Gbody 5.3L LSA Blown Conversion - Holley Swap Kit - Address your questions thread

[BanditDave]

Hey Guys,

Been doing a lot of thinking about the direction of my build, where it has gone (repeatedly) and where I really want it to be. Over the last few weeks watching several friends run the road course as well as autocross I have come to the conclusion (that really isn't a revelation) that the twin turbo, 800 RWHP combo is going to be stupid for any real driving experience. I don't want to be afraid of the damn car or have it be unpredictable. Since these are T3 57mm Borg Warners, they should basically light off instantaneously and fry the tires to 5500 then fall on its face. Totally unnecessary and kind stupid for what my goals originally were.

That being said, the twins, the piping and LS3 Vette manifolds, the Moroso engine mounts, car shop 1"set backs and the CTSV oil pan currently on my 5.3L will be up for sale starting now (the CTSV pan has dual 10AN return fittings welded at the front of the pan seen below):









I will update with the for sale link once I list the parts.


So what is the point of this thread? Following along with the Gbody Conversion Thread and the Holley Gbody Conversion Thread on this forum I noticed a reoccurring theme of folks asking if certain parts work with certain combos, etc...most notably "Do Holley/Hooker's headers work with the 1" set-back plates. Before I yank this motor to swap the pan and reinstall the AC box, etc... I will be test fitting the largest set they offer - the 1.875" primary long tubes in stainless:



This will only be able to tell people if it clears the frame but will not answer if it clears the AC box to be perfectly transparent with the readers....but at least it will help.

Once complete I will be yanking the Moroso mounts, swapping oil pans to the 302-2 Holley pan and replacing the motor mounts with the Holley/Prothane combo. I will also most likely be adjusting the location of the trans mount since I had the Holley crossmember working with the 1" setback plates...annoying but will be necessary.









I will be taking pictures and documenting every step of the way for the Swap folks, if I have interference issues....etc...I also promise to make the pics a little less shi*tty than some above...haha.

I am probably going to be using the Holley exhaust too, but with Borla mufflers as I haven't tried them yet (no offense to Holley...just a preference).

The other portion of this build will highlight another reasonably hot topic in this forum - Cathedral heads with the LSA blower! :hump: I am purchasing a set of adapter plates from ThirdGen on this forum and will be slapping an LSA blower on this build. Main reason for this is that I miss this car:





I had to grow up and was going to be a Dad...it was the right choice at the time to get rid of this after 7 months...haha...I'll have another one some day. For now, I plan to recreate this car in the form of a Pro-Touring, LSA blown Cutlass! Here's a rendering to wet the whistle:



OK....think that's it for now. I will be updating this again tonight so stay tuned.

Dave