2nd Gen. Camaro Owners
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
From: Oakland, California
2nd Gen. Camaro Owners I just bought a 5.3L engine and am looking into dropping it in my 78 Camaro and was wondering, what mounts do you guys use/recommend for my 78? I am about to drop a pair of LS1 heads and cam on the engine that were on my brothers 2001 Z28, for free
. I also picked up a 2000 SS intake manifold, it's not the LS6 intake, but it was only $25. Oh, also what head gaskets should I use, the trucks or an LS1's head gaskets? And yes I did search around the forum for my answers all day yesterday. I was able to find some things out, but I still have some question.
. I also picked up a 2000 SS intake manifold, it's not the LS6 intake, but it was only $25. Oh, also what head gaskets should I use, the trucks or an LS1's head gaskets? And yes I did search around the forum for my answers all day yesterday. I was able to find some things out, but I still have some question. 
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,030
Likes: 660
just do GM LS1 head gaskets. A few people have done Edlebrock mounts but I am looking at BRPhotrods mount kit and headers. Hopefully LSxretro will do a kit soon. I believe he or they use to work at BRP.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
From: Oakland, California
Do you think I'll gain some power with the LS1 heads/cam on the stock 5.3L engine? So they will work on the engine right? What are those tubes that run across to each head under the intake manifold called? I have to get the LS1's since the trucks interfere with the LS1 intake. Thanks
I have '01 truck steam things with an '00 LS1 intake, only took a mild tweak by hand to get them to live together. No big deal. You have 9.5:1 compression now, with your 61.06cc heads. The LS1 heads are 66.67cc, so you'd be around 9.0:1. Not good. Just bolting on the LS6 heads, at 64.45cc, costs power, despite the better flow and better chambers. Compression is very important. Even if you have the LS1 heads milled 0.030", you're still no better for compression than you are now. Better to just leave the 5.3 heads on there for now, and run a single-pattern cam. Maybe something like the TR220.
Last edited by Isolde; Dec 23, 2009 at 03:08 PM. Reason: typo
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
From: Oakland, California
I have '01 truck steam things with an '00 LS1 intake, only took a mild tweak by hand to get them to live together. No big deal. You have 9.5:1 compression now, with your 61.06cc heads. The LS1 heads are 66.67cc, so you'd be around 9.0:1. Not good. Just bolting on the LS6 heads, at 64.45cc, costs power, despite the better flow and better chambers. Compression is very important. Even if you have the LS1 heads milled 0.030", you're still no better for compression than you are now. Better to just leave the 5.3 heads on there for now, and run a single-pattern cam. Maybe something like the TR220.
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Commiefornia
since all the 2nd gen owners should be here, may as well ask my 2 questions too
1.) Will a 4L80e fit a 70 camaro without modification to the trans tunnel
2.) For those of you who have already done the swap, about how much room do you have from the intake valley to the stock, flat hood (wanting to know if the carb setup will fit without changing the hood)
Trending Topics
Wont the tube break? It looks to me like the tube that pock up towards the intake cannot be turned. I have decided to keep the stock heads and add yellow ZO6 springs with the addition of a cam, still don't know which one to go with. What's the lift on the TR220? These springs are good for up to a .580" lift.
The TR220 is a .581" cam, and that's close enough to be safe. The HR lifters will "eat" more than 0.001" anyway.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0
Brett Foote
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
From: Oakland, California
My tube didn't break, but I did it by hand, not using the box end of a wrench, and I didn't bend it very far. I'm using an '01 5.3 truck TB with an '00 LS1 camaro intake manifold.
The TR220 is a .581" cam, and that's close enough to be safe. The HR lifters will "eat" more than 0.001" anyway.
The TR220 is a .581" cam, and that's close enough to be safe. The HR lifters will "eat" more than 0.001" anyway.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,030
Likes: 660
1972 Z28,
I went to www.nastyz28.com a few times and I can not find anything with LS swaps. I do not like that sites format at all. Any hints on finding the swap info?
Thanks,
Jim
I went to www.nastyz28.com a few times and I can not find anything with LS swaps. I do not like that sites format at all. Any hints on finding the swap info?
Thanks,
Jim
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
1972 Z28,
I went to www.nastyz28.com a few times and I can not find anything with LS swaps. I do not like that sites format at all. Any hints on finding the swap info?
Thanks,
Jim
I went to www.nastyz28.com a few times and I can not find anything with LS swaps. I do not like that sites format at all. Any hints on finding the swap info?
Thanks,
Jim
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,030
Likes: 660
