... and easier/quicker.
Need info on an engine swap.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Need info on an engine swap.
Hey all! New to the forums. Need your help as well.
I have a 76 Corvette with a fully built 383 stroker and a Richmond 5-speed. With gas prices the way they are now I just cannot enjoy this car. I haven't driven it in almost 2 years. It gets like 10mpg and requires VP12.
So my question is, how hard is it to swap a newer vette engine (LS1 or LS6) in this car. I'm pretty good with swaps on other cars, (i've done n/a to turbo conversion on 87 RX7 and 3 different Honda swaps)
I've seen custom harnesses floating around the web, so I know it can be done. If someone could point me in the right direction for write-ups or tech articles for this type of swap, that would be great. Also what engine would be best to go with? And is there a good place online to buy the whole engine? I'd rather not go through junk yards.
I have a 76 Corvette with a fully built 383 stroker and a Richmond 5-speed. With gas prices the way they are now I just cannot enjoy this car. I haven't driven it in almost 2 years. It gets like 10mpg and requires VP12.
So my question is, how hard is it to swap a newer vette engine (LS1 or LS6) in this car. I'm pretty good with swaps on other cars, (i've done n/a to turbo conversion on 87 RX7 and 3 different Honda swaps)
I've seen custom harnesses floating around the web, so I know it can be done. If someone could point me in the right direction for write-ups or tech articles for this type of swap, that would be great. Also what engine would be best to go with? And is there a good place online to buy the whole engine? I'd rather not go through junk yards.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: Streator Illinois
I know this does not answer your question but have you balanced the cost of an engine plus conversion costs against the potential fuel savings for a car that obviously is not a daily driver? If you HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT IN 2 YEARS, how much would you drive it after the swap?
Not trying to discourage your plans for a swap if there are other reasons for it besides savings on gasoline purchases.
BTW, it's probably a good idea to either drive the car once in a while in spite of high gas prices or perform proper storage practices to prepare it for layup if it will be not used for an extended time.
Terry
Not trying to discourage your plans for a swap if there are other reasons for it besides savings on gasoline purchases.
BTW, it's probably a good idea to either drive the car once in a while in spite of high gas prices or perform proper storage practices to prepare it for layup if it will be not used for an extended time.
Terry
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
You might just think about turning the compression down so it'll run on pump gas. $5-600 for a set of pistons or some big chambered heads might be easier. There are a couple of guys that have done the LS swap, but I've heard the mods get a bit snippy if you direct someone to another forum
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I know this does not answer your question but have you balanced the cost of an engine plus conversion costs against the potential fuel savings for a car that obviously is not a daily driver? If you HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT IN 2 YEARS, how much would you drive it after the swap?
Not trying to discourage your plans for a swap if there are other reasons for it besides savings on gasoline purchases.
BTW, it's probably a good idea to either drive the car once in a while in spite of high gas prices or perform proper storage practices to prepare it for layup if it will be not used for an extended time.
Terry
Not trying to discourage your plans for a swap if there are other reasons for it besides savings on gasoline purchases.
BTW, it's probably a good idea to either drive the car once in a while in spite of high gas prices or perform proper storage practices to prepare it for layup if it will be not used for an extended time.
Terry
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Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,078
Likes: 27
From: Northeast South Dakota
There is nothing wrong with the LS1 swap, but in my opinion the LS doesn't belong in a C3. It sounds funny. LS motors really need very quiet mufflers because the sound of a piped LS is really pathetic. That and the fact that you have a nice motor now that could be made into what you're looking for relatively cheaply would lead me to try to talk you into just lowering the compression in your 383, and run with it. Maybe fuel inject it. Look at my sig. I get 23-25 MPG in my 81' and it makes far more power than my C5 does........and it still looks and sounds cool. 
-Justin
-Justin
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
It'd be easy and relatively cheap to back this down - especially if you factor in selling the stuff you don't want. What intake runner size and combustion chamber are the heads?
You likely can't get to a reasonable CR without a piston swap. But a quick piston swap (especially if they're floating pins), cam change, dual-plane intake and vacuum secondary carb and a tune would get you in the 9-10 CR range which would allow either regular or premium fuel.
If you're set on an LS swap and this approach isn't interesting, then say so and I'll shut up so you can get on with the LS swap discussion
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 15,161
Likes: 17
From: coffee
I initially considered an LS swap in to my '81, but what put me off of the idea was the downtime in getting everything sorted out. Reading through the sticky, you have no doubt seen that the issues to resolve are numerous and require a fair amount of fabrication, custom wiring, and patience, which for me and the limited time that I have to work on my car would have been a deal killer.
I only mention this because you want a more driveable car. If you factor in the downtime to get the swap done, you might have another year without a car at all. It would be fun with the right resources and enough time, but I don't know your personal situation.
For the $2K that you are going to spend on the LS6 and whatever you could get for your '76, you might be able to get in to an extremely driveable C5, if that is your cup of tea.
I only mention this because you want a more driveable car. If you factor in the downtime to get the swap done, you might have another year without a car at all. It would be fun with the right resources and enough time, but I don't know your personal situation.
For the $2K that you are going to spend on the LS6 and whatever you could get for your '76, you might be able to get in to an extremely driveable C5, if that is your cup of tea.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Still not a lot of detail here. Do you have a build sheet from the builder?
It'd be easy and relatively cheap to back this down - especially if you factor in selling the stuff you don't want. What intake runner size and combustion chamber are the heads?
You likely can't get to a reasonable CR without a piston swap. But a quick piston swap (especially if they're floating pins), cam change, dual-plane intake and vacuum secondary carb and a tune would get you in the 9-10 CR range which would allow either regular or premium fuel.
If you're set on an LS swap and this approach isn't interesting, then say so and I'll shut up so you can get on with the LS swap discussion
It'd be easy and relatively cheap to back this down - especially if you factor in selling the stuff you don't want. What intake runner size and combustion chamber are the heads?
You likely can't get to a reasonable CR without a piston swap. But a quick piston swap (especially if they're floating pins), cam change, dual-plane intake and vacuum secondary carb and a tune would get you in the 9-10 CR range which would allow either regular or premium fuel.
If you're set on an LS swap and this approach isn't interesting, then say so and I'll shut up so you can get on with the LS swap discussion
I just didn't know much about swapping a LSx into a c3.
And I know the specs on the motor aren't very helpful. but it's all I've got. My dad built the car several years back and he passed. Also the mechanic had a heart attack and died shortly after the build. I really don't know what is in this motor. The documentation "MIGHT" be somewhere but I doubt it.
Also nate, This is my #4 car right now. I have a good daily and 2 other fun weekend cars. But this car has been in the family for over 25 years. I can't let it go ha. I am going to look at a piston swap and maybe a head swap. Also who makes a good fuel injection setup? I've seen these on cars and I wouldn't mind dumping the dual carbs, they are a pain to get right.