aka TheBandit - LS6 build
 

So, most of you know me over on mt.net as TheBandit. I'm slowly piecing together an LS swap. After scouring the forums/craigslist, I took a 3hr roadtrip to Kansas and took ownership of an LS6 for a deal. It's missing a few things that I need to pick up, but only has 28k on the clock. I'm still learning quite a bit about what all is needed to make everything work correctly, so it will probably be a while before everything is in and running.

Teaser pic

http://i34.tinypic.com/xp25c0.jpg

Michael

mmmmmm

Things are still coming along, slowly. I have a firm commitment on a T-56, Sensors, ECU/Wiring Harness, Valve Covers, Starter, and Alternator. My goal for the project is to make everything immaculate. Don't get me wrong, I want the car to go like a raped ape, but the engine bay has got to be as flawless as I can afford. I got a stock F-Body Throttle Body from a friend, and have began porting it. I think I'm going to paint the intake/valve covers a gunmetal metallic and polish the TB, front cover, and fuel rail. I imagine I'll just paint the block a silver/grey color. Here are a few pictures. Obviously not done yet..

http://i50.tinypic.com/23vnu5k.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/2d7d2is.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/33114c8.jpg

Michael

The block's aluminum, why not just polish it? I saw a Miata head polished on the outside once, it looked pretty cool.

-Jason

Polishing the block would be insane. I'm not sure if you've ever tried to polish a cast surface, but it's not what I would call "fun". Certainly not an engine engine block. I might try to clean up the heads, but definitely not the block. It would be much easier to get some filler material and paint/powder coat the block with a high gloss if that was what you were after. I really need to make a basic solid model of it so I can test a few different color/polish combo's and see what suits me.

Michael

Welcome Aboard Aurora!

New generation LS blocks actually have an exaggerated granular surface, this is purposefully designed to uniformly enhance cooling. If you sand, media blast or do anything to flatten the block's surfaces to paint or powder-coat you're just REDUCING your cooling.

Block painting was cool in the muscle-car days, but mod-motors are better off without it.

My son-in-law has a pro polishing business called Mirror Image and my polishing would have run about $700.00-$800.00 for everything. I've seen them do complete trans for around $1800.00.

Thanks LS2, I actually wasn't aware of the extragranular surface condition. Come to think of it I really don't even know how I would go about blasting it given the size of the block.. I may still end up giving it a coat of paint just to make it as clean as possible. The paint couldn't be too bad, I mean the new LSX blocks come painted from GM. As for all the polishing, yours looks very nice. I want to more of a mix of polish and paint to keep the balance just right. Just picked up a Fidanza Al. Flywheel last night, and hopefully will be getting the tranny and other bits within the next few weeks!

Michael

What pieces do you need? There was a fresh LS1 showed up at the salvage yard down town.

Along with the trans I'm getting an alternator w/ bracket, ecu, wiring harness, full set of f-body sensors, ac compressor, and a factory Al. driveshaft. I still need to pick up an LS2 water pump and sell my LS1 style, but beyond that I think the only other thing on my list would be a new clutch and a cam kit and of course all the gaskets to put it back together. I should be pretty close to having everything but the rear end at that point. I also just ordered a set of Katech valve covers for Christmas. They had a half price sale and I couldn't pass it up..

Michael

How about an electric water pump? the OE pumps are kind or bulky