Conversions & Swaps LSX Engines in Non-LSX Vehicles
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

1969 Camaro LS swap

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 26, 2015 | 10:49 PM
  #1  
cwylie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Default 1969 Camaro LS swap

So I figured I might as well start a thread on this built. I have had the car for a few months now and have been collecting parts. This entire project actually started with an entirely different car with an entirely different direction. I pickup up a 69 pro street car about 6 months ago intending to build a true pro street car. After collecting a few parts and coming to the realization I really didnt want a pro street car I ordered all new sheet metal for the car to to take it back to a stock body car and remove the ladder bar backhalf on the car. A few days after I placed the order I ran across this car about 30 miles from where I picked up the first car. While significantly more money all of the sheet metal was already done and probably saved me about 2 years worth of build time vs. if I would have used the other car. I made a deal and headed that way with the trailer. The previous owner had owned the car for about 10 year and started on the ground up restoration when the project got put on hold about 5 years ago. He provided me with all of the picture he had of the car so I have documentation of everything. He found the car in a storage yard in need of some serious help so he pulled it out and sent it off to the Goodmark installation center in Georgia. By the time he got it back pretty much everything except the inner supports, passenger side floorboard and firewall had been replaced. He had the entire interior sprayed with lizard skin and the body, high fill primed, sanded and color primed.

This is where I come into the picture. I picked up the car I Lillian Texas so I figured this was a fitting name for her. The car was originally a Hugger Orange SS and since all the door jams and the undersides of the panels are painted that color she will be staying Hugger Orange. I currently have a full ride tech front suspension installed in the car with shockwaves but I think they are going to be swapped out for coilovers by the end of this. I am in the process of installing DSE mini tubs and subframe connectors. The rear suspension was ordered from Speedtech as well as the rear axle. Roger has been great to deal with and always helpful.
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2015 | 10:53 PM
  #2  
cwylie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Default

This is how the previous owner found her. He had the car for several years and sent it to the Goodmark Installation center to have the sheetmetal replaced.







Reply
Old Jan 26, 2015 | 10:53 PM
  #3  
cwylie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Default

The day I picked her up:



The project begins:






Reply
Old Jan 26, 2015 | 10:54 PM
  #4  
cwylie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Default





Reply
Old Jan 26, 2015 | 10:54 PM
  #5  
cwylie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Default


http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/...e/IMG_2246.jpg



Reply
Old Jan 26, 2015 | 10:55 PM
  #6  
cwylie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Default





Reply
Old Jan 27, 2015 | 08:34 AM
  #7  
cwylie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Default









Reply
Old Jan 27, 2015 | 08:36 AM
  #8  
cwylie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Default











Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 27, 2015 | 08:37 AM
  #9  
cwylie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Default

Got most of the supercharger drive parts installed, heat exchanger, and radiator.

























Reply
Old Jan 27, 2015 | 08:38 AM
  #10  
cwylie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Default

Had to pull the front end back off the car and pull the engine back out to modify the passenger side motor mount to give me enough room for a low mount a/c compressor. I think I found a setup that will work from Street and Performance but there is no telling until it gets here.

Reply
Old Jan 27, 2015 | 09:46 AM
  #11  
ls1nova71's Avatar
TECH Veteran
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,406
Likes: 211
From: Liberty, MO
Default

Looking real good! I'll be following along, so keep up the posting. You should have pretty much a brand new '69 Camaro when you're done.
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2015 | 12:14 PM
  #12  
ryanleiker's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
Default

What valve covers are those?
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2015 | 01:53 PM
  #13  
Alwhite00's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 651
Likes: 47
From: Michigan
Default

What size are the rear tires?
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2015 | 02:28 PM
  #14  
cwylie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Default

Holley Valve covers. 335/30/18 on 18x12 in the back, 265/35/18 on 18x9 in the front.
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2015 | 09:25 PM
  #15  
bad_bowtiexxx's Avatar
Teching In
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 42
Likes: 4
From: se SD
Default

do you plan on keeping the dbc throttle body. if so what cable are you going to use
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2015 | 08:30 AM
  #16  
dlove's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (23)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,449
Likes: 1
From: Fort Worth
Default

What are you doing for the chassis harness? We are going to have a direct fit chassis harness available for that car very soon! We're looking around the March-April time frame.

http://www.painlessperformance.com/webcat/20202
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2015 | 10:31 AM
  #17  
cwylie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Default

Yes I plan to keep to a cable throttle body. I am not sure what cable I am going to use yet. Im going to run a Holley HP EFI ECU. I have been looking at the painless harness and the American Autowire harness. It looks like the American Autowire has a few more options than the painless but I would be interested to see what painless has to offer.
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2015 | 11:28 AM
  #18  
dlove's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (23)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,449
Likes: 1
From: Fort Worth
Default

Originally Posted by cwylie
Yes I plan to keep to a cable throttle body. I am not sure what cable I am going to use yet. Im going to run a Holley HP EFI ECU. I have been looking at the painless harness and the American Autowire harness. It looks like the American Autowire has a few more options than the painless but I would be interested to see what painless has to offer.
Check out the link I posted above on it for the full details. AAW makes a great product and I'll refrain from my thoughts on it as we're all friends. In regards to ours, we include almost everything pre terminated on this new harness. Some other benefits are all of the options our kit will cover; RS headlights and taillights, cowl hood, and even a complete console harness. We even designed an LED panel to replace your dash indicator lights. We expect the harness to be out in March or April and priced right around $800.


Our manual for it is currently getting put together and I can tell you it will be awesome. It's looking to be around 150 pages. Which sounds like a lot, but we go through all the vehicle options and try to cover all the questions you might have. Afterwards you will know every detail of wiring on the car and feel confident in your wiring job. The manual for our 2nd gen Camaro is the same way. Check it out here: http://www.painlessperformance.com/Manuals/20112.pdf

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions with the wiring!
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2015 | 06:58 PM
  #19  
txstormtrooper's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Default

Nice build! My buddy will be starting one soon, he's got a 69' 496bb mated to a legacy 5sp manual at the moment. You've got a very nice wheel choice!
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2015 | 08:53 PM
  #20  
Motown 454's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 686
Likes: 17
From: S.E. Ma.
Default

you know I'll be watching!
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:55 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE