LS? in a 51 Chevy
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Ventura County, CA
LS? in a 51 Chevy Hello to all, 
new to the LS1 Forums, been reading on these motors a bit lately and decided to join.
I have been pondering the fact on putting an LS or an LQ motor
of some type into my 51 Chevy Deluxe (which currently has a built 350, turbo 350 trans, 3500 Stall, 4:56 gears and spooled), but have decided to modernize it a bit for the reliability, the better gas mileage these motors get and seen they can make a good amount of power
and still get decent mileage.
I am undecided on what motor I want
so I thought I would ask some people with experience with these motors.
I want to make the car more streetable so will probably be getting rid of the spool and change the gear ratio.
Also I was wondering what the pros and cons were to making these motors carbureted or just to run the fuel injection
Heres a couple pics of the car currently that the motor will be going in.
I would also like to put an LQ9 in the truck in the background
Any input would be helpful, thanks
new to the LS1 Forums, been reading on these motors a bit lately and decided to join.I have been pondering the fact on putting an LS or an LQ motor
of some type into my 51 Chevy Deluxe (which currently has a built 350, turbo 350 trans, 3500 Stall, 4:56 gears and spooled), but have decided to modernize it a bit for the reliability, the better gas mileage these motors get and seen they can make a good amount of power and still get decent mileage.I am undecided on what motor I want
so I thought I would ask some people with experience with these motors. I want to make the car more streetable so will probably be getting rid of the spool and change the gear ratio.Also I was wondering what the pros and cons were to making these motors carbureted or just to run the fuel injection
Heres a couple pics of the car currently that the motor will be going in.
I would also like to put an LQ9 in the truck in the background
Any input would be helpful, thanks
Sweet looking ride! Running a carb on an LS motor is pretty easy these days. I believe MSD makes a box just for that application. And from the few articles I've read they make pretty good power too. Not to mention a bit easier to set up. Good luck and keep us posted.
Check out our website, I think you will like what you see. As far as the carb vs. efi deal, our EFI kits are a 4 wire hookup. It is that easy. 2 Ring terminals go to the battery side of a disconnect switch, 1 wire on the ignition side, and run 1 wire to the fuel pump. Which can either be mounted in the tank or inline.
Go here to veiw our complete packages.
http://www.schwankeshortblocks.com/E...20Packages.htm
Go here to veiw our complete packages.
http://www.schwankeshortblocks.com/E...20Packages.htm
TECH Resident
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 800
Likes: 1
From: Simi VAlley,CA
When I get my stroker 6.0 motor built and installed in my 1935 sedan, my son is taking my LS1 5.7 to replace the 350 in his 1951 Ford sedan. Since he works on these every day he feels pretty confident that it's a better package than the old iron 350.
Nice looking '51. If streetable with good power and mileage is your goal, go with the factory EFI and the 4L60E trans. Or the 6 spd if you want to bang gears. With the over drive and 3.73 to 4.10 gears you will still get highway gas mileage in the 20s. The Fuel injection is not difficult. Some folks modify a factory harness. If you have patience, the info to do that is available here in the Stickys. I chose the easy route and had speartech.com make a custom harness for me from scratch and reprogram my ECU to take out the things I did not need and make some tuning adjustments. He also reset the fan temperatures and I am using the ECU to control them too. It came all wire loomed and labled. Fit perfectly and the motor fired and ran right on the first try.
As for which motor, the truck motors are more available and generally cheaper. But any of them are good. The LS2 motors are very nice, but are harder to come by as a pull out.
Since we have similar vintage cars, and I also replaced a 350, my project log my be interesting to you. Just follow the link in my signature
Good luck and keep us posted!
Pat
As for which motor, the truck motors are more available and generally cheaper. But any of them are good. The LS2 motors are very nice, but are harder to come by as a pull out.
Since we have similar vintage cars, and I also replaced a 350, my project log my be interesting to you. Just follow the link in my signature
Good luck and keep us posted!
