1984 Corvette "LS1" Engine Swap/Build

[VIN_#_00521__Z-51_C4]

I would do this if the CFi vette i have wasn't a good running car and had a rough body. keep the pictures coming looks like a fun project and a sleeper for the street ricers in the neighborhood.... nice work and Good luck getting her to start, its looks like a challeging project.....Im still sticking with the original engine in my C4 (Im a purist, and have to keep it stock) I have a curiosity of what a LS^ would look like under the hood and yours could start a whole new trend..

post up the pic with the fuel rail covers on ... i want to see this once its completely finished

 

[eilax53]

I would do this if the CFi vette i have wasn't a good running car and had a rough body. keep the pictures coming looks like a fun project and a sleeper for the street ricers in the neighborhood.... nice work and Good luck getting her to start, its looks like a challeging project.....Im still sticking with the original engine in my C4 (Im a purist, and have to keep it stock) I have a curiosity of what a LS^ would look like under the hood and yours could start a whole new trend..

post up the pic with the fuel rail covers on ... i want to see this once its completely finished

Thanks and I dont think i am going to use fuel rail covers... I like the look of the exposed coil packs.

 

[Sunstroked]

I knew that tranny problem would rear its ugly head. I'm pretty sure someone builds an adaptor to bolt your transmission to the LS block but I have not seen one. You may have to shorten the drive shaft? An alternative. You may want to look at a transmission from an LS camaro or GTO. Then all you'll need to do is come up with an adaptor to hook up the support beam. Very important.
I'm still on the fence with the LS swap. I got some pretty good pricing from a few local machine shops to rework my LT1. I still may do that. Keep updating your progress on this project, good luck!

 

[Sunstroked]

Did a little research and I found this at Camaro Tech: Chevy LS series engines: LS1, LS2, LS6, LS7, LSX
LS series engine swaps:

When swaping an LS series engine into an earlier generation Camaro, consider the following:

• The bell housing bolt patter on LS series engines is identical to the previous generations of small block chevrolet.
• The crank shaft on the LS series engines is internally balanced and does not need external weights on the flywheel or flexplate.
• The crank shaft flywheel/flexplate bolt pattern on the LS series engines:
  • 1997-2009: 6 bolt
  • 2009+ and all LSX: 8 bolt
  • LS9: 9 bolt
• The crank shaft on the LS series engines does not extend aft as far as its older small block bretheren thus a crank shaft spacer/adapter plate is required if using a previous generation automatic transmission and torque converter.
  • Crankshaft spacer PN 12563532
  • Converter bolts (6) PN 11589040
  • Longer starter bolts PN 12563533.
  On manual transmission vehicles, the throw out bearing mount must accomodate this difference. Use the LS series flywheel and use a clutch plate of matching diameter to match your transmission spline.

I hope this helps you.

 

[eilax53]

Did a little research and I found this at Camaro Tech: Chevy LS series engines: LS1, LS2, LS6, LS7, LSX
LS series engine swaps:

When swaping an LS series engine into an earlier generation Camaro, consider the following:

• The bell housing bolt patter on LS series engines is identical to the previous generations of small block chevrolet.
• The crank shaft on the LS series engines is internally balanced and does not need external weights on the flywheel or flexplate.
• The crank shaft flywheel/flexplate bolt pattern on the LS series engines:
  • 1997-2009: 6 bolt
  • 2009+ and all LSX: 8 bolt
  • LS9: 9 bolt
• The crank shaft on the LS series engines does not extend aft as far as its older small block bretheren thus a crank shaft spacer/adapter plate is required if using a previous generation automatic transmission and torque converter.
  • Crankshaft spacer PN 12563532
  • Converter bolts (6) PN 11589040
  • Longer starter bolts PN 12563533.
  On manual transmission vehicles, the throw out bearing mount must accomodate this difference. Use the LS series flywheel and use a clutch plate of matching diameter to match your transmission spline.

I hope this helps you.

WOW Great Info

Thanks alot

 

[Sunstroked]

In case your wondering those are GMpartsperformance p/n's. Call your local chevy parts dept and give him those numbers, he can order them or maybe have them in stock. Good luck.

 

[93Rubie]

I was poking around on Corvette Central and found this, has a section on hooking the LS to a 4L60E. Though it might help.

Here is the link:
http://www.corvettecentral.com/media/pdf/ls_engine_swap.pdf

 

[C2C3C4]

Pics of the Corvette Fever car at Carlisle '07

 

[C2C3C4]

 

[C2C3C4]

Corvette Central also had their demo conversion at the show and the builders put on a short seminar. If I recall correctly they used an accelerator pedal assembly from a late model Chevy Blazer to set up the engine for a fly by wire system. They also used an actual engine from a C5 Corvette. If you get hold of the folks at Corvette Central they can provide you with all the information you need to include how to mount the transmission.
This is their setup in an 85 Corvete:

 

[C2C3C4]

 

[C2C3C4]

 

[93Rubie]

Wow, they did a nice job. To the un-corvette eye, you would think that could be stock.

 

[eilax53]

Well lets get this thread moving in the right direction.... After many months of research, buying parts, sending them back, i think i have finally found stuff that will work.

Here is a 486 Bellhousing on the right and the stock one on the left.

The new bellhousing is for a 168 tooth flywheel and has the same mounting holes for my tranny. But there is a downside to this bellhousing, it needs an adapter since the bore is bigger than the stock bore. pictures of the adapter is below.

Here is the a Sachs fly wheel that is for my truck and a clutch kit for a 1979 Camaro

And now to assemble onto the engine.

Now that everything fits, i gotta check if everything is centered.

and once with the adapter ring

Everything seems to work and i dont need to move the bellhousing around at all so now time to test everything with the tranny.

Ring on the tranny

Inside the clutch fork hole

Now all that everything SEEMS to work on to the next part. the throw out bearing, the clutch fork, the pivot stud length, and mounting the slave cylinder. In the mean time my dad will hopefully get some work done on my harness for me so we can have it done before the fall
​

 

[22229stingray81]

Very cool... thanks for the update!

-Tatortot