Red Headed Stepchild-75 Swinger LSX Swap

[SwingerLSX75]

Nothing crazy today. Got tracking updated. Should have the steering column Monday, the new turbos Wednesday or Thursday and the new motor Thursday or Friday as long as everything goes well.

Got the master cylinder bench bledsnd reinstalled today. I didn't have the oem gasket to mate uo to the firewall. Soni ended up making one by cutting up a silicone coupler i had extra laying around. Then got it and the new 2 volt mancini conversion bolted up and the brake lines re-plumbed to the new Inline tube distribution valve. Also swapped over the wiring from the 1975 starter relay to the new one. I'll keep the old one as a backup but felt like it was time to replace.

Got the fuel lines pulled back and started making the new feed line going from the pump up to the firewall where it splits to meet the fuel rails.

Progress is progress. Gon w try snd have everything ready for whe. These big pieces show up this week to make the startup and running process that much easier. Still plenty to do.

 

[SwingerLSX75]

Finally got my flaming river steering column in the mail. Excellent work on their part fits exactly I measured and specd out for them to make. Removes the factor firewall bracket and mounted the nee pivot mount on there with the 4 bolts and only had to adjust once or twice and she was good to go. Mounted the new qui k release tab o. There too. Now I just have to cut the old steering shaft end off and weld the new one on amd finish wiring up all the signals and such.

 

[TT5.9mag]

You’re gonna like those VSR turbos. I have a pair of the 7875next gens on my 496 and I was surprised at the quality and finish machine work.

 

[SwingerLSX75]

You’re gonna like those VSR turbos. I have a pair of the 7875next gens on my 496 and I was surprised at the quality and finish machine work.
View attachment 1715910264 View attachment 1715910265

I have their 6973s now, haven't had any issues with them at all. Just going to the max for the classes that run around here. Also switching to their new gen iii 50mm wastegates rather than the ebay specials I've been running. You'll have to let me know how the 78s perform on the big block. I have a buddy looking at a set for his 440 69 dart.

 

[TT5.9mag]

I have their 6973s now, haven't had any issues with them at all. Just going to the max for the classes that run around here. Also switching to their new gen iii 50mm wastegates rather than the ebay specials I've been running. You'll have to let me know how the 78s perform on the big block. I have a buddy looking at a set for his 440 69 dart.

It’s almost ready for dyno. It’s on the run stand now and I’ve done some baseline stuff but nothing more than timing and idle tuning. I just ordered their 50mm wastegates last week. Hopefully I’ll have em tomorrow.

 

[SwingerLSX75]

It’s almost ready for dyno. It’s on the run stand now and I’ve done some baseline stuff but nothing more than timing and idle tuning. I just ordered their 50mm wastegates last week. Hopefully I’ll have em tomorrow.

you shoulda grabbed mine. I have the new V3's coming from VSR.

 

[SwingerLSX75]

More goodies showed up. The new twin 73mm ball bearing turbos, as well as more fuel line and fittings so I can get started there, and the oil pressure regulator from tirbosmart that regulates the pil pressure to 40psinfor these new turbos. First time going for ball bearings and have high hopes.

The 408 actually shipped out this morning, FINALLY. So hopefully have it sometime next week and maybe get it together and fired up next weekend. Will be welding up the travel limiters, window net, turbo supports and the new vband junctions to the downpipe since they're a little different than the 6973s.

 

[TT5.9mag]

you shoulda grabbed mine. I have the new V3's coming from VSR.

 

[SwingerLSX75]

View attachment 1715912432

Yeah those are the v2s. I went with the v3 style since it switches from a diaphragm to an oring style. Less likely to have an issue. I have to call and talk to them because the v3s aren't on the website yet.

 

[SwingerLSX75]

Been a busy weekend wiring up and doing what we could. Got the windows net tabs welded in since the NHRA said I had to. Got the travel limiters welded up as well, and the steering shaft is back complete again. Had to swap over the steering. Okumn side from. The smooth 3/4 shaft to the splined 3/4 shaft that came on the flaming river column. Ran out of the black touch up paint I had so I primed them all all with some brown for now.

