Would you?

[GooseXRS]

If you worked at a Corvette speacialty perfomance shop and your boss told you that he wanted to drop a LS1 motor in your solara and convert it to rear wheel drive because it looked like it was meant to be rear wheel drive. Then he tells you that it would usually cost about 20K but because you work for him it will be much, much less....
Would you do it?
I mean think about it. More power than a 2JZ or any UZ AND a rear transaxle to even out the weight distribution. And the motor is only 76Lbs heavier than ours but the distribution of that weight would be better because the transaxle in the back instead of up front so weight distribution would be WAY better.
So what do you all think?
Would you do it?
Thank
Take Care
Androo

[Sp33d]

yes, be the pioneer for all of us.

-mark

[Turbosolara]

do it if you have 20k laying around and you have a secondary car. you will be a legend

[GooseXRS]

do it if you have 20k laying around and you have a secondary car. you will be a legend

It's my friend/boss. he said he would do it for 15-0 for a stranger. So for me because I will be doing most of the work myself. We will see. He spent about two hours today taking measurements. The thing is a LS weighs 496Lbs. with tranny while our MOTOR weighs 401Lbs. from what I have read (correct me if I am wrong) So take about 100Lbs. for the tranny and put that in the back which which is about the same up front but 100 more in the back evening out the weight(basically 100Lbs lighter in the front and a hundred pounds heavier in the back but same overall weight aproximately). And as far as the rear wheel clearance we would make custom fenders by using foam to shape it the way we want and then making a mold which means we can make some fiberglass or carbon fiber fenders for everybody that wants them (I would go fiberglass for sure just because of repairs if I need them).
Again these are NOT for sure plans we are putting our ideas together to see what we come up with.
All this started with the Idea of a 3UZ but why use a 300Hp 3UZ when you can use a 400Hp LS and add another 100-250Whp to that just by using parts that are laying around the shop. It would be rediculous.
INSANE
It would all come out of my paycheck too so it would be like just taking a paycut.
I really want to do this to show that it CAN be done and that the solara isnt just a chick car. I cant wait.
Take Care Guys/Girls
Andrew

[Turbosolara]

how much is LS1 by itself?

[GooseXRS]

usually about 3-5k. For me. much less. building from scratch.
free block and a lot of extra parts. thats if I do it. I kind of think it would be better in my 240sx.
Take Care
Andrew

[PhreakdOut]

These LS1 conversions are becoming very popular lately. Lots of power and lots of aftermarket parts. The engine is surprisingly light weight which has been key to the success of the recent Corvette. I have seen this done in Maxda RX7s and RX8s already. (Which are already rear wheel drive.)

Here are my concerns for you.
1) The Solara Unibody will struggle with a LS1 torque monster. At the very minimum, the front and rear subframes must be tied together. I would say that a full roll cage tied to the subframes and the frames together should be done. Heck, you could just go full tube chassis and sheetmetal floorboard.

2) Check your steering solutions. Doesn't the rack attach to the firewall right where your new transmission will want to go?

3) If you're going to hack up the floorboard for the transmission tunnel, you may as well add bellhousing shielding and crossmember bracing to support the transmission.

What were you planing for the rear end? How about the rear suspension? Solid rear axle versus independant.

My advice is to look for a wrecked car and work from that. Don't chop up a perfectly running vehicle since you will need it for your project anyway.

Have you gone off running and screaming yet? I think you should. I suspect you won't like all that is involved to get it done. I suspect it will cost more than you think. When it's all done, what do you have for the money? Was it worth it? Probably not.

[GooseXRS]

These LS1 conversions are becoming very popular lately. Lots of power and lots of aftermarket parts. The engine is surprisingly light weight which has been key to the success of the recent Corvette. I have seen this done in Maxda RX7s and RX8s already. (Which are already rear wheel drive.)

Here are my concerns for you.
1) The Solara Unibody will struggle with a LS1 torque monster. At the very minimum, the front and rear subframes must be tied together. I would say that a full roll cage tied to the subframes and the frames together should be done. Heck, you could just go full tube chassis and sheetmetal floorboard.

2) Check your steering solutions. Doesn't the rack attach to the firewall right where your new transmission will want to go?

3) If you're going to hack up the floorboard for the transmission tunnel, you may as well add bellhousing shielding and crossmember bracing to support the transmission.

What were you planing for the rear end? How about the rear suspension? Solid rear axle versus independant.

My advice is to look for a wrecked car and work from that. Don't chop up a perfectly running vehicle since you will need it for your project anyway.

