Just found this site and thought I'd post a little project a mate and I are working on.
This is what we started with.
Imageshack - fordshelbycobraconceptf.jpg
We're trying to run 10 second 1/4's for a $10,000 outlay. So far:
$400 for the motorless truck
$1200 for the low milage 2005 Ls1
$50 for Th350 to suit rebuild
$325 for diff and tailshafts
$725 for Camaro rear sump setup
$50 for radiator and 3000cfm thermo fans
$40 for water pump
$56 for engine mounts
$24 for rear trans mount
$145 for Bosch 044 fuel pump with alloy bracket
$40 for rails and throttle body
Free injectors
Free catalytic convertors from Kyle's conversions
$100 for muffler
$17 for battery isolation switch
$4 for seats (after finding $11 under old seats)
$20 two 15 x 7 "chaser" rims
$50 Alloy tray
$34 Misc
$3280 total
The big expenses to come are the auto rebuild, an Ls1/Th350 stall convertor and the converted harness.
Hopefully the finished truck will be under 3000lbs.
Motor in position:
http://img43.imageshack.us/my.php?im...e250520092.jpg
Left mount/header done:
http://img132.imageshack.us/my.php?i...8052009001.jpg
Right mount/header done:
http://img132.imageshack.us/my.php?i...8052009002.jpg
Had to drive to Canberra to pick up the motor. He was advertising it for 1800 bucks but got desperate.
After dummying the motor in the bay, we decided to cut a band out of the trans tunnel to get the motor further back. We also had to swap over to a Camaro sump setup for it's rear pan.
Motor and gearbox are now in and mounted. Modified some HSV extractors to fit. These extractors were supplied by Dale from Choose a site at a yet to be decided price.
http://img38.imageshack.us/my.php?im...re24052009.jpg
We spoke to the engineer and he signed off on cutting 10 inches off the chassis to cut the wheelbase from the too long 119 inches (same as a one tonner) to a more managable 109 inches. This is the chassis after the cut and shut.
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Decided to go with a VL Commodore diff as:
Better ratios for a non overdrive V8 ie 3.54 Vs 4.xx
Disc brakes bolt on
Commodore tailshaft flange
Easier to get 5 stud rims
Cheaper locker options
Just over half the weight
Diff was only 15mm wider so we did not shorten it. Just cut the VL mounts off and welded on the Rodeo pads.
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Will clean it all up with wire wheel/paint when I get it home.
This is the motor as it stands now. Still waiting on a water pump that seems to have gone missing in the mail :/
Imageshack - hiflofront.jpg
Score an alloy tray from the wreckers and cut it down to fit
It will be coming home this week for me to get started on all the things left to do. I'm hoping to have the battery, fuel tank, trans oil cooler and tray made and mounted in the coming 2 weeks