Oh Baby... LS Swap Time
#1
Oh Baby... LS Swap Time
First, may I say **** Irma and **** Spectrum internet. Internet is up there with air water and electricity I've discovered. Even my 80yr old neighbor said he's not been this board in a looong time.
Anyways... got my internet back and I'm still planning my restomod. So got an '81 and I'm looking at the LS swap . Plenty of questions and lots to get my head around, but a few in particular are causing me trouble.
First, I MUST have side pipes. What are my options? So far all I can see is this. Any experience with them? Do they fit nice and tight up by the door without looking like they hang way down? There anything else out there (w/out having to hack up hookers... hehe)?
Second... lsx4u.com. What's ya'lls opinion of these guys? At face value they seem great and I've gotten quotes from them already. Very positive interaction so far.
Third... I'm homing in on the L33 with an 4L60E. Along with other weight savings, I'm looking at, at least 150lbs drop from the engine bay. What are my options for the suspension? I really am not too eager to cut my stock springs. I don't want a race car, I want a GT car. The stock suspension is a nice balance and I wish to maintain that. Any suggestions on how to do that with such a drastic weight drop from the engine bay?
Thanks in advance, I'd be in over my head without everyone's knowledge here.
Anyways... got my internet back and I'm still planning my restomod. So got an '81 and I'm looking at the LS swap . Plenty of questions and lots to get my head around, but a few in particular are causing me trouble.
First, I MUST have side pipes. What are my options? So far all I can see is this. Any experience with them? Do they fit nice and tight up by the door without looking like they hang way down? There anything else out there (w/out having to hack up hookers... hehe)?
Second... lsx4u.com. What's ya'lls opinion of these guys? At face value they seem great and I've gotten quotes from them already. Very positive interaction so far.
Third... I'm homing in on the L33 with an 4L60E. Along with other weight savings, I'm looking at, at least 150lbs drop from the engine bay. What are my options for the suspension? I really am not too eager to cut my stock springs. I don't want a race car, I want a GT car. The stock suspension is a nice balance and I wish to maintain that. Any suggestions on how to do that with such a drastic weight drop from the engine bay?
Thanks in advance, I'd be in over my head without everyone's knowledge here.
#2
Burning Brakes
Here are a few things you will need to deal with, I'm coming close to being finished with mine and yes I'm running side pipes.
1. You will need to deal with the heater lines coming off the LS water pump housing.
2. depending on what pulley setup you run the drivers side power steering pump pulley is a issue.
3. only a few oil pans will fit. I went with the batwing as it gave me the best ground clearance.
4. Radiator and steam lines.
5. Tachometer, for a 81 should not be a issue just putting a resister from the + to the signal side.
6. if the 81 has a cable speedometer you will need to deal with this. I put a different Tail shaft on my 4l60E that has a connection for the cable. I did away with all the vacuum system except for the brakes.
There are a few threads on the forum on doing this. Look at them all and see how others dealt with the issues.
I'm running a LS3 525 HP version crate engine. Just remember to read the complete thread as when one way does not work you will find that most of us change to find a way to make it work.
here is a link to my thread. But look at more then mine.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...estration.html
Good Luck and I would be glad to answer any questions you might have.
Tim
1. You will need to deal with the heater lines coming off the LS water pump housing.
2. depending on what pulley setup you run the drivers side power steering pump pulley is a issue.
3. only a few oil pans will fit. I went with the batwing as it gave me the best ground clearance.
4. Radiator and steam lines.
5. Tachometer, for a 81 should not be a issue just putting a resister from the + to the signal side.
6. if the 81 has a cable speedometer you will need to deal with this. I put a different Tail shaft on my 4l60E that has a connection for the cable. I did away with all the vacuum system except for the brakes.
There are a few threads on the forum on doing this. Look at them all and see how others dealt with the issues.
I'm running a LS3 525 HP version crate engine. Just remember to read the complete thread as when one way does not work you will find that most of us change to find a way to make it work.
here is a link to my thread. But look at more then mine.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...estration.html
Good Luck and I would be glad to answer any questions you might have.
Tim
The following users liked this post:
KIKIRIKI (09-19-2017)
#3
I have an LS1/4L60E in my 71.
I used VBP front springs and then cut one half coil off.
I used Fbody accessories and they worked well.
Fbody oil pan. It does hang below the cross member. I believe to run the bat wing pan you need to do a Borgesen steering box?
Modified the water pump heater inlet and outlet to clear the a-arm.
I used VBP front springs and then cut one half coil off.
I used Fbody accessories and they worked well.
Fbody oil pan. It does hang below the cross member. I believe to run the bat wing pan you need to do a Borgesen steering box?
