[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

No, they’re from CAE/Castle Headers. It’s hit and miss with headers on LS conversions in older Commodores. There’s people who have had them fit with no dramas, and others who need to do extensive modifications to get them to fit. Mine only needed a couple of taps with a hammer to give enough clearance.

I’m using 1 3/4 inch tri y’s and its pretty tight, no idea how some use 17/8 4-1’s.

Easier to just go single turbo setup haha

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Haha I had a love/hate relationship with it over the last couple of weeks.

Got the box from Paul Rogers Performance Transmissions in VIC. It’s a TH400, full manual and rated to 1000-1100 hp. Got the converter through  him as well, Dominator with 4k stall

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Managed to get a fair bit done over the last two weekends. Did a bit of Macgyver work to get the bearing out, grinded the sides off a nut and poked it through the hole, then used a bolt through the end of the trans cross member to thread the bot onto and pulled it out. Filled the converter with half a litre of fluid, installed it onto the gearbox shaft and bolted the box to the motor and the converter to the flex plate. Fits up nicely.

Spent Saturday and Sunday on the car, and can finally say the motor and box are in 

Got them in without too much drama, the engine leveller was getting too hard to turn all the way to tilt it down enough so it was a bit tight getting it in but get there in the end. The headers were a pain to fit. Have to raise the motor to get the passenger side in but one of the pipes just touched the gearbox bellhousing and another just touched the chassis rail. Ended up folding the lip of the rail over a little bit and massaged the pipes with a hammer. Drivers side are in two pieces, have to drop the steering rack to fit the rear two pipes, got them in and the steering shaft on and the shaft was hitting the pipe. Ended up putting them in and out about 5 times while doing a bit of hammer work to make enough clearance but got there in the end. I’m a pro at taking the rack in and out now lol. Anyway both sides are in, gaskets are in, bolts are in, trans cross member and mount are in and eveything is done up tight. Pic time:

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

dave wrote:

Be careful using the grease pressing method on LS engines. The crank is hollow and has a core plug in the end behind the spigot bearing and it can apparently be pushed in by the grease and then you will have an engine oil leak when you put it back together

Yep heard about that issue using the grease method. Have to use a bearing puller

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

So the last few weeks have been two steps closer and one step back. Need to remove the pilot bearing from the back of the motor so the converter will fit. A mate has a bearing puller so gonna borrow that and have another crack at getting the motor and box together and into the car this weekend.

Also have some parts off the motor I’m selling if anyone needs stuff, got the a/c condenser and lines, sump/pickup/dipstick, engine mounts, starter motor.

Tidied up the garage as well, was bugger all room with the engine crane and stuff in there.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Thanks lads, I’ll let you know how it goes

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

I support this thread lol. Giz more details of the setup, what mounts, stall, header setup, how are you running the dump pipe etc.

I’m putting an LS3 into a VK and plan on going single turbo down the track.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Picked up the engine crane yesterday. Also grabbed a torque wrench cause I didnt have one and they were on sale. Went and picked up my motor and box as well. Was gonna start putting them in, but my garage looked like a brothel, and there was bugger all room left with the engine and crane in there so I spent today cleaning and organising everything. Have heaps more room now, aiming to start putting the motor and box in next weekend.

gonna bolt the box on and put it in together. The converter came with instructions, have to put half a litre of fluid in and make sure it’s connected to the three splines.

anyone who has done this before, please share your tips and tricks

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

I’m a sucker for a Supercheap sale. Just bought an engine crane and leveller for 250. Gonna go pick up my motor and box from my mates work and put them in at home in my garage. Saves having to organise a trailer again.

converter arrived today, finally.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

So the weekend didn’t go to plan. The converter didn’t arrive in time. Was going to put the motor and box in anyway to see how it fits but it would of been a lot of wasted effort. Got the motor ready to put in and bolted it in the bay before pulling it back out. Will be having another crack at it in a couple of weeks

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

That looks nice. Another job to add to my list haha

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Bolts are sorted. Spoke to a few places and found some old bolts that fit and went to Supercheap and Bunnings to get what I needed. All set for the weekend now

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Sounds like a plan lads.

Last minute order yesterday for some flex plate bolts, got some ARP ones from VPW for 50 bucks delivered. Just need a new oil pickup o ring, one more steering rack bolt and the engine mount to k frame bolts and I’m ready to slot the motor in this weekend

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Yeah I suppose it does. I suppose that’s the problem when you start freshening things up, you do one part and the other stuff looks shithouse so the one minor job turns into a massive one.

New stuff will come later on, might go for coil overs cause I want to run a set of 20’s, will get more clearance and adjustability. In the mean time, I’ll give it a clean up 

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

cava454 wrote:

Your getting new shocks yeah.

hadnt planned new ones yet, why? I have to wait till the motor and box are in to see how it sits so I know what to get

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Pics from the weekend:

 

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Good news…. It’s back on all four wheels! Got it all back together on Saturday. Borrowed a set of Spring compressors and got the struts in, got the rack in and connected, got the new VT hubs on, greased up the bearings, brake discs on, wheels on, back on the ground. Haven’t run any brake lines or put the booster in so left the calipers off for now. Will need to get new discs and pads before it hits the road so didn’t see much point putting them on. Steering turns properly, the wheels spin nice and smoothly, so hopefully I did an alright job. The whole car will get a thorough going over by an actual mechanic before it turns a wheel in anger.

gearbox arrived today. Converter, trans cooler and bolts will be here in a few days. Trailer is sorted for the weekend, towing it up to a mates workshop on Friday to get started slotting the motor and box in. Getting closer

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

VRSenator065 wrote:

Heron SSV wrote:

…I was using the wrong nuts,

Thought so, glad you got it sorted

me too, was getting paranoid about it.

found a sump, called around a heap of wreckers and only one had one but wanted 400. Ended up calling a conversion mob from Newcastle who has a few so picking it up on Saturday. Sump, oil pickup, dipstick and new o ring for 200.

gotta visit a local wrecker to find the bolts I need on Saturday.

also did a bit of sneaky online shopping, Supercheap had an online tool sale the other night so I picked up a set of Toolpro deep impact sockets for 45 bucks, 10mm to 24mm. Been after a set for a while.

dont think I’ll get the brakes connected in time but I should be able to get it rolling by Sunday (please, sweet baby Jesus lol)

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Countdown is on till the motor and box go in next weekend. I need to get some bolts for the following:

• engine mount to k frame
• steering rack to k frame
• gearbox X member to chassis

any suggestions on where to get them? Wreckers? Supercheap auto? Bunnings? I have no idea what sizes they are

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Got a heap done today. Sorted the k frame nut issue, I was using the wrong nuts, I had a heap that were exactly the same, but after some searching I found four that looked similar but weren’t as thick. Went on without a problem. Breaker bar got the one stuck bolt off.

After I got the k frame mounted I put the lower control arms and z bars on, then got the steering rack on and intermediate shaft connected. One of the rack bolts is stripped so I’ll get a new one. Pulled the old strut tops off but need to get some Spring compressors to get the new ones on

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