I trimmed the good finally to accommodate the wiper arms. And seeing as I plan to dart driving alot more on the street and we live in the PNW, where it rains too often for my taste. But that's why the wiper blades need ro go back on, and they're required to be street legal here. So tada they're back. Time to get ready for this soon to developing local drag week event up here.

Also finished wiring up the fuel pump(forgot to connect the trigger wire to the relay via the fuel pump 1 switch ont he new switch panel. Wired up the a2w pump again and the trans cooler fan. I built and wired up a harness for the trans brake, bump box, reverse lights, bump button and scramble button. Boy I tell you that setup was fun to make and draw out to make sure I had everything where it needed to go.

Waiting on the gm connector mate up to the one that came on the flaming river column so I still have the ability to disconnect if I ever need to pull the column.

Even had to wash her since she's been dirty as hell with all this work gping on and pollen season picking up.

 

[SwingerLSX75]

Got the gas pedal remounted.....properly this time.
Also stripped all the vinyl off the console and rewrapped today as well. Made the 8an return line from the regulator to the tank. This pfte line is becoming something I enjoy less and less. The frailty of it with that plastic liner inside annoys me with how loose the bends have to be before it kinks.

 

[SwingerLSX75]

Nothing crazy today. Got the new gm connector in the mail to match the steering column. Got all the turn signals, hazards, horn and brake switch wired up as well as the new wires run for power to the holley dash, fuel gauge and aem wide band gauge.

Latest on the motor was it left Omaha Nebraska on Monday. Still have my fingers crossed for Friday delivery. Otherwise I may take a Sunday off and go to the track and actually watch other people race with the kiddos.

 

[SwingerLSX75]

Plenty to update on the dart.

Got the compressor covers on the new turbos hydrodipped and clear coated.

Also got my 408. Freight company wanted to wait till Thursday to deliver but I don't have that much time if I want a chance at making the dyno on the 10th. So I drove down and had them load it in the truck.

Got it home and added the valve covers before I hit the rack last night. Then today after work I got it cleaned up and, motor plate/water pump mounted, installed in the dart and bolted up to the trans. Got the valley cover dipped to match the valve covers and turbos. Got the intake set on and started to mock up the exhaust as a few changes need to be made before its all said and done with switching to the new turbos and I also have cerakote being delivered tomorrow to coat the exhaust manifolds, turndowns and exhaust housings. So ignore the ugly faded black grill paint. I get the feeling the dump tubes from the wastegates may be vented to atmosphere for the dyno if I can make it.

But happy to finally have it in place and to be knocking out my punch list while combating any new unforseen issues.

 

[Owen 340+6]

Truley is hard to deny for anyone involved in motorsports just how incredible the LS platform really is and how much they can handle in even very mildly warmed over form. I have said it before and I'll say it again the transformation you have given this car is incredible from what this thread started as. I know im sure you dont keep track at this point but the build cost alone has to be pretty wild. Great build best thing that could have ever happened to that car!!

 

[SwingerLSX75]

Truley is hard to deny for anyone involved in motorsports just how incredible the LS platform really is and how much they can handle in even very mildly warmed over form. I have said it before and I'll say it again the transformation you have given this car is incredible from what this thread started as. I know im sure you dont keep track at this point but the build cost alone has to be pretty wild. Great build best thing that could have ever happened to that car!!

I actually went back and looked at everything and added it all up for the cost of the car initially, parts, materials(what I could), chassis, engine and all(not including my or the hours of those like my brother and family who have helped me), selling of parts before buying new stuff and I have less In it than the crate 426 gen iii hemi, and I made that power level on the old setup, and will make more power than that thing does on the new setup.

After i trimmed a few inches of the "shell" on the column from flaming river the dricer side manifold fit just fine. Also got everything mocked up and know where adjustments and rework needs to be redone for the dump tubes off the wastegates. But don't need those for the dyno next Wednesday so they aren't an emergency. Then started to pull back apart to cerakote exhaust pieces.

