The no budget build - manual, LSA, SS

Tell us about your new PPV, show us some pictures, let us know how you did what you did!
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fuzzkill
Posts: 152
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 4:19 pm

The no budget build - manual, LSA, SS

Post by fuzzkill »

Starting this thread here to keep all my build information in one place - about to go balls deep on my 14 Caprice.

I have a 2014 V6 PPV
She will be getting a cammed LS3 with an LSA blower
TR6060 manual conversion
Twin disk clutch
Sequential shifter
SS 3.27 diff
Front/rear Brembos
Longtubes ... etc etc

AND

a *proper* SS interior swap. I have a complete Chevy SS donor. I will be doing carpet, dash, console, HUD, heated and cooled seats, electronic parking brake, push button start, proximity entry, door panels, cluster, radio, amp, etc. I also plan on bringing over the blind spot monitor and the mirrors from the SS. Only things I'm probably not going to use are the parking sensors and I'm undecided on the forward camera (collision avoidance).

I will get these features to work, minus the park sensors and possibly camera. This will be a massive undertaking and doing it all at the same time with the manual and engine swap is going to be fun.

I have been saving parts for almost 8 months now - I have everything here and finally ready to get started.

Will be posting regular updates here as we progress. Currently I have the SS in the shop and I'm in the process of stripping it down and assessing the electrical situation.

https://imgur.com/wuzXpk4
The victim

https://imgur.com/OWypaRL
The donor

https://imgur.com/oR1Huwm
https://imgur.com/dvvB2k0
https://imgur.com/iqxUu4B
https://imgur.com/l6AwHwJ
https://imgur.com/KKwvzCz

https://imgur.com/jOdsxLC
You lookin at me crooked?
fuzzkill
Posts: 152
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 4:19 pm

Re: The no budget build - manual, LSA, SS

Post by fuzzkill »

Got some more work done today

Image
Pulled the exhaust, then the driveshaft

Most the wiring I had already prepped for engine removal, just had to disconnect the steering shaft. Of course, it was a fighter. Had to use a ton of leverage and a sledge to get the shaft to slide off the rack.
After that, I setup my stands for the cradle. 5 of 6 cradle bolts came out easy to my surprise, but one was tweaked from the impact and me cursing a bit until I got it out.

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Comes out as a nice package

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Frame rails pretty tweaked

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Started stripping the harness off the motor. I have a 15 SS Manual engine harness that I will be using.
Also took off the manifolds, surprisingly none of the bolts broke. Bonus!

Next step is going to be to pull the motor off the subframe and get it on a stand for cleaning, inspection, and the cam install.
fuzzkill
Posts: 152
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 4:19 pm

Re: The no budget build - manual, LSA, SS

Post by fuzzkill »

Didn't get a ton done today, but a bit.

Image
Got the motor pulled off the subframe, and tranny separated from it.

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Pulled off the valve covers, and the engine looks remarkably clean inside. No varnish at all.

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Need to start scrapping some parts to make room. It's only going to get worse and I haven't even started taking apart the Caprice yet
CrashTestDummy
Posts: 2300
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:31 pm
Location: Pearland, Texas

Re: The no budget build - manual, LSA, SS

Post by CrashTestDummy »

Looks like a fun project!
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
2012 Caprice 9C1
1992 B4C 1LE Camaro
2018 Tahoe PPV (her car)
1995 DGGM Impala SS
1985 Firebird - 310 LS1 C Prepared autocross car.
1980 Bluebird Wanderlodge
And some others
Do YOU have my SPID?
smwalker
Administration Staff
Posts: 2201
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:44 am
Location: Azusa,CA

Re: The no budget build - manual, LSA, SS

Post by smwalker »

You are bringing over the SS interior harness correct?? ANd BCM and ECU and everything?
Steve Walker
Azusa, CA
'11 PPV 9C3 Huron White
fuzzkill
Posts: 152
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 4:19 pm

Re: The no budget build - manual, LSA, SS

Post by fuzzkill »

smwalker wrote: Mon Apr 26, 2021 4:01 pm You are bringing over the SS interior harness correct?? ANd BCM and ECU and everything?
Yes, that is the plan.

Other option would be adding a ton of circuits to the Caprice harness, and then still either using SS modules or 'hacking' the software to use a Caprice VIN with the SS calibration. I feel the easier method is to just lengthen the SS body harness, rest should be almost plug and play.
smwalker
Administration Staff
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Location: Azusa,CA

Re: The no budget build - manual, LSA, SS

Post by smwalker »

Only thing you may have to lengthen is the rear bumper harness. that gets a little short.

But I showed you the pics of where the interior harness lands in the back seat right? I just had to unwrap and reconfigure it. SRS wires went in front of the rear seat tunnel, everything else went in back like it's supposed to. Only had to depin about 20 or so wires from thier connectors.
Steve Walker
Azusa, CA
'11 PPV 9C3 Huron White
fuzzkill
Posts: 152
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2017 4:19 pm

Re: The no budget build - manual, LSA, SS

Post by fuzzkill »

smwalker wrote: Mon Apr 26, 2021 4:24 pm Only thing you may have to lengthen is the rear bumper harness. that gets a little short.

But I showed you the pics of where the interior harness lands in the back seat right? I just had to unwrap and reconfigure it. SRS wires went in front of the rear seat tunnel, everything else went in back like it's supposed to. Only had to depin about 20 or so wires from thier connectors.
No I don't recall that? Were you able to keep them tied away and secured like the OEM routing? Or did you have to take a shortcut because of the length difference? Last thing I want is some wire chafing in a year or two and trying to chase it down.

What all from the SS did you get functioning in the Caprice? I think the majority of the extra wires are audio related but the safety and seat modules are probably a good amount of it as well.

If it's only 20 wires to de pin/modify than that is great.
smwalker
Administration Staff
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Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:44 am
Location: Azusa,CA

Re: The no budget build - manual, LSA, SS

Post by smwalker »

Yea only the wires going to the SRS system had to be routed in a different way. And since I am keeping my AUX battery in the PPV I could not mount the SS radio amp in the SS spot so I put it under the rear deck which dramatically used less wire.

I did have to lengthen the wires going to the rear seat belt sensors.
I will have to make some modifications to the rear bumper harness (I am just going to make up a simple extension harness to lengthen all the wires)
And we will have to redo and maybe lengthen the taillight wires.

I will get you some fresh pics, cant find the ones I took before.
Maybe do a video on it.
Steve Walker
Azusa, CA
'11 PPV 9C3 Huron White
smwalker
Administration Staff
Posts: 2201
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:44 am
Location: Azusa,CA

Re: The no budget build - manual, LSA, SS

Post by smwalker »

> What all from the SS did you get functioning in the Caprice?
> I think the majority of the extra wires are audio related but the safety and
> seat modules are probably a good amount of it as well.

My goal is to bring over everything.
Gonna have to get an SS windshield to mount the lane sensing camera.
gonna have to get a front an rear bumper from AU with the sensor holes in them.

There is an extra antenna in the rear window of the SS that the PPV does not have so have to find a workaround for that. Not bringing glass from AU!!
Steve Walker
Azusa, CA
'11 PPV 9C3 Huron White
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