Suggestions for a '67 Chevelle
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 6
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From: Walker, LA
Suggestions for a '67 Chevelle I know this subject has been beaten to death and I apologize for the redundancy. I have a '67 Chevelle Malibu with a 350 SBC, 700R4, 12 bolt rear end with 3.73 gears and factory air. Like most guys I have a champange taste on a beer budget.
I would like to swap in a newer style truck engine into my car due to their lower cost and higher availability. I am not opposed to using my 700R4 but would love to have TCI's new 6X transmission. I am pretty happy with my twelve bolt due to the fact that it is relativley new due to me blowing up my 10 bolt. haha. I also have been drooling over Procharger's newer LSX supercharger.
My Chevelle is and occasional driver that I would love to drive more often and I would like the reliability of a newer engine.
So my questions are these:
1. Which year and style truck engines would be a great choice for my application?
2. Which type of induction is best and maybe easier? Carb, stock truck efi, or maybe spend a bit of money on something like Mass Flo EFI for LS engines that can eventually take a supercharger?
3. Keep my transmission or get one that would come withe the truck engine or save up for the TCI. Where is the more bang for the buck?
4. How do I keep the original air condition in my car with the newer compressor?
5. What is a good FEAD. Should I pull something from junkyard or get something new or try to get the procharger one?
Due to money constraints I may do this in a progressive state and just get the car running then get the trans and then the supercharger if that is a viable option.
Thanks in advance for the advice!
I would like to swap in a newer style truck engine into my car due to their lower cost and higher availability. I am not opposed to using my 700R4 but would love to have TCI's new 6X transmission. I am pretty happy with my twelve bolt due to the fact that it is relativley new due to me blowing up my 10 bolt. haha. I also have been drooling over Procharger's newer LSX supercharger.
My Chevelle is and occasional driver that I would love to drive more often and I would like the reliability of a newer engine.
So my questions are these:
1. Which year and style truck engines would be a great choice for my application?
2. Which type of induction is best and maybe easier? Carb, stock truck efi, or maybe spend a bit of money on something like Mass Flo EFI for LS engines that can eventually take a supercharger?
3. Keep my transmission or get one that would come withe the truck engine or save up for the TCI. Where is the more bang for the buck?
4. How do I keep the original air condition in my car with the newer compressor?
5. What is a good FEAD. Should I pull something from junkyard or get something new or try to get the procharger one?
Due to money constraints I may do this in a progressive state and just get the car running then get the trans and then the supercharger if that is a viable option.
Thanks in advance for the advice!
Best bet would be to read the stickies and the a-body swap threads up top. Just giving you a one word answer to each question really wouldn't be as helpful as you might initially think. There is not really a best answer to any of those questions since they are all pretty subjective, other than perhaps the one about a/c (which I can't answer since I'm using an after market setup). Best advice would be to decide exactly what it is you want to accomplish before you spend any money.
Staging Lane
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Very hard questions to answer since no car/person combo is the same.
I will say that I love my car with the LS2 4l70 though I'm having transmission issues that may price to be very expensive and wipe out any savings I had by going with the whole combo rather than buying each separately.
If your 700r4 is built well enough to handle the LS engine then that would save some money but you will need drive by cable and not drive by wire.
Best of luck and post pics of the victim...I mean car.
I will say that I love my car with the LS2 4l70 though I'm having transmission issues that may price to be very expensive and wipe out any savings I had by going with the whole combo rather than buying each separately.
If your 700r4 is built well enough to handle the LS engine then that would save some money but you will need drive by cable and not drive by wire.
Best of luck and post pics of the victim...I mean car.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Walker, LA
I will never get that lucky. It just isn't in my nature! I guess the engine that I decide to go with will be based on what ever I can find at the time. I will still have to make the decision to keep it stock efi at first or go the carb route. The things that scare me is going through all the wires for the computer and I don't know if I want to fork up the money and get a prebuilt one. I will be asking alot of advice on here to get it up and running. I am a licensed aircraft mechanic and am not completely opposed to cutting up a stock wire harness but I have to get all the schematics.
If I were you I would look for a good COMPLETE with ALL accssories pullout,5.3,6.0 or for a little more money with better induction a ls1.Get one with trans and all for the best buy.Put it all in and get everything worked out and drive it and enjoy it for a while.You will be surprised how much power,torque and drivability you will have with stock setup.When you want more power later it will be a bolt on affair.If you really want to do a super charger later you will probably need a stronger trans like a 4l80e. I preferr the acessories and induction of the ls1 enough to pay a little more up front for that.You see ls1 pullouts on here from time to time for $25-$3500.
