Bobby G

iTrader: (13)

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

CavPat

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!

zman1969

iTrader: (91)

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

rjensen

iTrader: (2)

im putting one in my 68 firebird convert. you should def put one in your t/a. i want to put on in a 78 t/a when im done with this one.

rjensen

iTrader: (2)

also check out protouring.com. im sure plenty of guys there have done it.

jsmechanical

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

CavPat

Good post jsmechanical, very helpful!

BanditDave

iTrader: (11)

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

Bobby G

iTrader: (13)

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.........

Bobby G

iTrader: (13)

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

RPD_Vette84

iTrader: (30)

damn thats sick. wish i had my dads old T/A.

76LS1BIRD

iTrader: (35)

My 78 with 76 F clip .I had a whole 99 Z28 parts car & used alot of it.

BanditDave

iTrader: (11)

I remember this car...saw this one at Maple Grove quite a few years ago...

Very nicely done man!

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (6)

I saw that car at Carlisle a couple times. It's a very impressive car. I am disappointed though, that when I saw it at Carlisle, the three babes were nowhere to be found.