On episode 11 of HOT ROD Garage
Category
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MotorTranscript
00:00 [Music]
00:20 This time on Hot Rod Garage presented by Lincoln Tech, we're going to finish our quest to make our El Camino a more modern muscle car.
00:28 We've already done the brakes, we've already done the suspension, and now we're ripping out that Gen 1 small block and swapping in an all-aluminum LS3.
00:37 Right now though, here's another quick tip from Lincoln Tech.
00:40 [Music]
00:45 Hi, I'm Bill Schultz, I'm an instructor at Lincoln Tech, and today we're going to learn how to align your suspension to make it handle faster on the track.
00:52 From the factory, your car is aligned for maximum tire life and steerability.
00:57 But, if you want to go around corners really fast, you have to make some adjustments.
01:01 There are three suspension adjustments that contribute to the handling of the car.
01:05 Caster is pre-set from the factory and we cannot adjust it, but we can adjust tow and camber.
01:11 For cornering, we're going to increase negative camber and positive tow to make the vehicle more predictable.
01:18 Camber is tire lean, basically.
01:21 Tire lean outward is positive camber, tire lean inward is negative camber.
01:26 But when we increase negative camber, we're going to increase tire wear but improve our grip around high-speed cornering.
01:33 Lincoln Tech can teach you how to have a career working with cars. See LincolnEDU.com.
01:39 [Music]
01:45 [Music]
01:59 So here's the difference between our old small block Chevy and our brand new LS3.
02:04 The new engine is all aluminum. Cylinder block, the heads, whole thing, lighter.
02:09 Our old engine had a cast iron engine block, aluminum heads, a flat tappet cam, a carburetor, 10 to 1 compression,
02:16 and it made 420 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque.
02:20 This engine, unlike the production LS3, has the hotter ASA circle trap cam with 525-inch lift, 226, 236 degrees of duration on the intake and exhaust.
02:32 It's 10.7 to 1 and it makes 525 horsepower and about 475 pound-feet of torque.
02:39 It's powerful, it's fuel injected, it'll rev to 6,600 RPM, but this engine will not just fall into our El Camino.
02:46 We're going to have to make some mods to the car and the engine before we can bolt it in place.
02:51 Let's talk about the fuel system because we're going to have to upgrade that as well.
02:54 We need a system that will supply a steady 60 PSI, 45 gallons per hour of fuel to the LS3.
03:01 To do that, we swapped out our original steel tank and mechanical fuel pump for this Aeromotive Stealth tank and built-in pump.
03:08 This one here is powder-coated silver so it's not going to corrode on us.
03:12 It's got a factory-style sending unit already in it.
03:15 The pump drops into a baffle built into the tank and this will supply up to 900 horsepower naturally aspirated.
03:21 To plummet, we went with Earl's Speedflex hose, which is Teflon-lined and supposedly impervious to E85 and all those other crappy fuels we have today that have alcohol in them.
03:30 We used their black AnnoTuff fittings, which are really cool and a lot easier to assemble than the old style AN fittings we're used to.
03:38 Whether you're buying parts off Craigslist or the junkyard or you get a new LS3 crate motor from Chevrolet Performance,
03:45 you're going to want to know what you've got going on in the front of the motor.
03:49 On this side of the screen, we've got the truck water pump, which has a matching pulley.
03:54 Both of these are offset away from the motor for variable valve timing and whatnot.
03:58 Over here is the car stuff, which sits much closer to the motor.
04:02 You want to be careful you don't get that balancer pulley and that water pump because your belt will not align.
04:11 The big thing though is whether you've got a leaking heater core or not, don't just cap off the heater hose inlets and outlets
04:17 because if there is no flow from here to here, the first time you fill the radiator and fire this thing up,
04:22 you're probably going to have an air pocket in there and you're going to boil the motor over.
04:26 So whether you loop that or put in a new heater core, definitely plumb this stuff right here.
04:31 And a good thing to know is that ACDelco doesn't just make the OEM parts for General Motors.
04:37 They also make a full line of aftermarket parts for import, domestic, Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Honda, all the big ones.
04:45 Whether it's water pumps, alternators, power steering pumps, they've got it if you need it.
04:55 Well, God bless the automotive aftermarket because although Chevrolet Performance sells almost everything you need to fire this engine,
05:02 they don't have the stuff we need to mount it in the car.
05:05 And that's where Hooker comes in. Hooker sells these Super Competition swap mounts.
05:10 These are going to adapt the factory small block pillow blocks from the frame to the engine.
05:15 They also make mounts that will offset this engine rearward in the chassis.
