Twin Turbo LS

[macdeb]

Spent day with Neal today bit of fettling with his Twin Turbo LS Chimaera, fook me that thing pulls. Oh, and nice that his racelogic traction control works on a day like today too to my relief.

Edited by macdeb on Saturday 5th February 16:47

[jojackson4]

Has he finished it ?

[macdeb]

He's been working on his house, but attention is back on car. Just needs cosmetics now as chassis refurb was done and mechanicals are,,, well,,,, awesome. Proper job.

[jojackson4]

Nice

[hoofa]

macdeb said:

Spent day with Neal today bit of fettling with his Twin Turbo LS Chimaera, fook me that thing pulls. Oh, and nice that his racelogic traction control works on a day like today too to my relief.

Edited by macdeb on Saturday 5th February 16:47

Look forward to this one long time coming 👍 top man

[Zener]

See it @ Neil Garners open day was nuts, he came in with Mac IIRC that's already a while ago now

[LongBaz]

Excellent, can't wait to have a ride in it.

[macdeb]

jojackson4 said:

Has he finished it ?

Petrochelli will have finished his house first. (i'm really that old)

[Wolvesboy]

Hi,

I am not really a fan of my RV8 engine in my Chimaera. I am totally in awe of those who convert to an LS engine - a mate had an LS3 in his Tamora and it was awesome (TC conversion then imported). He still had loads of diff issues though.

Does anyone (Neal?) possibly have any photos or really relevant info they would like to share about a Chimaera LS conversion? I have searched and read and searched but only basic information is available and nowhere near enough to lead me on the way.
In particular, stuff like how to do the engine mounts; locate the gear lever; sort the diff, sort ECU (alarm, fuelling, immobiliser) etc etc etc!

I actually phoned the guy at Top Cats a few years ago and he refused to help. I stated that I lived in Australia and was no competition etc but he was not helpful at all. Completely put me off tbh.

Any real help anyone?

[Pagey430]

try Sportmotive in the UK who specialise in TVR and LS conversions, I understand they can supply all that's needed in kit form for you to fit

hope they can help

[geordiepingu]

ECU and immobiliser are quite simple. Stick a standalone ECU on like a Megasquirt (my preference), emerald, haltech etc... most will be fine in a batch fuelling MS2 sort of config. Naturally then it is a case of mapping the car. Immobiliser is attached to the body side circuits of the car anyway which a standalone ECU will get power from.

Must admit the idea of an LS is more and more tempting after seeing how much an SC kit might cost.

- Ciaran

Edited by geordiepingu on Wednesday 9th February 22:24

[eff eff]

I agree with talking to Ian at Sportmotive, and I would use all GM engine management bits they fit, are reliable and are a good price.
The drivetrain maybe an issue with high horsepower engines.

[Boosted LS1]

The GM management protects the engine from knock and detonation very well. Plenty of engines have failed with cracked pistons that weren't using a GM pcm/ecu. It's likely to carry on happening.

A GM ecu and hot rod harness should be common place these days and it's start first time and be drivable.

[450Nick]

Totally agree... OEM ECU every time for me!

[s p a c e m a n]

Just out of idle curiosity as this thread is here and I've wondered in the past. Is there a conversion plate and clutch combo ect available to use the T5 box or is it too much hassle to bother with over sticking an engine and box in there?

[macdeb]

s p a c e m a n said:

Just out of idle curiosity as this thread is here and I've wondered in the past. Is there a conversion plate and clutch combo ect available to use the T5 box or is it too much hassle to bother with over sticking an engine and box in there?

Steve Heath (what happened to him?) from years back did something with this but I could never see the point as you'd have to keep power low. I went the other way with my Turbo set up and fitted a TKO600 gearbox, twin plate clutch and modified bellhousing to the RV8 as the torque was huge at 610lb and I didn't want to take chances. Do it right, do it once.

[eff eff]

LS7 clutch and a Tremec TR6060 six-speed on the back of my LS3. Tried the *custom" bell housing and a TKO600 gearbox from a south coast supplier proved to be a disaster. The first motion shaft was the wrong length and was supplied with and extended crankshaft spigot bearing that didn't adequately support the shaft, the custom bell housing cracked because it had no lower bolt fixings.......nightmare. So my advice use is GM parts from the flywheel to output shaft, you'll need a modified gearbox mount and an offset gear shift available from Tremec or MeLeod, but you'll save yourself a lot of grief

Edited by eff eff on Friday 11th February 20:03

[macdeb]

There are two differing output shaft lengths from memory on the TKO600 Ford/Chev' and differing gear ratios and the one I got was near as dammit the same ratios as the T5. The TKO600 is half size and weight again over T5. I'll dig out the info' I gained from my conversion (though it was in 'major mods' section) I bought the forward gearshift version (there are 3 from memory) and it slotted in same position for the Chimaera. The only mods were to turn around the existing gearbox mount so using same mounting points on the chassis and weld the shift bracket to opposing side. Bellhousing needed modifying obviously, along with crank centre input bearing, the clutch throw out bearing so the new twin plate pressure plate was in correct position allowing for wear. Slight exhaust move to clear larger gearbox. Sourced and did the work myself and not supplied by any garage. One 'specialist' pissed me about for 6 weeks with bellhousing mod' for far too long and so got a good mate to do that bit, Craig @ dynotorque who turned it around in two days! Plus, it was from RV8 to TKO. Still going strong in new owners hands being driven through alps to Italy, South of France twice by myself and to Portugal with new owner, so in no way a 'disaster' Neals car has the TKO6060 6 speed gearbox which has a rifle bolt change and is huge by comparison mated to the afore mentioned LS.
PS; efa, and would use reputable people who know what they are doing and it need not be a 'disaster' as some specialists are not quite what they may have you believe.

Edited by macdeb on Friday 11th February 22:48

Edited by macdeb on Friday 11th February 22:51

Edited by macdeb on Friday 11th February 22:54

[s p a c e m a n]

I always forget that there's a mods section in here, found your thread

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I always have idle musings when I think that I've possibly broken stuff, as far out there as eyeing up a mates yb Cossie engine when I was having oil pressure problems

You're correct, do it once an do it right. A T5 box must be worth a couple grand and without any major chassis mods, ratio problems or craziness for the shifter position it wouldn't make any sense not to sell it and use it for swap funds.