Ls1 into an 86 vette

[casper]

Hi All

I am contemplating installing a LS1 motor into an 86 vette (currently running an L98 motor feeding through a Borg Warner 6 speed box.)

1. Has anyone done a similar conversion ??
2. The obvious pitfalls are engine mounts and alignment - any comments
3. Obviously the engine management system will have to be transplanted as well but are there any other essential electronics that will have to be added as well

All comments will be welcome as I am still in the planning phase of this one

casper

 

[vetteboy86]

I am curious as to why?

 

[74bigblock]

I am curious as to why?

Why not?!? LS1 motor is bullet proof in stock form and makes so much power with just some headers.

 

[Vettefan87]

With all the sensors that the LS1 has trying to get deal with that I wouldn't think it would be worth it. If I were you I'd just do Heads, Cam, Intake and good exhaust with headers and you will be far ahead any stock LS1

 

[Edmond]

Wow, that would be a heckuva lotta work. I say build the L98. It'd probably end up being cheaper and easier.

 

[Mad-Mic]

Hi All

I am contemplating installing a LS1 motor into an 86 vette (currently running an L98 motor feeding through a Borg Warner 6 speed box.)

1. Has anyone done a similar conversion ??
2. The obvious pitfalls are engine mounts and alignment - any comments
3. Obviously the engine management system will have to be transplanted as well but are there any other essential electronics that will have to be added as well

All comments will be welcome as I am still in the planning phase of this one

casper

1. Yes i've seen many outside the corvette world
2. this is the least worry
3. this is your biggest worry due to the fact getting your stock dash to work with another computer. Good Luck and I hope you find someone to do this for you and have rather deep pockets.

LS1 is about the most over rated motor i know of. stock for stock, cam grind for cam grind, your looking at about 30 more hp than out of a similar motor with the same setups.

LT1 = 300 hp (good starting point due to the intake so L98 + intake)

LS1 = 305 - 345 (more than likely you will buy a bone stock 98-00 motor which is rated around 305-320 out of an FBody)

doesn't take much for an ole L98 to run with stock LS1's

From a Dig
http://www.corvettekillstories.com/photogallery/albums/Mad-Mic/Racing/87%20C4%20Vs%20%2002%20WS6.wmv

From a 60 roll
http://www.corvettekillstories.com/photogallery/albums/Mad-Mic/Racing/87%20Vette%20vs%2002%20Firehawk.wmv

 

[casper]

Thanks guys
Yeah -I already dont have speedo due to the gearbox conversion

Motor already has a cat - out, Flat top pistons,bored 2x oversize, skimmed and gasflowed heads, headers and Unichip so it makes plenty of power - certainly more than stock LS1. I also do most of the work myself.

The real issue in South Africa is spares availability and I can then tap into the chevy luminas that is currently on sale here

It is just the electronics that i a potential major headache

casper

 

[Val]

Corvette forums dont normally have lots of people willing to dive into such a project. So your help from vette forums is going to be very little. Dont take offese guys but few vette owners like to get their hands dirty.

If you want to see LS1 swaps that have been done goto

www.thirdgen.org

They have a whole forum dedicated to motor swaps and one to LTx and LSx swaps into older cars.

After you get the harness straight, and the ECM programmed (almost aways needed) the swap is pretty easy, but will require some fabrication most likely. The LS motors arent nearly as complicated as they are rumored to be. I remember when the TPI came out and no one wanted to touch it, as it was feared to complex to mess with.

 

[Low drag - High speed]

How about a Rat motor? Engine management needs are easy to tailor to Mouse wiring and engine mounts are identical. Exhaust will be tight, but a good set of headers has to be out there somewhere, or have a set custom built. Go for an aluminum blck and heads for weight reduction and beef up the shocks and you're down to making accessories and the oil pan fit. A nice domed clamshell will accomodate the carb on a factory Gorilla-block, or you can drop your choice of inhalers on it.