05:18 So if you want to move it backwards anywhere from three inches all the way down to an inch and a quarter,
05:23 they make a plate that will also bolt in the same location and do that for you.
05:27 Look at that, it fits.
05:29 We went with the stock zero offset plates from Hooker.
05:33 We're going to be using these energy suspension polyurethane pillow blocks here instead of the stock rubber mounts
05:42 because that's going to give us less deflection, which is always a good thing.
05:46 And once we've got these bolted on the engine, the last thing we need to do before we're ready to bolt the trans and drop this thing in
05:54 is we've got to change the oil pan.
05:56 The pan that comes on the LS376 525 will not fit in the chassis of our A-Body El Camino.
06:02 Here are two options.
06:04 This pan here is from Chevrolet Performance.
06:06 It's a rear sump deal, cast aluminum.
06:08 It's built for F-Body cars. It works good in first-gen Camaros.
06:11 It will not work in the El Camino because the Zerk fittings on the steering will actually contact the front end of the oil pan.
06:18 This one here from Holley, also cast aluminum, has extra clearance built into the front of the pan to clear those Zerk fittings on the tie rod ends.
06:26 So this is going to be our deal.
06:27 Another benefit for us using this pan is it's a little bit lower profile, and since our car is lower,
06:32 this will give us a little extra ground clearance when we're going over speed bumps.
06:36 So here's our winner.
06:38 We've already got an ACDelco oil filter screwed onto this thing, so all we've got to do is bolt down the windage tray,
06:43 the oil pump pickup, add the gasket, and this is ready to go on our LS motor.
06:47 So we're not just changing the motor, we're also going to change the transmission.
07:00 This is our early model 4L60E transmission.
07:04 It's basically a 700R4 with an electronic valve body.
07:07 This is a 4L65.
07:09 Now the differences are this has a two-piece bell housing that bolts onto the transmission.
07:13 This one, the bell housing, is a part of the case.
07:16 You can bolt this onto the back of an LS-style engine, but it's going to require a different converter,
07:21 a different flex plate, and a half-inch thick spacer.
07:25 The benefits of going to this transmission are it has a beefier input shaft,
07:29 a 360-degree bell housing that actually bolts to the bottom of the oil pan, making the whole unit stronger.
07:35 And if you're wondering what the acronym and the nomenclature means on these transmissions,
07:40 4 is 4-speed, L is L-series transmission, and then the number at the end indicates the torque rating.
07:47 In this case, 600 pound-feet, 650 pound-feet.
07:51 And Gearstar actually beefed this one up with a 5-pinion planetary,
07:55 so this one is actually good to 4L70 specs or 700 pound-feet of torque.
08:00 [Music]
08:04 [Music]
08:32 [Music]
08:35 These are the cast-iron exhaust manifolds that come with the LS376 525.
08:41 They actually flow pretty well, but they are heavy,
08:45 and the outlets dump right near the rear control arm mounts.
08:48 It's not impossible to plumb this into a car, but it's not fun either.
08:52 And since we're trying to save weight,
08:55 we are going to go to these Hooker LS swap headers,
08:59 which have inch-and-three-quarter primary tubes, 5/16-inch flanges,
09:04 and a 2-1/2-inch collector.
09:06 They fit right into this car, and although they're not designed for A-bodies like our El Camino,
09:11 the only area of clearancing we're going to have to do is right there.
09:15 That contacts the front crossmember just a little bit, so we're going to do a little hammering there.
09:20 These are also available for Chevrolet Tri-5, A-body, F-body cars,
09:26 or if you're Carlos Lago, you can also buy a set for your doomed 240SX E-rod swap.
09:32 When the LS376 525 arrives, you're going to find that it only has a water pump on it.
09:37 You're missing all the other accessories.
09:39 But Chevrolet Performance will sell you a kit that includes the alternator,
09:43 the power steering pump, and an AC compressor if you want it.
09:47 The only problem is that AC compressor mounts low and on the passenger side of the engine,
09:51 which hinders installation in a lot of cars.
09:54 So, enter Holley.
09:56 Holley's got its own brackets and an AC compressor, and all the spacers, pulleys, belt,
10:02 everything you need to put it on the engine, and some of the best instructions I've ever seen in my entire life.
10:08 From the wiring, to assembling, to troubleshooting, to identifying which brackets off of which car you bought,
10:16 this thing has you covered.
10:17 This is cool, but we're going to take it off.
10:19 We're going to put the Holley stuff on because it's my wife's car, and ultimately, she's going to want cold air.
10:25 Or another husband.
10:27 One or the other.
10:29 If you decide that you indeed want to put the LS376 525 and 4L65E transmission in your A-body El Camino,
10:37 here's something you've got to know.
