Looking good Tim. Nice job.
You can check ls1tech.com for parts. There's always someone selling lsx engines and parts. Good luck.

turns out my mockup block is an ls2 block. never really paid any attention since i thought it was trash. it has a few nicks in the deck and the front surfaces which can be welded up. ive also been told that the 5.3 blocks are stronger since there are no windows in the lower webbing. problem is this only complicates windage issues at high rpm. so, steve is telling me to use the ls2 block that i have.

i now just need to decide what i want to do and who i want to build it. im down to two builders right now and will call one more tomorrow. i have a feeling theyll be close to 20k and thats not in my budget. as far as size, i was originally quoted 1500 for a new ls3 block for a 416 and i can buy a block and get it sleeved for 2300. so for 800 bucks more i can get 454 ci. easy choice in my mind since i will regret it if i dont, plus i have friggin 600 dollar hood hinges. the problem is with the added power, the engine builders want me to add a bunch more money for better parts (dry sump, steel caps, titanium valves etc..) this will add a TON to the cost and kill the idea. if i could just build it the same as the 416 but with more cubes it will get done. not sure this motor will ever get pushed the way i think they believe it will. 95% street use and my car and my skills wont complete an autocross like kyle. i just cant see running a dry sump on the street. hell, the 4k cost would buy me a rebuild.

no updated pics, but ive gotten some more work done. i ended up welding a 1/4 plate to the bottom of the closeout that mounts the latch. i was going to bolt it so it could be adjusted, but decided that i could move the part mounted to the hood so there was no need. i also had to cut and weld on the nice cast latch that i bought from rick a while back. since my closeout doesnt drop down like stock, the part that the hook goes into was about 1/8 too long. in addition, it hit the little trim ring that the pin goes through. i ended up taking about 3/4" off. all i need now is the hook and the closeout is complete. i work the next 3 days, but ill get some pics when i get back home. heres a pic of the latch that i had to cut down.

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/s...lishedassy.jpg

Turn Key Engine Supply - worked with Kolby there to get my LS3 - a little ways south of you in Oceanside.

Can't recommend them enough!

thanks. i thought of them, just wasnt sure if they did custom stuff or just supplied crate engines. i'll look into it a little more. right now, im still stuck on charlie at rpm in santa clarita and erik at hke in texas. one has tax, the other has shipping. both seem to be great builders. im going to call a couple more socal shops, but i dont know that im going to find much else.

They do some awesome work - got their start in trophy truck engines and have been expanding the business ever since. Do some custom work as well, I started off with a crate LS3 and had them start tweaking from there.

Again, couldn't recommend them enough and Kolby / Paul are stand up guys. They put up with me stopping by their shop on once a month or so to talk for 6 months before I placed my order haha.

heres the last pics on the closeout. other than some smoothing and paint, its done. i got the hook done, and although it sits higher than i want it works really well. i had to balance being able to get my hand in to unlatch it with trying to make it as short as possible. luckly i have huge hands..... i was able to unlatch the pin and put ~100lbs of pull on the hood and it didnt budge. forces at speed are insane, but i think it will be sufficent. you can also see how i shaved down the part that holds the hook. i took 3/4" off and it works really well.

next up is finishing the front bumper. still need to get it cut to the correct angle for the grille. i'll finish it off with some 1/4" round bar on the lip to make it nice and smooth. i also need to get the inserts mounted. after the bumper i will start working on the front inner fenders.

http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/a...i/IMG_1710.jpg
http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/a...i/IMG_1711.jpg
http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/a...IMG_1712-2.jpg
http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/a...i/IMG_1718.jpg
http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/a...IMG_1716-1.jpg
http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/a...i/IMG_1714.jpg

It looks great, you do very nice work. :thumbsup:

getting better and better :thumbsup:

just spent 3 hours trying to get the bumper back on and re aligned. i pulled it to do a little straigtening before welding the round bar to the edge against the grille. the camaro guys dont know how well they have it with nothing to line the bumper up with. between the headlight extensions and the grille its frustrating as hell.

i also finally pulled the trigger and bought an ls7 short block. its sitting at RED in oceanside and will be getting a full sleeve job. i will end up boring it to 4.185 and will either build a 4" stroke 440 or a 4.125" stroke 454. im really wanting to do the 454 and will have to look past some of the hype about rod angles. the longer sleeves get rid of the issue of piston rock with the longer stroke. i also now have the stock titanium rods and ls7 crank for sale........

im also deciding if i want to do a wet sump with accusump, or an ls7 dry sump. the wet sump would use the autokraft pan and the dry would use the stock pan, avaid pan baffle, stock pump and peterson 2.5 gallon tank. i found a pretty good deal on most of the ls7 stuff, so a rough quote makes these two systems about $200 apart. at this point, 200 means nothing. but, some say the ls7 system isnt any good and start upgrading even more parts. if i have to run an ARE pan, ls9 pump etc., its no longer worth it. but, if the poorly built ls7 dret system is still better than any wet sump pan it will be worth it to me. any thoughts? ron gave me some good insight.

have a quote from charlie at RPM and waiting on livernois, wegner, dan zio and hke

more to come.....