There's no way it can be this easy. Can it?

"G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3" (gbodyman) 12/08/2015 at 21:37 • Filed to: Evening Pondering

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Step 1: acquire G-body with good rear frame rails.

Step 2: buy good condition used 5.3 truck motor

Step 3: buy Flex plate to adapt LSx to THM350

Step 4: buy engine mounts

Step 5: buy megasquirt II

Step 6: put in the engine

Step 7: wire everything up

Step 8: fill with fluids

Step 9: download a baseline map, and load it onto the MSII

Step 10: enjoy.

Of course, I have to do plumbing and get a new fuel pump and stuff like that, but if it’s actually this easy, should I go for it? I have plenty of time and enough money.

jkm7680 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 12/08/2015 at 21:44

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Literally none of that stuff is easy, haha.

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > jkm7680 12/08/2015 at 21:48

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IDK, buying engine mounts seems pretty straightforward.

crowmolly > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 12/08/2015 at 21:49

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1.) I think you may be greatly underestimating the wiring.

2.) What are you going to do for a fuel pump?

3.) Exhaust?

gmctavish needs more space > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 12/08/2015 at 21:49

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The hardest part will be #1. Not specific to frame rails, BC isn’t as bad for rust as most of Canada. Just finding one that isn’t either A: a Grand National/T-Type or B: AWN RIYUMZZ/hydros/terrible in some other way

Although I feel like a liar after looking at craigslist. They don’t look terrible atm......weird.

jkm7680 > TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! 12/08/2015 at 21:51

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Buying Vs. having to make your own.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > crowmolly 12/08/2015 at 21:52

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1) a preassembled MSII with a dedicated megasquirt harness and fuse box makes it essentially plug and play.

2) probably wire an electric one up to the RUN switched power wire under the dash.

3: for now, it will be the stock exhaust system hacked up to connect with the stock truck headers.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > gmctavish needs more space 12/08/2015 at 21:53

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If I go to look at 15 cars and one of them is fine, that’s a win in my book.

gmctavish needs more space > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 12/08/2015 at 21:55

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That is an excellent way of thinking

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > gmctavish needs more space 12/08/2015 at 21:57

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I’m going to look at a Cutlass Coupe this week.

crowmolly > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 12/08/2015 at 21:59

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1.) Not going to run any gauges except for the speedo? Is the stock body harness up to the task if you use the 5.3 alternator? I want to say older stuff taps out around 100 amps?

2.) From where? In the tank? If external, going to have it on a relay? Stock lines big enough? Etc.

3.) Well, that all depends on where the truck manifolds dump out. If they point straight at an engine crossmember or floorboards you may have trouble.

4.) How about power steering?

5.) Radiator going to hold up? How about hose placement?

DoYouEvenShift > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 12/08/2015 at 22:11

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A complete 5.3/6.0 with auto trans and wiring harness would be my route. All the fuses and relays would be setup already. Plus, you can have all gauge functions with an obdII gauge setup. Fuel is easy too, 255lph in tank pump with a Vette filter/regulator combo.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > crowmolly 12/08/2015 at 22:21

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I’ll run water temperature, volts, and a tach. I’ve wired those types of gauges before, so its not a new concept to me.

The stock body harness should handle it. IIRC, the alternator on my old cutlass was a 145 amp.

The stock lines are definitely big enough, and the megasquirt relay kit is what I will use to wire an external one.

Fair enough. I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

I probably won’t run power steering until I have the motor firmly in and can establish a good schematic.

I’ll take dimensions, go to the junkyard, and grab the biggest one that fits. I’m friendly with my local auto parts store, so hoses won’t be a problem.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > DoYouEvenShift 12/08/2015 at 22:23

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The more I learn about it, the more viable an in-tank electric pump is. I would buy the whole setup, but getting the GMT800 PCM to work with the G-body body harness is a PITA.

Your boy, BJR > gmctavish needs more space 12/08/2015 at 22:29

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Are you implying hydros are terrible?

gmctavish needs more space > Your boy, BJR 12/08/2015 at 22:34

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I find them terrible. I have no problem with people doing it to their car if it's their thing, I just personally don't like them

DoYouEvenShift > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 12/08/2015 at 22:36

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In tank really is the best way. Ive done it a few times. 255 lph pump, vette filter, some wiring and plumbing work.

The wiring isnt too bad once you simplify the harness. Remove what you dont need and all your left with is a fuse/relay box, a couple power and ground connections.

Or theres several companies that can do it for you if as well. Once you have it all laid out in front of you, its pretty straight forward.

tromoly > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 12/08/2015 at 22:36

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You should hook the fuel pump to run only when there’s oil pressure, can’t remember how to do it but I picked it up from my dad. It’s really good to do because if there’s engine trouble it stops pumping fuel and can help prevent a fire, especially in an accident.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > DoYouEvenShift 12/08/2015 at 22:38

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So I hear.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > tromoly 12/08/2015 at 22:38

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Good idea. I’ll do some more research.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 12/08/2015 at 22:39

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Step 5.5: TURBO

Your boy, BJR > gmctavish needs more space 12/08/2015 at 22:42

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You’re wrong but okay.

gmctavish needs more space > Your boy, BJR 12/08/2015 at 22:48

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These are more my thing, when it comes to old Impalas

Rock Bottom > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 12/08/2015 at 23:36

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Get the 5.3 with trans from a rolled over truck/van, with computer and ’tronic gas pedal. They show up as a set on Ebay pretty often. No fiddling around, just factory stuff that all works and plays well together. Also, that overdrive will make you smile the first time you need (or just want) to drive more than like 20 minutes on the highway. Many moons ago I built a very nice 383 stroker powered 81 Regal with a TH350 and loved it, except for that one time I drove it to Chicago! About 15 minutes into 3,000 RPMs at 70 mph I wanted to kick a puppy... hard.

Other than that, I say LONG LIVE THE G-BODY!

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 12/09/2015 at 00:14

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use stock harness and PCM cause then you run EFIlive to tune

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 12/09/2015 at 00:35

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Any idea how I could get that to work with the Cutlass’s body harness?

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 12/09/2015 at 02:39

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nope but all you need to run an LS motor is power and the pcm and few other things.

here is a vid to modify the harness

few other links of interest

http://www.lt1swap.com/