Darn Impalla Pos!!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 79
From: Jackson MI
Darn Impalla Pos!!!
GRRRR, long story short I blew my engine on the dyno and it'll take a minimum of 4-6 weeks to get it back. I had an Impalla LT1 engine lying(disassembled) around so I decided to rebuild that motor and drive it around until my good one was done.
I'm about to put the thing in tonight and I decided to put the spark plugs in before I drop the engine in and guess what. THE IRON HEADS HAVE STRAIT PLUGS!!!
I test fit my hooker super comps and they don't actually hit any of the plugs but there's no way I could get the wires on two of them.
I tried test fitting the stock vette manifolds on there and it wouldn't work, maybe if I took off the heat sheild but it would be very close. Besides I've got my catback setup for my longtubes.
So expert guru type people, what would be the easiest, cheapest way of getting around this?
I'm about to put the thing in tonight and I decided to put the spark plugs in before I drop the engine in and guess what. THE IRON HEADS HAVE STRAIT PLUGS!!!
I test fit my hooker super comps and they don't actually hit any of the plugs but there's no way I could get the wires on two of them.
I tried test fitting the stock vette manifolds on there and it wouldn't work, maybe if I took off the heat sheild but it would be very close. Besides I've got my catback setup for my longtubes.
So expert guru type people, what would be the easiest, cheapest way of getting around this?
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Worcester MA
i ran into this... after taking off the shield and beating the #*!? out of the headers to try fit the wire boot, I just ended up with melting boots and misfires... The story ends with a set of TPIS headers.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 79
From: Jackson MI
It is the 350, it actually came out of a roadmaster and I'm pretty sure it's the only engine option for that car.
Did a set of TPIS headers work with the strait plugs?? Anybody have a set they want to sell cheap???
Did a set of TPIS headers work with the strait plugs?? Anybody have a set they want to sell cheap???
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 79
From: Jackson MI
Originally Posted by MrRenoman
94-96 Caprice civilian and 9C1 police cars also had the LT1 motors. I've got one in my 94 Caprice wagon.
Art
Art
All though this is true, I know it's an LT1, my stock vette pistons and rods are in it.
But how do I make the exhaust fit?? I think I might have come across a few shorty headers that may fit, but I'd have to drive it to the exhaust shop with shorty's on to get the rest of the work done. I'm not sure how safe that is.
Here's another thought, could I cut my header tubes that are giving me problems and see if I can bend them out away from the plug then weld in a 1" piece to fill the gap?
Last edited by mn_vette; Jul 14, 2005 at 10:25 AM.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
I believe all the B-body LT1's ALSO have staggered motor mount bosses. The passenger side is 1.75" further to the rear than the driver instead of being straight across from one another like all other SBC's... I know this because I just finished swapping an LS1 in a 9C1 Caprice and had to fabricate ALL the motor mounts because of this
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 79
From: Jackson MI
Originally Posted by jburnett
I believe all the B-body LT1's ALSO have staggered motor mount bosses. The passenger side is 1.75" further to the rear than the driver instead of being straight across from one another like all other SBC's... I know this because I just finished swapping an LS1 in a 9C1 Caprice and had to fabricate ALL the motor mounts because of this
but of course, but if you use the corvette motor mount brackets there is an unused bolt hole in the Impalla block that lets you put the motor mount holder in the right place. Also you need to swap the hub and crank pulley to get them to fit in the corvette as they are different on all other LT1's. So how do I get the headers to fit??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,474
Likes: 1
From: Drive it Like You Hate it Cincinnati OH
Originally Posted by sickspeedvette
What about those short header plugs that accel makes. I don't know about their quality or long-term stamina, but it might be a good short-term fix.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by MrRenoman
94-96 Caprice civilian and 9C1 police cars also had the LT1 motors. I've got one in my 94 Caprice wagon.
Art
Art
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 79
From: Jackson MI
Originally Posted by bogus
wow... don't you have a set of aluminum heads somewhere???
I looked into the short accell plugs, I didn't even know they made them. But they are only 1/4" shorter than the standard plugs. I'll have to snip the tip off one of my old used plugs and see if it works, but I think I'm going to need more than 1/4". The plugs almost touch now, so even with an extra 1/4" I'm not sure it'll be enough not to fry the plugwires.
Last edited by mn_vette; Jul 14, 2005 at 12:44 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Originally Posted by mn_vette
but of course, but if you use the corvette motor mount brackets there is an unused bolt hole in the Impalla block that lets you put the motor mount holder in the right place. Also you need to swap the hub and crank pulley to get them to fit in the corvette as they are different on all other LT1's. So how do I get the headers to fit??
-Jeb
