Cerb LS1 The hard work begins!!
Discussion
Hi,
Thought I'd start a thread on my new project. I've sold my 4.2 AJP and gearbox to make way for an LS1 transplant. First thing was to get hold of one which I imported through CLeveland Pick a Part. Great bunch of guys highly recommended.
Well, I picked it up yesterday and it looks superb, 18K miles and absolutely spotless. Came with all the loom, ECU basically everything to get it running.
The plan is to basically follow the route of brummiewedge and include a body off restore, just over a longer period of time.
The bottom end will remain standard but I expect a cam change and head work will be on the cards. The main idea is to use a centrifugal supercharger. Looking at the moment into using a superchager kit for a corvette from procharger or vortex which would mean I could use the existing ECU and loom. The other way is the run an emerald ecu and make a supercharger kit up as we go along.
But before that I've got to sort all manner of differnt problems, so any advise would be gratefully received.
I'm looking to use the T56 box and come up with a solution to the exhaust manifold problems. First things first though, hopefully have a trial fit this weekend than start sorting out engine mounts.
Here's a few pics anyway.
Mine's the car at the back, some sweety sock left that other thing here, something about going to get a sun tan!!!
One idea is to reconfigure the crossmember between the front suspension uprights to bring the engine forward slightly could mean more room to route manifolds and a shorter gearbox linkage. I'll have to do some weight calculations, always better to keep the engine back as far as possible though.
Rich.
Thought I'd start a thread on my new project. I've sold my 4.2 AJP and gearbox to make way for an LS1 transplant. First thing was to get hold of one which I imported through CLeveland Pick a Part. Great bunch of guys highly recommended.
Well, I picked it up yesterday and it looks superb, 18K miles and absolutely spotless. Came with all the loom, ECU basically everything to get it running.
The plan is to basically follow the route of brummiewedge and include a body off restore, just over a longer period of time.
The bottom end will remain standard but I expect a cam change and head work will be on the cards. The main idea is to use a centrifugal supercharger. Looking at the moment into using a superchager kit for a corvette from procharger or vortex which would mean I could use the existing ECU and loom. The other way is the run an emerald ecu and make a supercharger kit up as we go along.
But before that I've got to sort all manner of differnt problems, so any advise would be gratefully received.
I'm looking to use the T56 box and come up with a solution to the exhaust manifold problems. First things first though, hopefully have a trial fit this weekend than start sorting out engine mounts.
Here's a few pics anyway.
Mine's the car at the back, some sweety sock left that other thing here, something about going to get a sun tan!!!
One idea is to reconfigure the crossmember between the front suspension uprights to bring the engine forward slightly could mean more room to route manifolds and a shorter gearbox linkage. I'll have to do some weight calculations, always better to keep the engine back as far as possible though.
Rich.
Hello Rich.
Firts of all, good for you!
The idea of the forced induction sounds very interesting and exciting indeed. No doubt some challenging engineering to come.
I will enjoy seeing this project come together as I am sure that many others will also.
Best of luck with it all and please keep us all up to date.
Regards,
Speedeight.
Firts of all, good for you!
The idea of the forced induction sounds very interesting and exciting indeed. No doubt some challenging engineering to come.
I will enjoy seeing this project come together as I am sure that many others will also.
Best of luck with it all and please keep us all up to date.
Regards,
Speedeight.
The T56 is not a good idea - I tried, and I'm seling it to be replaced with a TKO! Not much more I can add to past threads on this, but I've got one positioned in a Cerb chassis right now and the amount of hacking around required to make it fit with enough room for twin 2.5" exhausts (you might even need bigger with a SC) is just not worth it. Moving it forward may help find some room, but at the expense of screwing up your weight distribution.
Hi Rich.
Just had a thought.
A company called Headman Hedders, 001 310 839 7581 make an exhaust manifold for the SBC motor
which is called a "Tight Tubes Flat Collector Manifold".
These run a super slim profile with a tight radius bend from the head and flow very well.
Now I know that these which I have will not fit your motor.
But maybe they make one for your motor and maybe these would enable you to keep the motor further back in the frame.
As I say I have a set which I no longer use and if you wanted to you are welcome to borrow them to see what they would look like or even if they almost worked to use them as a pattern and have a set made up here in the UK.
If I can help, give me a call.
Speedeight.
Just had a thought.
A company called Headman Hedders, 001 310 839 7581 make an exhaust manifold for the SBC motor
which is called a "Tight Tubes Flat Collector Manifold".
These run a super slim profile with a tight radius bend from the head and flow very well.
Now I know that these which I have will not fit your motor.
