I am putting a LS1 with a automatic from a 98 Camaro into my 81 Camaro. Can anyone tell me what all has to be modified to make this work? What has to be done with the frame, radiator, air cond., motor mounts, etc?
Thank you for your help

 

I installed a LS1 into my 1978 Firebird, should be virtually identical

The engine fit right in. I insisted in cutting as little as possible, absolutely no cutting into the subframe. The only custom parts are the transmission crossmember, the driveshaft, a small plate to hold the clutch master cylinder, wiring harness I bought from Street & Performance, and motor mount plates from Street & Performance (which I found they are NOT truly universal, it was a forced fit but they work great once you get them in). You will need to notch the oil pan and extend the oil pickup tube. Again, the people at Street & Performance sent me an awesome part for this. You also need to have the exhaust hooked up custom (great time to upgrade that too).

I used the aluminum radiator from a 2000ss Camaro. It fits perfectly. I have the dual fans on there also, hooked up to a simple thermocouple inside the hot side of the radiator flow to activate them. Any LS1 radiator should fit just as well. The factory hoses work too!

I used the factory fuel pump in it's housing. It is now inside my 1978 gas tank, so I did not have to install baffles, just cut a hole and pop the factory unit inside. The regulator is in the tank as factory. No full length return lines either, much simpler. 6-AN hoses mated to stainless hardlines carry the fuel around.

I yanked the A/C, too much trouble for me to want to deal with it. Never worked on my car anyway :p

Apart from that, it's mostly plug and play surprisingly enough. Expect headaches despite that. It's easy to find snags in this project.

Yeah it's fun. I can be parked next to a row of fourth gens and people always wander over to see "the guy with the LS1" (as absurd as that sounds). Makes the car pretty fast too

Good luck!

 

I didnt have to notch my oil pan. I moved the motor back about 3/4" though. I made my own motor plates like S&Ps. Made my own headers out of my old SBC headers. I took the stock 4 speed crossmember cut the tranny mounting pad off of it, flipped it around and put it back in, works good. I used an aluminum radiator. Im not running any a/c either. then I used a B&M shifter for a 700R4, works fine with the 4L60E trans.

 

I went with a low and far back position of the LS1 for the best possible weight distribution. Stock oil pan but I did have to notch the crossmember for the Alternator and AC. A small cut for the Alternator and a big one for the AC. I made the motor mounts and modified the stock 99 manifolds to fit. I used a plate/box for the 99 clutch master cylinder. For the fuel system I plan to use a sender from a 87 Grand National and weld the larger ring in a new stock tank and a Walbro pump. I'm going to modify my own harness and use the stock 99 fans triggered by the LS1 PCM. I'll be making custom headers for the swap when I get a chance. I've had some serious delays over the past year but hope to get working soon. Check out my website for more info, I haven't updated in a while but then again not much work has been done either. I'm willing to sell copies of my motor mounts or anything else if you want it.

 

Hee guys,
I hoping on doing this swap to, do you have the sizes/measures of your motormounts?
please tell me, thanks
Peter

 

I'd be surprised if the Spohn mounts designed for 3rd gens wouldn't fit a 2nd gen. They're designed to reuse the LS1 rubber mount located on the engine...just bolt the Spohns to your crossmember and away you go.

Thirdgenresource.com sells them and the trans crossmember as a kit:

http://www.thirdgenresource.com/inc/...l?v=1&pid=2047

You can see a shot of one of his mounts in use at:

http://www.thirdgenresource.com/91_z28_ls1_engine

 

Seems like the orginal engine mounts from the donor car could be used to, the look a lot like those.
anyone know's the measurements ?
thanks
Peter

 

Seems there are a few of 2nd gen swap guys here. Would any of you be willing to e-mail me some pics through the swap process? I think some of these would greatly help me out.

Also what are all of you doing for headers?

 

I used my SBC headers. Just made LS1 flanges and cut the old primaries, and rewelded them to the LS1 locations. Not equal length but they got the car moving. Im thinking of trying headers made for the 1st gen camaros, see if they will fit or not.

 

Well its good to know Im not going to have to go through this alone. New here (posting that is). So Im doing an LS1 swap in a 1978 Firebird and all Im stuck on is MM's and headers, which to get. Or go with motor plates??? Any advice is appreciated, as I am going for H/C only.

 

I used pace setters for my swap and just had to trim the driver lower flang
good luck

 

I'm going to be starting an LS-1 swap into a 73 Z/28 in January.

Do the S&P people have a website for the motor mounts?

Not sure how I'm going to do it at this time but I intend to get the A/C working

My originaly intentions on the fuel system were to just buy a new fuel tank, sump it and run some lines to an inline fuel pump but I might do what one of the guys said about dropping a bucket in there from a 4th gen.

Is it a PITA to hook up the power steering?

Marc

 

I herd S&P mounts suck, i ordered this set from BRP hotrods. http://brphotrods.com/parts.html

 

I used the S&P style mounts but had to modify the one on the passenger side so it wouldnt hit my a/c compressor. I intend on getting the a/c working also but havent had time to check for leaks and charge the system yet.
I sumped my old tank and ran a inline pump for the fuel system.
The power steering was easy to hook up, I used the ls1 high pressure hose and made my own on the return side.