here lately my my old parts chaser and tow vehicle (91 caprice wagon) has been getting tired and has started partying (drinking and smoking). fuel and oil consumption has increased and on initial start up shes a bit smoky. and has 200,000 on the original engine. "large marge" has been a faithful steed.
ok i know , its a corvette forum! so here i go. i am thinking of pulling the l48 out of my 77 and transplanting into margie. so i see this as a good time to find something a lttle heathier than the anemic engine that gm gave her. im seriously considering a stock late 80s thru 90s lt1. i know nothing about this engine other than it came with aluminum heads on corvettes and ironheads on the caprices, road master, etc.
is it worth the effort in hp gain to run the tpi versus carb? i admit the tpi looks cooler to me but would require a wiring harness and ecm.
my car was a white over red l48 equipped automatic. now its black on black and has been "billibilt" so she is not original but does only have 81,000 miles. however with a little effort she could be put back.. as i have still have most parts i changed out..so being a 77 should i even be concerned about the value of the "oringinality factor"?
there is a rebuilt lt1 with tpi but no cam on cl for 1000.00. or should i look for a wrecked camaro or trans am, caprice,? oh and for the l48, at 81,000 it runs really well with the quadrajet and edelbrock performer intake. better to use these or change intake to be able to run tbi on it for the swap? i have a set of hooker competition header i just wrapped for the 77. would these work with the lt1?
or at the end of day....just leave the 77 alone aside from the headers and just seek another engine for " margie"?
sorry for the long read.
billy