But maybe they make one for your motor and maybe these would enable you to keep the motor further back in the frame.
As I say I have a set which I no longer use and if you wanted to you are welcome to borrow them to see what they would look like or even if they almost worked to use them as a pattern and have a set made up here in the UK.
If I can help, give me a call.
Speedeight.
To explain a bit more about the T56 problem - mostly it's the width of this box at the point that the chassis rails converge into the tunnel. At about the point where the shifter needs to come up (and this is about 18" from where the standard T56 shifter is - but that's another issue) the T56 fills the tunnel with only about 1" clearance on each side and underneath. I looked at side exit exhausts, flattened tubes, etc but at the end of the day I decided the TKO is less trouble than all of this.
I have a bare Cerb chassis with LS6 and T56 positioned in it in my garage right now - if you're not convinced PM me and I'll send some pics!
Cheers
I have a bare Cerb chassis with LS6 and T56 positioned in it in my garage right now - if you're not convinced PM me and I'll send some pics!
Cheers
Thanks guys for your comments, always appreciated.
I was hoping to get your attention Don I thought you were going to use the T56 in one of your last posts. I've had an offer for mine but I'd like to see what its like in the car before I sell it. Unfortunately I have more sense than money and a wife that doesn't understand the term 'upgrade' so I can feel alot of head scratching coming on. But if it comes to it TKO it will be. Just really like the idea of the 6 speeds, the plan is to do some touring round Europe.
I was thinking of running the exhausts under the Chassis, oval shaped maybe and then back into the transmission tunnel after the gearbox. I know its at the expense of ground clearance, I'll have to work the difference out. Any comments Don good or bad?
Thanks Speedeight for the offer I may take you up on it. Would you happen to have any pics of the manifolds? I tend to think I will not be able to use manifolds that follow the contours of the block and gearbox backwards because of the limited space, would be nice to fit a set of ready made headers with adjustments obviously, thats why I'm thinking of bringing the motor forward or making bespoke manifolds similar to Pauls, (brummiewedge).
Right its a nice day so plan is to stip the ancillaries off and have a trial fit.
Cheers
Rich.
I was hoping to get your attention Don I thought you were going to use the T56 in one of your last posts. I've had an offer for mine but I'd like to see what its like in the car before I sell it. Unfortunately I have more sense than money and a wife that doesn't understand the term 'upgrade' so I can feel alot of head scratching coming on. But if it comes to it TKO it will be. Just really like the idea of the 6 speeds, the plan is to do some touring round Europe.
I was thinking of running the exhausts under the Chassis, oval shaped maybe and then back into the transmission tunnel after the gearbox. I know its at the expense of ground clearance, I'll have to work the difference out. Any comments Don good or bad?
Thanks Speedeight for the offer I may take you up on it. Would you happen to have any pics of the manifolds? I tend to think I will not be able to use manifolds that follow the contours of the block and gearbox backwards because of the limited space, would be nice to fit a set of ready made headers with adjustments obviously, thats why I'm thinking of bringing the motor forward or making bespoke manifolds similar to Pauls, (brummiewedge).
Right its a nice day so plan is to stip the ancillaries off and have a trial fit.
Cheers
Rich.
Hi Rich,
The only chance you might have of getting an exhaust past it is, as you say underneath, but there is so little ground clearance between the chassis and the ground anyway (130mm) that you still need to squeeze the exhaust up in the tunnel somehow, and I really think theres just no room for it.
The TKO will be fine for cruising - just get the .64 (I think it is) final drive and you'll have a tall 5th for the motorways. Brummiewedge has this ratio so maybe you could check his out and see if it's what you want.
Fact is, Brummiewedge is the only guy who has actually completed this conversion in a Cerb (and the chassis *is* different to Chims and Tuscans) so first thing I would suggest you do is visit brummie land and buy him a beer!
The only chance you might have of getting an exhaust past it is, as you say underneath, but there is so little ground clearance between the chassis and the ground anyway (130mm) that you still need to squeeze the exhaust up in the tunnel somehow, and I really think theres just no room for it.
The TKO will be fine for cruising - just get the .64 (I think it is) final drive and you'll have a tall 5th for the motorways. Brummiewedge has this ratio so maybe you could check his out and see if it's what you want.
Fact is, Brummiewedge is the only guy who has actually completed this conversion in a Cerb (and the chassis *is* different to Chims and Tuscans) so first thing I would suggest you do is visit brummie land and buy him a beer!