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I will never get that lucky. It just isn't in my nature! I guess the engine that I decide to go with will be based on what ever I can find at the time. I will still have to make the decision to keep it stock efi at first or go the carb route. The things that scare me is going through all the wires for the computer and I don't know if I want to fork up the money and get a prebuilt one. I will be asking alot of advice on here to get it up and running. I am a licensed aircraft mechanic and am not completely opposed to cutting up a stock wire harness but I have to get all the schematics.
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Any of the Gen III / IV engine would be a great update. Each of them can use bolt on to create great and usable power. Try and pick up a newer engine, Gen IV if you can. You should also consider if you want any of the VVT / DOD engines (or converting one of them to standard CAM)
Keep the EFI !, Drivablity and Gas milage are great with these engines, depending on how you drive, what the Tune is and what overall gearing is like. It will be a welcome increase. I get 26pm with 275x17 size tire, T56 trans and with 4.11 gears in my Chevelle @ 70-75mph.
I was able to get my Chevelle AC working by just swapping the LS1 compressor and getting some custom hoses to connect everything. It works ok, I say that only cause of my lack of knownledge on the inter working of the system to get it working better. One of my problems is that the LS1 variable displacement compress wasn't designed for the rest of the older system. But it does blow 45 degress as long as I am not stuck in bumper to bumper traffic.
I would try and get a newer match overdrive transmission... that way you can run a lower rear gear. But you can use what you have if your on a budget for now.
If your going to get the Harness done, many of the vendor (Speartech, PSI, other) all do a great job. If your going to do it yourself.. the FAQ are very well documented on what you need and after a few hour, it can be done. You will also gain the knowledge of how and what it takes for the EFI to work. Most of the factory ones can be turned into standalone harness with only a few wires added and reworked.
Good Luck
BC
Keep the EFI !, Drivablity and Gas milage are great with these engines, depending on how you drive, what the Tune is and what overall gearing is like. It will be a welcome increase. I get 26pm with 275x17 size tire, T56 trans and with 4.11 gears in my Chevelle @ 70-75mph.
I was able to get my Chevelle AC working by just swapping the LS1 compressor and getting some custom hoses to connect everything. It works ok, I say that only cause of my lack of knownledge on the inter working of the system to get it working better. One of my problems is that the LS1 variable displacement compress wasn't designed for the rest of the older system. But it does blow 45 degress as long as I am not stuck in bumper to bumper traffic.
I would try and get a newer match overdrive transmission... that way you can run a lower rear gear. But you can use what you have if your on a budget for now.
If your going to get the Harness done, many of the vendor (Speartech, PSI, other) all do a great job. If your going to do it yourself.. the FAQ are very well documented on what you need and after a few hour, it can be done. You will also gain the knowledge of how and what it takes for the EFI to work. Most of the factory ones can be turned into standalone harness with only a few wires added and reworked.
Good Luck
BC
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Walker, LA
Thanks guys! I am now super pumped to do this mod and am now on the hunt for an engine and trans combo. I have also been looking at Painless Wiring harnesses for this mod. Is that a good straight forward and cost effective option? They are selling the harness and computer already flashed for around $1,100.
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 30
Likes: 1
From: Utah
I haven't done the swap yet, but am in the same position as you with a 67 Chevelle and just doing research and looking for deals at the moment. It would probably be cheaper to buy an engine with the harness and computer. Then save money and rewire it yourself, or send it out and get it done for around 300. then get your computer flashed for maybe 100. So a lot cheaper then 1100
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,356
Likes: 2
From: Felton Pa
Look on ebay at Bow Auto Parts in New Hampshire. I bought my '03 4.8 complete pullout for $450 and $100 to have it shipped to my work. It came with everything including gas pedal and TAC. The only thing it didn't come with was the MAF and manifold collectors.
You sound like where I was last year with my 62 Biscayne. I had a carbed 355 and a turbo 350 trans. I went on a road trip from Winnipeg to Minneapolis and got 12-14 mpg . I found a person to buy the trubo 350 and was going to put in a 700r4. I rebuilt the 700r4 and a day later my buddy's friend blew up his 700r4 so I sold it to him and made a few dollars off of it. I came across a ls engine with a 4l60-e trans and bought that. Swapped it in with a PSI harness and reflashed computer. I'll never go back to a 3 speed trans or cards again.Do it once, spend the money and do it right.
Any truck 5.3, 6.0, or 6.2 from 01+. You might want to avoid VVT/DOD if you plan forced induction. Not too much experience with that combo.
Keep the EFI!!!!!!!!!! stock truck will be fine.
