My budget (slow) LSx build

[slow67]

Here is my extremely cheap build......

Its a 16' 1984 Cimarron SJ. Came from the factory with a 350 and a 12JE pump.

Two years ago I bought it and stuck in an 8:1 350 with a nice little hydraulic cam (I had the motor sitting around). Had problems with #7, turned out it ended up scoring a cylinder wall. Yanked the motor out and it sat for a bit.

Plans:
Rebuild the pump.
I put a Place Diverter on it 2 years ago.
Currently wet-sanding it and buffing the hull.
4.8L LR4 with 320,000 miles (still runs STRONG). I figure the cold block will tighten up the ring seal a little.
It should turn a B impeller 4300 rpm buy my estimation.

Also just received my order of stainless in to build some water jacketed headers. (will be about $100 cheaper than buying the PCM manifolds/risers, and look WWWAAAAYYYY better painted or polished).

Goals are a very reliable family lake boat that does around 60. Keeping the fuel injection. I'm using a 4.8 because it was FREE. Not hard at all to bolt in a 5.3 or 6.0 or 6.2 later down the road.

It did 60 mph (GPS) with the 8:1 cammed 350, hoping this 4.8 will be just as fast, but be more reliable (EFI) and better economy (I'm saving my 76 Rogers Bonneville for the hot-rod boosted LSx)
I will be doing the tuning with HPtuners.


The first 2 pics are from 2 years ago. The last one is from over the weekend from wet sanding and buffing (don't think its ever even been waxed).

Oh and yes, it is wrong hand drive.

 

[slow67]

There is $700 worth of stainless. 1 3/4" inside header tube, 2 1/4" outside. 3" collector, 4" outside.

The next pic is my mockup head.

And the last is my worn out Aluminum flywheel and a flexplate. I will use whichever one my PTO/bolts allow  :smile17:

 

[slow67]

And my welder. Thermal Arc 185.

 

[Devilman]

Cool project, keep it coming.  :smile17:  "Wrong hand drive", lol, funny.... :grin:

 

[slow67]

Cool project, keep it coming.  :smile17:  "Wrong hand drive", lol, funny.... :grin:

LOL, this boat is practice for when I do an LSx swap in my 76 Rogers  :smile17:

 

[slow67]

Haven't updated this thread in a bit. Still working on the headers, and been wet sanding/buffing the gelcoat. Figured out for sure it wasn't going to get wet by Memorial day, so I pulled out the minivan (25' pontoon). Put a starter on it and took it out for the first time this season.

 

[slow67]

Well somewhat of an update......been too busy to work on it, so I'm waiting till winter to finish the headers....for now will be running these  :evil:

 

[slow67]

Haven't touched in a year till recently.....been gettin 'glass work done as best I can (stupid rain).
Got the motor mounts built and currently fixing the 4.8L wiring harness.

 

[slow67]

Worked on some of the wiring tonight.....got all the emissions crap removed and somewhat organized the harness.  crazy.gif

Here is all the crap I removed  jump.gif

 

[Knotty Girl]

I got a head ache just looking at that.  I hate electrical.

 

[slow67]

I got a head ache just looking at that.  I hate electrical.

This really isn't bad....when I'm done the electrical on the motor will have 6 connections, then rest will plug into stuff on the motor. All the pinouts are easily available for LSx motors.

 

[FormulaZR]

Glad to see more LSx powered boats showing up!

I should have my LS1 Liberator finished in the next couple weeks. Right now the boat and I are in Ohio and it's been raining for the past 2 weeks, otherwise I'd already be done.


Slow67 - This Liberator will be my 2nd LS1 jet boat; so if I can help in any way please let me know.


Also, to everyone who has heard this: Glenwood marine DOES have the LS1 PTO adapters. I spend LOTS of time on the phone with them and we got it sorted out. CP Performance is still selling the wrong one; but you can get the correct one straight from Glenwood (Either 1310 or 1350 joint).

 

[slow67]

Glad to see more LSx powered boats showing up!

I should have my LS1 Liberator finished in the next couple weeks. Right now the boat and I are in Ohio and it's been raining for the past 2 weeks, otherwise I'd already be done.


Slow67 - This Liberator will be my 2nd LS1 jet boat; so if I can help in any way please let me know.


Also, to everyone who has heard this: Glenwood marine DOES have the LS1 PTO adapters. I spend LOTS of time on the phone with them and we got it sorted out. CP Performance is still selling the wrong one; but you can get the correct one straight from Glenwood (Either 1310 or 1350 joint).

Didn't know Glenwood has them now, but I know Kodiak marine does (1310 and 1350). Tom @ JBP can get them no problem.

Thanks for the offer, but I think I've pretty much got everything good to go. Got the floor glassed in last weekend. Looking to finish the transom, and start the re-assembly.

 

[FormulaZR]

Glad to see more LSx powered boats showing up!

I should have my LS1 Liberator finished in the next couple weeks. Right now the boat and I are in Ohio and it's been raining for the past 2 weeks, otherwise I'd already be done.


Slow67 - This Liberator will be my 2nd LS1 jet boat; so if I can help in any way please let me know.


Also, to everyone who has heard this: Glenwood marine DOES have the LS1 PTO adapters. I spend LOTS of time on the phone with them and we got it sorted out. CP Performance is still selling the wrong one; but you can get the correct one straight from Glenwood (Either 1310 or 1350 joint).

Didn't know Glenwood has them now, but I know Kodiak marine does (1310 and 1350). Tom @ JBP can get them no problem.

Thanks for the offer, but I think I've pretty much got everything good to go. Got the floor glassed in last weekend. Looking to finish the transom, and start the re-assembly.

Glenwood always had them, but they confused the LS1 for a late model Gen 1 SBC and has the LS1 stuff listed as LT1 stuff.

Also - to anyone else who is thinking about this; if you are going to run non-water injected over the transom headers, then 67-69 Camaro LS1 swap headers will work very nicely.