Edited by Ffirg 005 on Saturday 15th September 09:17
Hi guys, been on my hols this week in Gran Canaria 
, Your welcome to look but your coming to Brum not the other way round , If you look at the thread i did on my build you will see loads on the exhausts etc that i built. As for gearbox the stick on the T56 is your 1st problem position wise, and it is fat. I even had to clobber the exhaust pipes in a couple of places to squeeze em through on my TKO box, stick only needs moving about an inch forward, a simple adapter plate solved this. 6 speed is not a must i dont think, but you might want to review diff ratios etc. I am on this at the moment. Good Luck Brum.
, Your welcome to look but your coming to Brum not the other way round , If you look at the thread i did on my build you will see loads on the exhausts etc that i built. As for gearbox the stick on the T56 is your 1st problem position wise, and it is fat. I even had to clobber the exhaust pipes in a couple of places to squeeze em through on my TKO box, stick only needs moving about an inch forward, a simple adapter plate solved this. 6 speed is not a must i dont think, but you might want to review diff ratios etc. I am on this at the moment. Good Luck Brum.diycerb said:
Yeah you're right would be good to see Paul's car, I was thinking maybe he could come down to the sunny south and I'll take him out in the purple monster I've got round here. Where is he anyway, thought he would have read this by now.
Rich.
From the photo and that statement did you buy Craigs old car then too Rich.
looking at the site you got the engine rom I see the corvette has the t56 mounted in the rear, has anyone thought of modiying the cerb chassis to run that configuration?
If you've got to chop things anyway, why not stick the box in the back, and change the diff.
im tempted to do that with my spare tuscan racer chassis
G
If you've got to chop things anyway, why not stick the box in the back, and change the diff.
im tempted to do that with my spare tuscan racer chassis
G
Edited by Graham on Sunday 16th September 15:35
Graham said:
looking at the site you got the engine rom I see the corvette has the t56 mounted in the rear, has anyone thought of modiying the cerb chassis to run that configuration?
If you've got to chop things anyway, why not stick the box in the back, and change the diff.
im tempted to do that with my spare tuscan racer chassis
G
Or buy a vette rolling chassis and stick your body on it If you've got to chop things anyway, why not stick the box in the back, and change the diff.
im tempted to do that with my spare tuscan racer chassis
G
Edited by Graham on Sunday 16th September 15:35
Boosted.
Boosted LS1 said:
Graham said:
looking at the site you got the engine rom I see the corvette has the t56 mounted in the rear, has anyone thought of modiying the cerb chassis to run that configuration?
If you've got to chop things anyway, why not stick the box in the back, and change the diff.
im tempted to do that with my spare tuscan racer chassis
G
Or buy a vette rolling chassis and stick your body on it If you've got to chop things anyway, why not stick the box in the back, and change the diff.
im tempted to do that with my spare tuscan racer chassis
G
Edited by Graham on Sunday 16th September 15:35
Boosted.
350Matt said:
How about using the Toyota Supra 6 speed?
Matt
Or the Supra 5 speed R154 can handle it, appears the same as the speed six Getrag unit by all accounts...Matt
Re weight distrubution, I think you'll find moving the lump forward would make the car handle quite a bit sweeter, ultimate traction might not be better but the way the car handles I think you'll find might be. Having driven plenty of em past their design limits I'd say the up midships mounted lump is a downfall not a bonus, it partly why they have a tendency to spin so readily IMHO.
HarryW said:
Boosted LS1 said:
Graham said:
looking at the site you got the engine rom I see the corvette has the t56 mounted in the rear, has anyone thought of modiying the cerb chassis to run that configuration?
If you've got to chop things anyway, why not stick the box in the back, and change the diff.
im tempted to do that with my spare tuscan racer chassis
G
Or buy a vette rolling chassis and stick your body on it If you've got to chop things anyway, why not stick the box in the back, and change the diff.
im tempted to do that with my spare tuscan racer chassis
G
Edited by Graham on Sunday 16th September 15:35
Boosted.
cptsideways said:
Re weight distrubution, I think you'll find moving the lump forward would make the car handle quite a bit sweeter, ultimate traction might not be better but the way the car handles I think you'll find might be. Having driven plenty of em past their design limits I'd say the up midships mounted lump is a downfall not a bonus, it partly why they have a tendency to spin so readily IMHO.
Interesting comment - are you talking about AJP Cerbs or TVRs in general being too ready to spin?Assuming 50/50 weight distribution (no idea what it is on a Cerb, anyone?), surely having your weight nearer the middle decreases the moment of inertia and helps you get around corners quicker? The AJP is 130kg vs 200-odd for the LSx so that's going to put more weight up front regardless.Gassing Station | TVR Major Mods | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff