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Rearranged

By
DaveT
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1

The first time I saw Adam Lewis’ truck was at Northern Showdown in 2014. At that time the truck was under the knife, but I was pretty taken aback none the less simple because it had been a long time since I’d come across a Ford Ranger GT.

The following year, at the same show, I saw the truck for a second time. It was a little bit further along at that point, but still very much a work in progress.

Still it was a tidy project, with all the makings of an awesome little mini truck. However I must admit I had no idea the ultimate goal was to transform it into the vehicle it is today.

But at that point I wasn’t privy to Adam’s vision because I hadn’t see the render. Had I seen the drawing I probably had a better idea of the caliber of vehicle he was going to debut at Motorama 2020.

Quite a few people in Ontario had a hand in getting this one over the finish line and the end result is outstanding.

Not only did he create a front hall worthy truck, it was selected for the Canadian Finalist honors. I could be wrong, but I don’t think any minitruck before this one has pulled off such a feat.

Of course one could argue that this isn’t just any minitruck. Similar to the Little Shops ‘Stranger’ from a few years ago this truck is both a hot rod and a minitruck.

What I mean is it borrows elements from both resulting in a truly remarkable final product.

The fit and finish, color choices, relocation of certain elements, and complete removal of others, everything that has been put into this truck has been thoroughly thought out.

Even the color choices pull from the Ford factory color-sheet. Personally, I loved the fact that the graphics wrapped around the panels.

This is a relatively small touch that makes a world of difference in the overall cohesiveness.

Doubling, or perhaps tripling down the graphics also match up with the interior door panels, that blend into a beautiful saddle leather brown interior.

The Ford Galaxie 500 dash also looks right at home in the interior, and Adam nailed the final steering wheel choice.

I geek out at minitrucks in the best of times, but I really had a great time pouring over the details of this one. Seeing projects like this come to completion really keeps me motivated in regards to my own.

S52 Swapped BMW E30 Coupe

By
DaveT
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0

In the world of Ontario BMW e30s Alan Saavedra is a seasoned veteran. He’s been in the game at least fifteen years, and has been constantly refining his process when it comes to building ‘Gods Chariot’.

Like myself Alan started with a 325e but he’s now moved on to a 1987 325is, that he calls a ‘332is’.

Under the hood of his BMW ‘332is’ is a S52 motor. The S52 is the e36 M3 motor for the North American Market and a popular swap among e30 enthusiasts.

Not one to rest on his laurels shortly after putting in the S52 Alan revised the induction system by adding individual throttle bodies.

Behind the motor is a ZF transmission from a 1998 E36 M3. The rear end is an E24 635i 3:46 limited slip differential.

Styling wise Lana has added MTECH-II style lower valances, BBS LM, or, AC Schnitzer wheels.

The 3M wrap on the car covers up the original finish, but does a damn good job of doing so.

Project Why Wait: Cleaning Up LS Induction With FiTech EFI

By
DaveT
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0

Picking up where we last left off –with the cab and motor finally making their way onto the frame– Project Why Wait has hit another time warp with 90% of the front sheet metal rejoining the picture.

But before we get to that, as promised, I am going to introduce the motor for the truck.

Or perhaps more accurately re-introduce the motor. I’ve dropped a few hints here and there about the power plant I’ve chosen, but yes the truck will be powered by the widely used and super dependable Chevrolet LS V8.

More specifically, a 4.8L LS lifted from a 2002 Silverado.

Originally the motor, and transmission, were destined for an S-chassis, but the previous owner abandoned that project. As they say; one man’s trash another’s treasure.

I chose an LS motor for the truck simply because of cost and simplicity. I’ve bitten off quite a bit with this build and an exotic engine swap simply wasn’t in the cards.

By pretty much every definition this is your typical ‘junk yard LS swap’. The standard ‘yard drop out the motor came with everything required to be dropped into another vehicle.

Unfortunately, while it was a ran great when parked sort of deal, it also looked like it came from the bottom of the ocean.

