Another day at the shop.

[bonesfab]

Is that a 73 with a like 87 front end? I always thought that was the best look on those trucks.

The black one is a 74 with a 88-91 nose on it. The white one is a 73.

 

[bonesfab]

I'd like to go see your operation sometime. You have some pretty cool shit running around that shop man.

I am here 6-7 days a week. I don't have a wife or a life.

 

[Bugginout]

Oh I forgot 74 was still full top. For some reason I thought the cut off was 73.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Well it is alive and made it out of the shop under its own power. I present Mullet to the inmates. 1987 Camaro Z28 that had been sitting in a backyard for 15 plus years. My neighbor found it and turned me on to it. 500.00 initial investment. Got a ls1/4l60e out of the ex girlfriends crashed Firebird (pretty much free) and had a shop kid over the summer so most of the grunt work. Going for the ref approval and bar label on it. Did the Vintage air up grand and the Dakota dash also. Holley makes the mounts, trans crossmember and exhaust kit for it. Mainly weekends from me and we have it running. All new brakes. New adjustable Kyb shocks and struts and a set Eibach lowering springs. They are real 3 piece BBS wheels that were acquired in a package of crap. Going to make it a bitchen driver and it should get 25-30 mpg on the freeway. View attachment 1280608 View attachment 1280609 View attachment 1280610 View attachment 1280611 View attachment 1280612

That came out great

 

[bonesfab]

That came out great

Thank you. Its pretty fun to drive. Got all the monitors to set and have the first referee appointment tomorrow morning. Hopefully they are cool with the air intake.

 

[bonesfab]

Oh I forgot 74 was still full top. For some reason I thought the cut off was 73.

75 was the last year for full hardtop.

 

[Bugginout]

75 was the last year for full hardtop.

Guess I'm slipping like a bad transmission at any rate I always like the way the newer front end looked on those trucks.

 

[coolchange]

Ya but the 67(?) with the daisies and the throw back Boyd green is money.

 

[bonesfab]

Guess I'm slipping like a bad transmission at any rate I always like the way the newer front end looked on those trucks.

I like it too. Thats why I have it on two of my other trucks.

 

[bonesfab]

So shop girl was doing video while I was taking pics. She did pretty good for just playing around with it.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Thank you. Its pretty fun to drive. Got all the monitors to set and have the first referee appointment tomorrow morning. Hopefully they are cool with the air intake.

Good luck!

I am still looking for a decent hardtop 3rd gen.. Between Square S10s and s10 Blazers and a 3rd gen, the first one I find that I like I will pull the trigger.

 

[RIVERMANBEN]

So shop girl was doing video while I was taking pics. She did pretty good for just playing around with it.

I like the fact that all three of them are super charged.

 

[82daytona]

So shop girl was doing video while I was taking pics. She did pretty good for just playing around with it.

Did she use a flip phone for the video?

 

[bonesfab]

Did she use a flip phone for the video?

In instagram mode. They don't like the wide videos.

 

[bonesfab]

So working on the 69 chevelle. The 9” showed up from quick performance that is 2” narrower per side to get the wheels to fit better. Built some new lower coil over mounts for it as the Ridetech ones didn’t work with the 9”. Mostly wired. I have most of the parts now just need more time. But the stance is spot on.

 

[Bugginout]

So working on the 69 chevelle. The 9” showed up from quick performance that is 2” narrower per side to get the wheels to fit better. Built some new lower coil over mounts for it as the Ridetech ones didn’t work with the 9”. Mostly wired. I have most of the parts now just need more time. But the stance is spot on. View attachment 1297971 View attachment 1297972 View attachment 1297973 View attachment 1297974

You have a really nice shop man. The car is turning out really nice. That wire caddy would make my life so much easier wiring my car!

 

[Bugginout]

You guys do your own body work? @bonesfab

 

[Rajobigguy]

So working on the 69 chevelle. The 9” showed up from quick performance that is 2” narrower per side to get the wheels to fit better. Built some new lower coil over mounts for it as the Ridetech ones didn’t work with the 9”. Mostly wired. I have most of the parts now just need more time. But the stance is spot on. View attachment 1297971 View attachment 1297972 View attachment 1297973 View attachment 1297974

If that were my project I would get it to about that point then move on to something else.

 

[bonesfab]

You have a really nice shop man. The car is turning out really nice. That wire caddy would make my life so much easier wiring my car!