Pat
Banned
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 453
Likes: 0
We put a LS1 with 4L60E into a 51 Chevy, but that car had a 78 Camaro front subframe installed by the previous restorer. That was a few years ago, I can't remember all the specifics for what we had to do (was only here part time), but Nick or Paul would know/remember more than me.
Aluminum vs. iron, that's the choice (other than bore).
The aluminum LS motors are 80 lbs lighter.
My 11:1 348ci H/C LS1 motor in my camaro is running 10.9 at 3350 raceweight, on pump gas. That's with TFS heads and a 240/244 Vengeance cam.
The aluminum LS motors are 80 lbs lighter.
My 11:1 348ci H/C LS1 motor in my camaro is running 10.9 at 3350 raceweight, on pump gas. That's with TFS heads and a 240/244 Vengeance cam.
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Ventura County, CA
Well it looks like I will be getting a 5.3 after all
Here's the link to my thread of the motor I am getting
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-swaps/875830-good-deal.html
Here's the link to my thread of the motor I am getting
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-swaps/875830-good-deal.html
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Ventura County, CA
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Ventura County, CA
Fuel tank??? What kind of fuel tank would I need to run the 5.3 motor?
Would any fuel chevy car tank that had fuel injection work?
Only reason I ask is because I can get a complete tank with sending unit and pump from the pick your part for about $21 and thought it may be a more economical way than running buying inline electric pumps and such
Would any fuel chevy car tank that had fuel injection work?
Only reason I ask is because I can get a complete tank with sending unit and pump from the pick your part for about $21 and thought it may be a more economical way than running buying inline electric pumps and such
CHeck with ww.tanksinc.com. They have a direct replacement tank built for your car that is baffled and is set up for one if their intank pumps. You can get tank and pump together for just over $400. Just add a Corvette filter regulator and you are set. I know this because I used thier 49-52 Chevy tank in my Studebaker. It has worked perfectly.
Pat
Pat
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Ventura County, CA
CHeck with ww.tanksinc.com. They have a direct replacement tank built for your car that is baffled and is set up for one if their intank pumps. You can get tank and pump together for just over $400. Just add a Corvette filter regulator and you are set. I know this because I used thier 49-52 Chevy tank in my Studebaker. It has worked perfectly.
Pat
Pat
Just a suggestion, for best results with a FI motor, you should either have a baffled tank, or a sump to keep fuel around the pick up. Even if you don't go with the Tanks, Inc tank, you might want to consider their fuel pump to install in your junk yard tank. Good luck
Pat
Pat
for fuel tank i'd go to the boneyard with a tape measure and a set of specs that will work with your car. don't be afraid to remove the spare tire well and make a new part of trunk floor for that area. i did that to my 54 and installed a 70-81 camaro tank.
i keep several late model GM tanks on hand at all times for swaps.
i keep several late model GM tanks on hand at all times for swaps.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Ventura County, CA
Would any chevy that had fuel injection work or would I have to find one out of like a newer camaro or something similar?
Like would a late 80's or early 90's one work that had the TPI injected motor?
Like would a late 80's or early 90's one work that had the TPI injected motor?
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Ventura County, CA
Well I found out that the 5.3 needs 55-62 PSI of fuel pressure and the S-10 Blazers with the 4.3L's use 60-66 PSI so I think I might be able to use an S-10 tank.
If not just chime in and let me know why not. I'm kinda new to the whole fuel injection so it is still kind of a learning process
If not just chime in and let me know why not. I'm kinda new to the whole fuel injection so it is still kind of a learning process
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Ventura County, CA
Here comes the UPS truck... Alright well just ordered me some parts, got me a new monte carlo tank, sending unit, and an edelbrock high pressure in tank pump.
Motor mount adapters got here yesterday and sent off the computer and wiring harness to be reworked and reprogrammed to take off any excess emmissions or anything else I will not be needing.
Motor mount adapters got here yesterday and sent off the computer and wiring harness to be reworked and reprogrammed to take off any excess emmissions or anything else I will not be needing.