Modified the water pump heater inlet and outlet to clear the a-arm.
The following users liked this post:
KIKIRIKI (09-19-2017)
#4
Drifting
Member Since: Jun 2011
Location: iowa city iowa
Posts: 1,540
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C3 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
I think you will enjoy the LS a lot.
There is a shop in South Dakota whose name shall never be spoken here. They have done a ton of LS swaps and sell side pipes and headers for C3 'Vettes.
There is a shop in South Dakota whose name shall never be spoken here. They have done a ton of LS swaps and sell side pipes and headers for C3 'Vettes.
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KIKIRIKI (09-19-2017)
#5
Safety Car
Member Since: May 2004
Location: los altos hills california
Posts: 3,613
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Does your car have a clutch? If so and your headers provide clearance you will need an adapter plate for mechanical linkage. Otherwise there're lots of people here who've installed hydraulic throwout bearings. Seems to take some fiddling to get that right.
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KIKIRIKI (09-19-2017)
#6
On my 99 BMW 3 series LS/T56 swap I used the stock Camaro LS hydraulic throw out bearing with a LS7 clutch and flywheel. It's been great.
Not a Corvette but similar application.
Not a Corvette but similar application.
The following users liked this post:
KIKIRIKI (09-19-2017)
The following users liked this post:
KIKIRIKI (09-19-2017)
#9
Burning Brakes
I have an LS1/4L60E in my 71.
I used VBP front springs and then cut one half coil off.
I used Fbody accessories and they worked well.
Fbody oil pan. It does hang below the cross member. I believe to run the bat wing pan you need to do a Borgesen steering box?
Modified the water pump heater inlet and outlet to clear the a-arm.
I used VBP front springs and then cut one half coil off.
I used Fbody accessories and they worked well.
Fbody oil pan. It does hang below the cross member. I believe to run the bat wing pan you need to do a Borgesen steering box?
Modified the water pump heater inlet and outlet to clear the a-arm.
The following users liked this post:
KIKIRIKI (09-19-2017)
The following users liked this post:
KIKIRIKI (09-19-2017)
#11
#12
I have an LS1/4L60E in my 71.
I used VBP front springs and then cut one half coil off.
I used Fbody accessories and they worked well.
Fbody oil pan. It does hang below the cross member. I believe to run the bat wing pan you need to do a Borgesen steering box?
Modified the water pump heater inlet and outlet to clear the a-arm.
I used VBP front springs and then cut one half coil off.
I used Fbody accessories and they worked well.
Fbody oil pan. It does hang below the cross member. I believe to run the bat wing pan you need to do a Borgesen steering box?
Modified the water pump heater inlet and outlet to clear the a-arm.
Last edited by KIKIRIKI; 09-19-2017 at 09:24 PM. Reason: borgeson
#13
No clutch, thus the auto... manual conversion will be down the road.
#14
Now we're talking! Is that the "stainless headers" product? Do you have any pictures with the body on? My main concern with side pipes is how low they hang. I really don't want them low.
The following users liked this post:
KIKIRIKI (09-20-2017)
#18
Here is a link to where I purchased my headers...
https://www.gpheaders.com/project/c3...epipe-headers/
https://www.gpheaders.com/project/c3...epipe-headers/
This is what I'm shooting for:
Ignore the rims. Notice how they're tucked higher up. They don't look like an afterthought like they do in the video. Anyone know if stainless headers looks like what I'm looking for? Are there other options?
Last edited by KIKIRIKI; 09-20-2017 at 10:10 PM. Reason: youtube feature doesn't work...
#19
Burning Brakes
When I started looking for sidepipes I wanted them to look like the hookers. I also wanted
them in SS. I could not find them at all. I purchased some Hooker and modified them to fit a LS motor. When I found the SS ones I pulled the trigger on them. I'm putting a heat shield on also with the stingray lettering on. They or in the storage shed and will be but on after painting. The SS ones from GPHeaders sit the same height as my hookers did. I do have a picture of them in my build thread with the body on. I also have a video with the LS3 engine running with the GPheaders if you want to here the sound. But I have not had the engine tuned yet.
them in SS. I could not find them at all. I purchased some Hooker and modified them to fit a LS motor. When I found the SS ones I pulled the trigger on them. I'm putting a heat shield on also with the stingray lettering on. They or in the storage shed and will be but on after painting. The SS ones from GPHeaders sit the same height as my hookers did. I do have a picture of them in my build thread with the body on. I also have a video with the LS3 engine running with the GPheaders if you want to here the sound. But I have not had the engine tuned yet.
Last edited by Tim 1973; 09-20-2017 at 10:34 PM.