal....the transmission wasn't too far from boat anchor status either.
Ripped the whole damn thing out
I was going to do a 383 stroker conversion, brand new rotating assembly and all, but then the machinist called and told me the block had already been flat decked once.....and repaired. So...instead I just rebuilt the motor with new consumables, threw in a modest cam, some Sanderson headers, and 2" true dual exhaust. I figured the car wouldn't make put down enough torque to worry about, so I ditched the old 700R4 (FINALLY) and swapped in a World Class T5-speed from an '89 fire bird.
which...presented an interesting predicament. I now know why people are more apt to recommend a T5 from a ford, or an S10...seems GM had to install this gear boxes at 17 degrees counter clockwise to get it to fit right in the fire bird or camaro. mmMmmmm....I guess I didn't feel like fighting the output shaft spleen count, lol....a little heat and persuasion rectified the issue pretty well, imo!
Had to get a little creative with the steering to accommodate the steering shaft.
@JELG, again, tip of the hat to you! Your solution was pretty elegant! I don't weld so good though...so....i went with a nylon heim joint and an extra U-joint. So far so good! (Probably by virtue of the quick steer roll correction I've got at the tie rods....)
Soon after the rebuild...i took the car out to see what she could do. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't expecting a speed demon (and I don't think I have one) but I'll tell you this: You drive a car for several years, as is, and certain things escape your notice. Like the amount of friction the radiator brackets provide to keep it in place. Up until that damn 700R4 came out, I was never able to get the car past 4700 RPM. Manual tranny...different ball game! The flex fan I had on the nose of this motor got to spinning fast, quickly enough to have pulled the radiator right into....
New radiator and electric fan installed....
The motor (finished, but before radiator.
lots of suspension and brake work done to the vehicle too...
A couple "just for the hell of it projects"
Radar detector rear view mirror:
New retro radio install...
Before:
After:
The REAL unit:
plus all kinds of speakers, amps, subs, etc, etc....
That's it really....I think i'm done for a while. I just kind of want to drive the car and enjoy it for a while!