66 Project (Pro Driver?)

[67-ls1]

In 1997 I bought a 67 Chevelle convertible to use as my daily driver. Sold my Ford Ranger and went full Chevelle. In early 98 I came across an almost new but wrecked 1998 Camaro with an LS1-4L60e and without even thinking I bought it and started the swap.
At that time there were zero parts available for this swap. I would call people and they would say it couldn’t be done. I knew it could because a saw a 55 Chevy in a magazine that had an LS1 and then saw an early Impala bubble top with one at a Goodguys show.
It took me about 8 months to get it done but everything worked great. I drove that car almost 100k over the next 5 years. I sold it in 2004.
So when I got the itch again, I decided to do a 66 Chevelle and go for max mpg. I started looking around for an engine and again found an almost new Camaro (2013) with a 3.6 liter V6 and a 6 speed auto. It was wrecked with 525 miles. The project was on.
Here are a few pics of the beginning.
Out with the old engine/trans.
The new engine as it arrived.
First attempt at fitting it in.

[67-ls1]

Once it was determined that the engine wasn’t going to slide in I decided to remove the body and do the entire chassis.
I ended up cutting and boxing the front crossmember to clear the oil pan.
Then I had to build motor mounts. How many of you knew that the front crossmember mounting surfaces were 90 degrees from one another?

[67-ls1]

As it turned out, the sides of the LFX V6 are perfectly parallel to one another. So I built a wood box the same width to start with the motor mount fabrication. Way easier than swinging the engine in and out a hundred times.
This pic is of the engine box mounted to the Camaro sub frame with the Camaro mounts. This way I knew it was correct.
I built the engine side plates out of wood and then transferred it to steel.
I tacked them together than pulled them for finish welding.

[67-ls1]

Loading up the frame to take it to be powdercoated.
The frame came back and was ready to assemble.
Full stage 4 Hotchkis suspension, front and rear.
Wilwood discs front and rear.

[67-ls1]

Having the body off made it easy to set the engine/trans. I was also able to run the brake and fuel lines. Also added the 17x8 and 18x9.5 rims and tires.
The exhaust down pipes (Manifolds are built in to the heads) from the Camaro lined up perfect with the humps in the stock Chevelle crossmember. Pure luck.

[67-ls1]

To set the body back down I had to enlarge the transmission tunnel. The new trans is huge and mounted a little higher for ground clearance and the proper driveshaft angle.

[chevymaher]

Looking good there.

[67-ls1]

Finished up my front air dam.
I made plates to mount it behind the bumper. I thought it would look better back a bit from the bumpers edge.
It also peaks in the center and fades back to the sides and wheel wells.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted it black or body color so I sprayed it white with peeling paint. More like a lower valance. I can peel it off it I didn’t like it.
What do you guys think, black or body color?

[chevymaher]

I like the black..

[67-ls1]

Yeah, I’m thinking black too. It kinda disappears that way. The white stands out to much.
I guess I’ll start peeling....