billschroeder5842

The "real guide" will be your 1984 Corvette Factory Service Manual and that will an excellent tool to get your L83 working properly.

When it comes to swapping different engines and wiring combinations outside of the factory specs, you are kinda on your own as each swap is custom. Sure, others have done it but each will be its own beast.

Now, you say you want 300hp--- that is very doable in an L83 AND with your factory wiring and factory throttle bodies. The basics are you will need headers, better exhaust, Renegade intake and a couple of ignition upgrades. Cam and heads will help but the intake and exhaust will get you most of the way there WHILE KEEPING YOUR ELECTRICAL INTACT.

Hit up BUCCANEER in the C3 forum. He build high horsepower L83 all the time.

v8vette84

Now this is an answer I can stand behind.

The L83 has potential. People just have the idea that crossfire is junk and rip it right off. That was 50% of the reason why I went LT1, in addition to my buddy having a 9C1 Caprice that hauled *** and it made me want an LT1 of my own.

Dino0987

Lol you guys are the best thank you very much. So its going to be an lt1 or just build on top of 83. I got alot of homework to do. Thank you guys. At this point anything is a help for me

v8vette84

I would search through some of my old threads as I asked a lot of questions over the years regarding the LT1 swap. Also if you have questions just send me a PM and I'll do my best to answer you. That's assuming you do an LT1 swap, if not then ask around the C3 tech forums for advice on the L83.

Either way it will be fun and easy to hit 300 wheel or fwhp. Good luck!

v8vette84

Where are you located?

cv67

If you have no engine at all dont bother looking for a complete 84 with all the stuff on it then working bugs out of it

Buy whatever 350 383 or 400 you can find, run the wire for the hei get a carb regulate the psi down and go.

Some arent listening to your abilities or wants. LT1 stuff is too expensive and arent all that big an advantage over a Gen 1

You can get a roller motor 4 bolt main out of a late 90s truck from any boneyard for example..many machine shops will have plenty of cores laying around or something a customer never finished or paid for call around.

If all you want is 300hp or so any 2 bolt main cast crank 350 will do just fine.

confab

Call me crazy, but I kind of like the Crossfire. There's guys making decent power with them. They have a throwback "kitchy cool" factor, too.

Dino0987

Thank you for the replies everyone. Im located in Philadelphia.I think im going to go with a lt1 swap. Try to find a harness first also. When i find a lt1 what are things i should do before i drop it in? Things that would be easy to do while i have the engine out? Im gonna start taking pictures and post everything here and lets see where we all get lol. Thank you everyone

Nowhere Man

what Lt-1?

v8vette84

What? Where are you living? LT1 stuff is dirt cheap... Besides maybe the opti but a quality HEI dizzy can be pricey too.

Yes, make it even worse and less valuable.

This I do agree with. Gen 1 stuff is easy to make power with.

All in all if you just want to get it running then throw any gen 1 engine in it and throw a carb on. Easy yes but no one is going to want it if you ever sell it...

v8vette84

You decided on that very quickly. I would look into how much you want to spend and how much work you want to do before settling on what engine you want. Not to be rude but are your mechanical abilities up to the task? Again don't take it the wrong way but some people just can't handle a job like this.

cv67

No offense youre making a mistake and getting in over your head youll regret it part way through as you learn more. More than 1 conversion here has gone up for sale out of frustration.

v884....him getting all the little stuff to work, brackets wiring etc is no fun if he is starting with nothing.
Wouldnt worry about value on any C4 right now

billschroeder5842

confab

I drove an Lt1 powered FBody a while ago.. It was hopped up. Obvious cam. Dunno what else.

It ran out well and sounded wicked at an idle. Nice car.

Two thoughts:

1) You'll be heavy in wiring.. It's not particularly difficult, but that's part of owning a fuel injected car.

2) A donor vehicle will make this worlds easier. Or at least finding one in a salvage yard to strip parts from.

Trying to scrounge every bracket, connector and etc, from scratch will be an expensive PITA.

IMVHO.

If I was going to go to that much trouble I'd put an LS in it.

v8vette84

So very very true. If you really want an LT1 I would suggest getting one that came out of a Vette. The brackets and vette specific stuff add up quick!



No offense but putting an LT1 into a C4 is easier than putting an LS1 in...I would hardly consider going LS just because you have a little wiring to do on an LT1 swap. The LS will require all kinds of custom parts. The LT1 was a factory power plant in the C4 so there are lots of factory parts and they are plentiful.

Nowhere Man

If you want a LT-1 Vette gm did that for you in 92. They are cheap

ex-x-fire

I'd put a vortec 350 in it. Great flowing heads & a roller cam.

v8vette84

Fixed it for ya!

confab

It's still a big swap if you have run everything down and wire it. LS upside is much higher.

I like the crossfire, but if I had to go to a lot of trouble and expense for a non-stock engine, it would be an LS. It would get the trans too.

Hoser

Or find a lt4 in good shape....money will probably be close...not really but how much time do you have?
Grumpys site breaks this down pretty well
Grumpysperformance .com