Has anyone done a 1977 -1981 Trans am ls swap
#1
Has anyone done a 1977 -1981 Trans am ls swap
Looking on putting a ls motor in my 1980 Trans am. I have a 450 hp 383 stroker in it right now, 9 MPG. I want to drive the car alot more, whats involved in a total swap and what motor is best for this car. I would like at least as much HP as I have now. Not sure what to go with, ls1,ls2,ls3,ly6,l76
#2
Check out the cars in my sig. I'm thinking about putting my '99 LS1/T56 into my '79 Firebird.
Also, check out:
http://www.hedman.com/categories/?id=6861
and I think BRP makes a swap kit for these cars too. Good luck!
Also, check out:
http://www.hedman.com/categories/?id=6861
and I think BRP makes a swap kit for these cars too. Good luck!
#3
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (91)
LSX trans am?
sure it has - even in these high end carshttp://www.yearone.com/yodnn/Home/tabid/54/Default.aspx
nice cars but seem like alot of $$ to this poor guy
nice cars but seem like alot of $$ to this poor guy
#6
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Perth, Australia
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I am doing this in my '71 Formula. It's easy to get that power out of any of those LS motors and still have great economy, LS3 would be the easiest as it has the biggest capacity, good heads and is approx 420 hp at the flywheel dead stock. With a good set of headers and a tune you would meet you power needs easily. I'm running a LS2 block with L92 heads and L76 intake 4-1 headers with a baby cam, upgraded valve springs, pushrods and good tune and I'm expecting around 480hp/480ftlbs at the flywheel and will get 30mpg on the freeway 18-20mpg around town (light throttle) with a 4sp overdrive auto. You can get way more power than this quite easily.
On a Trans Am total swap will require engine mount adaptor plates ( I used Edelbrocks) which should match up with you're existing SBC motor mount and frame stands, headers ( I used Edelbrocks also ), F-body oil pan, Engine wiring loom and ECM (you can modify a factory one or get one custom made from Speartech or others) Baffled Fuel tank with EFI fuel pump ( There's a company that makes them, I think they're called Rock Valley Auto's or something like that, I used carter 'gold' pre pump from factory tank filling 2 litre surge tank mounted in the trunk which EFI pump draws from) source a trans from a factory LS motor (4L60e-4L65e auto or T56 manual) or adapt another trans, maybe modify trans crossmember depending on you trans choice and get driveshaft to suit, electric thermo fans for the radiator correct alternator, starter motor, power steering pump and belts, hoses etc.
That's the bulk of it other than the usual bits and pieces you would have with any engine/tranny conversion but it's all pretty straight forward really. I used the Edelbrock gear but BRP Hot Rods make a decent kit (mounts, adaptor plates, trans crossmember and headers) along with S&P. Transdapt and Hooker also make adaptor plates and some people modify 4th gen Pacesetter headers to fit these second gen LS conversions. If you want to use A/C the stock low mount A/C compressor location will not clear the crossmember, you can notch the crossmember to suit or I got brackets from KWiK Performance to high mount a Sanden A/C compressor and high mount my alternator (similar to LS corvette)
Hope this helps
On a Trans Am total swap will require engine mount adaptor plates ( I used Edelbrocks) which should match up with you're existing SBC motor mount and frame stands, headers ( I used Edelbrocks also ), F-body oil pan, Engine wiring loom and ECM (you can modify a factory one or get one custom made from Speartech or others) Baffled Fuel tank with EFI fuel pump ( There's a company that makes them, I think they're called Rock Valley Auto's or something like that, I used carter 'gold' pre pump from factory tank filling 2 litre surge tank mounted in the trunk which EFI pump draws from) source a trans from a factory LS motor (4L60e-4L65e auto or T56 manual) or adapt another trans, maybe modify trans crossmember depending on you trans choice and get driveshaft to suit, electric thermo fans for the radiator correct alternator, starter motor, power steering pump and belts, hoses etc.
That's the bulk of it other than the usual bits and pieces you would have with any engine/tranny conversion but it's all pretty straight forward really. I used the Edelbrock gear but BRP Hot Rods make a decent kit (mounts, adaptor plates, trans crossmember and headers) along with S&P. Transdapt and Hooker also make adaptor plates and some people modify 4th gen Pacesetter headers to fit these second gen LS conversions. If you want to use A/C the stock low mount A/C compressor location will not clear the crossmember, you can notch the crossmember to suit or I got brackets from KWiK Performance to high mount a Sanden A/C compressor and high mount my alternator (similar to LS corvette)
Hope this helps
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#8
Yes indeed good sir...I'll post more pics soon.
Take a look here:
http://transamcountry.com/community/...?topic=31143.0
Have some additional pics of it getting finished...it is home now.
What would you like to know?
Thanks,
Dave
Take a look here:
http://transamcountry.com/community/...?topic=31143.0
Have some additional pics of it getting finished...it is home now.
What would you like to know?
Thanks,
Dave
#9
Thats what I'm talking about, thats awesome. I need info on cooling, mounts headers, did yours come with the o2 bungs in them. How did you do the fuel tank, filter, pump. Whos engine brackets did you use. How hard was this to do. Around how much did it cost. Is it running? I would love it if you could send some pics to me. Thanx.........
#10
Thats what I'm talking about
That looks awesome, I need info on the fuel system, cooling, which brackets did you use, did the hedders come with the bungs for the o2 , what kind of mileage are you getting, what did you do about the shifter, and guages. How hard was this install? If you could get more pics to me that would be great. Thanx