84 chevy corvette no engine.
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,218
Likes: 1,174
From: Southlake, TX
When it comes to swapping different engines and wiring combinations outside of the factory specs, you are kinda on your own as each swap is custom. Sure, others have done it but each will be its own beast.
Now, you say you want 300hp--- that is very doable in an L83 AND with your factory wiring and factory throttle bodies. The basics are you will need headers, better exhaust, Renegade intake and a couple of ignition upgrades. Cam and heads will help but the intake and exhaust will get you most of the way there WHILE KEEPING YOUR ELECTRICAL INTACT.
Hit up BUCCANEER in the C3 forum. He build high horsepower L83 all the time.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 81
From: Finger Lakes Region, New York
The "real guide" will be your 1984 Corvette Factory Service Manual and that will an excellent tool to get your L83 working properly.
When it comes to swapping different engines and wiring combinations outside of the factory specs, you are kinda on your own as each swap is custom. Sure, others have done it but each will be its own beast.
Now, you say you want 300hp--- that is very doable in an L83 AND with your factory wiring and factory throttle bodies. The basics are you will need headers, better exhaust, Renegade intake and a couple of ignition upgrades. Cam and heads will help but the intake and exhaust will get you most of the way there WHILE KEEPING YOUR ELECTRICAL INTACT.
Hit up BUCCANEER in the C3 forum. He build high horsepower L83 all the time.
When it comes to swapping different engines and wiring combinations outside of the factory specs, you are kinda on your own as each swap is custom. Sure, others have done it but each will be its own beast.
Now, you say you want 300hp--- that is very doable in an L83 AND with your factory wiring and factory throttle bodies. The basics are you will need headers, better exhaust, Renegade intake and a couple of ignition upgrades. Cam and heads will help but the intake and exhaust will get you most of the way there WHILE KEEPING YOUR ELECTRICAL INTACT.
Hit up BUCCANEER in the C3 forum. He build high horsepower L83 all the time.
Now this is an answer I can stand behind.
The L83 has potential. People just have the idea that crossfire is junk and rip it right off. That was 50% of the reason why I went LT1, in addition to my buddy having a 9C1 Caprice that hauled *** and it made me want an LT1 of my own.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 81
From: Finger Lakes Region, New York
Either way it will be fun and easy to hit 300 wheel or fwhp. Good luck!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
If you have no engine at all dont bother looking for a complete 84 with all the stuff on it then working bugs out of it
Buy whatever 350 383 or 400 you can find, run the wire for the hei get a carb regulate the psi down and go.
Some arent listening to your abilities or wants. LT1 stuff is too expensive and arent all that big an advantage over a Gen 1
You can get a roller motor 4 bolt main out of a late 90s truck from any boneyard for example..many machine shops will have plenty of cores laying around or something a customer never finished or paid for call around.
If all you want is 300hp or so any 2 bolt main cast crank 350 will do just fine.
Buy whatever 350 383 or 400 you can find, run the wire for the hei get a carb regulate the psi down and go.
Some arent listening to your abilities or wants. LT1 stuff is too expensive and arent all that big an advantage over a Gen 1
You can get a roller motor 4 bolt main out of a late 90s truck from any boneyard for example..many machine shops will have plenty of cores laying around or something a customer never finished or paid for call around.
If all you want is 300hp or so any 2 bolt main cast crank 350 will do just fine.
Last edited by cv67; Sep 24, 2017 at 04:18 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Thank you for the replies everyone. Im located in Philadelphia.I think im going to go with a lt1 swap. Try to find a harness first also. When i find a lt1 what are things i should do before i drop it in? Things that would be easy to do while i have the engine out? Im gonna start taking pictures and post everything here and lets see where we all get lol. Thank you everyone
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
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Thank you for the replies everyone. Im located in Philadelphia.I think im going to go with a lt1 swap. Try to find a harness first also. When i find a lt1 what are things i should do before i drop it in? Things that would be easy to do while i have the engine out? Im gonna start taking pictures and post everything here and lets see where we all get lol. Thank you everyone
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 81
From: Finger Lakes Region, New York
What? Where are you living? LT1 stuff is dirt cheap... Besides maybe the opti but a quality HEI dizzy can be pricey too.Yes, make it even worse and less valuable.
