LS1 into a 79' Corvette?
LS1 into a 79' Corvette? This is a swap I was thinking about doing. Does anyone know if that would work out or what difficulties i would run into? Also, would there be room under the hood for forced induction as well? 
There are about half a dozen C3-LS1 conversions running around here and a few more in the process.
Its about as easy as any other LS1 conversion.
Check out my site for some info.
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/70lt1/ls1.shtml
Its about as easy as any other LS1 conversion.
Check out my site for some info.
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/70lt1/ls1.shtml
Thats some great info! I'm looking for the car and engine as iI type....Is it fast?
I'm planning on putting a T-56 into it. If i got a Corvette that had an automatic would that complicate things any?
I'm planning on putting a T-56 into it. If i got a Corvette that had an automatic would that complicate things any?
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Originally Posted by Optimus_Prime
Thanks for the info, this is gonna be my first job and i dont want any unexpected difficulties.
Yeah right... Good luck with your swap, but no matter how well you research and plan, I guarentee there will be some expected difficulties! But you are doing the right thing by asking questions and trying to minimize them. As one who has recently got his conversion running I will tell you that the first time you drive it, those difficulties will fade right away!
Pat
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I use an automatic but a 700r4 in my swap,its a pretty straight forward swap,motor mount adapters,99 corvette fuel filter regualtor setup with single feed to the front,intank or inline fuel pump.Try and stick with a fbody oil pan,i went the 5.3 truck route and had to have it cut and welded to get ground clearance,but it does work though.This is the best engine swap i ever did.Im also looking at adding a magnusson supercharger next year,i have a 4 inch cowl hood so itll clear i already took some measurements.
So would it be better to use an automatic or a manual in the car? Would the auto fit straight in? If it did then thats what I'd go with but right now im thinking M6.
What about the ECU, am i going to have to put one in the car? I know that the older cars dident have one on them...So could the LS1 run without it?
Also my friends say this is impossible and a pain in the *** to do that will require a LOT of suspension work. To me that seems to be bullshit. I know those cars could come with a 4xx cubing inch motor, but let me know if im wrong about the suspension work.
One last question...How long did it take all of you guys to do your conversion? Summer is coming up and i'd like to get it finished then. I'd be out of school and have nothing else to do.
What about the ECU, am i going to have to put one in the car? I know that the older cars dident have one on them...So could the LS1 run without it?
Also my friends say this is impossible and a pain in the *** to do that will require a LOT of suspension work. To me that seems to be bullshit. I know those cars could come with a 4xx cubing inch motor, but let me know if im wrong about the suspension work.
One last question...How long did it take all of you guys to do your conversion? Summer is coming up and i'd like to get it finished then. I'd be out of school and have nothing else to do.
Originally Posted by Optimus_Prime
So would it be better to use an automatic or a manual in the car? Would the auto fit straight in? If it did then thats what I'd go with but right now im thinking M6.
What about the ECU, am i going to have to put one in the car? I know that the older cars dident have one on them...So could the LS1 run without it?
Also my friends say this is impossible and a pain in the *** to do that will require a LOT of suspension work. To me that seems to be bullshit. I know those cars could come with a 4xx cubing inch motor, but let me know if im wrong about the suspension work.
One last question...How long did it take all of you guys to do your conversion? Summer is coming up and i'd like to get it finished then. I'd be out of school and have nothing else to do.
What about the ECU, am i going to have to put one in the car? I know that the older cars dident have one on them...So could the LS1 run without it?
Also my friends say this is impossible and a pain in the *** to do that will require a LOT of suspension work. To me that seems to be bullshit. I know those cars could come with a 4xx cubing inch motor, but let me know if im wrong about the suspension work.
