Yet another V8 build-not Crown or Kelmark

[Metalman]

Well, after recently buying the car, I've done research and found someone who will make an adapter. I was inspired by Dr. Mcreery's LS1 Corvair. I will be going with an LS4 (5.3) with a 996 transaxle. Main points: cost. compactness. The LS4 is one of the more compact of the LS motors. A half inch shorter than an LS1, but also the cooling inlet/outlet dump out in a clean location together in the corner. There are no hoses to stick out the back/front. I can score one for about a grand complete. It uses all the same cam/headers, etc. as the LS1, and have found someone who can do the tune to delete all the EGR/smog.

The 996 transaxle- wow, 6 speed, cable shift, and ran in the GT2 which was up to 489 hp? The hydraulic clutch will be a little work, but I scored the transaxle used (w/22k miles) for $2450, you can't touch a G50 for under $3500. The adapter with clutch/flexplate/flywheel/starter ran about $1500 from kitcarchassis.com. Exchanged many emails with Eric there and so far we're both on the same page. In fact he's done an LS4 to an Audi axle. Also the 996 trans appears to be small in length, though I think fuller in the body. I'll probably end up doing some sheet metal work. Also, the bellhousing to axle centerline looks to be shorter than the g50. Plans for the starter are a stock LS4 flexplate with a N* starter clocked to the 5 o'clock position.

Cooling, so my current idea sounds good but not sure if it will work. The engine has a pretty short profile, so I want to mount an oversized (large truck?) radiator flat in the engine bay with the largest cooling fans that will fit. The radiator will be on a rack of sorts mounted to the body, hinged so it will flip up. A spare deck lid will be cut out somehow with louvers or extruded aluminum grill, and will either pull air down or push it up. I know, I know...there are some flaws with airflow over the car/etc etc but it's not something that can't be undone. Routing lines to the front, ductwork, etc etc is a lot of work and intrusive so I'd like to try this first.

A subframe will be built for the engine mounts, control arm mount (LM suspension), and maybe even a mount added onto the adapter. Not sure on the drive axles exactly, but like the idea of newer GM bearing/hub with matching CV, and custom cut axles with the Porsche CV on the other end. This will probably lead into disk brakes.

I think that about covers it. This will be a long term project as I'm in Afghanistan and anticipating another year as a contractor here. I may even pay a shop to finish the work. Thanks for this site.

[flat6_musik]

That sounds like a pretty elaborate setup, but quite cool. I'd love to have that Porsche 996 transaxle. I think you'd do well to use a new, somewhat compact aluminum radiator up front, laid down as you said. With good air flow, I believe that'd be fine. Eliminating the stock fuel tank and running a fuel cell might even give you more options with the radiator mounting/air exhausting up front, although I wouldn't be too anxious on exhausting under-car if you could help it.

[Metalman]

Yeah, I had thought about doing what you said about the fuel cell. Was considering a hood scoop to act as an intake for the radiator with the output where the old tank is. Would probably cut up a secondary hood for testing. And I wonder just how much cooling pipes running under the car offers? So complicated yes, but not as complicated as trying to smog a Fiero in CA with an engine swap. Much more classier too. And if I ever had kids, I'd have somewhere for them to ride.