With the compressor in its...
With the compressor in its elevated position, the custom inner fender did not fit without being notched.
Now that we’d gotten this far, we started wondering about how we could hide the coil packs. The MSD Multi Spark Coils replace stock GM Gen III coils and fire multiple times for improved ignition and performance. That’s what MSD says and that’s what we’re counting on. And they’re good looking, but they didn’t fit the appearance of our engine. Corvette guys use those large coil covers to hide the coils but that wasn’t the right look for Project Shop Truck either, and there’s no way they’d fit with that jumbo-sized FAST intake manifold.
The Kwik serpentine system...
The Kwik serpentine system reduces the number of belts from two to one six-rib belt. Notice that the carb and intake have been replaced with an LSXRT intake manifold and Big Mouth throttle body from Fuel Air Spark Technology (FAST).
As with any engine swap, headers (and subsequent exhaust system) can present a real problem—one that can’t be ignored. We tried several different styles of headers, and settled on the Patriot Exhaust Tight Tuck coated headers. Next, we installed a set of Smithy’s mufflers, using an exhaust pipe kit from Patriot. We gained the frame, steering, and spark plug wire clearance that was needed.
Edelbrock had just what was needed with its Gen III LS Series Coil Covers. These cast aluminum covers don’t just hide the coils and wiring harness, the coils mount to the underside of the covers instead of to the stock GM mounting brackets. They will work with GM coils as well as our MSD coils (PN 8245).
The Kwik serpentine system...
The Kwik serpentine system reduces the number of belts from two to one six-rib belt. Notice that the carb and intake have been replaced with an LSXRT intake manifold and Big Mouth throttle body from Fuel Air Spark Technology (FAST).
Once the guys at Hot Rods By Dean started installing the Edelbrock covers, we discovered that the air conditioner compressor and the alternator were going to interfere. It seemed like squeezing that balloon had just come full circle. But once again, the challenge was met with some basic custom fabricating. The Edelbrock covers could be trimmed to fit around the obstacles without affecting them. The necessary trimming didn’t interfere with the coils or with the breather hole on the passenger side cover.
After some metal finishing and some paint to the inner fenders and the coil covers, this is going to be a good-looking engine compartment.