 

[RustyRatRod]

The whole patriotic theme is badass man. This thing's gonna rock.

 

[SwingerLSX75]

Well I got some stuff knocked out today, got my *** kicked by the ict billet bracket kit. Taking shots in the dark through a motor plate isn't fun. But got it worked out all together. But the bolts they sent from ict aren't as long as they need to be to reach the cylinder heads. So ill be heading to the hardware store tomorrow to grab 2 replacements. Got the trans drained and the gasket and stuff replaced and retorqued. Oil filter replaced and spent the rest of my.time.reinstslling hot parts and making sure I had a plan of attack for tomorrow morning.

Also gonna fill the motor up with oil, trans with fluid tomorrow as well as the wiring snd engine harness and spark plugs.

 

[SwingerLSX75]

More progress today. Anyone who knoq when UT comes to complete an entire cars worth of winter upgrades to include wiring and all, there are viund to be setbacks. Today I hut some but it didn't stop me. Progress was made today. Front end is back together for the first ime in a long time. Engine is full of royal purple, intake and grill/height trim is installed. One return fueling from the rails to ths regulator is done. Fucked up the feed line fitting from the pump to the Y block. So had to order another 10an 45 degree fitting to fix.

Also came across a issue with the crank trigger as the 24x ls and 58x ls crank triggers have different plugs. So I ordered that and it will be here Tuesday.

Most likely I won't make it to the dyno with all the stuff I need to do before then. But the cam swap/top end kit on th e wife's ZL1 is going well should pickup tomorrow or Tuesday and be at the dyno for sure come Wednesday.

https://youtube.com/shorts/9J9ckkbXw-s?feature=share

 

[missing linc]

Looking forward to some timeslips

 

[SwingerLSX75]

Looking forward to some timeslips

I finally, for the first time since I've owned the dart, eliminated the gap in the front grill/headlight trim.

 

[SwingerLSX75]

Not much accomplished on the dart lately but got the cam swap and top end kits done on the wife's camaro and hit the dyno today since the dart wasn't ready.

She made good power for a pump gmgas 92 octane grocery getter.



https://youtube.com/shorts/iaiG-jqXTB0?feature=share

 

[SwingerLSX75]

Nothing crazy sexy going on. 1 step forward 2 steps back.

Got the downpipes and and dumptubes mocked up and tacked jn place. Gon a have to rework the passenger side as it's giving me issues with clearance when turning.

Thought I had the hoses nailed for the radiator, got it all in and had to fight everytbing way too much to get it all in there and connected. It essentially left any and everything to deal with the radiator unserviceable should anything ever fail. And I just wasn't happy with it. So the old setup is out and a new setup is ordered that I think will orient things alot better and allot me to have the ability to work on it if ever I need to.

More wires being run, things being checked off the list and waiting on more to show up. Hoping to fire up before next weekend. Ar least briefly until the radiator shows up.

 

[SwingerLSX75]

No new setbacks today. Got the new bulkheads grommets I was waiting on to safely make a pass through for the 10an return line. So that is a complete fuel system and made sure to go over them all and ensure they were tight. Torqued the intake down finally as well because there isn't anything else I need in or around there.

Got the new belt installed. Luckily I nailed it on the measurement and went with a 44 inch belt instead of the 44.5 inch that it originally measured out to be.

Working through some shoulder pain but making progress either way.

 

[TT5.9mag]

It’s amazing that your alternator charges when there is a load on it with how little belt wrap you have. Has that ever been a problem?

 

[SwingerLSX75]

It’s amazing that your alternator charges when there is a load on it with how little belt wrap you have. Has that ever been a problem?

This is going to be a first. I will let you know when I fire it up. The old setup went around the water pump. Switched tk themis one bwcause i went to an electric water pump. Being that ict designed I hope they'd have tested it before selling it. I'll keep you posted