8.1 Chevy Vortec Swap....

[6D9]

Cool build man....cant wait to see the dyno results!

[69MyWay]

Micro update...

The headers finally came and we got them slammed on there on turkey day. I am now waiting on a set of killer JCL spiral baffles in place of the Hooker glass pack inserts. However, we slid the glass packs in and got it up and running.

I am still kicking myself for letting it run without oil for over a mile on 10/31 when the oil cooler line blew off and I didn't know it. No oil gauge at that time - but we have one now.

The engine is quite - After it fully warms up it is holding just over 20 psi of oil at idle. This is a stock oil pump.

The car is not street legal, but we made the run around the (paved) cornfield roads yesterday. The throttle response is crisp and instant. It will take off smooth as butter, but if you slip the clutch at all, or give it any throttle it lites the rear tires up. I have dabbled in the throttle a little - and all I can say is it is too much too fast to dabble with until the car is better suited for road use (no windshield, etc, right now).

The baffles should be here this coming week and we will go to the dyno (weather permitting) next week.

After that I am going to rough out all the a/c lines...etc, then the whole car comes back apart to start the paint/body/firewall - engine bay work.

So far I am happy with our decision to go down the road less traveled here. Would have all been better had we not run into the bum ebay engine - then the bum machine shop that screwed up the heads the first time...then me running it dry on oil. We have had some other dbw throttle issues - but believe it or not it all turned out to be a glitch in the software - not the components...of course after hour and hours of pouring over schematics...and research to verify the compatibility of all components.

[70rs]

Very cool! Im glad to hear it's almost there. And looking forward to more pictures as always.

[69MyWay]

And....it is done. We wrapped up with a dyno tune session last week at www.1320hp.com in Lenox, IL. Mike Hornback tweaked the PCM to an all around smooth tune.

Details and video here:

http://mcspeed.homestead.com/Killer-II-page-two.html

For a cam with less lift than the one stuffed in my LS1 69 Camaro - this is impressive. On a cold day, the car is making nearly 600 ft lbs at the crank.

When I took the car for a test drive, I was shocked at how it would just blister the tires in 1-2-3 gear from a roll with NO effort all...and now I know why.

So...what's next you ask? I am going to wrap up the plumbing on the a/c system and install the gauges. I'll also go ahead and wire the entire chassis...then she all comes apart to roll the body over and get it prepped and ready for paint. We already have all the interior..etc, so when it is painted I just have to assemble. We may be putting 2010 ZO6 calipers on as well as a few other fun things before I pick out the rolling stock.

I'm a happy camper. This car is going to be a blast with enough power to slam you in the seat at a mere whisper on the pedal...but smooth enough to idle like a Caddi and just sip the fuel in O/D (plus cruise control).

[radrambler]

Chris

nice numbers .congrats, should be fun to drive ...
WHEN ITS NOT FREEZING COLD!!!

Tom

[8.1 chevelle]

If you could find a marine harness it is only two wires to hook up very easy all self contained best move I ever made is putting one in my chevelle

[xx_ED_xx]

Beautiful vette. I was doing some research for a 8.1 thread and came across this. you can see mine at

http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/...rado-scsb.html

[8.1 chevelle]

I am totaly with you on this throtal at 50 or so in third gear just lights up the tires so much toq. scary ma-b 2 much naaaaaaaaaaaaa. just hang on

[Wayne S]

Originally Posted by 69MyWay

This car is going to be a blast with enough power to slam you in the seat at a mere whisper on the pedal...but smooth enough to idle like a Caddi and just sip the fuel in O/D (plus cruise control).

Congrats, I bet it's a blast. One thing though, as an owner of an 8.1 powered Suburban....the sipping fuel part. lol I'm not sure if I'd say that they sip fuel, but I'd be real curious as to what kind of mileage you can get out of one of these 8100's in a small, light car with enough OD to keep the RPM's really low, like 1500-1700. I would think that it should be above 20 mpg, but the key is keeping that rpm down. I find that my Suburban does best when I drive 50-55...which the best it's gotten was 14.5 mpg (but that's with 4.10's and a 4L80). What rear gears are you running again?

[69MyWay]

Originally Posted by Wayne S

Congrats, I bet it's a blast. One thing though, as an owner of an 8.1 powered Suburban....the sipping fuel part. lol I'm not sure if I'd say that they sip fuel, but I'd be real curious as to what kind of mileage you can get out of one of these 8100's in a small, light car with enough OD to keep the RPM's really low, like 1500-1700. I would think that it should be above 20 mpg, but the key is keeping that rpm down. I find that my Suburban does best when I drive 50-55...which the best it's gotten was 14.5 mpg (but that's with 4.10's and a 4L80). What rear gears are you running again?

Running a Richmond six speed tied to a 3:55 rear gear on what should be 26 or so inch tall tires. The 69 Vette has a low drag coefficient, so I suspect it will be smooth.

I was able to get right at 20 out of my old 69 Vette with 3:55 and EFI 468 Rat.

Look for the magazine article series (June and July 2010) in Corvette Enthusiast. I was able to expand on the whole process there.

Article now out...