Hello Everyone,

I have just started the work on my LS1 conversion. I drove to the junkyard this morning and bought the parts today.

Got a complete running LS1 Engine, 4 L60 E Transmission, Complete Wiring harness, Complete AC system.

Basically the whole setup, I got it for $1700 (This is in Kuwait) How much would this usually cost in the US!?

I found a shop that will do the swap during 2 weeks (fingers crossed doesn't take longer) and will charge $1800. I will basically get the car running from him.


Only problem/question now is:

- How will I hook up my gauges? (I'm an extreme newbie with no tech background) but the mechanic said he might not be able to get the gauges working.

Photos added below

 

Whare at in Kuwait?

 

I believe there is a plug at the back of the head on the pass. side that you can install a water temp sender in that will work with your stock gauge. The same is true for the oil pressure. You can drill and tap the bolt on aluminum block in the area of the oil filter and install a sender.

 

cm2dinger, Junkyard in an area called "Amghara" The top at "Shuwaikh"

Here are some photos of today's Junkyard trip and my new LS1.














Here is my Engine getting cleaned up:

 

You can use your electric tach with the LS1. The pulse count needs to be changed in the ECM for it to read correctly. For the speedometer you will either have to buy an electric speedometer or use a Cable-X box to drive the original speedo. There may be places that convert speedometers but I'm guessing the conversion would cost more than a Cable-X. I made a fitting with 2 barbed ends and a T-connector for my original temp sender and plumbed it into the heater hose. As someone else said, you can tap into the plate right above the oil filter for either a mechanical or electric oil pressure gauge sender.



Rick B.

 

Hey Rick, thanks for the info.

If I was to change the gauges to electrical, which brand would you or the guys here recommend?! Maybe a more "cleaner" and easier to read gauges.

Oh, I almost forgot. I just recently installed ceramic headers to my older 350 Engine. I assume that won't fit on the LS1 correct!? if so, Can I keep my exhaust pipes and just buy new headers? or?

 

I decided to keep my stock gauges and make them work. I swapped my mechanical 72 tach face to 75 electric internals. I just installed a Cable-X box a couple of weeks ago to keep the original speedo. There are many gauges that will fit into the dash. Dakota digital has a new set of gauges that would combine all of the gauges you have now into 2 5" gauges that fit in the speedo/tach locations. Frees up the center console for anything custom you would want to do.

One of the problems I see with most electric speedo/tach conversions is the directionals and high beam indicators. There are none. The Dakota Digital package has these included in the dial faces. These are analog-looking gauges by the way, not digital readouts. They are expensive though, but they look great.

You are correct about the headers. LS1 heads have evenly spaced ports. The manifolds that you have might work fine. You 'll have to check clearances once the engine is installed. Hooker has some shorty manifolds that give plenty of clearance in the engine bay (I have a set). Speedhound used to sell long-tube headers but I think he is out of business. Search around - Josh (Custom Image Corvettes) is selling some headers in the near future I believe.

You can keep your exhaust from the trans crossmember back and just have new pipes fabbed to mate up with it. A 2.5" exhaust with an X-pipe works well and sounds great with the LS1.

BTW, now is a good time to put in a more radical cam before the install into the car.

Shameless plug for my exhaust system. I just like the way it sounds.





Rick B.

 

Hey Rick,

Thanks a lot for the insight about the gauges. I'll check out Dakota and see. I might keep the originals, but will decide soon.

As for the Headers, its a shame cuz I just got those headers for the 350. Less than 2 weeks on my older 350. How much you think they would be worth?

As for the cam, I was thinking about this:

http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merc...egory_Code=C31

And

http://www.lingenfelter.com/mm5/merc...Store_Code=LPE

You think that will be good?! or should I look at something else?

 

You could probably sell your headers quickly on the forum but your location would make shipping pretty expensive. There are guys from Australia and New Zealand on the forum though so maybe some of them would be interested.

I'm not a cam expert so I really can't offer any opinions on what you should choose. My engine has a Thunder Racing 224/112 cam in it that was there when I bought the engine. I like the lumpy idle and the engine runs really strong. You will have to have some tuning done if you change the cam so make sure there is someone local who can do a dyno tune or look up one of the mail-order tuners for a basic tune.

The guy I bought my transmission from had a GM Hot Cam in his LS1 and it had a similar idle to mine. That's another cam to consider.

If you don't already have an account at ls1tech.com you should get one. There is a wealth of info on engine mods there.



Rick B.

