LS1 to Cadillac Catera conversion
11-14-2003, 10:16 AM
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LS1 to Cadillac Catera conversion I just joined this list yesterday, because I am considering putting the LS1 engine into a Catera. Sort of making a domestic Holden sedan or a CTS-V vor a lot less than the $50K+ that car will command.
I figure a Catera, an LS1/ auto trans and Pontiac GTO suspension, brake and engine/ trans mounting hardware. Not sure about wiring harness issues. Also not sure about rear end confersion.
I really don't know what I need to think about. This seems fairly straight- forward. I haven't done this sort of thing for 30 years, but the end result seems worth it.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts you may have, resources to consider, etc.
I figure a Catera, an LS1/ auto trans and Pontiac GTO suspension, brake and engine/ trans mounting hardware. Not sure about wiring harness issues. Also not sure about rear end confersion.
I really don't know what I need to think about. This seems fairly straight- forward. I haven't done this sort of thing for 30 years, but the end result seems worth it.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts you may have, resources to consider, etc.
11-17-2003, 10:29 AM
#3
Chevy II LS1 You can take a look at my website: http://www.iimuchfabrication.com
I'm putting an LS1 in 67 Chevy II, which isn't exactly what you're doing
, but at least I'm kind of local in Germantown Maryland. You'll have at least some of the same problems to solve.
Are you going to make any chassis mods? Will the GTO stuff bolt in to the Catera chassis?
Good luck, sounds like fun.
John Parsons
I'm putting an LS1 in 67 Chevy II, which isn't exactly what you're doing
, but at least I'm kind of local in Germantown Maryland. You'll have at least some of the same problems to solve.Are you going to make any chassis mods? Will the GTO stuff bolt in to the Catera chassis?
Good luck, sounds like fun.
John Parsons
12-06-2003, 07:04 PM
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SS1 to Catera conversion
Originally Posted by parsonsj
You can take a look at my website: http://www.iimuchfabrication.com
I'm putting an LS1 in 67 Chevy II, which isn't exactly what you're doing, but at least I'm kind of local in Germantown Maryland. You'll have at least some of the same problems to solve.
Are you going to make any chassis mods? Will the GTO stuff bolt in to the Catera chassis?
Good luck, sounds like fun.
John Parsons
I'm putting an LS1 in 67 Chevy II, which isn't exactly what you're doing
, but at least I'm kind of local in Germantown Maryland. You'll have at least some of the same problems to solve.Are you going to make any chassis mods? Will the GTO stuff bolt in to the Catera chassis?
Good luck, sounds like fun.
John Parsons
Best of luck.
12-08-2003, 08:05 AM
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the catara is based off a opel platform .... the gto comes from the monaro which comes from the commodore which comes from the same opel platform. however it's been modified big time, one major thing is the car was wide'nd a bit. The ls1 will not just bolt into it. The commodore's come with LS1's. The closest thing is the sigma as far as LS1 compatibility
12-10-2003, 07:31 PM
#6
While it's clearly possible - as are most things, it is not as straight forward as it may first appear. About 2 years ago there was some discussion of this on http://hybridz.org. You can find the thread if you search for Catera. There was a guy who had one (stock V6) and was really researching this. There were a coupla Aussie's who weighed in too. There are issues with bay size, oil pan, steering and rear diff.
It ends up being about as much of a project as LS1'ing a 3-series or other similarly sized RWD car.
It ends up being about as much of a project as LS1'ing a 3-series or other similarly sized RWD car.