The 700R4 will be a problem to hook up the DBW with TV cable.
Get it with the 4L60/4L80, harness ecu, pedal, and TAC. Also get all accessories. Sounds like money is an issue, you can mod your own harness and have ecu reprogrammed under $100.
The stock AC compressor generally intereferes with the crossmember. Get a Kwik bracket and aftermarket fixed displacement Sanden compressor.
I got both my LSx engines by lowballing ebay auctions that didn't sell. Shipping was under $100. Local yards are fine too if you have time to look in person.
You can also save $$$ by using OEM fuel lines, connectors.
Keep the EFI!!!!!!!!!! stock truck will be fine.
The 700R4 will be a problem to hook up the DBW with TV cable.
Get it with the 4L60/4L80, harness ecu, pedal, and TAC. Also get all accessories. Sounds like money is an issue, you can mod your own harness and have ecu reprogrammed under $100.
The stock AC compressor generally intereferes with the crossmember. Get a Kwik bracket and aftermarket fixed displacement Sanden compressor.
I got both my LSx engines by lowballing ebay auctions that didn't sell. Shipping was under $100. Local yards are fine too if you have time to look in person.
You can also save $$$ by using OEM fuel lines, connectors.
Use all the factory stuff you can ,it's ususlly better anyway but will save you a ton of money.I used f body everything,radiator,fans,even transmission lines.F body manifolds fit like they were made for it if you move the oxegen sensors to the head pipes.Factory f body power steering lines worked perfect,just have to change and reflair the chevelle steering box end.All that stuff adds up in a hurry if you go with aftermarket stuff.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Walker, LA
Here is the picture of my victim as promised. I have had this car for about 13 years. It has survived 2 divorces, hurricane Katrina, a deployment to Iraq, going through my neighbor's house and a hood flying open at 70MPH on the interstate (hence the dent in the roof....haha). Now hopefully with some time and alot of Ramen Noodles I will be able to afford to give her a new heart. 
You will love it! 
TECH Fanatic
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,081
Likes: 8
From: Atlanta, Ga
I agree with everyone else, GO EFI!, Part of the reason to use the LSX is the fuel injection and computer controls. I honestly believe you will save money in the long and short run by going EFI.
Your best money saved will be saving for a couple of weeks to get the right part vs. making the wrong thing work.
An old machine shop mentor of mine had a saying, " There is never enough to do it right, but always enough to do it twice."
Your best money saved will be saving for a couple of weeks to get the right part vs. making the wrong thing work.
An old machine shop mentor of mine had a saying, " There is never enough to do it right, but always enough to do it twice."
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Walker, LA
I found this locally. Is it a good deal? Is a good setup to use in my application?
"Have a package deal. All was pulled from a Vin Z 2004 Yukon with 138K miles. This is a flex fuel engine, which has the larger injectors. The injectors are 33lb/hr vs the normal 25.2lb/hr. This motor was designed for the E85 and regular gas. It can run ether way with the ECM and the harness done in standalone. With the larger injectors, this is perfect for a larger cam upgrade
Here is what is on the table
Complete motor from intake to oil pan ( Cover, Intake, injectors, fuel rail, and the rest of the engine with dip stick )
All the accessories, ( A/C compressor, Power steering pump, Water pump, Clutch fan, Alternator, and Starter )
The 4l60e transmission with converter and dip stick
The complete wire harness with no connectors broken
The positive and ground wires for the battery are still attached
The ECM
The complete DBW setup ( pedal, TAC, harness, and throttle body )
Mass air sensor
The water jug
Transmission cooler lines
Manifolds with the first O2 sensors
As a package deal, I am looking for $1300 OBO
"Have a package deal. All was pulled from a Vin Z 2004 Yukon with 138K miles. This is a flex fuel engine, which has the larger injectors. The injectors are 33lb/hr vs the normal 25.2lb/hr. This motor was designed for the E85 and regular gas. It can run ether way with the ECM and the harness done in standalone. With the larger injectors, this is perfect for a larger cam upgrade
Here is what is on the table
Complete motor from intake to oil pan ( Cover, Intake, injectors, fuel rail, and the rest of the engine with dip stick )
All the accessories, ( A/C compressor, Power steering pump, Water pump, Clutch fan, Alternator, and Starter )
The 4l60e transmission with converter and dip stick
The complete wire harness with no connectors broken
The positive and ground wires for the battery are still attached
The ECM
The complete DBW setup ( pedal, TAC, harness, and throttle body )
Mass air sensor
The water jug
Transmission cooler lines
Manifolds with the first O2 sensors
As a package deal, I am looking for $1300 OBO