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2005 GXP Big Turbo Build **Street & Strip**

FurchesPerformance

Approved Vendor
I started a thread over @ LS1tech.com but I know most of you aren't going to see it there, so figured I would share here.

What I have is a 2005 Black Cherry Metallic GXP that we are going to essentially setup for the track with some limited street time. Generally the stuff I build is higher HP rwd applications, but I wanted something for the shop that was different. I have a few good friends that work with me regularly that really want to get their feet wet with racing, so we came up with the idea that we are going to turn the car into a street/strip project. I am going to handle all the major fab work late nights & on Sundays, while my two friends help out with all the tedious prep work throughout the week.

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Few goals we have set for ourselves:
-3250lb Race Weight (if we can come in under this number....great!)
-1.53 60'
-10.0 ET

I am certain we are going to break parts, make things 2-3 times and experiment a LOT. Either way, it's a few personal goals we are looking forward to achieve.
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First Things First:
Casey and Brian started attacking the car last weekend. All of the interior has been gutted. Now that everything is out and on the ground, we can start going through and thinning out the wiring harness, sound deadening material, air bags, XM reciever, Monsoon Amp and etc. Basically, we got together and started making a list of what we wanted to retain and what we are ditching.

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As of right now, the plan is to remove the air bag, module and unpin the harness back to the pcm. We are going to remove the factory amplified audio system, all of the wiring and the OEM headunit. XM/ Onstar is going to be removed and unpinned. Etc, Etc.

We will be keeping the HUD, Power Windows, Mirrors, OEM Shifter (Tap Shift), Rear Seats, Belts and some of the HVAC. We are undecided on the AC, but at the moment it is looking like we are probably going to ditch it. Ozite capet will replace the heavy stock stuff.

The big project for this weekend will be pulling out all the wiring we don't need for the harness any longer so we can start reinstalling the major interior components to retain a stockish appearance.
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Motor Combination:
We plan to keep the engine bay side of things pretty simple for now. Stock bottom LS4, stock 243 castings with Brian Tooley springs, top secret cam grind from Geoff @ Engine Power Systems, and the Trailblazer SS 90mm Truck Intake flipped.

...And YES the truck intake fits under the hood ;)

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During the week as we discussed turbo plumbing, we decided to pull the LS4 intake for hahas and test fit the TBSS manifold. Fortunately for us it fits.

This weekend the motor and transmission are coming out so we can prep the engine bay. There is a ton of work to be done in that area and the motor can use a few new gaskets plus the cam install. Im thinking we are going to tuck all the wiring in the bay while we are there and delete the ABS module. Lots of lines can get cleaned up and removed as well.

The Boost:
At the moment, the only part enroute is the turbo from Bullseye Performance. We opted for a Borg Warner S475 with the stainless v-band exhaust housing. Until the unit hits the floor early next week, I am not even thinking about the plumbing haha.
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Well, in a nutshell that post at least gets you up to speed on the project. We should be moving along pretty quickly as we are trying to get it done in time to hit an event at Lebanon in August, and maybe LS Fest in September.

Who knows, maybe it will breathe some new life back into the w-body game.
 




4t80 swap?
yeah... not doable

It's on the table, but not convinced that's the solution.

it wont work...
aside from having to section and weld in the ls4 starter boss into the 80e bellhousing...you have a differential housing that would occupy the same space as the engine block skirt. whether enough meat is present to grind it and get it all to fit or whether the block or trans would have to get cut and welded....couldnt tell you

your only option is to hope you can find all the GMR parts you can for the ls4 4t65e and keep a couple spare tranny's in yer trunk lol
 
it wont work...
aside from having to section and weld in the ls4 starter boss into the 80e bellhousing...you have a differential housing that would occupy the same space as the engine block skirt. whether enough meat is present to grind it and get it all to fit or whether the block or trans would have to get cut and welded....couldnt tell you

No other production GM trans-axle has the starter provision. No matter what transmission we go to, it would need the starter provision machined & or welded into the bell which is a relatively simple job all things considered.

As far as "not fitting" I have yet to see one person try, correct me if I'm wrong. In typical internet fashion...a bunch of people tossed photos of a 4t80 next to a 4t65 and said "see its big, that will never work"...and if memory serves me right...they said the same exact thing about it fitting with the 3800 (which as you already have first hand experience with, turned out to be false), but not one of those people have actually attempted to bolt it to the bellhousing.
 
I like where this is going

No other production GM trans-axle has the starter provision. No matter what transmission we go to, it would need the starter provision machined & or welded into the bell which is a relatively simple job all things considered.

As far as "not fitting" I have yet to see one person try, correct me if I'm wrong. In typical internet fashion...a bunch of people tossed photos of a 4t80 next to a 4t65 and said "see its big, that will never work"...and if memory serves me right...they said the same exact thing about it fitting with the 3800 (which as you already have first hand experience with, turned out to be false), but not one of those people have actually attempted to bolt it to the bellhousing.

Trannyman has a thread on it. I believe that some of the LS4 issues are addressed even though this is for a 3800 car.

http://www.grandprixforums.net/thre...UPDATE-Its-on-the-road!/page4?highlight=4t80e
 


In case you didn't know fieroguru ls4/f40 swap had to cut the bell housing for a starter mount. Not to much work from the looks of it
 
Didn't make as much progress as I would have like to...but some is better than none.

Dropped the subframe and got the motor and the transmission sitting on the ground. In the background you can see another spare aluminum subframe I snagged at my buddies salvage yard. I'm going to use it to fab up up some solid aluminum subframe bushings, and I also would like to touch up some of the factory welds and add a few gussets.

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Stripped the motor down and made a pile of what we were keppeing, versus whats getting tossed or removed. The tossed pile grew rather quickly lol

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In typical GXP fashion, the transmission had already been replaced at least once and the forward motor mount was broken in half. Surprise surprise.

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Engine bay is stripped 90% now. Still a few more items to pull, then I can start the wire tuck/ filling holes & prepping for paint.

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So for those of you who were curious....

As for transmission selection....4t80e looks like it wins the ticket! :th_king-normal:

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Required extremely minimal modification to bolt right up. Next I will address the starter pad!
 
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