10:39 You are going to have to beat the hell out of the transmission tunnel right here on the passenger side,
10:44 and on the opposite side of the car.
10:46 The reason for that is the case is very large, it's bigger than your turbo 350 that probably came out of the car,
10:51 and it's going to rub.
10:53 The other reason is that the transmission lines are right here.
10:57 Those go to your transmission cooler, and there is no clearance for them.
11:00 So, get out your biggest hammer, beat the hell out of it, then you can put the transmission in the car.
11:05 But not before you put the transmission cooler lines on the transmission,
11:08 because if you don't, and you put the transmission in the car, you will never get those on the transmission.
11:14 I swear to you, ask me how I know.
11:17 [Music]
11:21 [Music]
11:24 [Music]
11:44 [Music]
11:47 The engine control system comes with two of these O2 sensors, and a pair of weld-in bungs,
12:03 that you need to install after the collector is in your exhaust.
12:08 We already had the bungs in ours, so we didn't have to weld them in.
12:11 And the one tip I'll give you here is that if you have any exhaust leaks upstream of the O2 sensor,
12:17 or immediately behind it, you know, within 20 inches,
12:21 that will throw off the reading, which will throw off the engine tune.
12:24 So, do a good job welding.
12:26 And here's something else you need to know.
12:28 The factory fuel rails terminate with a 3/8 hard line,
12:31 that you can't just adapt to AN without this special fitting.
12:35 So, this makes this an anode tuff, and it simply pushes on and locks into place, just like that.
12:42 And, then we can hook up our Earl's fitting and Speedflex hose, right to the end of it.
12:47 Another thing you want to think about when using this particular set of hose ends,
12:52 is that they do not swivel.
12:54 So, if you've got a 90 on one end and a 90 on the other,
12:58 you want to leave the body a little bit loose,
13:03 and then snug it after you're done installing it at whatever angle you need the thing to go at.
13:09 With the exception of a fuel system,
13:24 the Chevrolet Performance LS Series Crate Engine Control System
13:27 has everything you need to light off that LS3.
13:30 It even comes with a drive-by-wire throttle pedal,
13:32 so you can get rid of your old cable and factory linkage.
13:35 But the real benefit here, especially if you're not going to go the aftermarket route for your control system,
13:40 is that almost everything plugs in.
13:42 The ECU harnesses pre-terminated, plugs right in.
13:46 The fuse panel, already done for you, most of the wiring is complete.
13:50 All you've got to hook up is one 8-gauge battery cable,
13:53 and one wire to the cooling fans, one wire to the electric fuel pump.
13:57 These already have relays for them.
13:59 Once you get past that, everything else plugs in.
14:02 The MAP sensor, the MAF sensor, the O2 sensors, the injector harnesses,
14:07 it all just clicks right into place.
14:09 So what you're left with is figuring out how to mount the weatherproof ECU and the fuse box,
14:16 and we're going to go up here with it, I think,
14:18 high up on the inner fender, away from the exhaust heat,
14:21 and away from areas where water could splash up.
14:24 And once we're done with that, there's not a lot left to do to get this thing running.
14:28 The great thing about Flex-a-Lite's universal aluminum radiator are the T-slots in the end tanks,
14:44 which makes mounting it and fabricating brackets super easy.
14:47 One of the last pieces of the puzzle is the air intake system,
14:50 and Chevrolet Performance has a kit for that, too.
14:52 It comes with a dry element air filter, pre-bent tubing,
14:56 a bung for the MAF sensor that's already welded in place and clocked perfectly.
15:01 Basically, all you do is screw this thing together.
15:03 If you don't like the angle it's at, you can cut some of the tubing down just a little bit like we did,
15:07 but really, this deal is about a one-hour install, depending on how much you want to modify it.
15:12 Okay, we're almost done here.
15:14 Got our ACDelco starter in place.
15:16 This is the OEM version of the starter.
15:18 You can also get a less expensive but still pro-quality remanufactured or new unit at your parts house.
15:25 You can save a few bucks if you don't want to buy the OE stuff for an older car that you don't want to go all in on.
15:32 All right, oil in the engine, fluid in the trans.
15:39 The very last thing we have to do before we can fire the engine is plug in our drive-by-wire pedal.
15:46 We'll make a custom mount for that on the firewall.
15:49 That is a diagnostic port, which is super cool to have, and a single wire.
15:56 We're going to hook up inside here to the ignition switch to turn on the ECU.
16:01 That's it. We're ready to make noise.
16:05 Yay!
16:07 I'm so tired.
16:09 One important thing to think about after you do this engine swap is you're going to need a quality set of gauges.