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12-19-2003, 09:17 PM
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you can use the holden front sump oil pan, i got mine for $220
factory catera v6 timing belts are always blowing off and destroying the heads, so you can always find a buyer for the engine(boat anchor)
i bet an ls1 would just about drop right in a catera, they have alot of room under the hood.
especially up front with the stupid variable intake/vacuum tank setup.....takes a ton of room
catera's come with steering boxes, you could junk it and slam a rack and peanut in from a junkyard car, would save alot of room.
mines from a w210 e-class
not sure how many splines the rear diff is....i replaced my flexjoint yoke on the pinion(same as catera) with a chevy yoke, it works great.
factory catera v6 timing belts are always blowing off and destroying the heads, so you can always find a buyer for the engine(boat anchor)
i bet an ls1 would just about drop right in a catera, they have alot of room under the hood.
especially up front with the stupid variable intake/vacuum tank setup.....takes a ton of room
catera's come with steering boxes, you could junk it and slam a rack and peanut in from a junkyard car, would save alot of room.
mines from a w210 e-class
not sure how many splines the rear diff is....i replaced my flexjoint yoke on the pinion(same as catera) with a chevy yoke, it works great.
02-12-2006, 03:29 PM
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I think it was Hot Rod Magazine doing just that a few years ago. I have seen an article about it. I remember it since I have an Opel Omega (Sold in the US as Cadillac Catera)
They just bolted it in with the automatic trans. Most of hte stuff just fitted. The linkage to the trans was just to connect. The instrumentation was just to connect. Everything thanks to GM standardization.
The suspension can be left alone, it has pretty much the same setup as the Holden and should withstand the power. They came with 270 hp 3,2 liter V6s over here.
Jan
They just bolted it in with the automatic trans. Most of hte stuff just fitted. The linkage to the trans was just to connect. The instrumentation was just to connect. Everything thanks to GM standardization.
The suspension can be left alone, it has pretty much the same setup as the Holden and should withstand the power. They came with 270 hp 3,2 liter V6s over here.
Jan
02-12-2006, 07:00 PM
#11
Lingenfelter built a couple few years back. The article I saw said they had some serious issues with fitting the headers. I think they had to go with an almost rectangular primary to get it to fit.
Might want to give them a call and see if they are willing to give some info.
Might want to give them a call and see if they are willing to give some info.
03-06-2006, 07:13 PM
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***update Positive Feedback**** just got my reply email from Lingenfelter...looks like there will be a Catera "kit" in the works pretty soon...
here are the goods:
here are the goods:
Mike,
Your email was forwarded to me. Yes, we have performed a swap of an LS1/LS6
intake a Catera. We haven't done an LS2 but they are almost the same. We
actually have many of the parts needed to do this. We are working on trying
to put them into kit form. The parts we used before were mostly one-off
fabricated parts.
I have my own Catera I plan to check these new parts on so if you can wait a
little bit, we should be able to supply you with an almost complete kit to
perform this swap.
Regards,
Jason R. Haines
Project Director
Lingenfelter Performance Engineering
jhaines@lingenfelter.com
www.lingenfelter.com
Your email was forwarded to me. Yes, we have performed a swap of an LS1/LS6
intake a Catera. We haven't done an LS2 but they are almost the same. We
actually have many of the parts needed to do this. We are working on trying
to put them into kit form. The parts we used before were mostly one-off
fabricated parts.
I have my own Catera I plan to check these new parts on so if you can wait a
little bit, we should be able to supply you with an almost complete kit to
perform this swap.
Regards,
Jason R. Haines
Project Director
Lingenfelter Performance Engineering
jhaines@lingenfelter.com
www.lingenfelter.com
03-06-2006, 11:08 PM
#18
LPE isnt cheap at all, I think there kit would suck more the money outta DIY guys. Nothing they have is even close to reasonable. I see alot of richer vetter owners buying there parts.
So I think the kit isnt going to be like a Hinson kit wich is gear more toward everyone being able to buy it etc...
So I think the kit isnt going to be like a Hinson kit wich is gear more toward everyone being able to buy it etc...
03-07-2006, 08:12 PM
#20
Yeah it would be, that would be a awsome car. Since this thing comes with a LS1 down under way not just buy a front clip of a car and swap everything over?????/
Or buy everthing used from down under, instead of brand stuff wich I assume LPE is going to use.
Or buy everthing used from down under, instead of brand stuff wich I assume LPE is going to use.