Corvette drive train
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Corvette drive train Hi Folks;
I am looking at a 1999 corvette as a drive train ,suspension donour car for my latest project.Need some help here in a big way!The vettes I have seen with a LS1 all have tourqe tubes (trans to rearend) are all LS1 vettes like this ?Is there a kit to change the the rear end and trans over to a open drive shaft?
Is there any year vetts that are better than others for donours,I want to use the front and rear suspension as well,Are there any computer related problems that I should be aware of before I make my choice?
I look forward to your input.
Cheers
I am looking at a 1999 corvette as a drive train ,suspension donour car for my latest project.Need some help here in a big way!The vettes I have seen with a LS1 all have tourqe tubes (trans to rearend) are all LS1 vettes like this ?Is there a kit to change the the rear end and trans over to a open drive shaft?
Is there any year vetts that are better than others for donours,I want to use the front and rear suspension as well,Are there any computer related problems that I should be aware of before I make my choice?
I look forward to your input.
Cheers
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,707
Likes: 33
From: Anderson, Indiana
Yes, all LS1 Corvettes are the torque tube / transaxle layout. All Corvettes also use the electronic throttle system which is a very nice high-tech setup for swaps!
You can switch it to a "normal" driveshaft layout by finding a transmission and flywheel from an LS1 Camaro/Firebird or truck with the Gen 3 engine.
The newer the better. I would avoid the 98 due to potential computer glitches on swaps; the 99-00 are basically the same (good), and the 2001 and up are basically the same (better). 2001 and up engines all come with the desirable LS6 intake manifold, or you might even find a Z06 Corvette with the LS6 engine.
You can switch it to a "normal" driveshaft layout by finding a transmission and flywheel from an LS1 Camaro/Firebird or truck with the Gen 3 engine.
The newer the better. I would avoid the 98 due to potential computer glitches on swaps; the 99-00 are basically the same (good), and the 2001 and up are basically the same (better). 2001 and up engines all come with the desirable LS6 intake manifold, or you might even find a Z06 Corvette with the LS6 engine.
__________________
91 Z28 LS2 408CI, LS9 Supercharger, LPE GT7 cam, Yank3000, 3450 raceweight.
Latest numbers: 9.71 ET, 141.42 MPH, 1.40 60' , 610 RWHP Mustang Dyno
www.speartech.com
91 Z28 LS2 408CI, LS9 Supercharger, LPE GT7 cam, Yank3000, 3450 raceweight.
Latest numbers: 9.71 ET, 141.42 MPH, 1.40 60' , 610 RWHP Mustang Dyno
www.speartech.com
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Thank you John;
If you dont mind I am going to pick your brain a little more.I want to use a automatic lay out ,dose that mean the trans out of the Vette is of no use .i dont want to have to buy some thing from the recycler if i dont have to.The rear end were the tourqe tube attaches to or provides the input to the rear end ,do you have to change the center section of the rear end? is this need from a older vette?What is the computter problem you mentioned in the 1998's ,and was that fixed at the model change over for 99 or did it bleed into the next year .I am wondering if I have to pay attention to production dates for 1999.I look forward to your reply
Cheers
If you dont mind I am going to pick your brain a little more.I want to use a automatic lay out ,dose that mean the trans out of the Vette is of no use .i dont want to have to buy some thing from the recycler if i dont have to.The rear end were the tourqe tube attaches to or provides the input to the rear end ,do you have to change the center section of the rear end? is this need from a older vette?What is the computter problem you mentioned in the 1998's ,and was that fixed at the model change over for 99 or did it bleed into the next year .I am wondering if I have to pay attention to production dates for 1999.I look forward to your reply
Cheers
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,707
Likes: 33
From: Anderson, Indiana
It sounds like for what you are doing, the trans from the Vette is of no use.
Depending on your parts access, the easiest way to do what you want (I think) would be to get your LS1 engine trans from a Camaro/Firebird, and then get the front and rear suspension from a C4 Corvette (84-96). These have a nice independant suspension setup, but still used a conventional engine/trans with driveshaft and differential.
