Vettrocious

Does anyone know if an LS3 fits under a standard small block hood when installed in a C2?

Thanks,

jdk971

yes it does. jim

daz_au

Engine goes under fine but there isn't miles of room. I just tried fitting the C6 engine covers to mine and they are hitting the reinforcing under the hood.... bummer.

Joe Inama

Will an Edelbrock Super charger kit fit??

Vettrocious

OK, then, that's one down....

Now, how about any tunnel clearance problems with a 4L65E transmission attached to the LS3?

daz_au

Search the forum, they have been done and are tight apparently. Needs a new mount fabricated and some finesse setting the height of it. Type something like this into google for a head start :

4l65e tunnel site:www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c1-and-c2-corvettes

Vettrocious

Thanks, that'll get me going...

Thinking about putting the 430HP LS3 & 4l65e "Connect and Cruise" system into a 63 convertible. Using a new stock repro frame and unmodified body. I'm hearing that it will fit (snuggly) without body mods...

The body is off. The frame is bare, ready for whatever. I can change anything, but would rather get a handle on all the probable changes before I do anything.

Sounds like I need to modify the engine mounts, cooling, fuel lines and tank, frame cross-member (to make it removable) for sure. Guess I'll need a stronger differential and half shafts. Any other major surprises or stuff I should study up on?

daz_au

Thats a big advantage for sure. There are people on the forum that have done pretty much everything, plenty have raised the tunnel to make more room for bigger transmissions. I just shoehorned the LS3 into mine and bolted it to the muncie.

Did you buy the frame new ? Did you cross-shop the other frame options ? Not sure I would start with a stock frame if buying a new one and going the LS route, the more modern frames are setup for LS plus newer suspension, brakes, rear ends etc....

gator79

make your crossmember removable while the body is off. I used Tanks Inc for my tank and pump setup, works great. I am using my sock diff and halfshafts with a mild cammed LS1 and six speed. depends on how hard you plan to beat on it.

Vettrocious

I'll alter the crossmember. The frame is a stock repro because I really can't get anything but C4 suspension on a custom frame without altering the body. C4 ride is bit choppy for me, so I'm leaving the C2 stuff on there, but may change the steering to rack and pinion.

I was going to use Tanks Inc. for an in-tank pump as electrics are noisy outside the tank.

I'm not gonna flog it, just a driver with the occasional run. The stock LS3 horsepower is really much more than I need. I don't think I can get enough tire under the stock body to really use all that power anyway, even if I wanted to. Could be that a stock diff and halfshafts are fine, I'll consider keeping them until i break something.

gator79

I did the Steeroids rack and pinion conversion with an ididit tilt column and aftermarket seats, kept the stock suspension just lowered it. The car drives like a new one. Drove it 6 hours straight on a trip and it was comfortable. This is my build thread https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-upgrades.html