Roarrrr

I'm about to put an 2002 T/A LS1/4L60E into my dd 1978 2d Olds 98.

I always do as much research as possible before getting into big projects, and there's tons of info to find on LS swaps, but very little B-body spesific...

This thread is ment to be a information collector/exchange/discussion for us folks that are thinking of, are in the middle of, or have done a B-body LS1 swap.

Every aspect of the swap is interesting, from fuel tanks/pumps/lines to engine mounts and oil pans.

Any and all info or insight are highly appreciated

Roar,
Norway

Roarrrr

My project:
1978 Olds Ninety Eight Regency 2d coupe.

The car will get all brake, suspension and steering parts replaced with new OE or better parts.

Parts collected so far:
25K miles 2002 T/A LS1 and 4L60E
Radiator and fans from the T/A
32K miles Impala SS 3,08 posi rear
Trans X member from the Impala
Air cleaner box from the Impala
Gas tank with pump/sender from the Impala
Drive shaft from the Impala
Cable-X VSS to speedo cable converter
99 Corvette fuel filter/regulator
Treperformance 255lph fuel pump
+++

What I need help with right now is choosing engine mounts, and engine placement.

There’s some different designs to choose from;
Different thickness plates, S10 specific, F-body 70-92 specific, fixed plates (moves engine (bellhousing) 1” forward as opposed to OE placement), and there’s plates with variable (3) engine placement options, plus a few others.

My car originally have an Olds engine, so I can’t make use of the OE engine mounts.
Notching the craddle/frame is not an option, so if I have to modify anything, it’ll have to be the oil pan.
I’m keeping the AC and the big ugly AC/heater box on the firewall…
I’m gonna put engine/coil covers on the engine.
I’m keeping the F-body exhaust manifolds, so there’s no header issues.

I’m leaning towards placing the engine as far back as possible (OE bellhousing placement). I hope I don’t have to modify the oil pan by doing this, but I’m concerned that the engine or the covers will interfere with the heater box…

So if anybody have any insight and recommendations, they’re very welcome

Roar,
Norway

psiconversion

iTrader: (5)

I know from experience that on the 91-96 B-body cars the GM hot rod pan used with street and performance adapter plates for the motor mounts was a TIGHT fit. Wiring was straight forward. Removed the B-body engine harness including where it connects under the dash. Integrated it with the LS harness and worked great. No issues. Thinking about making that adapter harness, not sure if people would be interested in those. Anyone?

GA95DCMSS

iTrader: (13)

It actually isn't all that bad of a swap (check my sig ) I used a modified F-Body pan from Street & performance, along with their motor mounts, and their mid-length headers. It pretty much dropped right in. I'm sure the B-Body community would be interested in that wiring harness. I'm working on one myself. We'll see how it turns out.

ramdaspadhye

iTrader: (3)

LH8 pan is good got an LQ4 sittin in my 73 Impala.

psiconversion

iTrader: (5)

Nice. Hey GA95, you didnt have that car at Tune Time Performance in Toms River, NJ did you?

lightning95sc

This should be a good thread. My buddy has a '77 98 and an LS1 sitting in the shop. I'm trying to convince him to put the two together. This might help push him along.

Consider me subscribed.

Chuck

deuce4935

iTrader: (2)

Heres my 1980 Caprice Landau with a 98' LS1, ported 243 heads, Z06 cam, ls6 intake, Pacesetter f-body long tubes, h-pipes, Gibson mufflers, ImpalaSS front suspension and braking and rear suspension and braking with 373's and disc brakes.

hotrodscrap

iTrader: (10)

Interested in the harness as well! Subscribing.

-SS

kj598bbc

Good shhh i've been peeking at this thread and waiting for an update... but... subcribed !!! I wanted to swap my Lq9 in my Caprice Aerocoupe something like deuce 4935' but NOTHING like it !!! mine is a 1979 but a memeber here beat me to it considered my 79 Bu coupe as a light weight race car, but that just be ANOTHER Malibu and i want something different, but im heavy into b-bodies, although i think my 79 Coupe Deville is a d-body, b-body stuff fits. So im this and planning.

ramdaspadhye

iTrader: (3)

how'd you get the fbody longtubes to fit? Did you have to manipulate any of the primaries by the power steering?

Roarrrr

Deuce4935, what adapter plates and engine mounts did you use?
Did they put the engine back to the stock location?
Will a coil/engine cover clear the ac box? Got any pics?
Also, what oil pan did you use?

I'm going for the f-body pan, cause I don't want it to hang below the cross member. If I have to modify it, will I also be needing a new oil p/u? GA95DCMSS?

Roar

psiconversion

iTrader: (5)

Deuce, thanks for making me realize I should have never sold my caprice! Damn you!

kj598bbc

According to a member here he DIDNT have to touch a tube to get f-body longtubes in his 77 Caprice coupe. 77-96 frames are nearly identical, but i'd like to know if they fit your 73 as i have three cousins impatiently waiting to swap Gen III's or IV's in 71, 72, and 73 Impala Custom Coupes.

lightning95sc

Deuce, how are you shifting the trans? I want to keep the column shifter. Also, what did you do for harness and fuel system.

Chuck

deuce4935

iTrader: (2)

I had to slightly ding the pass side header, but just very slightly with a little heat and a hammer.

I also used the Street&Performance adapters with the factory mounts which put the engine in the stock location. The trans is shifted from the column with a Kugels components shift linkage kit due to the car originally having a 3 speed trans, but if you have one of the later year Caprices that came with a 4speed od trans then you wont be needing the shift linkage kit because the column is already set up to go all the way down from P,R,N,OD,D,2,1.

ramdaspadhye

iTrader: (3)

Ah, I'm keepin the th350 that came in it, so I won't be needing that. Do you have any photos of your engine bay/frame with the engine out? I'd like to see some pics to compare it to my engine bay i n the 73. I have a 2dr that will be ready for paint/rims/interior when the motor's in.

deuce4935

iTrader: (2)

Sorry, no pics of the bare engine bay, but I'm sure your 73 has more than the required room for the swap.

Roarrrr

Deuce, my car is a '78, same engine bay as yours.

Street&Performance carries 2 different adapter plates, one who puts the trans in stock location, and one who moves the trans one inch forward.

What I'm asking is;
Did you use the plates who leaves the trans in stock location, and how much room is there between the firewall mounted heater/ac box and the cylinder head?

Thanks,
Roar

GA95DCMSS

iTrader: (13)

Nah, I didn't. Haven't been to Jersey in years. Here are some pics I took when I did my swap in 07. I don't have any from when the engine was actually out, but I plan on pulling it again sometime soon, for a little modding lol.



Here she is as she sits




This may help any of the frame or engine bay questions, at least for the 94-96 guys (hint hint hotrodscrap )