LT1 swap worth the effort?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Oskaloosa Iowa
LT1 swap worth the effort? I'm here cause I have some parts that I want to combine into to a DD. I have a fairly cherry 85 G-body El Camino, & a 93 LT1, 85 700R4, Painless wire loom (605?), & QP 9" ford housing & axles(no cntr sect.or brakes), & a set of long tube headers. The car has been setting for years, paint isn't good but the body is Excellent!NO RUST anywhere(Arizonia car) I have 18" chrome Iroc wheels for it (not on it now.16's now), air bags for the front (no mounts), & dropped spindles. The car has a 305 w/ a shelled 3sp 200metric in it now. The LT1 (complete)has set for years(10?)as has the 700 tranz. I was told the engine is a 93 out of Caprice state car w/ 70000 miles(?). It has 5.7 cast into the bellhousing flange. Is this swap worth the doing? I love El Caminos, I retired (2 wks ago!) from a machinist/fabricator job of 27 years, so basicly I can make anything I need. I know the engine will physically fit w/ changing 1 motor mount & notching the frame for the ac. I thought I'd put a new aluminum radiator in it at the same time & possibly changing the cam to a GM Hot cam(?). I haven't pulled the pan yet to check the bottom end. Not even sure the engine turns over anymore(it used to). I don't really think it needs the 9" Ford, but the stock rear must be a 2.70 something (biggest DOG I've ever OWNED!),& I figure to put a posi & 3.73 gear in the 10 bolt would cost almost as much as the brakes & center section for the Ford. I don't want to completely rebuild the engine, like to pull it a part and clean it & maybe hone it, reassemble, maybe change cam, then install. I don't know s### about the trans, other than it's a junkyard 85 van tranz......What about computer, etc? ANY input will be considered & appreicated. Thanks in advance!, (light the fire) I'm prepared to be burnt at the stake!!! (Sorry for the LOOOONG 1st post)
Last edited by No Plan; Dec 16, 2010 at 12:30 PM. Reason: wrong info
LT1 in a Camino? Hell yeah!
The details aren't really something you'd be able to have answered in one thread since there's going to be so many of them...it's best to just start with the basics (like getting the motor refreshed) and go from there.
Sounds like a cool project. Take pics!
The details aren't really something you'd be able to have answered in one thread since there's going to be so many of them...it's best to just start with the basics (like getting the motor refreshed) and go from there.
Sounds like a cool project. Take pics!
I'd definately say it's well worth it, a lot more power and potential out of an LT1 than an 80's junk motor. The motor swaps have definately been done into just about anything you can think of on here, and there's more than enough knowledge on here to help you through it if you have the physical means to do so.
I'd love to see an LT1 el camino, that'd be badass.
I'd love to see an LT1 el camino, that'd be badass.
It is definitely worth it. The LT1 is a stout, and can be powerful motor. It is overlooked though because of the short life before the LS motors came out. I love my LT car, its tons of fun, and sounds awesome.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 22
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From: Oskaloosa Iowa
Thanks for the insite. I'll go on with this swap if "things" look alright after I drop the pan. I feel I have too many parts for it to stop now. It's hard not to say; "to hell with the LT1, sell it all (probably at a loss!) and start an LS swap. I have a LS1 C5 6sp convt. & my son has a modified street C5 that runs great(10.82-1/4,6.65-1/8), so I already love the LS "stuff"! I just don't want to feel like I'm backing up. I have to tell myself this is a daily driver/work truck and not get carried away. I'll post a picture of the Camino as soon as a figure out how to do that.
LT1's are definately underrated, especially by the LS crowd. Check out RamAir95TA's recent post on his 383 LT1 setup if you need any convincing! 
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...damn-time.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...damn-time.html
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The Caprice didn't get an LT1 in 93; I'd try and figure out what year it really is so you know what you're working with. 95 got the vented opti and is the best swap overall.
The F-body passenger side accessory bracket does *not* require cutting of the frame for the AC compressor. Just change of the AC hoses to a set that route the hoses out at a 90 angle. The Caprice bracket does put the comp. into the frame. The motor mount shimmed a bit will do the trick but I'd go for the F-body piece; it takes the same compressor.
The 88-93 700-R4 is a better box but if the 85 unit works, good for now. You might want to drive it w/ the 2.73 rear first before swapping the rear; a Q-jet 5.0 car w/ way tight secondaries doesn't tell you anything about how much nicer the LT1 will run w/ the 700-R4 and 2.73s.
There are a ton of cam choices; the HOT cam isn't the best choice but it works.
The way to do the EFI better is the 2002 GMC van PCM, w/ LS1 coils - there's a fellow who does harnesses for that "S10wildside." I'd skip the Painless piece.
Drop spindles are garbage for the G chassis. Upgrade the springs but don't expect to get great handling without UCA upgrades. I've got one car w/ Global West upper A's and another w/ just coils and stock spindles for reference.
Arizona huh?
The F-body passenger side accessory bracket does *not* require cutting of the frame for the AC compressor. Just change of the AC hoses to a set that route the hoses out at a 90 angle. The Caprice bracket does put the comp. into the frame. The motor mount shimmed a bit will do the trick but I'd go for the F-body piece; it takes the same compressor.
The 88-93 700-R4 is a better box but if the 85 unit works, good for now. You might want to drive it w/ the 2.73 rear first before swapping the rear; a Q-jet 5.0 car w/ way tight secondaries doesn't tell you anything about how much nicer the LT1 will run w/ the 700-R4 and 2.73s.
There are a ton of cam choices; the HOT cam isn't the best choice but it works.
The way to do the EFI better is the 2002 GMC van PCM, w/ LS1 coils - there's a fellow who does harnesses for that "S10wildside." I'd skip the Painless piece.
Drop spindles are garbage for the G chassis. Upgrade the springs but don't expect to get great handling without UCA upgrades. I've got one car w/ Global West upper A's and another w/ just coils and stock spindles for reference.
Arizona huh?
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Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 22
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From: Oskaloosa Iowa
I need help identifying what engine I have! Suppost to be a 93, is it? Please help!! I got the #'s off the block deck; #V0629WHK. Heads(iron)#10125320. Alternator, steering pump,& ac mt. brkt. is #10105312. Thank in advance!
Just to add a little to an above post in 94 when the LT1 was first offered in the Caprice/Impala/roadmaster/Fleetwood it got the VENTED opti. It was the f-body and Vette that did not get that upgrade till 95. This creates a LOT of confusion.
Iron heads means it could be a 4.3L (L99) or a 5.7(LT1)...If I remember correctly, the LT1's have "327" stamped on the block, other than that the two are cosmetically externally identical.
Hopefully you didnt end up with a 4.3L
Hopefully you didnt end up with a 4.3L
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 22
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From: Oskaloosa Iowa
I hope I didn't end up with a L99!!! The back of the block does have 5.7 cast into it, and it has 327 cast into each side of the block upside down.
good luck with the swap