Or you could get evrything from the LS1 Vette EXCEPT the rear suspension, and just get the rear from a pre-97 Corvette, and a transmission from a Camaro/Firebird.
The 98 computer is completely different from the 99-04, so nothing carried over there.
They even look different. The only issue with the 98 is if you are going to use electronic throttle. Stick with 99 and newer for that.
Depending on your parts access, the easiest way to do what you want (I think) would be to get your LS1 engine trans from a Camaro/Firebird, and then get the front and rear suspension from a C4 Corvette (84-96). These have a nice independant suspension setup, but still used a conventional engine/trans with driveshaft and differential.
Or you could get evrything from the LS1 Vette EXCEPT the rear suspension, and just get the rear from a pre-97 Corvette, and a transmission from a Camaro/Firebird.
The 98 computer is completely different from the 99-04, so nothing carried over there.
They even look different. The only issue with the 98 is if you are going to use electronic throttle. Stick with 99 and newer for that.
__________________
91 Z28 LS2 408CI, LS9 Supercharger, LPE GT7 cam, Yank3000, 3450 raceweight.
Latest numbers: 9.71 ET, 141.42 MPH, 1.40 60' , 610 RWHP Mustang Dyno
www.speartech.com
91 Z28 LS2 408CI, LS9 Supercharger, LPE GT7 cam, Yank3000, 3450 raceweight.
Latest numbers: 9.71 ET, 141.42 MPH, 1.40 60' , 610 RWHP Mustang Dyno
www.speartech.com
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Thanks John ;
I visted your web site ,I will get you involved in the project as we move forward .You have given me a number of things to think about.I will give you a little back ground on the project and look forward to thoughts.The car is a 1959 Buick 2 dr ,( it will be heavy) I am building are own frame.it will be used for long haul cruises and Saturday night fun.1/4 mile launches will be rare.its more a highway thumper and a/c on .what do you think the best trans would be the 4L60 ? are these the camaro / firebird Trans,do they come in any thing else ? I assume they are computer driven , is this a sperate sysetem to the engine managment?
On the engine side I am a racer (pro stock asphalt stock cars) I will have to look at the cost of used LS1 motor ,But I have SMB chev in the cornor we keep as a spare its full of goodies but the internals are not the lightest stuff out there now,perhaps its time to build a new spare bullet for the race car and move this motor to the project side of the garage .My thought was a EFI unit from you for this motor.I would take out the soild lift cam and composite lifters and stick in a hyd shaft. it has phase one GM heads and 10.9 to 1 comp .are all the GM EFI units for the vortect heads or can you gear some thing up .If you can do some thing I assume you can taylor a computer program to take advantage of RPM we want to run(6500 max) and produce big tourqe numbers.
This computer driven race car stuff is a new venture but I am looking forward to learning about it.
Thanks again for all your time
Cheers Dale
I visted your web site ,I will get you involved in the project as we move forward .You have given me a number of things to think about.I will give you a little back ground on the project and look forward to thoughts.The car is a 1959 Buick 2 dr ,( it will be heavy) I am building are own frame.it will be used for long haul cruises and Saturday night fun.1/4 mile launches will be rare.its more a highway thumper and a/c on .what do you think the best trans would be the 4L60 ? are these the camaro / firebird Trans,do they come in any thing else ? I assume they are computer driven , is this a sperate sysetem to the engine managment?
On the engine side I am a racer (pro stock asphalt stock cars) I will have to look at the cost of used LS1 motor ,But I have SMB chev in the cornor we keep as a spare its full of goodies but the internals are not the lightest stuff out there now,perhaps its time to build a new spare bullet for the race car and move this motor to the project side of the garage .My thought was a EFI unit from you for this motor.I would take out the soild lift cam and composite lifters and stick in a hyd shaft. it has phase one GM heads and 10.9 to 1 comp .are all the GM EFI units for the vortect heads or can you gear some thing up .If you can do some thing I assume you can taylor a computer program to take advantage of RPM we want to run(6500 max) and produce big tourqe numbers.
This computer driven race car stuff is a new venture but I am looking forward to learning about it.
Thanks again for all your time
Cheers Dale
