LS1 Bling

[Aussie Mike]

Hi All,

Just thought I'd post a couple of pics of my new valve covers. They are made by GMPP (GM Performance Parts) and they arrived drom the US on Friday.



I've been having more fun with the TIG and fabricated a coolant overflow tank. I haven't polished it yet, it's still as welded.



The new valve covers don't have a proper fill cap just a boss for a PCV gromet. I machined that out and welded in a nice billet cap made by speedflow.



I really like the look of the motor now and the script on the valve covers gives people a few clues as to what it is. Most still don't pick it as an LS1 though.

Cheers

[Rebel1]

That injection system would look wayyyyy better on my engine.

Mike, any disappointments with that induction system?. In your opinion how does it compare performance wise with the standard LS1 system?

Cheers Mate...looks bluddy fantabulous.

[Aussie Mike]

I love it!

I'm not sure if it makes any more power. It may even make less. I loaned it to Phil Neall to try out and he had it dynoed on his motor and it made dissapointing numbers. It made less than his LS6 manifold but that may have been down to tuning or perhaps the cam characteristics of his motor.

It makes more than enough power for me. I was regularly hitting 7K RPM at Winton on the weekend so it doesn't seem to hurt the motors ability to rev.

Unfortunately I haven't really done any back to back driving with this and the stock manifold. It'll be interesting to see what sort of numbers it makes on the dyno when I get the new cam in.

Regardless I'd almost be happy to sacrafice a few HP just for looks of the thing.

Cheers

[Plums]

That looks great Mike.... People wouldn't link it to an LS1 because of the missing coil packs!

7 grand you say..... I gather you fitted the better valve springs then??? I wouldn't mind seeing some dyno figures for it as is.

[Aussie Mike]

Yep, it's got dual springs, Titanium retainers and roller rockers now. I experienced none of the vibration at high RPM I got last time at winton. That must have been valve float.

This winter I'll pull the motor and put the ARP rod bolts in along with the new cam and the LS2 Corvette sump. It'll probably need a set of 36Lb injectors too.

Hopefully if there'll be a dyno day organised this summer I can get to and find out what it's currently making. I'm also thinking about going to a Friday night drag meet to see what it runs through the traps. That should give me an idea how much power it makes.

Cheers

[LoBelly]

That engine bay just looks better and better* & not what you'd expect with the rat rod racer tag.

Nice to hear that your getting good results with the upgraded springs too.

I like the idea of another dyno day

LoBelly

*brand alliances still apply

[400TT]

Those rocker covers look great. Really suit your old look injection.

Yeah I agree, Rat Cobra on the outside, all bling on the inside.

[hogster]

looks pretty good but they can't spell "ford"

How hard can it be?

Hogster

[Plums]

Yes Mike, get down to the drags and see how she goes... I'd think it'll be somewhere around 125mph

Just out of interest, how much oil was in your catch can after your weekend of racing???

[Aussie Mike]

I drained about a litre out of it. The filter on the top has hardly any oil in the gauze so I'm thinking my baffle design works very well for condensing the oil mist.

I'm going to put a baffle inside the valley plate to hopefully condense some of the oil mist before it goes to the catch can. I'm also going to weld an AN#6 fitting onto the bottom of the front timing cover and connect it to the bottom of the catch can. This will have a one way check valve in it to let the oil drain down to the sump but not up to the catch can.

Cheers

[Gav]

Looks horn Mike.
Your TIG welding is great I'll submit my order soon.