What was your 3 biggest issues to overcome?
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
From: Round Rock Texas
What was your 3 biggest issues to overcome? Like the subject ask. I am thinking about doing a conversion but would like to see if there are any common problems. So what was everybodys biggest issues.
Thanks
Thanks
1) A nice fuel system that wont starve the car in hard corners, hard braking, hard accel.
2) Affordable engine mounts that set the motor in a nice location without having to send oil pans and pickups in to get work done.(A nice cast alum pan would be nice. Send your stocker in and save 200 bucks, pay the difference)
3) Nice affordable rad with fans.
4) Exhaust, Long tubes, only choice is custom built (for the 70-72 Chevelles atleast)
These are coming from someone doing a LQ4 conversion into a 72 Chevelle.
-Matt
2) Affordable engine mounts that set the motor in a nice location without having to send oil pans and pickups in to get work done.(A nice cast alum pan would be nice. Send your stocker in and save 200 bucks, pay the difference)
3) Nice affordable rad with fans.
4) Exhaust, Long tubes, only choice is custom built (for the 70-72 Chevelles atleast)
These are coming from someone doing a LQ4 conversion into a 72 Chevelle.
-Matt
1. Installing the rack/pinion steering before having the motor sitting on the subframe. Found out that it didn't fit once the engine and accessories were in place. Should have fit it up with an engine in there. Had to cut it out, re-fit it, re-fab the clearance tube for the steering shaft. What a PITA.
2. Wiring up an entire engine and all new gauges. Not difficult, but very time consuming.
3. Cutting the top of my tranny tunnel off and raising it 1.5" to clear the 6-speed.
2. Wiring up an entire engine and all new gauges. Not difficult, but very time consuming.
3. Cutting the top of my tranny tunnel off and raising it 1.5" to clear the 6-speed.
Only 3, well.. lets see:
1. MONEY!!
2. Modifying just about everything to get the motor/tranny to fit - still working on the t56kit tranny x-member
3. Re-wiring the entire car from headlights to tail lights including fuel injection so that it isn't just all thrown in there.
1. MONEY!!
2. Modifying just about everything to get the motor/tranny to fit - still working on the t56kit tranny x-member
3. Re-wiring the entire car from headlights to tail lights including fuel injection so that it isn't just all thrown in there.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
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
so far, my only big obsticals were location and weather.. i dont work on my car near where i live/work, and the weather hasnt been very helpful (stiff fingers cant hold wires well)
as far as doing the swap, im blessed with the fact that the physical connections are almost a bolt in on the 3rdgen. the gauges read off of everything fine (except the tach, no biggie with a box) and the fuel system is already a high pressure EFI unit.. just add the right fittings and swap pumps. i havent had to pickup my welder once so far..
i expect the exhaust to be the biggie since i cant do it myself.. (well i COULD with premade bends and a chop saw... but im not going to...)
so far the hardest thing ive done on this swap is unbolting the nose of the car...(top corner bolts are a PAIN... i really happy, i thought this swap was going to be a total b!tch.
as far as doing the swap, im blessed with the fact that the physical connections are almost a bolt in on the 3rdgen. the gauges read off of everything fine (except the tach, no biggie with a box) and the fuel system is already a high pressure EFI unit.. just add the right fittings and swap pumps. i havent had to pickup my welder once so far..
i expect the exhaust to be the biggie since i cant do it myself.. (well i COULD with premade bends and a chop saw... but im not going to...)
so far the hardest thing ive done on this swap is unbolting the nose of the car...(top corner bolts are a PAIN... i really happy, i thought this swap was going to be a total b!tch.
Originally Posted by MrDude_1
so far the hardest thing ive done on this swap is unbolting the nose of the car...(top corner bolts are a PAIN... i really happy, i thought this swap was going to be a total b!tch.
Originally Posted by crainholio
I somehow got away w/ my swap without removing the nose cone...why'd you have to pull yours?
two reasons.. one, my car is getting a new one before it gets repainted (old one had a couple gouges... nothing bad, but nothing i wanted painted over) and two, the 91-92 cars have longer noses... so most engine hoists (mine included) hit the bottom GFX before the engine is in.
earlier cars, like my old 82 and your 83, should JUST clear.
I dropped my engine in from the side:
http://www.warpten.com/carpics/ls1/DSC00030.JPG
Obviously not an option if you're dropping the engine + trans as an assembly, but this was worth the little extra hassle as it allowed me to keep the garage door shut when I was swapping last January...cold outside.
http://www.warpten.com/carpics/ls1/DSC00030.JPG
Obviously not an option if you're dropping the engine + trans as an assembly, but this was worth the little extra hassle as it allowed me to keep the garage door shut when I was swapping last January...cold outside.
Originally Posted by crainholio
I dropped my engine in from the side:
http://www.warpten.com/carpics/ls1/DSC00030.JPG
Obviously not an option if you're dropping the engine + trans as an assembly, but this was worth the little extra hassle as it allowed me to keep the garage door shut when I was swapping last January...cold outside.
http://www.warpten.com/carpics/ls1/DSC00030.JPG
Obviously not an option if you're dropping the engine + trans as an assembly, but this was worth the little extra hassle as it allowed me to keep the garage door shut when I was swapping last January...cold outside.
not a option for me... i never seperated the engine and trans.. they all slipped in together (quite easily i might add....)
Originally Posted by MrDude_1
not a option for me... i never seperated the engine and trans.. they all slipped in together (quite easily i might add....)
TECH Resident
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 800
Likes: 1
From: Simi VAlley,CA
1. Fabricating a decent, low restriction way to connect the throttle body to my air box that sits on top of my intake manifold.... without hitting my radiator.
2.Motor mounts were going to be a problem until I figured out that off the shelf Corvette brackets and mounts would fit perfectly.
3.Radiator hoses......made in several pieces because of the configuration of an early Ford radiator (you F-body guys got it EASY).
2.Motor mounts were going to be a problem until I figured out that off the shelf Corvette brackets and mounts would fit perfectly.
3.Radiator hoses......made in several pieces because of the configuration of an early Ford radiator (you F-body guys got it EASY).
Well lets see 1. MONEY for the sweet radiator and fan. 2. MONEY for the fuel system. and MONEY for the wire harness and mis Stuff you didn't think you needed to buy IE Hipo 4L60e and $700.00 converter and headers. welp to sum it up.... figure the worst case and add lots of MONEY to it. hope this helps..
TECH Resident
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 800
Likes: 1
From: Simi VAlley,CA
.....I see a trend developing here. We ALL seem to have a common bond, the old "root of all evil"----MONEY. I guess if we all had piles of money we wouldn't be doing this stuff ourselves....we'd be doing it the "Jay Leno" method.
Motor mounts were a PITA, fuel pump PITA, blown up pump in the tranny PITA. All on a thirdgen so.... Not really big deals, just more work, but its worth it in the end. Other than that, piece of cake, and a few $$$.
1. Money
2. Trying to figure out where to relocate and modify stuff to gain more room in the engine compartment
3. Figuring out all the electrical gremlins. Newer vehicle swap so it wasn't just a get power to the PCM kinda thing.
2. Trying to figure out where to relocate and modify stuff to gain more room in the engine compartment
3. Figuring out all the electrical gremlins. Newer vehicle swap so it wasn't just a get power to the PCM kinda thing.