16:34 The Velco only had a gas gauge and a speedometer from the factory.
16:38 Other than the clock, there was nothing else in this dashboard but some idiot lights that warned you,
16:43 "Hey, your engine already overheated or you already ran out of oil pressure."
16:47 That's not going to do.
16:49 Now, because we're using Chevrolet Performance's controller for this engine, it has an OBD2 diagnostic plug inside the car now.
16:57 Instead of that, you can go to a company like Race Pack and plug in its IQ3 dash with an adapter right into that diagnostic port.
17:05 Suddenly, this tiny cluster displays everything that that controller is seeing about the engine--
17:11 oil pressure, water temperature, air-fuel ratio, fuel pressure at the rail, anything you want to know that it's reading, this thing can display it.
17:20 Best of all, you can add a built-in data logger to this.
17:23 If you're into racing and you want lap times and all that other stuff recorded by your computer, it will do that.
17:29 We're back in Fontana, California at our super secret and private, because we paid for it, autocross track at Auto Club Raceway.
17:41 We're going to find out, can I reset the track record with our brand new Chevrolet Performance trade-in?
17:47 [MUSIC PLAYING]
17:51 [CAR ENGINE REVVING]
17:54 [MUSIC PLAYING]
17:58 [CAR ENGINE REVVING]
18:01 [MUSIC PLAYING]
18:04 [CAR ENGINE REVVING]
18:12 [MUSIC PLAYING]
18:15 [CAR ENGINE REVVING]
18:24 [MUSIC PLAYING]
18:27 Who just reset the track record by a full second? This guy.
18:32 And I would love to take all the credit for this, but to be honest, the car is lighter, it has way more horsepower,
18:38 so I really need to thank Chevrolet Performance, Holley, Gearstar, Earl's, Aeromotive, everybody that worked on this deal.
18:45 The car is a beast, and there's nothing left to fix on this thing, but I'm still not painting it for my wife.
18:52 [MUSIC PLAYING]
18:55 Welcome to another edition of Question and Answers with Finnegan and Freiburger.
19:00 Yep.
19:01 Freiburger's been on a little bit of a diet.
19:03 I think the audience is really aware that I'm kind of out of shape, and I want to work to fix that.
19:07 I started taking some of those veggie smoothies, going to lose some weight.
19:10 I've been getting a little pudgy.
19:11 Well, strangely enough, all of our questions this time are about Lalo's cargo.
19:16 That guy.
19:17 Have you seen his show?
19:18 No.
19:19 That's right.
19:22 Nick Emery Peckham wants to know who has done the best burnout, Freiburger, Finney, or Lalo's cargo?
19:30 I got to think that Lalo's cargo guy has done some pretty amazing burnouts.
19:34 I mean, the cars that he drives over at Motor Trend, I know I'm envious of, and I'm sure you are too.
19:39 Yeah, he gets to drive some really sexy stuff.
19:41 Speaking as Freiburger, I drive some fast cars, but that guy really drives some really cool cars.
19:46 Elijah Steele says, "I've got a 1.5 liter '90s Civic hatch.
19:51 It's revving out early.
19:52 Got a cat-back exhaust and a cold air intake.
19:55 It will jolt the car after it hits a certain RPM.
19:58 I've been told it was my airflow shutting the engine down."
20:01 Yeah, being the expert on Honda Civics in that generation, that's probably your VTEC engaging.
20:07 Kicked in and scared.
20:08 Yeah, exactly.
20:09 Just don't be afraid.
20:10 Just keep going.
20:11 When in doubt, throttle in.
20:13 It's just the VTEC.
20:15 Mark Soboluski wants to know how hard it is to talk and drive at the same time.
20:20 And it's terrifying.
20:22 It's the hardest thing we have to do on a daily basis, such that we actually enlist a green screen to film all the driving sequences
20:28 and have a wonderful team of CG creators design that all to look as real as it does.
20:34 Yeah, if you notice, we do a lot of Dukes of Hazzard driving, which is, you know, even when we're going straight, because we're new at this.
20:42 One day we'll be as good as those guys at Motor Trend. One day.
20:45 Dare to dream.
20:46 That's the goal. I know. One day.
20:48 If I could just, you know, wax poetic like Lieberman.
20:51 Yeah, someday.
20:52 You know, with a beard. As good as his. And the little doggies.
20:56 Michael asks, "Why did you go LSX on your Elko? Good choice, by the way."
21:01 He actually took a photo and circled it.
21:04 Art skills and a good question.
21:07 Yeah. I'm hoping for better fuel economy.
21:09 It makes 100 more horsepower than the old 383 that was in here.
