87 L98 TPI Swap Stock. First of all I know next to nothing about the engines in these cars. My thought is to possibly swap the intake manifold, fuel rails, plenum, runner tubes, (and possibly the throttle body) out from a LT1 (hoping the fuel rail covers will then fit. Reason - show purposes - really like fuel rail covers and I guess no body makes them for the L98's. I would like to have the plenum, distributer cover, and valve covers chromed. Does anyone know if this is possible. Can I use my stock heads? How about the comuter ? Also read somewhere that L98's were set up for MAP or Speed Density... or something like that... not sure what all that means.

 

Based on your experience..start smaller. You are not dealing with a direct bolt on here. Unless you have experience on other engines, then you will see what needs to be done and can figure it out pretty easily. Once you get by the EFI thing it is just an engine after all.

If you are new the hobby then do some basic maintenance and such to gain experience before tackling a project like this You will also need to do more extensive research than a post on a forum. I would say polish your existing TPI. That will give yoiu a cool look and you will gain experience pulling it apart and getting it together again.

Just my opinion though and it is your car

 

If you aren't sure of anything, I wouldn't change engines to a setup that is a swap headache.
!. you will have to replumb your radiator hoses.
2. You will have to change your radiator.
3. You will be running an engine on a much smaller MAF than it was designed to use, and you wouldn't be able to realize it's full potential.
4. The Exhaust on an L98 is restrictive for an LT-1 as well. You would be better off starting with a later car, and modding that one.
Sure it will work, but If you choke down an LT-1 like an L98, why not just improve on what you have if the L98 doesn't smoke and is still serviceable?
I'm sure if you want to throw some money somewhere, I can be your consultant, and your wallet will be just as light and your car will run fantastic.
Change The things your abilities will allow as you gain some experience.
Remember, these are electro-mechanical engines.
The electronics are a major part of the total package, and if you screw with one half, you have to compensate for it on the other half.
For example,
if you change to the LT-1, and you use the TPI setup, you will have to do a chip change for the cam. Or change the cam. If you try to get it smogged, unless you use all the smog equipment that came on the L98, the CAR is illegal. If you use the smog pump and tubing, the water pump and extra hoses are in the way.
If you use the L98 ignition system, the LT-1 water pump drives the optispark system that you aren't going to use, so you need some adaptor at the timing cover by not using the opti.
If that all gets resolved, you have to use the LT-1 accessories, and then the EGR system has to be modified.
Think before you leap
just cause it looks like a duck, walks like a duck doesn't mean it flys like a duck

 

You would have a much easier time fabbing up something custom -- that covers what you don't want to look at. Then have it chromed.

As posted above; many hours to accomplish, many dollars, custom computer tuning required, and you are likely to be disappointed in the motor's change of character. The L98 is designed more for low-end torque. The LTx cars more for higher-end performance. And, it's not just the intake that accomplishes it. If you lose the TPI w/o doing several other things, it will feel slower.

BTW: TPI owners usually think the appearance of the intake is one of the positives. Look at pics of powder-coated/chromed/polished TPIs before you decide.

 

You can use a converted LT1` intake and chrome it? Personally I think a polished, P.C. or chroed TPI wouldlook better plus you d see the whole intake. Fuel rail covers hide quite a bit.

 

Of course it is, as long as you are willing to pay the price. Chroming can be expensive. But Polishing is a lot cheaper and still looks almost like chrome.