The G-Body Swap Thread
I saw some were having questions about power steering lines and such. I just took the pressure valve off my old pump and installed it onto my new truck power steering pump, that way I can keep my 79 malibu pressure and return lines.
Ended up making a bracket out of .250 plate on the plasma table and it worked out really well! Used the old 4l80 bracket and determined where the hole needed to be... Used a 1/4-20 bolt with a loc-nut on the cable.
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Shiftworks sells something similar to solve 4l60 and 4l80 shifter cable issues for $18.50
http://www.shiftworks.com/4lx.htm
http://www.shiftworks.com/4lx.htm
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn, NY
HI Guys.. New guy here.. Looking for info for swapping a complete LS1 into my 78 Cutlass.. I might be getting a complete pullout from an 2002 Camaro..Motor,trans,harness,computer,accessories..
I Currently have a 305sbc with th350 trans.. I was getting ready to build up a 400sbc shortblock and put in a 200-4r, but came across this deal..
Will the trans-dapt brackets work for the motor mounts? Does the motor have to be setback 1"?
As for the transmission crossmember, I am thinking about getting the double-hump for dual exhaust for a 700-r4.. The motor is coming with the 4l60e so that should fit just fine.. Just gonna need the driveshaft cut. No biggie..
I would like to retain the factory manifolds.. Will that be a pain? Trying to be budget friendly here.. I am going to go with a header back system from Pypes, so I just need to mate the manifolds to the x-pipe.. If I can find cheap Longtubes, I'll go with those. But I can't spend $500 on headers..
I will have roughly $2k to work with after the motor/trans purchase..
For the fuel system, I am going with a GN tank & pump setup from rockauto.. Will stock stuff work? The motor is stock, with an LS6 Intake..
What will I need to adapt the lines from the rail to the stock lines?
And last I guess is wiring and computer? Who mods the computers and sells a harness to adapt? What will that run?
Appreciate any info.. I'm doing searching in the meantime, but it's confusing b/c all different setups.. I'm looking for the easiest, as straight forward as possible, within my budget.. Can it be done? I also dont want to remove my a/c box..
thanks for any help!!
I Currently have a 305sbc with th350 trans.. I was getting ready to build up a 400sbc shortblock and put in a 200-4r, but came across this deal..
Will the trans-dapt brackets work for the motor mounts? Does the motor have to be setback 1"?
As for the transmission crossmember, I am thinking about getting the double-hump for dual exhaust for a 700-r4.. The motor is coming with the 4l60e so that should fit just fine.. Just gonna need the driveshaft cut. No biggie..
I would like to retain the factory manifolds.. Will that be a pain? Trying to be budget friendly here.. I am going to go with a header back system from Pypes, so I just need to mate the manifolds to the x-pipe.. If I can find cheap Longtubes, I'll go with those. But I can't spend $500 on headers..
I will have roughly $2k to work with after the motor/trans purchase..
For the fuel system, I am going with a GN tank & pump setup from rockauto.. Will stock stuff work? The motor is stock, with an LS6 Intake..
What will I need to adapt the lines from the rail to the stock lines?
And last I guess is wiring and computer? Who mods the computers and sells a harness to adapt? What will that run?
Appreciate any info.. I'm doing searching in the meantime, but it's confusing b/c all different setups.. I'm looking for the easiest, as straight forward as possible, within my budget.. Can it be done? I also dont want to remove my a/c box..
thanks for any help!!
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn, NY
Also, will the 5.3 with stock manifolds AND the stock cats fit? I dont need the cats becausr my car is only subject to safety inspections, but i figured being i will be running a stock motor, it can't hurt to have them and cut down on the emissions from the exhaust so my kids dont complain when they are in my car.. Lol
And getting back to the computer and harness, does any place offer a quick turnaround, like in a week?
And getting back to the computer and harness, does any place offer a quick turnaround, like in a week?