21:14 And it probably won't leak.
21:16 As a Freiburger Car Pro tip, if you want better fuel economy, put in a more powerful V8 in your car.
21:23 Bam!
21:26 OK, Nikolai Volchensky.
21:29 Finnegan, "What's up with drag boats? We see occasionally in your shop.
21:33 You've never elaborated on that facet of your hobby.
21:36 I used to race them really well. Haven't in like three years because I made babies.
21:40 And sometimes babies get in the way of drag boat racing.
21:43 But the babies are old enough now where I think I can go drag boat racing again.
21:47 So yes, I'm building a 711 cubic inch Hemi with twin turbos.
21:52 That's two.
21:53 That's two. Why don't you do three?
21:55 Well, I ran out of money.
21:58 John Burkey, "When will the 240 SS face off against the Ratson?"
22:03 You know, Larlos really wants that to happen.
22:06 Yeah, well, it's an amazing car. Have you seen it?
22:08 No.
22:09 I'm scared of it.
22:10 Yeah, I'm really nervous about how well that thing runs and how fast it is.
22:14 Really?
22:15 Yeah, it's mint.
22:16 You're right. I don't think we should ever try to compete with that.
22:19 I don't know. I think we should try to make the Ratson run half as good as that 240 SS.
22:24 That's a tall order.
22:25 It is a very tall order, but I think we can do it.
22:27 Because usually it doesn't run at all. I mean, let's be honest.
22:30 Like most roadkill cars.
22:31 Right.
22:32 Stuart Alexander Sutherland.
22:34 That is a stout name, Stuart.
22:36 He's a senator.
22:38 SAS.
22:39 "Would Finnegan have built the 240 SS any differently?"
22:42 Yes. Yes, Finnegan would have built it differently.
22:46 It would still be in here, and it would not be running.
22:49 But it would one day make 1,500 horsepower for about four seconds.
22:55 There is no comeback for that, because it's true.
23:01 John Beavers.
23:03 John Beavers.
23:04 "Who would win in a head-to-head? The 240 SS or the Corvette Carte?"
23:08 What's the head-to-head entail?
23:10 That's the real...
23:11 I've never seen that show.
23:13 How you build the comparison is how you define who wins.
23:18 So I would probably do it on fuel economy and crash safety.
23:22 Just to guarantee that the Corvette wins.
23:25 Oh, not the ability to pull chicks or craftsmanship or...
23:30 We could do the test how quickly your car will do a 180 if you apply the brakes too hard.
23:34 And I think the Corvette will win that.
23:37 But you know what that means. The Corvette would be able to just parallel park a lot faster.
23:41 Yeah. Roadkill, where we help you drive in the city better.
23:46 I really think the only way to define which is a better car is to see which one could jump over the most cats.
23:52 Imagine that video on the internet.
23:54 Yeah, that'd be pretty great.
23:55 Yeah, kitty chat.
23:56 If you have cats, please send them to Roadkill.
23:59 Care of Mike Finnegan.
24:01 A good fry burger.
24:03 And on that note, I think we've touched everything we can touch without going to jail.
24:08 We'll see you next time.
24:09 And if you want to have your questions answered by Freebarger and Finnegan,
24:13 go to Facebook.com/HotRodGarageShowPage.
24:17 We're out!
24:18 Bam!
24:23 This engine swap is done and it kicks ass.
24:26 If you guys want more Hot Rod Garage, go to Facebook, search Hot Rod Garage Show,
24:31 and we'll see you next time.
24:32 Oh, oh, lucky charms.
24:34 See, I was trying to not be racist.
24:36 Sometimes you gotta go there.
24:39 You just went for it.
24:40 It's YouTube, come on.
24:41 Alright, um...
24:42 It's okay, it's on the internet.
24:45 You can say whatever you want.
24:47 Al Gore said it's fine. He owns the whole thing, so I'm not gonna argue with that guy.
24:52 I would run more dual plus quad Holleys.
24:55 Do a deck of Holleys.
24:57 That sounds good, right?
24:58 16?
24:59 Yes.
25:00 Square root Holleys.
25:01 Yes, yeah, with superchargers and a blower and turbos and blinker fluid.
25:06 Very important stuff.
25:07 There you go, Max Flores.
25:08 Car tech tip.
25:09 Yeah.
25:10 Mint! Bam!
25:11 Oh, dude, you are him.
25:16 'Cause every time he goes, "Can I get a clap?" I start and then I go, "No, that's Freiburger's job."
25:21 Yeah, I am Freiburger.
25:22 Of course I'm Freiburger.
25:23 That's what I do.
25:24 Bam!
25:27 [BLANK_AUDIO]