Anybody that has done wiring sees that cart and shits themselves. It has everything and then some to wire just about anything automotive. I build my own Efi harnesses from scratch and have all the pins and connectors. Relays, circuit breakers, weather pack connectors and all the other shit. Wire from 1/0 to 22 gauge.

 

[bonesfab]

You guys do your own body work? @bonesfab

I have my own body shop. It is a separate unit across the parking lot. Mainly hot rods and old cars. No collision work.

 

[bonesfab]

If that were my project I would get it to about that point then move on to something else.

I will get it running and driving and it will go to vortech superchargers for a bit and give me a break from it. I am also doing the air bags on my caddy at the house for added misery.

 

[bonesfab]

First time on the ground. Need to do airlines and wiring now

 

[Bugginout]

I have my own body shop. It is a separate unit across the parking lot. Mainly hot rods and old cars. No collision work.

I need to get the Nova painted when I get done putting it together. This is the color that I am planning on.

 

[Bugginout]

Anybody that has done wiring sees that cart and shits themselves. It has everything and then some to wire just about anything automotive. I build my own Efi harnesses from scratch and have all the pins and connectors. Relays, circuit breakers, weather pack connectors and all the other shit. Wire from 1/0 to 22 gauge.

It's the first thing I noticed.

 

[Bugginout]

Not sure if that's something you are interested in when the time comes. Been trying to locate someone to do it. There really isn't anyone in the desert I know of that I feel comfortable leaving my car with. It's a big deal to me to leave my car for an extended period with someone. I have so much invested in this car not just monetarily but sweat equity. I am sure that you could understand the feeling.

 

[rrrr]

So working on the 69 chevelle. The 9” showed up from quick performance that is 2” narrower per side to get the wheels to fit better. Built some new lower coil over mounts for it as the Ridetech ones didn’t work with the 9”. Mostly wired. I have most of the parts now just need more time. But the stance is spot on. View attachment 1297973

Uh, is that an LS swap?

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

View attachment 1298057 View attachment 1298058 View attachment 1298059
First time on the ground. Need to do airlines and wiring now

Ohhhh baby... is that a '68 I see in that grill? My dads first Cadi I could drive out on the farm when I was 10. Beast mode... and of course following. First car with a true stereo sound system. Following always ....

 

[bonesfab]

Uh, is that an LS swap?

Not this one.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Not this one.

thank god

 

[bonesfab]

thank god

Someone obviously doesn’t like cheap horsepower.

 

[bonesfab]

Uh, is that an LS swap?

No but the caddie might get one.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Someone obviously doesn’t like cheap horsepower.

Somebody is tired of seeing LSs in absolutely everything. Somebody believes in actually trying to preserve the soul of a vehicle.

 

[Bugginout]

I will probably never run an ls for a number of reasons. First and foremost it's the ls fan boys and the only answer is an ls swap. I have friends running them but they don't actually build and tune their own shit. I'm a dinosaur and don't know anything about tuning turbos and have a hard time with the paradigm shift. If I try and learn something new it will probably be switching to pro charger.

 

[n2otoofast4u]

I will probably never run an ls for a number of reasons. First and foremost it's the ls fan boys and the only answer is an ls swap. I have friends running them but they don't actually build and tune their own shit. I'm a dinosaur and don't know anything about tuning turbos and have a hard time with the paradigm shift. If I try and learn something new it will probably be switching to pro charger.

You don’t need to know how to tune. A laptop, a WiFi connection, and guy 3 time zones away who knows how to tune. The drive ability and reliability is unbelievable. That said, I’m excited to see more and more Coyote and Godzilla platform swaps as the LS deal is becoming boring.

 

[Rajobigguy]

Somebody is tired of seeing LSs in absolutely everything. Somebody believes in actually trying to preserve the soul of a vehicle.

I will probably never run an ls for a number of reasons. First and foremost it's the ls fan boys and the only answer is an ls swap. I have friends running them but they don't actually build and tune their own shit. I'm a dinosaur and don't know anything about tuning turbos and have a hard time with the paradigm shift. If I try and learn something new it will probably be switching to pro charger.

I'm like you guys. I'm so tired of the the whole LS cult following. It was interesting when the trend first started but this new religious obsession has really grown old. There are so many other interesting engines from times past. It's got to the point that these swaps are no longer custom builds, they are the Bayliners of the automotive world.

