[C2] LS Engine conversion?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,345
Likes: 87
From: Northern MN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17
LS Engine conversion?
What are the pitfalls for converting a C2 to a LS configuration with a 700R4 trans? I have a friend who has a 67 BB/400 hp (nom) with a 4 spd. He is having trouble with his feet and ankles and he asked me the other day if anyone here on the forum has completed this swap. He is almost unable to push in the clutch any longer. He seems to want to keep the car but in order to do so he will have to convert it to the automatic. I told him that I knew of many who had done it and both in the C1's and C2's but I did not know what it entails. Does anyone have a play by play way of completing this swap? Thanks for any help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 556
From: Tallahassee fl
The 700R4 can be easier because it has mechanical speedo gears and of course you don't have to tune for the tranny. This assumes a very mild build of a car though where the engine and tranny are swapped but as much of the rest of the car stays stock Vs. a full on resto mod.
Personally... I like the LT1/LT4/L98 engines from 85-96 in these situations because they bolt right in. The engine blocks from those engines and the originals are basically the same so you don't have to screw around with engine mounts, etc. It's getting harder to find tuners for them though. But if you go this route all you would have to do from a physical change standpoint is modify the cross member and shorten the driveshaft.
In pretty much all situations (LS or LT) you will likely end up with a new gas tank to handle the return fuel lines. There may be another way to handle it but I'm not aware
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,345
Likes: 87
From: Northern MN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Thanks for the replies. I sent the information to my friend. We'll see what he wants to do. My suggestion to him was "why not sell his unit and look for one that is already done." There could possibly be some out there for sale.
Last edited by 66BlkBB; Oct 13, 2017 at 02:33 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,457
Likes: 1,289
From: minneola fl
TV Made EZ fixes that... http://www.tvmadeez.com/
The 700R4 can be easier because it has mechanical speedo gears and of course you don't have to tune for the tranny. This assumes a very mild build of a car though where the engine and tranny are swapped but as much of the rest of the car stays stock Vs. a full on resto mod.
Personally... I like the LT1/LT4/L98 engines from 85-96 in these situations because they bolt right in. The engine blocks from those engines and the originals are basically the same so you don't have to screw around with engine mounts, etc. It's getting harder to find tuners for them though. But if you go this route all you would have to do from a physical change standpoint is modify the cross member and shorten the driveshaft.
In pretty much all situations (LS or LT) you will likely end up with a new gas tank to handle the return fuel lines. There may be another way to handle it but I'm not aware
The 700R4 can be easier because it has mechanical speedo gears and of course you don't have to tune for the tranny. This assumes a very mild build of a car though where the engine and tranny are swapped but as much of the rest of the car stays stock Vs. a full on resto mod.
Personally... I like the LT1/LT4/L98 engines from 85-96 in these situations because they bolt right in. The engine blocks from those engines and the originals are basically the same so you don't have to screw around with engine mounts, etc. It's getting harder to find tuners for them though. But if you go this route all you would have to do from a physical change standpoint is modify the cross member and shorten the driveshaft.
In pretty much all situations (LS or LT) you will likely end up with a new gas tank to handle the return fuel lines. There may be another way to handle it but I'm not aware
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 53,988
Likes: 9,355
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
TV Made EZ fixes that... http://www.tvmadeez.com/
The 700R4 can be easier because it has mechanical speedo gears and of course you don't have to tune for the tranny. This assumes a very mild build of a car though where the engine and tranny are swapped but as much of the rest of the car stays stock Vs. a full on resto mod.
Personally... I like the LT1/LT4/L98 engines from 85-96 in these situations because they bolt right in. The engine blocks from those engines and the originals are basically the same so you don't have to screw around with engine mounts, etc. It's getting harder to find tuners for them though. But if you go this route all you would have to do from a physical change standpoint is modify the cross member and shorten the driveshaft.
In pretty much all situations (LS or LT) you will likely end up with a new gas tank to handle the return fuel lines. There may be another way to handle it but I'm not aware
The 700R4 can be easier because it has mechanical speedo gears and of course you don't have to tune for the tranny. This assumes a very mild build of a car though where the engine and tranny are swapped but as much of the rest of the car stays stock Vs. a full on resto mod.
Personally... I like the LT1/LT4/L98 engines from 85-96 in these situations because they bolt right in. The engine blocks from those engines and the originals are basically the same so you don't have to screw around with engine mounts, etc. It's getting harder to find tuners for them though. But if you go this route all you would have to do from a physical change standpoint is modify the cross member and shorten the driveshaft.
In pretty much all situations (LS or LT) you will likely end up with a new gas tank to handle the return fuel lines. There may be another way to handle it but I'm not aware
with the LT-1/4 you also get very poor aftermarket parts that make it run. the only way I would even consider a older LT motor is it to have the coil pack conversion to eliminate the OPTI. I trusted my points in my old car more then the OPTI sold now days
