I thought this was a pretty straight forward swap. I sold someone a frontend and all the bracket from an LT1 to convert his 98-02 car to the older front end. He is telling me now that the hood bumper support brackets are up too high and won't allow his hood to shut? Also that the hood is hitting the airlid when it closes? That one doesn't make any sense at all as ive seen plenty of guys switch to the ls1 style airlid in an lt1?

Anyone out there converted to the older style front end and have any input?

 

The front end on the LS1's was changed because the engine is taller than the LT1. That is why your friend will have problems putting the older front end on his car.

 

Ive seen others that have done the older style swap tho... maybe its less straight foward than i assumed?

 

IIRC, in my LT1 days.... I think people needed to modify the lid setup to get it to work under the hood of their cars. Is that all that is hitting? If so, he should be able to make it work then. I've never seen the conversion done first hand, but I dont see why you shouldnt be able to do it.

 

The lid isn't really the main concern, mostly its the two hood bumper supports directly behind the radiator support seem to be too high up in the air?

 

Post pics??

 

I won't be any help but i did the 95 to 98 conversion and its easy,everything fits/lines up fine! I cannot imagine why he could'nt go back to the older style the same way i went to the newer style!

 

Let's see some pics!

 

the lid wont fit, gotta run the lt1 bellows boot, stretch it over the throttle body, and use an LT1 style intake/cai.

I was gonna do this to my car, but then decided against it, but did a lot of research before.

from my understnding the core supports are the same, but no way the hood will shut with that lid/support on it.

 

Doug, brackets for the hood are the same and he will need to slot them or lower them. Its tricky but it can be done. Also everything will line up just fine if he takes his time. Then as for the lid swap, it will take a lot of time to convert it. EIther cutting the radiator support or milling the base lid. Its not a simple swap for the lid. OR he can just run a cai and call it the day.

 

I did the same!

 

LS1 Lid on a LT1 Using Stock Camaro Hood

 

^^^ Pretty smooth how they hacked up something to cover the radiator, I've seen that idea done, but the guy didn't make a cover for the radiator and it looked kind of lame honestly.

Personally I'd go with something using an elbow and forget about trying to use the LS1 lid.