Well, I was trying to get a question answered in another thread, so I decided to make a thread to show where I'm at with my '99.

I went faster with a stock bottom end than I ever thought I would. I hoped for high 11s, and that's what happened. I broke some stuff, parted all the good stuff, and started buying chevy stuff. I traded my old nitrous kit for a TH400. I bought an old Suburban motor for $350. Cam, springs, intake, etc.

Ok, long story longer, I'll just post some pics. I'm not gonna try to make a super detailed first post because there's just too much stuff to try to remember that I either have done, or still have to do to make it all work. Feel free to offer input.

This is a really an interesting project man you have there and only wish you the best

This build:




Sweet job Cameron, looks great.
Cannot wait to see some video footage of this beast.

I've been getting all the details / pictures from the very beginning but I'm glad to finally see a build thread! Good luck with everything Cam, and I can't wait to see this thing finished!

I love the look of the engine compartment stripped of non essentials.

You could put an extra seat where the HVAC stuff was.

Awesome build.

Since I'm going complete standalone engine harness, all that stuff by the master cylinder is gonna get deleted eventually too somehow. I'll probably just pull it through the firewall and bundle it up, I don't wanna go through the trouble of figuring out what wire is hot or not.

I take it this is purely a track car at this point?

It's a "street car". I'll have insurance and a tag on it. Power steering. Drive 70+ miles to and from the track, and around town. And it will be on a drag radial still, never a slick.

My definition of a track car may be different than yours though. A track car to me is something that sits on a trailer unless it's at a track, doesn't have a tag or insurance, and can't drive around without breaking or overheating.

A friend who happens to be really good at welding did the motor mounts, trans mount, and hotside and intercooler piping. I'll snap some pics of that with my better camera.

I didnt put the motor and trans in, but it wasn't too hard from what he told me, as the LS based stuff is not a 90* split like te modular stuff is, and it's not an overhead can, so there's a ton more room.

Trans is a TH400 or a "turbo 400". Custom stall from PTC, and yes, I'll be using megasquirt 3 for ignition, fuel delivery, and boost control.

I'm just really fortunate to have the friends I do. I bought all the aluminum and steel for the turbo kit, and he made the motor and trans mounts completely custom, and it only cost me $600. He's the same guy that painted the 04 all black for $500. And another one of my good friends can wire things and tune in his sleep, so I pretty much have all the bases covered.

That's awesome, I Love engine swaps... It does make thing a bit easier if you at least stay within the bounds of manufacturer sometimes though.

The best one I ever did was dropping a BUILT 455 Pontiac into an 84 Grand Prix that had came originally with a SBC between the fenders.

The motor mounts worked after installing the correct pads on the x-member, all I had to do was mildly customize a pair of headers.

That car also used a TH-400, with a manual valve body and a bunch of other tricks. The TH-400 was maybe the BEST 3-speed GM ever had.

That car kicked ass and took names man... Like a 4-wheeled F-16.

I'm sure that LS you mated to your Vic will do the same in spades. Those are awesome engines. Even without the turbo set up.

Good going man... I'm liking it!

Important question. Are you going to modify the grille badge to accept the Chevrolet Bowtie?

I thought about doing that, but I came to the conclusion that it wouldn't be right. I love crown vics, and Ford makes those, not Chevy. I just want to go fast for cheap, and putting a 5.3 LS base in is cheaper than building any modular motor to make what this stock 5.3 will handle.

They'll throw an LS engine in anything now. Not that theres anything wrong with it. Keep up the great work;)

Too bad you can't run NMRA true street with a Chevy motor.

Though i guess nmca is ok too. Im surprised it took this long for someone to do this, work looks good.

Really? It sure looks like it is.

Anyway cool stuff man! Keep it up!