LT1 Engine in an 87 C4

[ARODFX]

Has anyone in this forum done this mod? I currently have an engine and Harness and need to ask a couple of questions before I persue doing any changes to my Baby.

 

[Mad-Mic]

Has anyone in this forum done this mod? I currently have an engine and Harness and need to ask a couple of questions before I persue doing any changes to my Baby.

just curious why would you put a LT1 in a early model C4? your not really gaining anything and a proper built L98 is just as fast as any proper built LT1 or LS1 for that matter

your talking alot of work, time, and money for the swap.

if you decide to do it let us know how it goes!

 

[ARODFX]

I can always counton you to chime in Mic. The Reason I ask is I picked up an LT1 engine with harness and pcm for little money. I'm talking $125.00 greenbacks. So now I have this engine sitting around in my yard and need a home for it. I happen to own a Corvette that has an aging L98 and needs a temporary replacement engine until the L98 is rebuilt. So I needed to know if anyone else has done this mod and could share some info on PCM and Wiring harness issues that I am having.

 

[Mad-Mic]

I can always counton you to chime in Mic. The Reason I ask is I picked up an LT1 engine with harness and pcm for little money. I'm talking $125.00 greenbacks. So now I have this engine sitting around in my yard and need a home for it. I happen to own a Corvette that has an aging L98 and needs a temporary replacement engine until the L98 is rebuilt. So I needed to know if anyone else has done this mod and could share some info on PCM and Wiring harness issues that I am having.

sorry man didn't know how far along you were personally i don't know anyone that has done this. anything can be done. one issue you might have is using a 700R4 since the LT1 used a 4L60E. i think 92 vette had 700R4's and 93 only FBody had 700R4's so if you have one of those that shouldn't be a problem. only thing i can tell ya is to improvise and it'll work

i'm sure others might have some insight on this will chime in

 

[ARODFX]

Ha Mic!

How much Hood Clearance is their under a 87 Vette Hood?

I was thinking about going with a Carbureted Intake for the LT1 and Demon Carb but I don't want to cut up the Hood of my car.

Any Ideas?

 

[Mad-Mic]

i've heard of people going with carbs and my one friend is running a carb on his vette but it is a L98 setup and he had to cut the hood for the intake + carb to fit.

Ha Mic!

How much Hood Clearance is their under a 87 Vette Hood?

I was thinking about going with a Carbureted Intake for the LT1 and Demon Carb but I don't want to cut up the Hood of my car.

Any Ideas?

 

[ARODFX]

Well I have finsihed weeding thru the LT1 Harness that I have and it looks like a god awful mess. But I will press on. I need to know what sensors are the most important and which ones are needed for the engine to run right. Picking up the 4L60E Tranny tomorrow. I noticed that the engine harness has provisions for MAP and MAF. The Hardest time that I am having is trying to figure out what is needed in the harness for the engine to operate without setting off the SES light and any engine codes. Any Feedback is appreciated.

 

[WhalePirot]

I cannot help but wonder if the size of this project is not just taking away from what your real goal is, assuming that goal is redoing your engine.

I did not follow the suggestion that I buy an '86 or newer, but I did learn a lot.

Maybe it's a LOT shorter road for you to pass on the LT-1 project and spend your time and money on your real goal. The seemingly small projects seduce us into another $50-100 bucks and more, at a time.

The days of just dropping in a different engine ................ are gone.

My 2 cents.

 

[ARODFX]

I cannot help but wonder if the size of this project is not just taking away from what your real goal is, assuming that goal is redoing your engine.

I did not follow the suggestion that I buy an '86 or newer, but I did learn a lot.

Maybe it's a LOT shorter road for you to pass on the LT-1 project and spend your time and money on your real goal. The seemingly small projects seduce us into another $50-100 bucks and more, at a time.

The days of just dropping in a different engine ................ are gone.

My 2 cents.

What I wanted to do was drive my car while the engine is being rebuilt. I happened to come across a sweet deal with the LT1 Engine I mentioned in my first post. By pulling the L98 out of my vette I would be left without a vehicle to drive so in goes the LT1 engine. I don't mind doing the extra work and like the idea of transplanting the engine. I just needed some knowledgeable help in the conversion. I am sure that their are people in this forum and many other forums that have done this type of project. I am pretty close to completing the harness and will be getting into some of the programming of the PCM shortly after the install. Once the L98 Is complete and I have decided to put it back, out comes the LT1 and In goes the L98. I can always save the LT1 for my RX7-LT1 Project.

 

[jdm86]

"I can always save the LT1 for my RX7-LT1 Project"
That sounds like an illegal amount of fun--enjoy

 

[WhalePirot]

Cool! I wish you well. I read and recall UR original post.

I am still working out the bugs in my TPI, 406 conversion, after three years of the basic install. The end may be in sight, or it might be a train!

 

[taegdh]

I knew I'd read about putting an LS1 into an older vehicle, check out Hot Rod MAY 2004 or April 2004, (issue discussed painting the car, female with a paint gun in hand on the cover), and they describe in the back of the issue what had to be changed on installation into a Camaro. May not be a close in tolerances as a vette, but rather similar.

Take a look!

 

[Mad-Mic]

I knew I'd read about putting an LS1 into an older vehicle, check out Hot Rod MAY 2004 or April 2004, (issue discussed painting the car, female with a paint gun in hand on the cover), and they describe in the back of the issue what had to be changed on installation into a Camaro. May not be a close in tolerances as a vette, but rather similar.

Take a look!

you mean this issue?

here is the website to the guys that did this.

http://www.fbodymotorsports.com/91ls1page1/

i'm doing the same swap in the near future in my 82 Z/28

 

[ARODFX]

Thanks for chiming in guys!

I have begun the painful process of collecting the Items necessary to complete my conversion in either car. The Vette or the RX7? I need help and I know I am in the right place to get the help that I need. My problem is that I need to know what sensors and controls are needed to control the LT1 engine functions without triggering a check engine code? I have a Engine Harness out of an 93 Vette with No PCM for it. Does anyone have a working 93 LT1 PCM that they would like to sell me? I also have the Harness and PCM out of a 95 Fleetwood with an LT1 engine, but will need to modify and alter the harness inorder for it to work correctly. I am bogged down with researching what components are necessary and what is not (ie, air pump, egr solenoid, etc.). I want to simplify the harness to have the bare essentials to allow the engine to run correctly. I am looking into reprogramming the PCM later on to fit my needs. This is a big project and fun for me to do. I know that with the help I get from you guys here and the research that I am putting into this project, that I can do this!

 

[-=Jeff=-]

IF you want just the bare minimum of sensors for the harness, instead of taking either harness apart, sell them both and buy a complete engine harness from Painless Wiring. It would be much easier then the headaches of removing wires.

 

[ARODFX]

IF you want just the bare minimum of sensors for the harness, instead of taking either harness apart, sell them both and buy a complete engine harness from Painless Wiring. It would be much easier then the headaches of removing wires.

I am looking into that also! I have downloaded the PDF file for their LT1 engine harness.

 

[-=Jeff=-]

Found a harness you might want to check on.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=799965

If you go that route, I might be interested in your 93 harness