454 to LS engine swap
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Pinellas Park FL
454 to LS engine swap
I have a 71 Vert with AC, Steeroids R&P, Hydrotech brake system and Vette brakes traverse front suspension kit and TKO 500 installed. Im thinking of removing my 454 BB and installing an LS series engine. Has anyone done this and if so what major alterations have to be done to fit everything correctly.
Thanks
Ron
Thanks
Ron
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Butler Pa
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 29
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From: Parker/Elizabeth Colorado
I have a 71 Vert with AC, Steeroids R&P, Hydrotech brake system and Vette brakes traverse front suspension kit and TKO 500 installed. Im thinking of removing my 454 BB and installing an LS series engine. Has anyone done this and if so what major alterations have to be done to fit everything correctly.
Thanks
Ron
Thanks
Ron
Thanks
Vern
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 16
From: absecon nj
Yep its been done,Ron,ls1/6 would be the easiest for you to do,then comes the ls2/3 then ls7.
Go to the link that bashcraft posted and read several pages of whats been done.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...?highlight=ls1
Go to the link that bashcraft posted and read several pages of whats been done.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...?highlight=ls1
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,496
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From: springfield ohio
Why do you want swap to an LS from a 454? Depending on your reasoning, the LS route can get very expensive.
If you do decide to go the LS route, a nice alternative is the Iron block truck motors, They are a lot cheaper and only weigh like 60 pounds more than an aluminum LS.
I went the LS route and I don't regret it or all the money I have spent, but I also didn't start with a big block.
Riggs
If you do decide to go the LS route, a nice alternative is the Iron block truck motors, They are a lot cheaper and only weigh like 60 pounds more than an aluminum LS.
I went the LS route and I don't regret it or all the money I have spent, but I also didn't start with a big block.
Riggs
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
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From: Livonia MI
If going through all the trouble, would at least go LS3, as the top end on these really flow. Main advantage of the swap you're considering, is 200 lbs less weight hanging over the front axle, and much improved fuel consumption. Contact Josh at Custom Image Corvettes in SD, as can supply everything needed. The price of this conversion, may get you falling off your chair. You do have a head start with the TKO o.d. tranny though. If you do decide to go full boat with the T-56 6 speed, don't think you'll have any trouble selling the TKO 500.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: anchorage ak
I second the question of why you'd want to trade out the big block for an ls motor. Don't get me wrong the ls series engines are awsome, but not as awesome as a big block vette let alone if its numbers matching. You could save alot of money and rebuild the bottom end of the big block strong and use the right combination of top end parts for an easy 600 to 650 horse power, and it would still be very streetable and a big block vette. but either way good luck with your project.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Pinellas Park FL
Well I love the big block however I drive the car daily. With gas prices what they are its pretty expensive. Living in Florida, the stop and go traffic is a killer. I saw some pretty impressive LSX installations and thought it might be a good alternitive. I was also toying with the idea of keeping the BB and going to TBI. However it looks like its about 3K by the time I mod the fuel system and purchase a kit like F.A.S.T or Atomic EFI. Not sure how much of a gain in fuel economy I would get by converting over to fuel injection. So, before I went through the expense I thought I would see about installing an LSX engine since I would have to mod the fuel system anyway. I would definitely keep the BB if I could squeez some MPG's out of it. My BB has been rebuilt with all the good stuff and puts out 500HP at the crank on the dyno. Its a nice engine.
-Ron
-Ron
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Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: anchorage ak
The cost of doing the swap will negate the fuel savings for a long time to come. My 2012 gmc pick up with a six speed & 6.2l l92 gets 10 mpg in town, you might do better because your vette is lighter. You could spend the money on something small that gets 20mpg in town.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
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From: Oakland California
What's your budget? Looks like you have a buyer for your big block, so that's more money for the swap. If you do daily drive you car, especially with all that traffic, then LS is the way to go. All that money going to gas for that big block could be going towards more funds for the swap as well. It gets expensive when you start to add mods to the LS engine, and this is why people want you to have a really big budget for the swap. I heard that the $25 eBay adapter plates work well, get you the $100 in line Walbro fuel pump, a role of new fuel line and fittings(I think I saw someone on here use their existing fuel lines by turning the stock fuel rail so that the inlet would be on the passenger side), and modify the harness yourself. Pick up the book "How To Swap GM LS Series..." it has lots of good info. If you have good fabricating skills, you can save yourself a lot of money. There is plenty of good information on this site about the swap.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Pinellas Park FL
If I could install TBI and get up to 14mpg I would be satisified. I dont drive the car far and have other vehicles for longer trips. Right now i get about 9 MPG. It sounds like its pretty expensive to aquire and LSX engine and all the stuff needed to convert. I may try the TBI setup first and see how it does after some tuneing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
Converting for the gas cost wont pay back. Unless, like me, reliability was an issue as well, and you just want to do it.
