RWD LSJ Truck Build
09-19-2014, 08:55 PM
#27
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Made a dualpass endplate for the truck and a spare to sell. Drilled the hole, reamed it to size, knocked the 1/2" NPT fitting in and had a coworker tig them for me. The part# for the fitting from summit is 220073, $17.89 for 2fittings shipped. Much cheaper than buying new!
Also been getting a lot of parts and goodies in. New bearing retainer and seal are in, waiting on my solstice slave cylinder which should be here Wednesday. Got an OEM takeout from a car with 20 miles on it from some company that mods the cars. For $30 I figure its better than a parts store replacement.
I have 2 fittment issues with the LSJ sitting where it is; supercharger inlet and thermostat housing outlet. I'm working on addressing the thermostat housing this weekend. In my research I've found I have 2 possible solutions; OEM ecotec housing from something other than a LSJ, or go custom.
To go custom, I'd run a cbm thermostat delete, run an inline thermostat, add provisions for heater hoses and oil cooler. That sounds like a lot of money and trial and error involved. No thanks.
So I've been hanging around the jbody forums and soaking up info. I've found out that the ecotec thermostat housings interchange. So I went to the jy today and grabbed the water pipe and thermostat housing from a cavalier, l61 I think, for $1.99 lol. It hangs a 90'at the back of the engine instead of the LSJ that goes straight into the firewall. If it works, awesome. Then I'll have the issue of not having hookups for my factory oil cooler..I'll simply address that by tapping the factory oil cooler adapter to accept AN fittings and run an external cooler which should cool better and increase my oil capacity by at least 2qts.
09-19-2014, 09:02 PM
#28
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Nice build. I have a 92 ranger 2wd with a 2.3. I was thinking about a 2.3t or svo swap but this makes me wanna put a lsj in it. Two lsj powered vehicles would be sweet.
09-20-2014, 10:25 AM
#30
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I need to retain heater controls and the way I understand it, eliminating the thermostat housing will make that a PITA, same as running the CBM thermostat delete.
My first thoughts were to cut the sc inlet and redo it like you mention, currently I'm pondering firewall surgery vs modding the inlet for 2reasons. I can weld steel at home, I don't have provisions to weld aluminum. So I'd have to source that bit of work out if I modded the inlet. And 2, if i wanted to go TVS it'd be much better if it were just a bolt on affair. I'd hate to chop a TVS up lol
My first thoughts were to cut the sc inlet and redo it like you mention, currently I'm pondering firewall surgery vs modding the inlet for 2reasons. I can weld steel at home, I don't have provisions to weld aluminum. So I'd have to source that bit of work out if I modded the inlet. And 2, if i wanted to go TVS it'd be much better if it were just a bolt on affair. I'd hate to chop a TVS up lol
09-20-2014, 12:46 PM
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Clutch slave cylinder showed up today. Decided to throw it all together and get the transmission put in today. Didn't happen. Turns out the hydraulic line input on the solstice slave is larger than that of the Colorado slave so my clutch line fitting won't work. I'll have to see if I can find the proper adapter fitting or I'll have to try a Colorado slave cylinder and hope it works.
09-21-2014, 11:21 PM
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09-22-2014, 12:11 PM
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Thermostat/intake/oil filter.... that's three strikes man... going to have to chop up the firewall
09-22-2014, 01:37 PM
#39
I was going to mention the oil filter. How are you going to get that with it all tucked into the firewall? It's already a PITA to change and your adding a blind/arm bending firewall to the picture.
Thermostat/intake/oil filter.... that's three strikes man... going to have to chop up the firewall
Thermostat/intake/oil filter.... that's three strikes man... going to have to chop up the firewall
09-26-2014, 08:59 PM
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L61 thermostat housing on left and LSJ housing on the right.
L61 housing bolted up perfectly and clears the firewall now with lots of room to spare. There's a sensor in the thermostat housing that the LSJ doesn't use so I'll probably use the spot for an aftermarket gauge. Also pulled the factory oil cooler because it's in the way of the l61 water neck. Should have everything ready next weekend to put an air to oil cooler back
the limited room between the sc and thr firewall. 
the current idea is to cut the sc behind the bypass, leaving enough room to put a good heavy silicone elbow on and run through the path you can see between the firewall and engine. I will rework the firewall in this area as much as possible to gain as much clearance as possible. Unless I change my mind I'll probably start cutting tomorrow..
09-28-2014, 08:39 AM
#42
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Supercharger has been cut! Getting some couplers this week to hopefully get it all routed without cutting anything else. Factory oil cooler removed from oil cooler adapter. L61 thermostat outlet cut to clear oil cooler adapter. Drill and tap and fittings ordered to mod the factory oil cooler housing for a remote mount cooler.
Got a slave cylinder from a Colorado with ma5. Throw and all is the same as the solstice slave but the slave height is 1 1/4" shorter than the solstice unit. Too much to shim. From research it seems a dodge viper slave would work well. Before I buy another slave I think Ill try tapping the solstice slave so I can adapt it to -3an
12-06-2014, 08:50 PM
#46
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Heres the clearance between oil filter housing and fitting on the endplate, plenty of wiggle room:
Got some silicone couplers and such for the intake, seems like I'll be able to make something work
Ditched the l61 coolant stuff for this setup from a cobalt
Got some silicone couplers and such for the intake, seems like I'll be able to make something work
Ditched the l61 coolant stuff for this setup from a cobalt
12-06-2014, 08:55 PM
#47
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Got the transmission finished up and mounted tonight. Shifter comes up where its supposed to but needs to be lengthened a bunch.
Got the oil cooler drilled and tapped with no issues:
Got the oil cooler drilled and tapped with no issues:
