John, it is an absolute joy and a privilege to watch you work. The thought processes you go through are nothing more than total enlightenment for a guy like me. That jig you made to put that 5th bolt in was awesome. I suspect this Corvair is going to be a work of art just as the SuperSleeper Bug was!
I cant believe I havent seen Brandon say anything about this, i like it way better than his little billet clamo solution, this is gorgeous and almost looks factory, ive got a stage 2 4T65E in my GXP at the moment that i dont plan to put enough power out to blow the ass out of but if i do abd the decide to do an 80e swap then i will 100% be reaching out for both the guide and a dowel plate
@JohnReynolds661 that's fair, and he has definitely made some amazing products, I appreciate people like him and Martin Carillo, Martin's been making custom Polyurethane engine mounts for the LS4 cars for years and also offers his own belt tensioner which tbh I prefer the more stock look of over Brandon's, really I'm just happy there are guys out there still doing everything they can to keep the LS4 and the W Body platform alive
This kind of stuff gives me ambition to do things I can do with patience. I like watching a person work that I can learn from. You are one smart dude and seem to have a good handle on the hole picture. Looking forward to watching it come together. Ps. Seeing your VW I know you'll be successful. Thanks
I really like the fixture and the home made high speed spot facing end mill! I always smile when I see a Moroso oil pan. As a former Moroso employee it is like seeing an old friend. The folks who designed, fabricated, and welded that pan are true craftsmen and great people!
That's not the first hole you've taped. Where did you get your experience with hand and machine tools? I'm impressed! The drill guide is brilliant problem solving, as was the gap filler! I know professionally, you're an accomplished french horn player.
Years ago I knew a guy who made a series of home brew tools for specialty jobs like this. He would rent them for what seemed to be too cheap. The clincher was the rental was deducted form a VERY steep deposit. IOW, the tool you have here would be mailed out for a one time use at say $200. When it was returned in good condition and within a week you got $180 back. (he also charged a late fee if you were too slow) Basically a cheap rental when all was said and done.... and your tail was covered if the guy lost it because you already had his deposit money.
I didn't because Brandon Furches does a good job describing the process. He has a couple videos, check them out. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JhCmSQfpy9M.html
What are you going to do about the starter? The 4T80 does not support the starter mount for the LS4, I’m sure you’re aware. It almost looks like that oil pan has a boss for the starter to mount to but there does not appear to be enough clearance behind it to allow the starter to sit there.
Brilliant, as in everything. Your background is what I am interested in now. Is an educational/work CV compiled on you? I would love to understand more of the path that yielded such an impressive person. I know you have a wealth of brain cells functioning at a very high level, but your path to where you are now would be more interesting. Anyway, awesome content on supersleeper and now this project. Cheers Sir.
Well, now my head is too big to fit through the door! My profession was a classical studio musician but I've been tinkering my whole life in mechanical things. Before starting down a path on some fabrication project, it's important to analyze all the different ways it can be done. That's where some people get stuck. They take off, full speed down the wrong path. When the right path has been chosen, then it's a matter of using the systems acquired through past experience to follow the particular part of the project through. Having a mental image of how the finished project ( I'm not talking about the whole project, just a little portion of it) well look and perform helps. Having experience in off-road fabrication really helps. There are some very gifted people in that field. Parts have to endure violent terrain at speed and still look elegant.
@@JohnReynolds661 well... I guess this confirms my empirical belief that musicians have the most creative, intellectual minds. I thought you were retired from NASA... a shade tree rocket surgeon! Thanks for the reply.
What year is this Chevy motor, ?? I’m getting a 2007 or 8 Chevy pick up motor, automatic, I’m not getting the transmission, will any transmission fit on it , kool thanks happy new year 20211111 thanks BigAl California.
The LS4 has it’s own unique bellhousing bolt pattern that is based on the standard metric GM FWD bellhousing bolt pattern. The main thing that makes it unique is the starter location. The engine you are getting out of a pick up truck is going to have the standard Chevrolet V8 bellhousing bolt pattern that has been in use since 1955. That engine will not work in this application with a FWD transmission.
Can I ask why you don't just use a LS to Subaru transmission adapter and turn the engine 90 degrees they use those adapters all the time in rear engine kit cars. You would have more room to access all maintenance items.
Sure you can ask. If I wanted a North/ South engine orientation, I would skip the Subaru and go directly to a Mendeola which would handle 700 whp easier. But I don't want a N/S orientation, I want a East/ West orientation because it occupies less room behind the occupants. The whole point of this exercise is to mount a transverse, mid-engine V8 because it's more challenging. There are literally hundreds of N/S V8 transplants in Corvairs. But clean, transverse conversions are few and far between.
@@JohnReynolds661 sounds reasonable, maybe you can spin the set up to where the transmission is closest to the driver using Humvee geared hubs. Only a suggestion because you mentioned rear passenger space.
@@JohnReynolds661 yes, alsways my point with the toro 330 pound transaxle... it weights the same as a turbo 400 plus a 12 bolt rear...do some t480 s come stock with limited slip.. how to id?
He's mounting a 4T80E to an LS4 which GM never did (hence the missing bolt hole), it originally came with a 4T65E-HD transmission. That engine will destroy the 4T65 in short order, even with the stock engine and this one appears to be modified. The 4T80 was standard for V8 Cadillacs for many years. It's what should have come on this combo in the first place.
