Speedway Motors Week to Wicked Day Three: The LS3/4L70E Drivetrain Install Wrap-Up
Day three on the Speedway Motors Week to Wicked 1952 Chevy pickup build has come and gone—and we finally have our engine and trans where they belong…installed in the chassis! We anticipated a snug fit—even thought we may have to do some adjusting here and there to make the stout Chevy Performance LS3 engine and accompanying 4L70E from Performance Automatic fit without any unwanted interference—but as it turned out our biggest concern (the transmission bellhousing and case) was of no concern at all, as the very reason PA supplied that particular overdrive was due to its smaller overall size, especially in the bellhousing area that normally dictates firewall and trans tunnel relieving for proper clearance. Not in this case, no pun intended, as the 70 (in contrast to the larger 4L60E and even bigger 4L80E) clears with room to spare.
As for our 430hp LS engine, it too dropped in the Speedway Motors biscuit-type mounts between the 1952-footprint ‘rails like butter. We opted to cut back the top of the passenger-side framerail where the Hooker exhaust manifold and collector join just to provide some insurance for typical drivetrain vibration. The engine’s in, fuel line plumbed (deadhead-style through the in-tank pump), and the GM harness is ready to be plugged in, looms routed, and controllers mounted in their respective locations (yet to be determined); the exhaust system is ready to be built up; and once the Afco aluminum radiator is installed tomorrow, the cooling system plumbing can be configured and buttoned up.
Also on our itinerary for Day Four: finalize the Painless wiring (most of which was strung, hung, and plugged in today), steering linkage and transmission shifter linkage, finish up the Vintage Air engine compartment components, and so on and so forth. Check back early tomorrow for continued updates—and for more on all the Speedway Motors Week to Wicked parts particulars, don’t forget to visit the build list.
To read the original article, or to check out the build photos, click here.