Not wanting to drop the motor under the hood in such a state, I sent it to IssyFab Speed & Engineering for some sprucing up.

Never one to leave well enough alone I also had IssyFab perform a few minor performance upgrades. A small cam, new heads, valve springs, and seals all made their way onto the motor while it was at the spa.

The combination of parts should net around 300 to the wheels all said and done. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s more than enough for my application.

It’s also a conservative power number that should keep the 4L60 from becoming a glass house full of neutrals.

Originally my plan was to run a Trail Blazer SS intake manifold atop the motor. The TBSS intake manifold widly reported the best performing of the factory made LS manifolds.

However being a factory part, meant to live under an engine cover, it doesn’t look very good at all.

Enter FiTech. FiTech offers several different options for those dropping LS motors into their projects. But their most popular is their line of Ultimate LS products.

It comes in two flavors, the complete system and the loaded manifold.

I ended up going with FiTech’s loaded, 500HP, truck manifold kit. This kit includes all of the components that would be included in the standard Ultimate LS packaged (tig welded manifold, 92mm throttle body, billet aluminum fuel rails, AN fittings, fuel crossover hose, and 36lb injectors) minus the FiTech ECU and handheld harness.

I opted not to go with the computer only because IssyFab has already started building me one.

So while IssyFab is coming through with everything hidden, FiTech is taking care of all that is visible.

The truck intake manifold, which is taller than the car model, was absolutely perfect for my needs.

Not only would it allow me to run my factory accessory drive, it would also help fill up some of the cavernous GM Advanced Design engine bay.

With my motor sitting so low I needed as much help as I could get in that department.

Installing the FiTech intake manifold was pretty straight forward. All the hardware you need is provided and the instructions come with clear, color, pictures.

It’s been a long time since I’ve needed to install an intake manifold on any vehicle, and I managed to knock this one off nearly entirely in a single night without much fuss.

The kit comes with almost everything you need to have a fully functioning LS induction set up.

Curiously the throttle cable bracket doesn’t come with, but it is readily available at FiTechefi.com at a fairly low cost.

The bracket is on the left of the photo above and discreetly sits between the throttle body and the manifold.

I’m going to make sure to run my throttle cable under the intake manifold so that it is as invisible as possible.

From a visual perspective, the FiTech manifold versus the Trailblazer SS manifold is night and day. Sure covers can be put on the TBSS manifold, but with a budget friendly option as attractive as FiTech’s available, why go that route?

With the motor and firewall coming right along, I wasted as little time as possible mocking up the rad support as well as fenders (both inner and outer).

The front sheet metal of my truck has never been on this chassis so it was really exciting to see it come to life.

I’m happy to say that after quite a bit of trim work — there’s still a little bit left if I am to be honest — the inner fenders fit the truck very well.

In another stroke of luck. The inner fenders also fit well enough that I don’t need to modify further to be able to ride low, or lay running board.

Big thanks to GM designers from the 50s for making the wheel wells as big as they did.

At this point I really wanted to wheel the truck out of the garage and get a good look at it this far along but I might save that for after I fabricate some bumper mounts.

This is the year I really want the truck to move under its own power so it’s time to focus my vision to 2020.

See what I did there?

Terrible Dad jokes aside, I’m going to say it publicly so I have to do it, this truck will move as a unit in 2020.

Introducing: Swaps Are Everything

By
DaveT
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0

There’s a popular notion that real G’s move in silence. I don’t profess to be a gangster in the most obvious sense but I have been doing this automotive media thing for a minute and I’d like to think I’ve been doing a good job of it.

But, recently I’ve been a bit quiet, on all fronts. My silence over the past few months has been both intentional and unintentional. Some of it was due to the changing weather and some shifting life priorities.

But, this silence has not been for not. In the silence I have been working on something new.

It was ten years ago I first picked up a borrowed DSLR camera and started Stance Is Everything. In that time I’ve been to an almost countless number of events and easily taken thousands of photos.

