Mike Blanco

I had my eye on doing an LS swap on a 66 GTO. That deal is probably going south, so I am back to looking for potential cars to do one on. That said I would like to do one on a car that I might have alot of support on and bolt on parts. I know these LS swaps have become fairly common, but I would like to make the conversion process as easy as possible. I am a bit green here.

So I am looking for suggestions on cars that might have the highest success rate to have a nice LS swap for a weekend fast car. Thanks for the help.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

havent you asked this already?


did you ask at the conversions and hybrid section?

Mike Blanco

No this is my first post regarding finding a car for a LS Swap. I thought I was going to do one on a 66 GTO, but I think that deal went south.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

any other vehicle in mind?

Mike Blanco

Well I am pretty open. This will be my first ls swap so I would like to find a car that it has been done on quite often for tips and aftermarket kits.

I was thinking of American muscle between 60 - 77 or so but even that I am a bit flexible.

jimmyblue

iTrader: (11)

I favor the '68-up A-bodies, '67-69 Firebirds, and older
tailfinmobiles (as long as they're GM). Anything that
had a TH400 or ST400 ought to let you slide a HD van
powertrain (6.0/4L80E) right in, without the hammer
work.

Mike Blanco

Thanks Jimmy that is very helpful. So a 71 Buick Gran Sport would work? I think I am seeing one that looks like a solid candidate.

When you say tail fin mobiles I assume you are talking the Chevy 55 - 57?

oldgoat69

The GM A-body, 64-72 is a super common swap. Lots of us have done this, so the resource pool is huge. Check the stickys for swap threads and make sure to ask lots of questions before you spend money.

jimmyblue

iTrader: (11)

Skylarks could be had with the 455/TH400. Tons of room.
Although there are more "GS" on the road today than
were ever built....

If I were you I'd look for a GS350, because anyone with
a real GS455 wants way too much money. The appearance
is the same, the powertrain is a don't-care. The GS hood,
now, that might be more of a nuisance than useful; wants
the special 2-snorkel air cleaner on a carb, what that
would end up being is probably just a rain leak on a LSx
swap.

Tail fins like early '60s Caddy (love the '62-'63).

ryanleiker

iTrader: (2)

There is a lot of aftermarket support for 1st gen f-bodies so I ended up buying a '72 Nova because almost every suspension and drivetrain piece for a '69 Camaro will fit the car.
You might look into a '68-'72 x-body like maybe the Pontiac Venture or a Nova.

chuckd71

iTrader: (23)

Aftermarket support for old cars?
Camaro/ Nova.
A bodies.
Mustangs.

fire67bird

Thinking outside of the box here but if you are looking for a vehicle to do a swap on I would suggest getting a 65-up Chevy C-10/Silverado truck. Most good 4.8/5.3 will come from a truck with the truck pan/intake so not having to replace those will make everything cheaper and easier. Not to mention easier to work, easier to find a solid truck, easier to do the swap, etc. I had a stand alone 5.3 that I was going to install in my 67 Firebird but changed my mind due to all the extra stuff that was going to be involved and the Firebird has a strong carb. 350. I was looking for a cheap truck to swap it into but ended up selling the 5.3 because I have too many toys to take on another project vehicle.

Mike Blanco

I am looking at a 71 Camaro and a 79 Firebird. Both look to be pretty solid roller cars. How might these two cars work for the LS Swap? Are there alot of support for these?

oldgoat69

Just as much support as the A-body. Most of the basics will be the same as an A-body, pan and wiring harness. Headers may also be the same depending upon the brand.
My suggestion is pick the body style you really like. The rest will follow. At this point there are very few cars an LS has not been swapped into.