72 ls1 Vega ( 10lbs of crap in a 5lb box?) Totaled!!

[waybad]

Looks like the engine needs to go back yet, it will all get better the further back you go as far as clearance,except the tunnel! The back of the heads needs to be just about touching the brakeline holder bracket on firewall. Youll most likely need to slice the tunnel and move it up and wider slightly. You can do this with minimal intrusion, by only slicing it and then move the metal strips up and make it wider,taller. You would then use added metal to cover up the work from bottom side. nothing you can see with engine and trans in car. The original tunnel is quite small and offset due tothe original design set up for a opel transmission. I also found this out the hardway, no way to get a t56up in there due to the size of the transmission and bellhousing.

I added the info to your pic, the( green lines) would be where and how youd slice it, the (red )would be where the back of the head needs to be right at the bracket.

Thanks so much!! I had the motor that far back in the other vega that I have and was wondering why it didn't fit in this one ,,never thought about the mods you have stated,, I will do just what you said,, that is were I need the clearance! I even thought about cutting holes where the trans bolts are so I can take them out from inside the car so trans remove can be done without pull the motor/trans together? thanks again and please keep the ideas coming!
TC

[80 MONZTA]

You can use the sway bar from a monza. It is bent in the middle for V8 clearence.

Don't worry about the sway bar, when you move the engine back, it is no longer in the way. In the pic below, I have over an inch of sway bar clearance with the driver side head 7/8" from firewall. Pass side head is 1 3/4" from firewall, looking at moving it back a little more (maybe). Don't know how different Monza's are from Vega's though.

sway bar clearance.jpg

[waybad]

Thanks,, I looked yesterday and the 75 Vega has a little different firewall than the 72???
the driverside is more intrusive into the engine compartment on the 72, by the gas pedal
looks like I will get out the saw and make some cuts to open it up some

[NixVegaGT]

I was thinking of putting access holes inside for the trans bolts on my car too. Needs more thought...

[norcalace]

Stop the assembly line. LS1s are dinosaurs.

There's a new kid in town; http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/pts/1340716668.html

[80 MONZTA]

Only problem that I see is there is not enough room to pull trans back, even if you have accsess holes for the bolts.

[NixVegaGT]

WOW that's a really good deal. That's about a grand more than what I've got into my engine and I won't be making the power.

[waybad]

if I can find a REALLY big hammer,, that might work

[waybad]

Looks like the engine needs to go back yet, it will all get better the further back you go as far as clearance,except the tunnel! The back of the heads needs to be just about touching the brakeline holder bracket on firewall. Youll most likely need to slice the tunnel and move it up and wider slightly. You can do this with minimal intrusion, by only slicing it and then move the metal strips up and make it wider,taller. You would then use added metal to cover up the work from bottom side. nothing you can see with engine and trans in car. The original tunnel is quite small and offset due tothe original design set up for a opel transmission. I also found this out the hardway, no way to get a t56up in there due to the size of the transmission and bellhousing.

I added the info to your pic, the( green lines) would be where and how youd slice it, the (red )would be where the back of the head needs to be right at the bracket.

For anyone who has done this, did you have to move the gas pedal at all?
thanks TC

[NixVegaGT]

I'm planning on moving my gas pedal. I guess that doesn't really answer your question. I wanted better positioning for heal/toe braking coming into the corners for downshifting.

[waybad]

I'm planning on moving my gas pedal. I guess that doesn't really answer your question. I wanted better positioning for heal/toe braking coming into the corners for downshifting.

Are you moving the brake also? or just the gas? TC

[megavega]

TC, no, you dont have to move it. If you look in my pics in my working log you can still see the mounting holes for the gas pedal and I chopped out alot of the firewall, you will only need to make slices kinda like a turkey feather rear, and then place metal in between the expanded slits. Of course the gas pedal simply mounts to any flat surface by a few bolts so you could easily move it if needed, just depends on how much room you want around the bellhousing bolts. I have NEVER been able to remove just the trans. by itself in any of my vega creations, just not enough room unless you moved the whole firewall back like 2-3 inchs.

One idea I was gonna use was to simply drill out holes just big enough to get a socket thru for removing the bellhousing bolts and place flat rubber plugs in them and then cover back up with carpet.

[waybad]

Thanks Megavega,, I going to try it today wish me luck!!

[NixVegaGT]

I'm just moving the gas. I like the brake pedal a little closer to the gas so I can just roll my heel into it to match gear speed. Currently it's about 1/4" too far away. You have a good point, I could move the brake but it seems like the gas will be easier. Geez, sorry about hijacking your project thread!

[waybad]

I'm just moving the gas. I like the brake pedal a little closer to the gas so I can just roll my heel into it to match gear speed. Currently it's about 1/4" too far away. You have a good point, I could move the brake but it seems like the gas will be easier. Geez, sorry about hijacking your project thread!

No Hijacking done here,, you never know what is said that might change the way things are done!
keep posting away please!! TC