1987 Turbo II LT-1 8.8 IRS build

[jkrueger]

My car started as a track and autocross dedicated 87 Turbo II.  In the fall of 2008 my Dad and I found a good deal on a 94 LT-1/T56 out of a Camaro.  In the spring of 2009 we also installed a 8.8 IRS out of a Thunderbird.  I have 10K miles on the car since including two One Lap of America races in which we won our class both years.

Details:
Granny's Speed shop cradle and transmission mount

94 LT-1 stock bottom end
    Llyod Elliot custom cam (224/230  .571/.568 lift 110 LSA)
    1.6 Proform full roller rockers
    Comp Cams beehive valve springs
    Trick flow hardened push rods
    58mm throttle body
    Accel coil and ignition box
    alternator lowered on a custom bracket
    Remote oil filter
    3qt Canton Accusump
    AZ speed ceramic coated 1 3/4" long tube headers
    cold air box
    electric water pump
    Griffin radiator
    Fluidyne oil cooler
    Jim's Performance modified engine harness and computer
    Walbro 255lph fuel pump

8.8 Ford IRS 3.27 gears
    88-91 Mazda 929 driver's side axles
    custom made stub axles
    custom driveshaft

17x8 +40mm offset wheels
    5mm spacers on all 4 wheels
    225/50 front
    255/45 rear

Koni adjustable coil overs
Suspension technique's front adjustable sway bar
Racing Beat adjustable end links (front and rear)

Custom dash
Autometer gauges
Auto Power roll bar
Racequip 5 point harness
Sparco driver's side seat
Race On USA front nose piece

More pictures of the build can be found at the two links in my signature in the blog and album sections.





















   

[Rayminator]

Any details to share on those Stub shafts? Those look identical to the ones that Graham made.

Did you have a shop machine them up, or did you do them yourself? What bolts did you use for the assembly?
 Thanks for any details.
Thanks Ray

[kukri]

Do you have anything done safety wise to the motor besides accusump for the track? Oil baffle, heads drilled or anything? My buddy is trying to build a LT1 FC track car eventually and already has the motor, but we don't know much about track LT1s... only played with LS1s before.

When you track what kind of oil do you run? Anymore tips or advices?

Sweet build and good luck racing

[gadzooks]

you forgot the 5 pounds of Road America pea gravel ballast

[jkrueger]

Do you have anything done safety wise to the motor besides accusump for the track? Oil baffle, heads drilled or anything? My buddy is trying to build a LT1 FC track car eventually and already has the motor, but we don't know much about track LT1s... only played with LS1s before.

When you track what kind of oil do you run? Anymore tips or advices?

Sweet build and good luck racing

I haven't done anything else to the engine.  I'd like to put a Canton road race pan on it though.  I have to pull the engine to do that which is why I went with the accusump for now.  I will probably do that this fall when we rebuild the motor.

I haven't heard of drilling the heads.  What is involved with that???  We are still learning with the LT-1 as well.

I use 20-50w synthetic oil.  Royal Purple.

Tips, put an oil cooler on it.  The oil runs hot on the track.  We originally had the rx-7 cooler on it and the oil temp would  go as high as 270F before we had to slow down to cool it off.  It is no fun slowing down on tracks.

JC

[jkrueger]

Any details to share on those Stub shafts? Those look identical to the ones that Graham made.

Did you have a shop machine them up, or did you do them yourself? What bolts did you use for the assembly?
 Thanks for any details.
Thanks Ray

We actually copied Graham's 8.8 build except for the front mounts.  We had a local machine shop make the stub axles.  We took him the Ford inners and a picture of Graham's stubs and he made them up for us.  We used the same size bolts that were on the 929 axle except that it is a countersunk hex head with self locking nuts.

If you sent me your email I can send you some pictures.

JC

[kukri]

Some LS1 guys machined the heads for faster oil drain back into the oil pan, I didn't know if that's an issue with LT1s. You probably don't have much past 6000 anyway, so I don't think it would be an issue for you.

[WannaBeFast]

Nice car!!! What model front bumper is that? I really like it.

[jkrueger]

Nice car!!! What model front bumper is that? I really like it.

It is from raceonusa.com  I just looked at their website and couldn't find the model we bought, but I'm sure they still offer it.  We only bought it a year ago.

JC

[WannaBeFast]

Dude when I saw it -  it was love at first site. I absolutely want one. You made my day.

[jkrueger]

We've been doing some work on the car this winter.

Replaced our 90K motor with a 16K motor that we had as a spare.  While we had it out we put in a new custom cam from Llyod Elliot (224/230  .571/.568 lift 110 LSA), 1.6 full roller rockers, stiffer springs, and a 58mm throttle body.