Lateral-g Forums - 1969 Camaro Transforms From Big Block to Supercharged LT4 V8 at V8 Speed & Resto Shop

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Jr (Post 672659)

Beautiful car.

What are your plans for the heat exchanger?

This one will get a C&R LT Heat Exchanger. The LT heat exchanger has inlet and discharge on the driver's side of the car vs the LSA on the passenger side. This marries up nicely with the intercooler manifold on the top of the engine which discharges on the driver's side.

Regards,

Larry

There are numerous connections off the back of the LT4 that require some space to access and make them look clean, as well as for serviceability.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1...03-18_0005.JPG

The V8 crew lowered the engine into the bay just to get a visual of how things were going to fit. This car had a smoothed firewall, and A/C bulkhead fittings down on the passenger side. The motor mounts had not yet been chosen, this was just to get a bird’s eye view of any potential challenges.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y...17.12.20z1.jpg

It was obvious that there would be some clearance issues on the back side of engine as the assembly moved closer to the transmission.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r...17.12.20z2.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0...17.12.20z3.jpg

The engine was lifted out, and the firewall was examined. At this point, the team noticed that the existing firewall was showing some cracking bodywork and would require a fix and repaint regardless.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y...22-17_0060.JPG

The decision was made to modify the firewall to better accommodate the new engine and fix the surface issues. In order to do this, the front sheetmetal was to be removed.

Front body panels removed.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o...22-17_0002.JPG

Here you can see the bruised firewall. We decided to investigate further.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4...26-17_0008.JPG

Hmm

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v...28-17_0002.JPG

Lots of cracks and filler are lurking below…

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m...28-17_0003.JPG

Putting the engine back in place on Dirty Dingo mounts in the Detroit Speed subframe, we could see the clearance from the head to firewall was a bight tight.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G...03-18_0020.JPG

The accessory drive seemed to fit well, even with the increased diameter crank pulley.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D...03-18_0017.JPG

There’s room for the A/C compressor as well.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L...03-18_0018.JPG

But the decision was made to do some work on the firewall to repair the damage and make a bit more room for the engine, as well as to clean up the A/C bulkhead fitting holes.

The Camaro was moved to the metal fabrication shop where the new firewall would be created.

Once the heater block off panel was removed, it became obvious that this car was originally painted blue. It was also obvious that because of the cracks and previous finish work, the heater block off panel was holding water and rusting the bottom of the firewall. Water literally ran out when we removed the panel.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A...16-18_0001.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...16-18_0002.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E...16-18_0003.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X...16-18_0016.JPG

The opening was ground smooth of rust and corrosion and a plan was made for the new firewall.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f...16-18_0019.JPG

Fabricator John felt a large piece would allow him to start over cleanly.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q...01-17.0014.JPG

The edges are tapped over with a tee-shaped rounding dolley.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L...01-18.0018.jpg

Some shrinking helps tighten up the edges

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y...01-18.0019.jpg

The main piece seems to fit pretty well. Next, the tunnel portion is marked for an extension piece on the firewall. This will allow more clearance for the LT4.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V...01-18.0020.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d...01-18.0020.JPG

A trip to the Pullmax starts the tunnel housing extension. A pointed die begins to “fold” a flat section.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z...01-18.0024.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R...01-18.0022.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e...01-18.0023.jpg

The shape is roughed in.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y...01-18.0025.jpg

Some shrinking on the Mittler Brothers shrinker helps form the curves

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1...01-18.0026.jpg

And a bit more on the Pullmax to make the contours deeper.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0...01-18.0027.jpg

And the corners are tightened up with a sharp-edged dolley.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q...01-18.0028.jpg

A test fit with magnets and cleco clamps, things are looking good!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s...1-19.0002a.JPG

The section is tack welded to the firewall with the HTP Mig 200 welder, then test fit in the car.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z...1-19.0003a.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u...01-19.0001.JPG

The firewall is cut back a bit to facilitate the install of the new panel.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U...01-19.0002.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W...1-22.0001a.JPG

The welding is completed and metal-finished, then the panel is cleaned and treated with an epoxy primer on the inside.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7...1-22.0005a.JPG

Any corrosion is removed from the firewall, and weld-through primer is applied before the new panel is welded in place.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B...01-23.0001.JPG

The firewall is then welded to the car, and all welds are finished.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0...01-23.0003.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f...01-23.0005.JPG