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Full Version: LS engine and trans swap in 66 GTO (was other things...)
F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums > Community > General Discussion
tlillard23
I have a 66 GTO that I want to put a 6speed and a LS motor in it, Anyone got one for sale? How about any suggestions for making the car handle halfway decent, so I could autocross it and take it on the track?
I see there are all sort of aftermarket tubular A-Arms for the car, but some options are waaaay too pricey. Not really sure how to tell one part from the other.
BryanL
Find the protouring.com forum. Ls1tech eBay and Craigslist for parts
CrashTestDummy
QUOTE (tlillard23 @ Mar 30 2012, 08:14 PM) *
I have a 66 GTO that I want to put a 6speed and a LS motor in it, Anyone got one for sale? How about any suggestions for making the car handle halfway decent, so I could autocross it and take it on the track?
I see there are all sort of aftermarket tubular A-Arms for the car, but some options are waaaay too pricey. Not really sure how to tell one part from the other.


And most of the tubular A-arms out there, to be strong enough to hold up to roadracing, are usually as heavy as the factory stamped steel items. I'd be looking at Del-A-Lum bushings for the front, spherical rod ends for the upper and lower rear control arms and panhard bar, and then a close look at your shock and spring options. Global west probably has about the most pre-made suspension parts for that car:

http://www.globalwest.net/pontiac.html

Otherwise, you may want to peruse the Lefthander Chassis and Speedway Motors websites for parts for things you'll have to fab up to achieve your goals.

Sounds like a fun project.
roostmeyer
co-part.com is good for find wrecked cars in your area, car-part.com is a junkyard search thats good to check as well. I ended up finding my t56 and ls1 from different sellers on craigslist.

I wouldn't discount a L33 or equivalent 5.3L aluminum block motor if you can find one cheap enough to offset buying a new intake, pan, and accessory brackets. From what I've heard even the aluminum block 5.3's can be safely bored to the ls1 size.
tlillard23
thanks for all the suggestions. I found a 6.0 out of a 2005 GTO (15k miles!) includes manual trans complete from cleveland pic-a-part. Now I just need to work on the suspension mods, there are lotts of options out there, I am leaning towards global west. I have possibly talked a well known racecar builder in to working on the project, he never makes junk, so it should turn out fine. can't wait for the first track day, actually with me being me, I can't wait for the first 1/4 mile long burn out!

Would any one happen to have a strange engineering (or other totally cool rear end) for sale for my build?
and of course I will be looking for LS2 parts and good modifications.

Thanks again
Todd
tlillard23
Soooo.... I have the engine and trans, the clutch had a bunch of carpet in it. So it now has a new clutch. Have the radiator (Thanks Trackbird!). I am cornering the market on suspension that does NOT fit (that was a pun), 3 sets of upper and lower front control arms, Oops global west and the magic ball joints!
still looking for that strange rear end, some recaro seats and a "T" so I can enunciate PONTIAC instead of PONIAC, sort of like TOD and TODD, I guess the difference is the same. :-)

Who has some racing seats sitting around?

Thanks
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