 

Thanks Rick. There is a guy who has a 68 Vette wants to buy my headers, I think they are from Summit Racing don't know the brand.

As far as today went, I towed my car along with the LS1 engine transmission to another shop. The guy will basically do everything on the car from Engine installation to complete new wiring to the harness. I spend $600 more on misc stuff like wires, hoses, oils, clippers, engine mounts, and a Camaro oil pan.

In addition, it will cost me $2700 for the complete installation

I know this is a lot of money for just installation, but believe I went all over the place, and this guy does the best clean/professional installation here.

The only thing is he said the car will be ready 12/5/2011 that's one and a half month from now!! I don't know if I'll be able to handle that

I'll be passing by often, I'll post some photos and updates regularly.

Currently I'm only missing:

1. Headers

2. Air Intake

Anyone got any suggestion on the above?

 

Link to my project below:

Check the LS conversion sticky at the top of this forum: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...-their-c3.html

Almost all your questions will be anawered there. BTW, I like that junk yard!! You might want to consider doing a parts scrounging service for forum members. Shipping costs might be prohibitive, though.

 

Yeah, I have read pretty much all the posts on here regarding the conversions, am just trying to get the best performance/price out there from members who have done this already.

In regards to the junk yard, it's pretty nice. Am heading there tomorrow morning. The mechanic says he needs a C4 corvette driveshaft to start working. (any idea why?)

And if anyone is looking for a specific part, no problem just let me know, no worries about the shipping I get a HUGE discount with my Fedex account.

 

I'm using the Hooker shorty LS1 headers. Probably not the best thing for ultimate performance but they at least dump into a 2.5" pipe.

A lot of us just use a 90-degree bend off of the throttle body with the MAf connected to that and an air filter. Again this is not the ideal setup, but you will have to design somethimg custom to duct cold air into the engine. I have the stock small-block radiator housing in my 72 so there is a plate on the passenger side. I may cut a hole in it an route piping down to the bottom of the radiator to get some cool air into the engine.



Rick B.

 

Jealous!!! a month and a half for a LS swap thats awesome. I bought my LS last summer and still havent finished building the engine. Hopefully I get the heads on next week and finish the wiring. Fingers crossed I get it driving this summer.

 

The mechanic says he needs a C4 corvette driveshaft to start working. (any idea why?)

Unless for some reason it's a direct bolt in, no idea. If I'm correct, you need to cut the front u-joint and the part that attaches to the tranny tail shaft (senior moment - can't remember the name) off the donor drive shaft and weld it to your C3 drive shaft. The C3 driveshaft will need to be shortened - not sure because I'm running a TKO 500 that came with a custom driveshaft.

Can't think of any parts I need now, but thanks for the offer. Oh, unless there's a real cheap LS7 laying around there.

Did you check my project out? http://LS273Stingray.blogspot.com I need to update the blog since I took a break during the winter. I don't have a heated garage and my wife needed "her" side of the garage to park in during the heavy snows. I'm doing some fiberglass repair work that is easily accessed from inside the body since it's off the frame now.

 

Hey Rick,

I'll probably have a guy do a custom headers here. I don't know if it would be better to order one from a reputable vendor or just go with the custom one, for now to be honest I just want something to get the car moving and will probably look into better options later.

 

Haha, man the one and a half months is almost forever! you are working on it yourself (lucky you) I wish I knew how to rebuild an engine, and am paying hell a lot more than u I think :P

I hope you get it done ASAP.

 

I actually found a C4 Shaft at the junkyard, bought it for $20. it looks in a great shape.
The mechanic said there will be no cutting at all, the C4 driveshaft is 4cm (centimeters) shorter than the C3 one, so he will just use it instead of the one on my car. So basically no cutting whatsoever (based on the mechanic's words)

an LS7 would be lovely. I'll keep an eye out :P however, LS3's and LS7's are still expensive. Found an LS3 the other day for $3000 fully working with Harness.

Yeah, I checked your blog, if you got any updates show some photos. I'll post some more photos soon.

 

Hello people,

I went to check with the mechanic today, he said everything on gauges will be working except speedometer since it works mechanically. He has no idea how to get it working.

Any tips guys? I read a bit about x-cable, but don't know if that's the ideal solution.

I was thinking to swap in a C5 or C6 gauges. I understand I need to make a custom dashboard for this to work. Is this viable? Anyone tried this before?

 

Check my thread on the LS1-4L60E swap and you will see the 4L60E tailshaft conversion that allows both VSS output and mechanical speedo output cable. The kit costs $500 approx and bolts up to fix your issue. Its works beautifully!