carbed lsx conversion...
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 21
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carbed lsx conversion...
Ok, I'm not necessarily looking for technical advice yet, just opinions on this. I have an 85 c4 paid $2000 for it cause it had a "bad head gasket". Well I'm deep into the car now and it is a bit more serious than a head gasket.
So anyways, the motor will be coming out, now what I'm wondering is if I should spend the money on putting together the stock tpi and drive it with the 4+3 trans. Or option 2, I have a 6.0 lq4 complete that I can put in with a carbed intake and 4l60e trans. I understand the swap is semi difficult, but I think the additional power would be pretty fun to have on tap.
I'm not worried about resale value, I got it at a steal and I could sell it as a roller and make my money back, just wondering which way you guys would go with this. Thanks
So anyways, the motor will be coming out, now what I'm wondering is if I should spend the money on putting together the stock tpi and drive it with the 4+3 trans. Or option 2, I have a 6.0 lq4 complete that I can put in with a carbed intake and 4l60e trans. I understand the swap is semi difficult, but I think the additional power would be pretty fun to have on tap.
I'm not worried about resale value, I got it at a steal and I could sell it as a roller and make my money back, just wondering which way you guys would go with this. Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
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From: El Paso Texas
And about that username.....
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2010
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Haha. Yeah, I know. I figured i'd catch more crap about that name. But I was always into camaros and mustangs before I could afford a corvette. So that's my name on a few other forums, so just easy to remember. I think there is something you can do about the trans, I've read on a few swaps, just wondering if people frown upon a carbed ls motor. You can't argue with the performance though
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Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
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From: El Paso Texas
It's your car, do whatever you want. But you will need a means of shifting a 4L60E....The "E" designation means electronic, so it shifts by solenoids. The PCM controls it in stock configuration. There are controllers available that you can buy and program, but they aren't cheap.
I say go for it.....take pics at every step. We love a good build thread.
I say go for it.....take pics at every step. We love a good build thread.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2010
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Thanks man. Just needed to hear something to motivate me. I was a little curious how everyone felt about it. I might even try to put in a 700r4, so I don't even need to bother with the electric side. So, looks like we have a swap in the works. It will probly take me some time, but I'll start with progress pics some time this week.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,974
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if you put in an LS, IMO don't waste your time with a 700r. I would go stick. BTW the LS is an awesome motor to put in, and has loads of build potential. Racers are putting them in all kinds of cars now, I don't think you will catch flaxk about the motor.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2010
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Ok, biggest concern for me was the fact that it was carbed, everyone calls me a caveman for that. lol. But I don't have a wiring harness, I think the carbed route would be much easier. Got any info on six speed swaps? I'd love a t56, but I hear they have issues with the shifter location?....
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Ok, biggest concern for me was the fact that it was carbed, everyone calls me a caveman for that. lol. But I don't have a wiring harness, I think the carbed route would be much easier. Got any info on six speed swaps? I'd love a t56, but I hear they have issues with the shifter location?....
NASCAR still uses carbs....why can't you? In most places a 25 year old car is emissions exempt, so nothing to stop you. I've seen the Carb vs EFI battled waged ad nauseum.....I personally like both for different reasons. There is no real right or wrong. I'm not an advocate of swapping on a carb just because your EFI isn't working correctly....but for a build like yours, hell yeah. Do it!
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 106
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From: deltona fl
well, ill chime in, and this is only my personal $.02
why waste the time going back to carb? if the lq4 is complete, its only 500 for a harness and ecu(yea, youll spend more depending on tune and ect stuff)
but are you sure a carbd lsx manifold with a air cleaner will even fit under the c4 hood?
the problem with the t56 is the shifter location is to far to the right, no big deal, cut grind, make a bracket to offset it, and weld it up good. the clutch master cylinder will give you issues, you must use one with atleast a 13/16 bore. the internal slave cylinder t56s have enough hydraulic issues even with good 13/16 CMC, the stock c4 is 5/8 or something way to small like that(i used a 7/8 1inch stoke wilwood for mine, and a longer hose from speedway motors) and the last issue is the cbeam mount, which is where i broke the welder out again and was thankful ive fabricated a few times before. my ls on sbc mounts, in orig. location(in a 89) with the t56, and dana 44 cbeam and rearend needed a 25.5 inch driveshaft too.
why waste the time going back to carb? if the lq4 is complete, its only 500 for a harness and ecu(yea, youll spend more depending on tune and ect stuff)
but are you sure a carbd lsx manifold with a air cleaner will even fit under the c4 hood?
the problem with the t56 is the shifter location is to far to the right, no big deal, cut grind, make a bracket to offset it, and weld it up good. the clutch master cylinder will give you issues, you must use one with atleast a 13/16 bore. the internal slave cylinder t56s have enough hydraulic issues even with good 13/16 CMC, the stock c4 is 5/8 or something way to small like that(i used a 7/8 1inch stoke wilwood for mine, and a longer hose from speedway motors) and the last issue is the cbeam mount, which is where i broke the welder out again and was thankful ive fabricated a few times before. my ls on sbc mounts, in orig. location(in a 89) with the t56, and dana 44 cbeam and rearend needed a 25.5 inch driveshaft too.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
well, ill chime in, and this is only my personal $.02
why waste the time going back to carb? if the lq4 is complete, its only 500 for a harness and ecu(yea, youll spend more depending on tune and ect stuff)
but are you sure a carbd lsx manifold with a air cleaner will even fit under the c4 hood?
the problem with the t56 is the shifter location is to far to the right, no big deal, cut grind, make a bracket to offset it, and weld it up good. the clutch master cylinder will give you issues, you must use one with atleast a 13/16 bore. the internal slave cylinder t56s have enough hydraulic issues even with good 13/16 CMC, the stock c4 is 5/8 or something way to small like that(i used a 7/8 1inch stoke wilwood for mine, and a longer hose from speedway motors) and the last issue is the cbeam mount, which is where i broke the welder out again and was thankful ive fabricated a few times before. my ls on sbc mounts, in orig. location(in a 89) with the t56, and dana 44 cbeam and rearend needed a 25.5 inch driveshaft too.
why waste the time going back to carb? if the lq4 is complete, its only 500 for a harness and ecu(yea, youll spend more depending on tune and ect stuff)
but are you sure a carbd lsx manifold with a air cleaner will even fit under the c4 hood?
the problem with the t56 is the shifter location is to far to the right, no big deal, cut grind, make a bracket to offset it, and weld it up good. the clutch master cylinder will give you issues, you must use one with atleast a 13/16 bore. the internal slave cylinder t56s have enough hydraulic issues even with good 13/16 CMC, the stock c4 is 5/8 or something way to small like that(i used a 7/8 1inch stoke wilwood for mine, and a longer hose from speedway motors) and the last issue is the cbeam mount, which is where i broke the welder out again and was thankful ive fabricated a few times before. my ls on sbc mounts, in orig. location(in a 89) with the t56, and dana 44 cbeam and rearend needed a 25.5 inch driveshaft too.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Matt has a good point too....if the harness is available, you could keep the EFI. Swaps come down to how good your fabricating skills are, and how well you can overcome adversity. I've done two, and you take a few lumps, but you learn a lot along the way.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: deltona fl
if your interested in staying efi, pm me, and ill shoot you over to the guy who premade my harness and (semi)programed a ecu for me. i will say handsdown the best 550 dollars ive ever spent on swap parts. every single connector was clearly labeled and was just a breeze to install. when a 20lb box of wiring showed up to my house i almost dropped over just thinking of how long it would take to wire/route/connect it all correctly. 2 hours sat morning and i had the car turning over and firing up.