Stance Is Everything has just shy of 3000 posts. Each post has typically at least three photo within resulting in a staggering amount of back content.

Navigating that content can be a bit of a challenge. The site search is pretty good, but you have to know exactly what you’re searching for if you want it to be effective.

2jz swap, for example, will result in several pages worth of results.

Almost daily I get an email, text, or DM asking for photos of a specific car I photographed anywhere between last year and ten years ago.

Usually it’s a photo of a car with a uniquely defining feature and often that feature is the motor.

Sure Stance Is Everything is a site that built it’s reputation on a keen interest in suspension modifications, but motor swaps have always been an important secondary focus.

With that in mind about twelve months ago I started the beginnings of Swaps Are Everything. November of last year the idea became a focus and now February of 2020 this new section of Stance Is Everything has now launched.

As the name implies Swaps Are Everything is dedicated solely to motor swaps and the purpose of this growing engine swap database is two fold.

The first function is an easy way for both you and I to recall all of the crazy motor swaps I’ve seen over the years.

But almost more importantly Swaps Are Everything pulls together as much information as possible about each swap.

From engine specs, to rear end specifications if that information is available I’ve included it. I have also included build threads, and social media links as well.

I don’t think there’s another writer or photographer who’s attempted such a feat using entirely original content.

Probably because it is not an insignificant amount of work.

But in an era where useful automotive content is becoming harder and harder to find I think Swaps Are Everything will be an extremely helpful breath of fresh air for those looking for something real.

So if you want to take a look you can do so via the top navigation, or by bookmarking swapsareeverything.com.

The section is a work in progress, but as of writing there are 60 swaps and counting. My goal is to be at 100 before spring hits then hopefully in the 200s buy the end of 2020.

I’ve only scratched the surface of the content I have and there’s plenty more to come.

Don’t worry the rest of Stance Is Everything isn’t going anywhere and Project Why Wait and event coverage posts will continue into 2020 and beyond.

Toyota 2JZ Swapped Chevy Belair

By
DaveT
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0

The Chevy Belair is undeniably a fixture of the hot rod community. Calling it iconic almost understates its significance.

Modified every which way, traditionally between the strut towers of this car an American motor can be found. Not always a Chevrolet motor, but typically.

But we’re in 2020 and quite literally anything is possible and tradition means nothing.

NV Auto, and owner Ricky Ivy built a very unique Belair out of a 1953 four door by giving it the heart of a Toyota Supra.

Obviously with the swap 2JZ GTE swap the factory 3.5L inline six is gone, but so too is the three speed transmission. Replaced with a Toyota six speed Automatic. Backing up the six speed is a Chevrolet 12 both rear end from a 73 Camaro.

Detroit steel wheels have been fitted, surprisingly over a mostly stock braking system. Though I feel like that is going to change sooner rather than later.

Volkswagen 1.8t Swapped BMW E30

By
DaveT
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0

When it comes to motor swaps, Volkswagen’s got a couple. In recent years the VR6 and the 1.8t (AEB) motor have found themselves wrenched from their homes and plopped into new ones.

The 1.8t specifically has become quite the popular swap in ‘God’s Chariot’ aka the BMW e30.

This one belongs to Mike Catell at GT Customs who currently has no less than three swaps on this site. An 1JZ e46 M3, a Beams powered Corolla wagon, and this e30.

Mike picked up this e30 from the previous owner who swapped it into the car, largely in stock form.

In typical Mike fashion the car has remained slammed on Borbet Type A’s. It’s one of Mike’s many street ready machines and is seemingly a great all around runabout.

There’s a saying that goes life is too short for boring daily drivers and Mike certainly seems to believe that.

Chevy 350 Small Block Swapped Mini Cooper

By
DaveT
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2

This 350 (now 377) Small Block Chevy powered Austin Mini is a bit of a fixture in the Ontario automotive community.