F-body engine harnesses are the easiest ones to mod yourself. The schematics are posted in the swap faq. You may have to do some searching, but I know they're there because I'm the one that posted them. Have you read all of the posts in this thread? If not, you need to. You'll find all of your answers there.
And guys with the set back plates how kichnof a notch did you do for the ac box? If any? Pictures?
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I'm using my STOCK 85MCSS shifter & cable. I didnt want anything inside of the car to look differently as my interior is still nice and minty stock..
Really? For now I could live with the stock shifter til later on but the stock cable works well bolted up to the 4l80? Any pictures you could send me?
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
My 79 malibu build (turbo edition) https://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-in...79-malibu.html
Here is my build thread I just started.
Here is my build thread I just started.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Hey guys, been around a long time but finally realized I never made an account or posted 
Whats the definitive answer on truck exh manifolds? Ive heard people say only drivers fits and others say only passenger fits, havent seen pics of anyone with both in a G body.
Ive got a line on a set of GTO manifolds for $100, but id rather not spend that $100 if I dont have to....super budget build,shooting for around$1200 on the road (5.3LM7 in a 78 Malibu coupe) and on budget so far.
Thanks for any responses.
Whats the definitive answer on truck exh manifolds? Ive heard people say only drivers fits and others say only passenger fits, havent seen pics of anyone with both in a G body.
Ive got a line on a set of GTO manifolds for $100, but id rather not spend that $100 if I dont have to....super budget build,shooting for around$1200 on the road (5.3LM7 in a 78 Malibu coupe) and on budget so far.
Thanks for any responses.
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Delaware
the fbody manifolds were a direct fit for me, although I ended up using a midlenth hedman header. I know motor mounts chosen will affect the fitment of everything though. I notched my K-member for my install.
Got my trans crossmember in today and things weren't lining up.
88 Monte
CarshopInc 1" set back plates
4l60e
G-Force 4l60e transmission crossmember
Passenger side I can get two bolts into the crossmember and frame. Then I moved the the driver side end around a little until the transmission mount threads would line up with the hole in the middle of the crossmember.
Now the holes on the driver side does not match up with any of the holes on the frame.
I have no problem drilling a hole on the left side X mark, not sure about the right side. Dont really want to drill a 3rd hole right in the middle of those two. Gbody frames are already weak as is.
There is a guy on Maliburacing using a TH400 G-force crossmember with a 4l80e and only has 1 bolt on each end of the crossmember instead of two so Im thinking I may be okay with just drilling for that left side in the pic below.
Few more Pics..
Passenger side, both bolts are in
Trans mount is not aligned.
Driver side
Another driver side shot.
88 Monte
CarshopInc 1" set back plates
4l60e
G-Force 4l60e transmission crossmember
Passenger side I can get two bolts into the crossmember and frame. Then I moved the the driver side end around a little until the transmission mount threads would line up with the hole in the middle of the crossmember.
Now the holes on the driver side does not match up with any of the holes on the frame.
I have no problem drilling a hole on the left side X mark, not sure about the right side. Dont really want to drill a 3rd hole right in the middle of those two. Gbody frames are already weak as is.
There is a guy on Maliburacing using a TH400 G-force crossmember with a 4l80e and only has 1 bolt on each end of the crossmember instead of two so Im thinking I may be okay with just drilling for that left side in the pic below.
Few more Pics..
Passenger side, both bolts are in
Trans mount is not aligned.
Driver side
Another driver side shot.
Took the crossmember out and tape it up and marked the mounting hole points so I could line them up with the frame.
I think I will go ahead and use #1 (one of the original mounting holes in the crossmember, then have the two larger pre-existing holes welded shut when exhaust is done.
Then use #3 as a new second mounting point for the other bolt.
I think I will go ahead and use #1 (one of the original mounting holes in the crossmember, then have the two larger pre-existing holes welded shut when exhaust is done.
Then use #3 as a new second mounting point for the other bolt.