 

[Bugginout]

I'm not in any way dogging the ls platform. It makes big power and is relatively inexpensive if you do a junkyard type build. I use inexpensive loosely the heads are a great design etc etc. Fox body and an ls twin turbo and you are off to the races But there are a lot of ways to make power. BBC, SBC, coyote etc. I feel like running an LS would be like cheating on my wife something I would never do! I couldn't go blue oval for drag racing for anything in the world. Not dogging ford's because some of the platforms are solid and people make big power. Sorry for the thread jack @bonesfab

 

[SBMech]

So working on the 69 chevelle. The 9” showed up from quick performance that is 2” narrower per side to get the wheels to fit better. Built some new lower coil over mounts for it as the Ridetech ones didn’t work with the 9”. Mostly wired. I have most of the parts now just need more time. But the stance is spot on. View attachment 1297971 View attachment 1297972 View attachment 1297973 View attachment 1297974

Is that a custom Intake? Looks like a modified Torquer II Scorpion , I have a SBC version of it.

Bitchin to mod it for Port Fuel Injection!

Looks like a 68 Coupe DeVille? Is it a convertible? Hilarious if so, my buddy has a 68 CDV Vert Ocean Blue White/White interior and top.

68's a rare bird, they only made 600 or so convertibles that year, only a few were that color combo.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Somebody is tired of seeing LSs in absolutely everything. Somebody believes in actually trying to preserve the soul of a vehicle.

This is where it is nice to start with something "dead". Resurrect a body, save it from the scrap pile...keep an old car from being recycled into a Honda. Traditional hot rodding was about going as fast as possible with whatever you had available.

In 1956, my old boss bought a new for Victoria. Drove it home and pulled the Y-Block. He went to Selman Chevrolet, and bought a brand new Cadillac motor a stuffed it in. He was drag racing that, and his 32 Ford with a DeSoto.

His son still has the 32. That car has soul, though not pure Ford. Car has more soul and history than anything I've owned...has a TPI motor in it this last go around. I think it's on it's 5th incarnation?

 

[bonesfab]

Is that a custom Intake? Looks like a modified Torquer II Scorpion , I have a SBC version of it.

Bitchin to mod it for Port Fuel Injection!

Looks like a 68 Coupe DeVille? Is it a convertible? Hilarious if so, my buddy has a 68 CDV Vert Ocean Blue White/White interior and top.

68's a rare bird, they only made 600 or so convertibles that year, only a few were that color combo.

The manifold is a Victor Jr. I converted to efi years ago when my big truck still had the gas engine. Yes the Caddie is a 68 convertible. didn't realize it was that rare. Maybe I shouldn't have bagged it. It is actually a pretty nice car for a convertible. most are rust buckets.

 

[SBMech]

The manifold is a Victor Jr. I converted to efi years ago when my big truck still had the gas engine. Yes the Caddie is a 68 convertible. didn't realize it was that rare. Maybe I shouldn't have bagged it. It is actually a pretty nice car for a convertible. most are rust buckets.

Bah...it's yours..you gotta make it YOURS by doing your thing to it! It will be worth more customized by you than a stocker IMO!

How did the manifold work out? if it's like my old TII it's a single plane high RPM racer, meant to run from 3k till 8ish for circle track shit (supposedly).

 

[bonesfab]

Bah...it's yours..you gotta make it YOURS by doing your thing to it! It will be worth more customized by you than a stocker IMO!

How did the manifold work out? if it's like my old TII it's a single plane high RPM racer, meant to run from 3k till 8ish for circle track shit (supposedly).

In efi mode they still make good power down low. I was always afraid of killing torque but didn’t really notice it

 

[poncho]

You build some really cool stuff, I gotta say you killed it with the Vega, almost looks cartoonish like the body shape has been massaged.
Bad Ass Hot Rod.

 

[TimeBandit]

The vega looks even better in person, very nice build.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

@bonesfab You do everything as you enjoy it appears... I know nothing compared to others on thread.... personally I like the idea of preserving the original engine .... But I get the need to swap a more efiicient plant. Is it perhaps more marketable with the fresh upgraded engine? Whats the audience in this segment telling you?

 

[Romans9]

This thread is tops!

Bonesfab has made the list of places I want to visit. Lots of rekindled memories. Anyone with an eye for the completed project like this is one in a billion. The variety displayed here is very rare. Most guys/places are one trick ponies but that ain’t the case here.

 

[bonesfab]

@bonesfab You do everything as you enjoy it appears... I know nothing compared to others on thread.... personally I like the idea of preserving the original engine .... But I get the need to swap a more efiicient plant. Is it perhaps more marketable with the fresh upgraded engine? Whats the audience in this segment telling you?