Completed, for the first time, in 2016 the car was put up for sale by the original owner in 2017. After bouncing around Kijiji for a short spell it was purchased by @infractkustoms.

The car features a Chevy L79 small block in its rump lifted from a 1969 Corvette. The motor was balanced and blueprinted and, according to the builder’s initial ad, good for over 400 horsepower.

Beside the motor, yes beside, is a built Turbo125 3 speed automatic transmission. The whole kit and kaboodle sits on a custom tube frame built by an unnamed chassis shop.
Infract put their own spin on the car by eventually adding air suspension and a small, grill mounted, Master Power turbo.

They also added aero bits to the front and rear of the car along with a cheeky little parachute.

Infract has since torn the car apart once again, so who knows quite what’s in store for the car next.

View this post on Instagram

???what’s going on here?!.

A post shared by Infract (@infractkustoms) on

Toyota 2JZ Swapped Nissan S13

By
DaveT
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1

Peter Chrisikopoulos is a relative veteran of the Ontario drift community.

He and his Toyota 2JZ powered Nissan s13 have been all over North America leaving plumes of white smoke in their wake.

When not on the drift track the purple BN Sports Type 2 kitted car does a good job of looking rather show like slammed on Cosmis wheels thanks to Neo Motorsports coil overs.

But, paint, wheels, and kits are not the focus of Swaps Are Everything, the motor is.

The Mississauga Engines built mill features Manley Performance turbo tuff rods, 10.5:1 pistons, 1mm over sizes intake and exhaust valves, 272 cams and a 272 head gasket.

The motor sees a ton of abuse at the mercy of Peter’s right foot, and takes it all.

Inside is a Formula Drift spec caged tucked behind a factory dashboard. All the painted surfaces have been painted to match the exterior for the obvious extra style points.

You can follow the car and Peter’s exploits via the links below.

 

Toyota 2JZ Swapped Honda S2000

By
DaveT
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0

Once again, the Toyota 2JZ motor pops up under the hood of a car free of the Toyota emblem. This car was spotted at SEMA but unlike a good portion of the cars at SEMA this one wasn’t just built to bring people into a booth.

Sure, it did that, but Zach Leitzke’s ‘Honda Supra’ is so much more than a booth babe.

The meat and potatoes of this build is a heavily built Toyota 2JZ-GTE. The motor features a lot of work including CP 9.0:1 pistons, Manley Rods, ARP bolts and studs, an upgraded valve train and of course a very large Precision 7685 turbo.

The whole package is good for 1250 horsepower and 950 lb-ft of torque. As the video below shows this car eats.

In the looks department Rockstar garage front over fenders and wasp rear over fenders bring the width of the car out and a Tamon design rear wing, and Speedfactory Racing rear diffuser handle aero.

18×10 and 18×12 AC Forged wheels tuck Toyo R888R and Hoosier tires under Black pearl paint.

Zach is a fabricator by trade so obliviously the work throughout is top notch.

The subject of several features this car is the definition of a complete build.

Chevrolet LS1 Swapped 1953 Nash Rambler Country Club

By
DaveT
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0

The home of the renown Ridler Award the Detroit Autorama is an excellent source of motor swaps, and actually ridiculous cars in general.

Funny enough most of the Nash vehicles I’ve seen have been far from stock. Obviously with that sort of set up (and the cover photo) so is this Nash Rambler.

This car started it’s days in a fairly mundane matter. That is to say bone stock, and yellow. A far cry from the intimidating looking car it is today.

Now the car rides on a Chris Alston Chassisworks Chassis and Ridetech Air Ride suspension.

The 5.7 Chevy V8 under the hood features a beautiful Inglese Injection system, Billet Specialties front drive, and matching B.S. valve cover.

Inside there are Classic Instruments gauges, and a red leather interior featuring a pair of sport buckets that I imagine are lifted from some other vehicle.

Overall a very neat looking Nash Rambler that I imagine is an absolute riot to drive.

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