LS swap, I'm committed
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 37
From: The Woodlands Texas
LS swap, I'm committed
Today I ordered:
- from Summit a new LS 376/480 Hp motor ( they price matched $6,560 delivered)
- from Keisler a RS500 5spd (auto to manual with hydr clutch)
- from wheels of time Vintage Air Gen IV sure fit AC system
Next to order:
- Flaming river rack & pinion
- accessory drive from Custom Image Corvette
- radiator from Custom Image
- custom harness and ecu from Custom Image
- magnafow 16841 BB exhaust with X-pipe
- Van Steel front coil over with tubular a-arms
- VBP rear glass spring with QA-1 shocks
- Dakota Digital VHX gauges
I'm getting ready to get busy. My hope is to have it drivable in 9 months, but more likely 12 months.
Next step is to start pulling my old drivetrain.
. 
- from Summit a new LS 376/480 Hp motor ( they price matched $6,560 delivered)
- from Keisler a RS500 5spd (auto to manual with hydr clutch)
- from wheels of time Vintage Air Gen IV sure fit AC system
Next to order:
- Flaming river rack & pinion
- accessory drive from Custom Image Corvette
- radiator from Custom Image
- custom harness and ecu from Custom Image
- magnafow 16841 BB exhaust with X-pipe
- Van Steel front coil over with tubular a-arms
- VBP rear glass spring with QA-1 shocks
- Dakota Digital VHX gauges
I'm getting ready to get busy. My hope is to have it drivable in 9 months, but more likely 12 months.
Next step is to start pulling my old drivetrain.
.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 113
Likes: 1
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13,'15,'17,'18,'22-'23-'24-'25
Sounds like a nice start to the project. I've got the same front suspension and exhaust system for my LS (346) project. Just getting started back on it after some shall we say issues with the original and replacement frame. Third one is the charm and I'm good to go.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 37
From: The Woodlands Texas
I had another thread going regarding different motor options. I went with the new motor vs the used option because I just couldn't get comfortable with "used" from someone 1500 miles away that I didn't know. I didn't want to get all the way through the swap and then have potential issues with the motor.
I'm looking forward to leaning on you guys for help!
Chris
I'm looking forward to leaning on you guys for help!
Chris
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
Sounds nice, you'll really appreciate the drivability. I went with a 6.0, Richmond 6 speed, and Vintage Air.
A couiple notes on the Vintage Air. Tell them what you're building. They substituted the serpentine compressor, a trinary for the binary switch, and credited me for the brackets I didn't use in the 68 vette kit.
Also their kit for cars with AC uses 2 hoses for the central vents on cars with AC. It's really tight, you might consider the single vent non-AC kit.
On the trans, if you dont get a blowout bellhousing, check out Keislers 621 bell with the extra LS bolt hole. It's a nice piece at a great price.
A couiple notes on the Vintage Air. Tell them what you're building. They substituted the serpentine compressor, a trinary for the binary switch, and credited me for the brackets I didn't use in the 68 vette kit.
Also their kit for cars with AC uses 2 hoses for the central vents on cars with AC. It's really tight, you might consider the single vent non-AC kit.
On the trans, if you dont get a blowout bellhousing, check out Keislers 621 bell with the extra LS bolt hole. It's a nice piece at a great price.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 37
From: The Woodlands Texas
Gary
I did as you suggested. I swapped brackets for a polished compressor and added the switch. I also got the Keisler bell housing.
One thing I haven't done yet is decide on shifter. I can go stock look or go with a ball, or a new look. I'm leaning towards stock. Thoughts.....pics?
I did as you suggested. I swapped brackets for a polished compressor and added the switch. I also got the Keisler bell housing.
One thing I haven't done yet is decide on shifter. I can go stock look or go with a ball, or a new look. I'm leaning towards stock. Thoughts.....pics?
