1963 Impala LQ4 GT42R

[8valves]

I know it's not a Mopar, but if it pays... haha! This is a clients 1963 Impala with an LQ4 (6.0L Iron block LS) swap with a built 4L65E trans. It's a cool cruiser that's on bag's and 20's, and seeing as he's a big turbo guy having owned three different Nissan Skylines and a TT G35, this next step was natural. The goal of the project is purely to blow people's minds at car shows and make cool noises while cruising. It'll be incredibly fast spooling with such an undersized turbo combo, but that's half the fun of it.

I'll update this with more pictures (and ones from a real camera, not my phone) as it progresses. Note the modified Kwik Performance "hot rod" AC/ALT/PS brackets to clear the hood and make room for the headers. Still need to build the intake manifold, intercooler setup, and lay in a new wiring harness to get rid of the mess the person made that put the swap in the chassis. And the fuel system, and tucking a 4" exhaust so it can ride laid out. Enjoy!

[turbovanman²]

I really hate you, lol. Your doing work/fun stuff, I am doing 6.0L Powerjoke head gaskets,

Nice work,

[8valves]

Except that I do this work at work, and at home, so it sometimes takes the fun out of it.

EDIT: Thanks though! And sorry about the headgaskets; upsell him on a Cummins swap.

[omni_840]

Nice work!!

[shadow88]

What's the pipe size leading into the turbine flange? Looks tiny, so I'm sure it'll produce some wicked velocity and reduced lag. Awesome work, as always!!! don't you get bored of hearing that? lol

[turbovanman²]

Except that I do this work at work, and at home, so it sometimes takes the fun out of it.

EDIT: Thanks though! And sorry about the headgaskets; upsell him on a Cummins swap.

LOL, wish I could do it at home,

I am not sorry, the customer sure is though, lol.

[RoadWarrior222]

that one took me a few moments, you know when your eyes/visual processing lock on something and it takes a mental adjustment to see it straight... I thought at first glance you'd rat rodded the case of a dead crafstman impact or similar into it, and I was like ... took me a second to tell it was a light, doh.

[8valves]

What's the pipe size leading into the turbine flange? Looks tiny, so I'm sure it'll produce some wicked velocity and reduced lag. Awesome work, as always!!! don't you get bored of hearing that? lol

It's 1.875" primaries to a 2.500" secondary, which reduces to 2.000" into the SS flex bellows and up into the divided T4 turbine flange. Yes, it will have hella velocity, and likely hella backpressure too.

Twin TiAL MVR44 wastegates will be added shortly in a very cool manner, and then the hotside of the system is pretty well wrapped up.

Thanks guys, glad you enjoy seeing it.

[contraption22]

Wow! So awesome.

[2.216VTurbo]

Wow, your friend who welded those pieces is really good, you should hang out and watch over his shoulder to see how he works the TIG magic

[cordes]

Very impressive yet again Aaron. Please keep us updated as you progress through this project. I really enjoy your threads.

[RoadWarrior222]

When I join the playboy set, Ima gonna drive my Magnum down there to have twins put on it...


... or whatever else I happen to pick up...

[8valves]

Wow, your friend who welded those pieces is really good, you should hang out and watch over his shoulder to see how he works the TIG magic

I've tried to, but he's fairly mythical and hard to keep an eye on. I heard he was at SDAC in the parking lot offering to build SS tube headers free of charge but there were no takers, as everyone had perfectly good ported stockers. Hahahaha!

Before anyone has a heart attack from the above, it is all in good fun.

[cordes]

I didn't know you made it to SDAC this year. I'm bummed I missed you.

[2.216VTurbo]

^ He was only there like 10 minutes Brian, I didn't get to hear any Viper or Lambo stories

[8valves]

When I join the playboy set, Ima gonna drive my Magnum down there to have twins put on it...


... or whatever else I happen to pick up...

That wouldn't be hard to convince me of, Magnum's are one of my favorite!

I didn't know you made it to SDAC this year. I'm bummed I missed you.

Sorry bud, I was indeed there but not for every event. Friday night I was at the parking lot for a while, and Sunday my family and I strolled through the car show.

^ He was only there like 10 minutes Brian, I didn't get to hear any Viper or Lambo stories

Yeah right! I think we all just got distracted by the FJ that wanted to run over DJ, and a certain red mustang doing multiple lackluster attempts at a burnout, with a winner now and then

I had flown into town at 2AM that morning and had been running on 3 hrs of sleep all day till 1AM sat morning in the hotel lot... i thought I was doing pretty well! Not

[contraption22]

Bummed I missed you too. I would have at least liked to shake your hand, and maybe s absorb some TIG skills from you.

[cordes]

What a jip. Glad you were able to make it out though. I had a great time this year.

[8valves]

Bummed I missed you too. I would have at least liked to shake your hand, and maybe s absorb some TIG skills from you.

In that case Alan should be able to weld just fine now!

Progress...

Prioritized wastegate placement tacked


Midpipe assembly off the car


All welded up


A little promo




More to come. The wastegate recirculation should be a really wicked looking piece, and that'll be next. Intercooler next probably, and the intake manifold to top it all off while the wiring harness is finished off and the fuel system components start showing up.

Thanks guys! Enjoy!

[Force Fed Mopar]

Nice! Can you get a pic of the car itself too? My buddy that I am working with to try and start our own performance shop is a big Chevy guy, and has a soft spot for the early 60's Impalas, he will love to see this. We are planning on building one of his early 70's Camaros up w/ a turbo V8, similar to the F-bomb.

Also, what is the purpose of stepping up the secondary size and then dropping it? Fitment, or engineering?