Alright I'm Doing It, LS Swap This Winter.
06-26-2008, 04:58 PM
#1
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Alright I'm Doing It, LS Swap This Winter.
I've made up my mind and as soon as I get the cash I'm buying a drop out LS1/LS6 and tranny. I still have LOTS of questions though, one of the things I'd like to try before I drop it in is swapping in a new cam. I want to move the torque curve up and back to match the 383 stroker I had planned before I got bit by the EFI bug. 
Is it possible to get 400 ft/lbs just off idle and 400 H.P. at around 5000? Cam suggestions anyone? 
Is it possible to get 400 ft/lbs just off idle and 400 H.P. at around 5000? Cam suggestions anyone?
06-26-2008, 05:03 PM
#2
Race Director
You will be well pleased with the LS motor when you get it. Your car will lost quite a bit of weight right off the bat. That is going to be a nice little gain in performance just on that count. It is possible to make 400 HP and 400 TQ at the wheels with the LS setup. Go ahead and get a set of 243 heads and swap the springs for some Patriot Dual Golds. They are good for about .650 lift. Then just pick out a cam of your choice. I added headers to mine, and underdrive pulley, ported the throttle body and MAF. When I get mine finally running, I hope to crack the 400/400 number myself.
PM Sent.
PM Sent.
06-26-2008, 06:09 PM
#4
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Good luck with it. It is a fun swap. (I'm doing an LT1 swap right now). Plan how much you think it will cost, and double it. 
But in the end, it will still be worth it
Bob
But in the end, it will still be worth it Bob
06-26-2008, 07:49 PM
#5
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Read through the 20+ pages of the sticky thread at the top of the page and you will probably find most of your questions answered as well as lots of good ideas. The LS swap has its challenges but it's kind of fun also.
Rick B.
Rick B.
06-26-2008, 08:35 PM
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Thanks everybody, it's reassuring to see so many of you have already done it. Can anybody give me a general timeline on just how long this swap takes once I get the engine? Knowing me this will be a long drawn out process but I'd really like to believe I could have it done by next spring. (That is, if I start this October) 
06-26-2008, 09:58 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
Timeline is tough to guess. It will really come down to planning, budget, tools and skills. How much can you do yourself vs. farming out.
You could do it in a week or less if you bought an aftermarket pulley system, motor mounts, exhaust, system, had the waterpump heater hose hookups tapped in, bought an aftermarket engine management harness, made sure you had an LSx motor with a camaro pan, already bought a tuned PCM (computer), if a manual you had the adapter for the clutch z-bar ready to go and the correct bellhousing/flywheel/clutch setup for your tranny, or if an automatic the correct flexplate/torque converter setup.
You'll need to do something with the gauges to either swap out the gauges or do some electric to manual conversions. Much easier to swap out the gauges in my opinion and look better. Get a Dewitt's or other aluminum radiator setup for your application with some dual electric fans ready to go. You'll either have to fab up lines for your fuel tank (and decent EFI inline pump) or buy a complete fuel tank with intank pump and fuel system from somebody like Rock Valley.
Check with the others if the stock brake booster clears or you may need or want to swap to Hydroboost brakes that work off the power steering. You might also want to consider switching to a rack & pinion steering and perhaps either adjustable coilover shocks to adjust the ride height or you will at least have to pop out the front coils and either buy shorter springs or cut a coil off to lower the front as the car will now be lighter.
If you have A/C and use an aftermarket compressor and HVAC shop can plumb the lines and charge the system after it's together.
Might sound like a lot but it's really not all that bad if you take it piece by piece. It really is going to depend on what I said to begin with with regard to budget, planning, tools, and skills. If you can afford to buy a lot of the parts up front and have the tools and skills to do it you can bang it out quickly. If you want to go the used parts route then I would go through the 20 or so pages above as Rick (72LS1Vette) suggested and see some of the great work and ingenuity that some of these guys are doing and how they did it.
Again, it's a little work and will cost a few bucks but you will wish you did it sooner. If your Vette is currently a "numbers matching" car, bag and tag the original motor and hang on to it. Someone may want it in the next life.
Chrome and supercharger are optional:
You could do it in a week or less if you bought an aftermarket pulley system, motor mounts, exhaust, system, had the waterpump heater hose hookups tapped in, bought an aftermarket engine management harness, made sure you had an LSx motor with a camaro pan, already bought a tuned PCM (computer), if a manual you had the adapter for the clutch z-bar ready to go and the correct bellhousing/flywheel/clutch setup for your tranny, or if an automatic the correct flexplate/torque converter setup.
You'll need to do something with the gauges to either swap out the gauges or do some electric to manual conversions. Much easier to swap out the gauges in my opinion and look better. Get a Dewitt's or other aluminum radiator setup for your application with some dual electric fans ready to go. You'll either have to fab up lines for your fuel tank (and decent EFI inline pump) or buy a complete fuel tank with intank pump and fuel system from somebody like Rock Valley.
Check with the others if the stock brake booster clears or you may need or want to swap to Hydroboost brakes that work off the power steering. You might also want to consider switching to a rack & pinion steering and perhaps either adjustable coilover shocks to adjust the ride height or you will at least have to pop out the front coils and either buy shorter springs or cut a coil off to lower the front as the car will now be lighter.
If you have A/C and use an aftermarket compressor and HVAC shop can plumb the lines and charge the system after it's together.
Might sound like a lot but it's really not all that bad if you take it piece by piece. It really is going to depend on what I said to begin with with regard to budget, planning, tools, and skills. If you can afford to buy a lot of the parts up front and have the tools and skills to do it you can bang it out quickly. If you want to go the used parts route then I would go through the 20 or so pages above as Rick (72LS1Vette) suggested and see some of the great work and ingenuity that some of these guys are doing and how they did it.
Again, it's a little work and will cost a few bucks but you will wish you did it sooner. If your Vette is currently a "numbers matching" car, bag and tag the original motor and hang on to it. Someone may want it in the next life.
Chrome and supercharger are optional:
Last edited by 78Vette-SA; 06-26-2008 at 10:04 PM.
06-27-2008, 08:56 PM
#10
Here's what I had to do to get a 2001 LS1 (w/ LS6 intake) to 394Hp & 381 Tq:
underdrive pulley, Ram air setup (low restriction), ported Tb, cam 228/230 597/595 on a 112 lots of lope, 1-3/4" coated headers, 4" single pipe exhaust to set off car alarms, and a M6.
underdrive pulley, Ram air setup (low restriction), ported Tb, cam 228/230 597/595 on a 112 lots of lope, 1-3/4" coated headers, 4" single pipe exhaust to set off car alarms, and a M6.
06-28-2008, 06:52 AM
#11
Le Mans Master
