LS1-swapped Chevy Chevette Looks Like an Absolute Riot
Lightweight, plus big power, makes this Chevy a lot of fun to drive but it also took some serious fab work to get there.
Hot rodding has been around for decades, mostly because it’s equal parts fun and simple. Take the biggest/most powerful engine possible, stuff it into the lightest vehicle you can, and hold on. That idea lives on today, thriving in a world where we once turned our noses up at small economy cars. GM’s LS engine has provided us with the perfect tool to accomplish this task thanks to its compact design, commonality, and endless performance potential. And that’s why we see more than our fair share of LS-swapped Chevy Chevettes.
LS1 Tech forum member sbauerz28 is a huge fan of the platform, having owned a couple of them so far. His last example packed a 355 cube small block, TH350 transmission, and 8.8-inch Ford rear end. For whatever reason, he sold it a while back but immediately regretted it. So when the itch to build another Chevette arose, he decided to scratch it with a slightly different build.
“A few weeks ago I went down to North Carolina to pick up this gem for cheap. It’s a 1987 Chevette with only very minor surface rust. The plan for this car is an LS1 and 4L60E trans, Ford 8.8, and a 4-link. I also plan to minitub the car.”
The job began with a few minor fixes, things like straightening out the door pins so the doors would shut properly. But then, it was time to start addressing the chassis to get it ready for some serious power. First, the OP welded in a set of frame connectors. The, the firewall had to be moved back roughly four inches to make room for the new drivetrain. That process took a little longer than expected, too.
“I swear I’ve been going back and forth over the past few days with where I’m going to mount the engine. I move it forward an inch, back an inch, up, down. It’s a tight fit and everything is a compromise from foot room, header clearance, and rack clearance. I think I have it were I want it now and hope to have the mounts done by the end of this weekend.”
With that and the firewall completed, the OP moved on to fabricating a new transmission tunnel. Of course, that was just the beginning. Then he had to figure out the headers, which took a lot of finagling. Soon, it was time to weld in the rear frame rails and begin working on installing the 4-link and new rear end. With the new wheel tubs welded in, this little Chevy was actually looking pretty OEM, despite the massive amount of work that had been done to it. Which is a big credit to the OP’s fabrication skills.
At this point, we wouldn’t say the tiny Chevy is 100 percent finished. But it is rolling along, with around 60 trouble-free miles on it so far. So be sure and head over here to catch up on this awesome build. And stay tuned to see how great it turns out in the end!
Photos: LS1 Tech Forums
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