My 6.0 LS, Richmond 6 speed does 26 mpg hiway, compared to the old SBC 12mpg. mixed city/hiway is low 20s, pretty similar to a new vette.
Drive the 454 til it gets tired, then do the swap. Pretty much everything you'll need is off the shelf these days except for some water pump mods. And the LS will work great with the TKO overdrive trans.
My 6.0 LS, Richmond 6 speed does 26 mpg hiway, compared to the old SBC 12mpg. mixed city/hiway is low 20s, pretty similar to a new vette.
Drive the 454 til it gets tired, then do the swap. Pretty much everything you'll need is off the shelf these days except for some water pump mods. And the LS will work great with the TKO overdrive trans.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Youre talking about spending cubic dollars in hopes of saving dimes it never works.
Say you have 3k to spend , Id go pick up a beater accord or whatever drive that daily. Youre ahead of the game. Good mileage and you wont spend money modding it. You should be able to pick up something decent for that. My DD (02 Silverado) is starting to kill me on maintenance and gas, concluded this is the way to go. Buy a beater and park the DD/keep it nice. Beaters are great no worries about door dings wrecking it etc. Bump it into a wall? No problem. Do it again just cause you can
I guarantee an LS conversion will run you way more than that and youll hate the loss of torque compared to the BBC. Even after the conversion youll be putting money into it....working bugs out, stuff wearing out etc etc.
You can get them to make hp but be ready to spend.
Never ends does it?
Say you have 3k to spend , Id go pick up a beater accord or whatever drive that daily. Youre ahead of the game. Good mileage and you wont spend money modding it. You should be able to pick up something decent for that. My DD (02 Silverado) is starting to kill me on maintenance and gas, concluded this is the way to go. Buy a beater and park the DD/keep it nice. Beaters are great no worries about door dings wrecking it etc. Bump it into a wall? No problem. Do it again just cause you can
I guarantee an LS conversion will run you way more than that and youll hate the loss of torque compared to the BBC. Even after the conversion youll be putting money into it....working bugs out, stuff wearing out etc etc.
You can get them to make hp but be ready to spend.
Never ends does it?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 546
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From: Pinellas Park FL
You guys are probably right. I would definitely miss the BB. I think im going to invest in TBI just because it will run smoother and ill pick up a little better mpg. With all the crappy gas we have today, I think the TBI will handle it better. My demon doesnt like ethenol fuel very much.
Plus it will make for a nice project. Can probably do it for about 2500.00 and put in a nice system. Just not sure which one yet. I have read many posts on the F.A.S.T system but want to see the reviews on MSD Atomic EFI. Looks like a nice compact clean system.
Have any of you installed either?
Plus it will make for a nice project. Can probably do it for about 2500.00 and put in a nice system. Just not sure which one yet. I have read many posts on the F.A.S.T system but want to see the reviews on MSD Atomic EFI. Looks like a nice compact clean system.
Have any of you installed either?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
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From: San Jose CA
For the price of an LS swap you could have 2-3 Hondas that will run smooth, cheap, and pretty comfy. Or one really nice one!
At my house we have 2 Corvettes, a truck and a 4 banger sedan. I drive the truck to/from work (short commute). If I had a longer commute I'd pick up some mid-late 90's Honda 5-speed to commute in. They last FOREVER.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
A tbi will give you negligable increase in mpg or drivability over a well tuned carb. It's the combination of head/intake design, compression, cam, and sequential port fuel injection that gives the LS motors great power and economy.
Buy a honda with the money you were planning on spending on a tbi unit.
Buy a honda with the money you were planning on spending on a tbi unit.