Have you gone off running and screaming yet? I think you should. I suspect you won't like all that is involved to get it done. I suspect it will cost more than you think. When it's all done, what do you have for the money? Was it worth it? Probably not.

Why you gotta try and rain on my parade? I know I know and I know all of this has been thought of. My boss has been building racecars since he was 15 and now hes in his late 30's. We are putting together a parts list and seeing how much everything will cost. Thats the deciding factor but I still say that it shouldnt be that much since we have hook ups on EVERYTHING for the project. All I gotta say is if a hachi can handle 800 wheel and a Karmann Ghia can handle a 454 then this CAN be done. This should be easier than a supra swap that every one ejaculates over. Then what you have a dyno queen solara. I will leave that one alone with that. It can be done and if I dont do it now. Ill do it another time. But either my solara or my 240 is getting an LS The 240 has been done so im thinking solara. LS is the ultimate swap for sooo many cars.
Sorry to sound like an as$ but Iam beat. I spent the whole day building a pre runnered tacoma with a tundra v8 which has been said "cant be done, too much work"
Take Care
Laters

[GooseXRS]

by the way I think a Solara rwd running 11's allllllll daaaayyyyy long for a total cost of about 20k including the price of the car IS worth it. Some people on here paid that for their solara stock and others have invested that much to get their car to run 14's. Sorry another out burst.
Take Care
Andrew

[Midias]

I would go for it hell yes

[Solarafreek]

I say do it! I would love to see that

[hskrsolara]

Go for it man, you will be a legend!

[crispone]

These LS1 conversions are becoming very popular lately. Lots of power and lots of aftermarket parts. The engine is surprisingly light weight which has been key to the success of the recent Corvette. I have seen this done in Maxda RX7s and RX8s already. (Which are already rear wheel drive.)

Here are my concerns for you.
1) The Solara Unibody will struggle with a LS1 torque monster. At the very minimum, the front and rear subframes must be tied together. I would say that a full roll cage tied to the subframes and the frames together should be done. Heck, you could just go full tube chassis and sheetmetal floorboard.

2) Check your steering solutions. Doesn't the rack attach to the firewall right where your new transmission will want to go?

3) If you're going to hack up the floorboard for the transmission tunnel, you may as well add bellhousing shielding and crossmember bracing to support the transmission.

What were you planing for the rear end? How about the rear suspension? Solid rear axle versus independant.

My advice is to look for a wrecked car and work from that. Don't chop up a perfectly running vehicle since you will need it for your project anyway.

Have you gone off running and screaming yet? I think you should. I suspect you won't like all that is involved to get it done. I suspect it will cost more than you think. When it's all done, what do you have for the money? Was it worth it? Probably not.

BUMP, BUMP, BUMP....



Hell, GO FOR IT! (Brian, you are so right it hurts.... then again, the "race car builder buddy" IS in his late 30's.....

Goose, I'd hook you up with my '89 Supra at around 400whp, and with the switch to a Garret T04, injector swap, fuel pressure regulator, and minimal misc. parts, it'll put 500whp to the ground.... and the chassis/clutch/suspension/etc... are already all done. You would be THERE for less than 15k INCLUDING my car AND the labor.... (I think you will run every bit of 15-20k to do this project.... and it will take ALOT of time!!)

I got too many toys & projects laying around.... someone come take this stuff off my hands!!! (I could sell you JUST two 10lbs bottles of NOS for a "quick shits-n-giggles" on the 'lara in the meantime....?)

PS Reason I agree so strongly with PHREAK.... I had a Japanese "ZEN MASTER" senior advisor come over from Japan and work with me on a project this past couple months.... he used to be THE 280/300Z car test driver during the development for Nissan for YEARS.... I showed him my "modest" Solara mods, and he checked the engine bay, underbody, suspension, etc, etc.... and said: "much more power than mid-200's to 300 out of this, and you would have serious chassis/body flex issues.... not designed for such applications..." just as a comment when talking about the differences between my Supra and "modest" aspirations for the Solara....

BUT THEN AGAIN, DON'T LET US tell you SQUAT if you are set on pursuing the project.... just consider the voice of those who have already met the demons who live beyond the "point of diminishing return"....

Good Luck in your decision.... keep us posted.

-crisp

[**PoshPepper**]

Sounds like a cool idea, but at the same time sounds like too much work...

Goose... what shop do you work for?

[Nyyankees3511]

Good luck and have fun.