Personally I think more people prefer the drivability with the late model drivetrains. Plus cost wise. To rebuild an engine now days is expensive and time consuming. Plus when you add Efi to an earlier setup it adds to the cost. I was not the huge ls fan until I started playing with them more. My wagon has a 100k short block that I did heads, cam and blower. Been in the car for 45k miles and no real issues. Now with the Holley terminator computers, life is even easier. I knew the basics on hp tuners but it was really like calculus to understand it. I payed a tuner to tune the wagon and fix one specific issue it had. Needless to say it still had the same issue when it came back. I switched it over to a terminator and fixed my issue and a few others in a matter of minutes on the lap top. Now I have 7 ls swapped cars and trucks and 5 have terminators. The two that are running stock ecu’s are because of the California smog nazi’s. A running 6.0-4l80e combo runs about 3k. Efi and overdrive included. it costs more than that to rebuild a older engine now.

 

[lenmann]

Personally I think more people prefer the drivability with the late model drivetrains. Plus cost wise. To rebuild an engine now days is expensive and time consuming. Plus when you add Efi to an earlier setup it adds to the cost. I was not the huge ls fan until I started playing with them more. My wagon has a 100k short block that I did heads, cam and blower. Been in the car for 45k miles and no real issues. Now with the Holley terminator computers, life is even easier. I knew the basics on hp tuners but it was really like calculus to understand it. I payed a tuner to tune the wagon and fix one specific issue it had. Needless to say it still had the same issue when it came back. I switched it over to a terminator and fixed my issue and a few others in a matter of minutes on the lap top. Now I have 7 ls swapped cars and trucks and 5 have terminators. The two that are running stock ecu’s are because of the California smog nazi’s. A running 6.0-4l80e combo runs about 3k. Efi and overdrive included. it costs more than that to rebuild a older engine now.

This is great information. I have yet to do an LS swap yet and really haven't understood the economic and end user motivations until this post.

@bonesfab any chance you can give us a primer on the various "L" platforms engines? LS1, LS2, LS3? (are there more?) and what the heck is an LT?

As always, thanks for you contributions in this thread and elsewhere.

 

[Rajobigguy]

Personally I think more people prefer the drivability with the late model drivetrains. Plus cost wise. To rebuild an engine now days is expensive and time consuming. Plus when you add Efi to an earlier setup it adds to the cost. I was not the huge ls fan until I started playing with them more. My wagon has a 100k short block that I did heads, cam and blower. Been in the car for 45k miles and no real issues. Now with the Holley terminator computers, life is even easier. I knew the basics on hp tuners but it was really like calculus to understand it. I payed a tuner to tune the wagon and fix one specific issue it had. Needless to say it still had the same issue when it came back. I switched it over to a terminator and fixed my issue and a few others in a matter of minutes on the lap top. Now I have 7 ls swapped cars and trucks and 5 have terminators. The two that are running stock ecu’s are because of the California smog nazi’s. A running 6.0-4l80e combo runs about 3k. Efi and overdrive included. it costs more than that to rebuild a older engine now.

All good points but when you go to the local car show and there is a choice between another LS powered car or one with a Boss 351 that someone did port EFI and a twin screw blower on, which one do you think is going to draw more attention?

 

[bonesfab]

All good points but when you go to the local car show and there is a choice between another LS powered car or one with a Boss 351 that someone did port EFI and a twin screw blower on, which one do you think is going to draw more attention?

Not arguing that point. or a twin turbo Cammer in a galaxie. But that twin screwd boss 351 just cost you what 2 or 3 500 hp ls3 would cost. And probably suffer more headache with it. For true car guys old school is cool. But if you just want to daily something and not have to worry about it, the late model stuff is the way to go.

 

[bonesfab]

This is great information. I have yet to do an LS swap yet and really haven't understood the economic and end user motivations until this post.

@bonesfab any chance you can give us a primer on the various "L" platforms engines? LS1, LS2, LS3? (are there more?) and what the heck is an LT?

As always, thanks for you contributions in this thread and elsewhere.

Ls1 is the first gen with cathedral port heads. 4.8, 5.3, 5.7, 6.0. ls 2 was around for a short time. 6.0 with an aluminum block and cathedral port heads. ls3 is 6.2 with the rectangle port heads. the Lt series went to the direct injection which I have not really played with yet. There are other versions of the alphabet soup as well but this covers the basics.