weird mullet questions... again.(chevrolet questions)| Grassroots Motorsports forum |

stealthfighter1 Reader
9/27/12 5:09 p.m.

what parts from a 91 camaro rs 5spd v8 would transplant into a box caprice? i've that basketcase camaro but want to take all the goodies(,like the t5 ) get a v8 caprice and start a box caprice protouring style build..that (very) slowly evolves and gets more sophisticated....

rear end?

Gearheadotaku SuperDork
9/27/12 7:42 p.m.

The T5 isn't the greatest, but will give you a start for now. No reason to swap in the rear end. Look for a wrecked LT1 cop car for suspension / brake up grades. I think they will fit the earlier cars. Maybe make some mounts for the seats if you want buckets. You could do a TPI 305 in the caprice fairly easy and cheap. It will make 230hp/300lbs if you mimic a 1992 G92 Z28. Much more than that and you'll need a trans upgrade. Possibly a NP3500 from a 4.3 V6 S-10. They used the same trans in full size trucks too, but first gear is too low for anything but pulling stumps. Maybe a Vortec 350 4 speed combo? could be cheap. With a tall rear gear you can get by without the overdrive. See this months issue of GRM.

novaderrik SuperDork
9/27/12 8:40 p.m.

you can get the good HD suspension pieces from any Caprice cop car built from 87-96.. grab everything that bolts to the frame- control arms, spindles, springs, steering linkage, sway bars, 8.5 rear end. this will get you 12" front disc brakes and either 11" drum (87-93)or 12" disc (94-96) rear brakes. they had 3.42 gears thru 93, then stepped down to 3.08 on the LT1 powered cars. small blocks love 3.42 gears in the heavy B body, so look for those.

regarding the trans- it won't be a bolt in deal, but it has been done. grab everything clutch (pedals, hydraulics, bellhousing, etc) and trans related from the donor car and figure out how to make it work.. one plus is that the T5 is the same length as a 700r4 and uses the same driveshaft yoke, so physically bolting it in will be a breeze..

stealthfighter1 Reader
9/27/12 8:55 p.m.

ok, great, i want the t5 to be "stage one" in making the car a sporty sedan, stockish sbc with a manual trans and start working my way from the rear end forward, i'd like taller gearing (3:73 or 4:10) but i know the stock caprice rear is 7.5, and i don't want to change the bolt pattern on the car that's why i thought of the camaro rear (8.5?) i do have ALL the 5spd parts from the camaro though and bigger front brakes n calipers from a 4th gen z28 i had... along with all the front susp. i doubt any of the suspension parts except rear trailing arms would fit from f to b (?) ... 5spd gauge cluster from the 3rd gen into the caprice worth the trouble? ANY other parts besides the trans ?

stealthfighter1 Reader
9/27/12 9:49 p.m.

just looked up, camaro is 7.5 also ...

novaderrik SuperDork
9/27/12 10:17 p.m.

change the bolt pattern.. it's worth it.. that gives you all the HD stuff (differential, brakes, etc) and makes 17" Impala SS or mid 80's 2wd 15X8 pickup rally wheels a bolt on deal- either one looks badass on a Caprice.

stealthfighter1 Reader
9/28/12 2:10 p.m.

i'd like to keep the 5x120 for wheel options... 80's corvettes and bmw wheels....

stealthfighter1 Reader
10/2/12 5:53 a.m.

as an option , would a lt1/t56 combo be just really easy and cheap into this car?

Bobzilla UltraDork
10/2/12 6:47 a.m.

I hate you so much right now. Really... I do. A pro-touring Box Caprice has been in my dreams for many many many years now.

The simplest and probably most cost effective upgrade would be a 4.8 or 5.3L truck engine/trans swap into the car. Because of the low hood clearance you'll want to use an LS1/6 intake on it, and might as well swap in a cam (wink wink, nudge nudge). For $7-800 you could get the engine/trans/harness from a wrecked truck and swap it all in. Put the LS1/6 intake on, pop in the new cam, reflash the computer and BOOM, 350hp and 6500rpms. Done.