One last question...How long did it take all of you guys to do your conversion? Summer is coming up and i'd like to get it finished then. I'd be out of school and have nothing else to do.
at "no unexpected difficulties".. there's always many.the car WILL be fast, and automatics are almost always easier to put in a car than a manual. I already had a stick-shift camaro, so just drilling a new hole in the floor, and a bracket, and it all bolted right up. A car that was originally an auto, you gotta do work under the dash to bolt them up. (lots of pain and suffering in contorted positions, rust and dust in the eyes, yay fun.), punch out a new hole for the shifter, replace the console if it had one, build/buy/mod an xmember..
for suspension work, you'll be fine. if anything you could go to softer springs/bigger sway bar/real good shocks to make it handle better. You'll need a standalone harness for the ECU (actually it's a P owertrain C ontrol M odule) and have vats (security system that wont let the engine run) removed from your PCM. You should look to get the wiring harness and pcm from an LS1 dropout motor. I sent my harness to wait4meperformance.com, they got it back to me in a week with whatever mods I wanted for $320 shipped, john at speartech does it too, with great support along the way. Nothing's impossible, and I see nay-sayers as motivation for the project. I get "you'll never get that motor in there, it's too big, and there's computers and wiring and stuff" all the time, and i just smile to myself, and say "we'll see".. I could get a SWAP done in 2 weeks-month, but i gotta restore and build the car at the same time, so i'm going on 9 months.
have fun, a summer project is great.
olly
Originally Posted by Optimus_Prime
So would it be better to use an automatic or a manual in the car? Would the auto fit straight in? If it did then thats what I'd go with but right now im thinking M6.
Originally Posted by Optimus_Prime
What about the ECU, am i going to have to put one in the car? I know that the older cars dident have one on them...So could the LS1 run without it?
Originally Posted by Optimus_Prime
Also my friends say this is impossible and a pain in the *** to do that will require a LOT of suspension work. To me that seems to be bullshit. I know those cars could come with a 4xx cubing inch motor, but let me know if im wrong about the suspension work.
Originally Posted by Optimus_Prime
One last question...How long did it take all of you guys to do your conversion? Summer is coming up and i'd like to get it finished then. I'd be out of school and have nothing else to do.
Before
After
Last edited by 70 LS1; May 4, 2006 at 02:22 PM.
I started my swap in 2nd week of december and finished in april ,but that was working a full time job 700am-500pm every day and watching my kid from 5pm -8pm every night.So i had limited time to work on it plus fixing everybodys else cars on weekends too.I already had a worked 700r4 so thats why i stuck with it.
Optimus Prime,
I am in the process of convertion my 79 C3 auto to LS1 w/T56.
Still mainly in parts collection stage, nearly ready to actually start work (remove old engine/tranny, rebuild heater/ac ducting, detail engine compartment).
Parts I have: motor, t56, manual pedal assy, harness&pcm, alternator
Parts still need: engine mount plates (may build own), vette fuel filter, in tank fuel pump, going to go aluminm rad & fans. likely have to swap out batwing oil pan for f body, and still figuring how to do ac compressor, power steering/alt. Lots I am forgeting, and will just happen- expect it so you won't be suprised!
As folks have said here, all the previous C3 conversion and their great web sites, and willingness to enlighten us with their wisdom on the forums, this should not be to difficult. But, I planned on a year effort and planned a budget.
Good luck,
Steve
I am in the process of convertion my 79 C3 auto to LS1 w/T56.
Still mainly in parts collection stage, nearly ready to actually start work (remove old engine/tranny, rebuild heater/ac ducting, detail engine compartment).
Parts I have: motor, t56, manual pedal assy, harness&pcm, alternator
Parts still need: engine mount plates (may build own), vette fuel filter, in tank fuel pump, going to go aluminm rad & fans. likely have to swap out batwing oil pan for f body, and still figuring how to do ac compressor, power steering/alt. Lots I am forgeting, and will just happen- expect it so you won't be suprised!
As folks have said here, all the previous C3 conversion and their great web sites, and willingness to enlighten us with their wisdom on the forums, this should not be to difficult. But, I planned on a year effort and planned a budget.
Good luck,
Steve
