Budget LS swap 6spd RWD Z26 project.

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woody90gtz
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Budget LS swap 6spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by woody90gtz »

Picked up a car today. Looks like it will do quite nicely. Already have the LS, the 5spd and the Ford 8.8 rear waiting for it. This should be interesting.

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Last edited by woody90gtz on Wed Apr 13, 2022 10:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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
GEARHEAD dezign youtube
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Rettax3
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Re: Budget LS swap 5spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by Rettax3 »

Nice! Z-26 in white is really beautiful. Body looks pretty straight too. Now, where's the popcorn? :good: I want a front-row seat for this...


1989 SuperCharged 3800 Srs-II (First)Six-Speed GTU
1990 Turbo 3.4 5-Speed T-Type
1990 4.0L 4-Cam 32-Valve V-8 5-Speed Indy GTi (Project)
1990 Stock(!) 3.1 MPFI Auto Indy
1995 LA1/L82 4T60E Z-26
1995 3.4 DOHC Turbo 5-Speed Z-26
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weba
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Re: Budget LS swap 5spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by weba »

So, what year are you expecting this to be drivable?


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snowblindburd
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Re: Budget LS swap 5spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by snowblindburd »

I'm really looking forward to this one. Good luck!


1991 Beretta GTZ
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woody90gtz
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Re: Budget LS swap 5spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by woody90gtz »

The plan is to be a "quick & dirty" build rather than aiming for meticulous perfection. The 8yr Camaro build has kinda soured me on that kind of stuff. I have a bunch of ideas that seem like they should work, but I won't know for sure until I get in there. I'll do a quick video going over the plan pretty soon. I'd love to say I wouldn't go 12 months without driving a Beretta, but that's probably pretty ambitious...especially since I'm already 3 months in.


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
GEARHEAD dezign youtube
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woody90gtz
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Re: Budget LS swap 5spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by woody90gtz »

Guess I forgot to post the video link here. It's waayyy outperforming my typical numbers. #lsswaptheworld I guess
https://youtu.be/2JnU-ZbfYH4

And here's the playlist. I'm a few videos in already, getting the LR4 set up to fit under a car hood.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLquv ... tj7188c89V


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
GEARHEAD dezign youtube
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woody90gtz
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Re: Budget LS swap 5spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by woody90gtz »

This new car being a white Z26...looks really really similar to my high school GTZ that I put Z26 wheels on. And you can still buy a Beretta LeBra on ebay. So I'm thinking about one just for shits n gigs. haha
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I took measurements, and to make the truck LS fit under the hood I had to use an Fbody pan and car intake. And to make the LS2 manifold fit, I had to use an Fbody water pump too. I also made some DIY baffles for the LS1 oil pan (youtube video coming on that soon). And I promise this will be a quick & dirty build, but I did shoot it was a couple rattle cans. Huge visual improvement with minimal time invested.
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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
GEARHEAD dezign youtube
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woody90gtz
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Re: Budget LS swap 5spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by woody90gtz »

If you're curious how to tune an LS swap for free with no credits needed or anything, check out this video. Also works for trucks, Camaros and anything else with a P01 (411) or P59 PCM.

https://youtu.be/m3xdQ-FMNnU


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
GEARHEAD dezign youtube
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woody90gtz
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Re: Budget LS swap 5spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by woody90gtz »



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
GEARHEAD dezign youtube
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woody90gtz
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Location: Walton, NY
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Re: Budget LS swap 5spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by woody90gtz »

4.8 lives now too! Fired it up on the stand last night.
Image


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
GEARHEAD dezign youtube
User avatar
woody90gtz
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Location: Walton, NY
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Re: Budget LS swap 5spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by woody90gtz »

Here's a video on the DIY trap doors I built for the oil sump:
https://youtu.be/SA8tDlgLA90
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And the living, breathing 4.8L of fury!
https://youtu.be/pd31cszG8-E


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
GEARHEAD dezign youtube
User avatar
woody90gtz
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Location: Walton, NY
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Re: Budget LS swap 5spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by woody90gtz »

I guess all my updates come in the form of videos now...haha

I've been impressed by some of the cheap China stuff, but some of it is definitely junk. You're taking a risk, but I'm still under $1000 for a running LS that will fit under a car hood. I think that's pretty good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl5iyGHqLAs

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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
GEARHEAD dezign youtube
User avatar
woody90gtz
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Re: Budget LS swap 5spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by woody90gtz »

Cleanup the Z26 and it's...ok. I expected it to me more minty! You know, being a junkyard jewel and all.

https://youtu.be/PIAasNtGW_g

Image


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
GEARHEAD dezign youtube
User avatar
woody90gtz
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Location: Walton, NY
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Re: Budget LS swap 5spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by woody90gtz »

Pretty unfortunate that my old man's mega blaster blew a bunch of grit into the rear axle internals. So I had to pull it all apart and clean it up. Kind of a nightmare...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uct3Rgs-aUA
Image


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
GEARHEAD dezign youtube
User avatar
woody90gtz
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Posts: 4698
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2002 8:45 pm
Location: Walton, NY
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Re: Budget LS swap 5spd RWD Z26 project.

Post by woody90gtz »

Ok, I just bought the stuff I need for rear suspension from Barnes4WD and Speedway. Gonna end up doing coilovers instead of messing with the stock style coils, and maybe even a 3link instead of the torque arm I was thinking. The hole for the VSS in the Explorer center section would make a nice spot for the 3rd link. Maybe tap for a heim right there?
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Barnes has threaded poly bushings that I'm going to make the LCA and Panhard bar out of. I got the hex tube ends in LH and RH so they will be easily adjustable on the car, and if my bracket placement on the rear axle isn't 100% perfect it can be squared up.
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Speedway has AFCO "hot rod" coilovers for relatively lightweight vehicles that are pretty small overall. And there's enough room to nestle them in. It should work pretty well. I went with 200lb springs that should be about right. I bought them in pieces, but it's basically these with yellow springs. That way the ride height and the spring rate are both easily changeable. There's no adjustability in the shock valving, but the Beretta is gonna be a tire burner. The Camaro will be the competitive one.
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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
GEARHEAD dezign youtube
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