LS1/t56 swap

Want to know how to get more out of your Beretta? Or have a mod you would like to share?
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Alxsmt
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by Alxsmt »

Thanks! Should be able to work on it again in a week or so.

I'm using that to sit the engine/suspension on to stabilize it... only place I have to store the engine is the engine bay.


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88 Beretta CL - your average grandma car.. Ls1 swap in progress
77 Celica - needs an engine swap
96 Geo - 1.0L, Cam, 3 angle, magnaflow, Koni, coilovers.
86 Subi - Supercharged @7psi
Alxsmt
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by Alxsmt »

I made a bit of progress, changed my process a little bit.. I was trying to set the control arm angle by going off bump steer, then place the subframe in where ever it needed to be for the correct roll center. The least amount of bump steer the control arm was pointing WAY up.. so that theory was bad lol.

off to the corvette forums I went hoping to get stock angles of the control arms for a better guideline. Ended up getting a TON of help and a better way to go about this than I was. Huge thanks to "Churchkey" and everybody else from the corvette forums.

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my bump steer idea of doing it.. that failed.

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finding the roll center, drafting the whole front suspension out and getting everything figured out. literally took up my whole garage lol. talk about a pain in the ass! but I now know all the angles to go off of and can "simply" put the subframe in now.

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sorry for the crappy pics. they looked good on my phone when I took them...

but thats where I am as of now. next step is to get it physically in place in the car and go from there.


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88 Beretta CL - your average grandma car.. Ls1 swap in progress
77 Celica - needs an engine swap
96 Geo - 1.0L, Cam, 3 angle, magnaflow, Koni, coilovers.
86 Subi - Supercharged @7psi
jjanke
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by jjanke »

Awesome to see this part of the process !!!!! Keep posting!!!!!


Cliff8928
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by Cliff8928 »

Do you happen to know the roll center for the stock suspension? I'd bet there's a world of difference.


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woody90gtz
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by woody90gtz »

Nice job with the grunt work. It will certainly pay dividends when you're throwing it in corners!


91 "SS" - WOT 3400/5spd - 13.29@101.6 - World's fastest N/A FWD Beretta
96 "T56" LS/6spd/8.8 RWD swap - 13.45@104.7 lol
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Alxsmt
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by Alxsmt »

Aa far as stock for the beretta? Or c4? Not sure what the c4 is stock, I just did a little digging and found 2.9" on a forum. I figured it would be a bit higher than that.. I'll have to double check my measurements again to make sure I'm right. As far as stock beretta, not a clue. Mine was lowered maybe 2" and I know it was way underground up front. Never measured the rear, not sure if you even can with the setup they have?

Thanks! I'm trying to get it as perfect as I can. I have a suspension program I really need to figure out how to use.. but I'm learning a lot doing it the "old school" way


Image
88 Beretta CL - your average grandma car.. Ls1 swap in progress
77 Celica - needs an engine swap
96 Geo - 1.0L, Cam, 3 angle, magnaflow, Koni, coilovers.
86 Subi - Supercharged @7psi
Alxsmt
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by Alxsmt »

I finally found some time to work on it a bit more. Juggling a few projects again.. Made some decent progress I think.

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this is pretty much where its going to sit, I forgot my digital level so im not positive as far as height/control arm angle goes but its with in 1/2" up and down I think. just need to verify it and get it 100% now. beefed up the modified factory subframe a little so I can cut out notches for the control arms to pivot.


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finding center. hard to see the yellow center line, but I guessed when I clamped the subframe down, it was less than 1/4" off center! pretty damn good if you ask me!! need to verify my measurements a few times before its set it stone, and get it 100% perfect. front to back is also within 1/8" to 1/4" of being perfect. little bit more tweaking.

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fits pretty decent, well better than expected. definitely will need to get cut for clearance but not as much as I was expecting.


Image
88 Beretta CL - your average grandma car.. Ls1 swap in progress
77 Celica - needs an engine swap
96 Geo - 1.0L, Cam, 3 angle, magnaflow, Koni, coilovers.
86 Subi - Supercharged @7psi
bonecrrusher
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by bonecrrusher »

Looking at where that steering rack is placed - what oil pan are you going with again?


2005 Chevrolet Corvette Z51
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD
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Alxsmt
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by Alxsmt »

I ended up going with the fbody


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88 Beretta CL - your average grandma car.. Ls1 swap in progress
77 Celica - needs an engine swap
96 Geo - 1.0L, Cam, 3 angle, magnaflow, Koni, coilovers.
86 Subi - Supercharged @7psi
Alxsmt
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by Alxsmt »

got a little bit more done yesterday.

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due to the caliper brackets hitting the spindles, I decided to grind the spindle down over grind the caliper bracket.

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not machine quality.. but it will work. Polished it down to 220 and called it good.


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Also modified the factory subframe a bit more. Now control arms actually move. Its VERY ghetto, but it only has to support the weight of the front end until the frame goes under then its scrap metal. As it sits it wont do that, I will box it all in and gusset it, probably going to tie both sides together too.


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Had to toss it together real quick to see what the brakes were going to look like. Yes I know its upside down


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sawzall is just for size reference


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14" rotors dont seem that big with these wheels

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I didnt measure anything when I put the subframe in for the brake pics. Thought it looked cool so I took a pic of this too.

that is all till next time.


Image
88 Beretta CL - your average grandma car.. Ls1 swap in progress
77 Celica - needs an engine swap
96 Geo - 1.0L, Cam, 3 angle, magnaflow, Koni, coilovers.
86 Subi - Supercharged @7psi
bonecrrusher
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by bonecrrusher »

So the rectangular steel you have welded below the factory subframe is temporary?

What is the C4/steering rack support brace going to get welded too? You going to tie into the unibody - or make some sort of removeable front subframe?

Also - did you get that Nissan rear ended attached to the car yet?


2005 Chevrolet Corvette Z51
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD
2014 Chevy SS
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weba
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by weba »

Always glad to see progress


Alxsmt
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by Alxsmt »

Correct. The car is getting a full "integrated" frame, thats what the C4 subframe is getting welded to. Just need to get everthing physically where it needs to be then put it on a trailer and take it to my friends shop to build the frame in the car. well thats the plan now anyways, might end up just taking measurements and building a frame on a jig too.

and no, I have yet to get any farther on the rear end. once the front is welded to the ghetto subframe ill go from there and move on to getting the rear end squared away and work on getting the geometry right.

thanks!


Image
88 Beretta CL - your average grandma car.. Ls1 swap in progress
77 Celica - needs an engine swap
96 Geo - 1.0L, Cam, 3 angle, magnaflow, Koni, coilovers.
86 Subi - Supercharged @7psi
jjanke
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by jjanke »

great progress!!!!!!!! great to see your approach and how your solving all these problems as they arise. keep the updates coming


Alxsmt
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Re: LS1/t56 swap

Post by Alxsmt »

Thanks! It's literally one thing after another lol. I guess that's half the fun


Image
88 Beretta CL - your average grandma car.. Ls1 swap in progress
77 Celica - needs an engine swap
96 Geo - 1.0L, Cam, 3 angle, magnaflow, Koni, coilovers.
86 Subi - Supercharged @7psi
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