All in all if you just want to get it running then throw any gen 1 engine in it and throw a carb on. Easy yes but no one is going to want it if you ever sell it...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 81
From: Finger Lakes Region, New York
Thank you for the replies everyone. Im located in Philadelphia.I think im going to go with a lt1 swap. Try to find a harness first also. When i find a lt1 what are things i should do before i drop it in? Things that would be easy to do while i have the engine out? Im gonna start taking pictures and post everything here and lets see where we all get lol. Thank you everyone
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
No offense youre making a mistake and getting in over your head youll regret it part way through as you learn more. More than 1 conversion here has gone up for sale out of frustration.
v884....him getting all the little stuff to work, brackets wiring etc is no fun if he is starting with nothing.
Wouldnt worry about value on any C4 right now
v884....him getting all the little stuff to work, brackets wiring etc is no fun if he is starting with nothing.
Wouldnt worry about value on any C4 right now
Last edited by cv67; Sep 24, 2017 at 06:08 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,451
Likes: 336
From: Greater Cincinnati Area.
I drove an Lt1 powered FBody a while ago.. It was hopped up. Obvious cam. Dunno what else.
It ran out well and sounded wicked at an idle. Nice car.
Two thoughts:
1) You'll be heavy in wiring.. It's not particularly difficult, but that's part of owning a fuel injected car.
2) A donor vehicle will make this worlds easier. Or at least finding one in a salvage yard to strip parts from.
Trying to scrounge every bracket, connector and etc, from scratch will be an expensive PITA.
IMVHO.
If I was going to go to that much trouble I'd put an LS in it.
It ran out well and sounded wicked at an idle. Nice car.
Two thoughts:
1) You'll be heavy in wiring.. It's not particularly difficult, but that's part of owning a fuel injected car.
2) A donor vehicle will make this worlds easier. Or at least finding one in a salvage yard to strip parts from.
Trying to scrounge every bracket, connector and etc, from scratch will be an expensive PITA.
IMVHO.
If I was going to go to that much trouble I'd put an LS in it.
Last edited by confab; Sep 24, 2017 at 06:33 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 81
From: Finger Lakes Region, New York
No offense but putting an LT1 into a C4 is easier than putting an LS1 in...I would hardly consider going LS just because you have a little wiring to do on an LT1 swap. The LS will require all kinds of custom parts. The LT1 was a factory power plant in the C4 so there are lots of factory parts and they are plentiful.
Last edited by v8vette84; Sep 24, 2017 at 07:54 PM.
Team Owner
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
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So very very true. If you really want an LT1 I would suggest getting one that came out of a Vette. The brackets and vette specific stuff add up quick!
No offense but putting an LT1 into a C4 is easier than putting an LS1 in...I would hardly consider going LS just because you have a little wiring to do on an LT1 swap. The LS will require all kinds of custom parts. The LT1 was a factory power plant in the C4 so there are lots of factory parts and they are plentiful.
No offense but putting an LT1 into a C4 is easier than putting an LS1 in...I would hardly consider going LS just because you have a little wiring to do on an LT1 swap. The LS will require all kinds of custom parts. The LT1 was a factory power plant in the C4 so there are lots of factory parts and they are plentiful.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,451
Likes: 336
From: Greater Cincinnati Area.
So very very true. If you really want an LT1 I would suggest getting one that came out of a Vette. The brackets and vette specific stuff add up quick!
No offense but putting an LT1 into a C4 is easier than putting an LS1 in...I would hardly consider going LS just because you have a little wiring to do on an LT1 swap. The LS will require all kinds of custom parts. The LT1 was a factory power plant in the C4 so there are lots of factory parts and they are plentiful.
No offense but putting an LT1 into a C4 is easier than putting an LS1 in...I would hardly consider going LS just because you have a little wiring to do on an LT1 swap. The LS will require all kinds of custom parts. The LT1 was a factory power plant in the C4 so there are lots of factory parts and they are plentiful.
I like the crossfire, but if I had to go to a lot of trouble and expense for a non-stock engine, it would be an LS. It would get the trans too.
Last edited by confab; Sep 24, 2017 at 09:30 PM.