In the end you get torque and horespower in giant gobs, plus the Tyrannosaurus Rex of C4s that will make you Mr. Cool at any meet you rumble into.

Anyway ... that's my dream for my '84 coupe. C4 is my Vette fave, but I love the Rats ... just love 'em to death.

 

[74bigblock]

You can carb the LS1!!! No need for electronics there!

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?lang=-1&catalogId=10002&storeId=10001&categoryId=25639

 

[Low drag - High speed]

74BB - That looks intriguing. They also have them cubed-out pretty big, too ... biggest I've seen is 427. How much punching and stroking will it take ... LS1 to LS7?

 

[74bigblock]

74BB - That looks intriguing. They also have them cubed-out pretty big, too ... biggest I've seen is 427. How much punching and stroking will it take ... LS1 to LS7?

Best off just buying a bored/stroked LS block ready to go with warranty.
http://www.ls1speed.com/enginepackages.cfm

 

[Low drag - High speed]

You have some nice links, Dude, but I gotta tell ya somethin' ... your avatar is creepin' me out. WTF is that? Someone's face Photoshopped onto a Yorkie?

 

[74bigblock]

You have some nice links, Dude, but I gotta tell ya somethin' ... your avatar is creepin' me out. WTF is that? Someone's face Photoshopped onto a Yorkie?

Thanks! I'm not really sure how the image was created or what with... possibly a cat.

Here's my previous avatar:

 

[Low drag - High speed]

It's certainly a grabber. You look at it once and it won't get out of your head ... LOL!

BTW - I see you have a big fat Rat of your own ... a 454 ... and you seem to be an advocate of the LS-X motors. I've always been a Rat fan and had my share, even a couple wedges back in the day (348 and 409). But I'm very much impressed with the LT1 in my Silverado and can't help but notice the good press the series gets, especially from the speed crowd. I recognize and accept what the Mouse motor is, but for some reason I just never had a passion for it.

So I ask you ... if money were no problem ... what motor would you build for racing and what would you use on the street? I'm talking block, induction, cubes, trans ... the whole tamale for each one ... and what chassis?

 

[74bigblock]

It's certainly a grabber. You look at it once and it won't get out of your head ... LOL!

BTW - I see you have a big fat Rat of your own ... a 454 ... and you seem to be an advocate of the LS-X motors. I've always been a Rat fan and had my share, even a couple wedges back in the day (348 and 409). But I'm very much impressed with the LT1 in my Silverado and can't help but notice the good press the series gets, especially from the speed crowd. I recognize and accept what the Mouse motor is, but for some reason I just never had a passion for it.

So I ask you ... if money were no problem ... what motor would you build for racing and what would you use on the street? I'm talking block, induction, cubes, trans ... the whole tamale for each one ... and what chassis?

As much as I love the RAT, they weigh a ton! In my eyes, the LS motor poud for pound the most powerful and efficient on the market. I'd be taking the LS7 crate motor, and I would drop it in something sinister ala a mallet prepared Solstice or something similar... very light.

 

[Edmond]

In my eyes, the LS motor pound for pound the most powerful and efficient on the market.

I agree. I think the current SBC is the greatest engine ever produced. It's a straight up pushrod motor, not much really fancy with it but fancy enough. Like someone once told me: Any idiot can make something complicated but it takes a real genius to make things simple.

The current SBC is so efficient. The power to CID ratio out of a NA motor is incredible. Combine that with the Corvette platform and you have one helluva car.

 

[Low drag - High speed]

I found a web site where a dude stuffed a dual-turbo 454 into his '91 and it looked pretty awesome. I also found one in Florida where an '85 Vette was converted with a '98 engine and that looked very good, too.

But I'd have to say we're in agreement about the LS1 and it's variants. Of all the engines out there, that would be the one I'd drop in when I decide to take the plunge. Or maybe I'll just trade up to a C5 Coupe ... C6s are a little spendy for my wallet.

Although ... a Falconer V-12 would be fun, too ....