C4 l98 to Lt1 engine swap
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
C4 l98 to Lt1 engine swap
My l98 blew up pretty much and decided to go with an lt1 engine and switch from auto trans to manual.
We have an idea on how to do this but was seeing if anyone has done this before that could help me out and give me a walk though of things to do.
Main thing we are hung up on is wiring harness. Basically i could send it to a guy that can merge the l98 wiring with lt1 wiring so everything works... but is about 500 bucks. Does anyone have wiring diagrams for the 87 vette and a Lt1 out of a 95 vette?
Is there anything we need to change as far as fuel pump or fuel pressure?
BTW we have lt1 radiator and coolant lines for it. Also have the comp for lt1 so we are good on that.
We have an idea on how to do this but was seeing if anyone has done this before that could help me out and give me a walk though of things to do.
Main thing we are hung up on is wiring harness. Basically i could send it to a guy that can merge the l98 wiring with lt1 wiring so everything works... but is about 500 bucks. Does anyone have wiring diagrams for the 87 vette and a Lt1 out of a 95 vette?
Is there anything we need to change as far as fuel pump or fuel pressure?
BTW we have lt1 radiator and coolant lines for it. Also have the comp for lt1 so we are good on that.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
even though I hate to recommend not doing the LTXswap...when its all done it probably be close to the same money and hassle to do a SWAP to GEN III or IV instead and they have better power potential..... so fix/ or swap to another GEN I or go Gen III ....skip the GEN II (LT1)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
several local pickers (trucks) have caprice lt1's replacing their orig sbc-1 engines...they use the 86-89 ecm -165 + L98 camo/bird wiring harness , drill the lt1 intake manifold for a dizzy, leave the opti in place to keep mice/small stones out, keep oil in...since you already have a -165 ecm and L98 harness, might be ez ride...can y'all hang with a picker pusher in a brain race ?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 402
Likes: 1
From: Tabernacle NJ
several local pickers (trucks) have caprice lt1's replacing their orig sbc-1 engines...they use the 86-89 ecm -165 + L98 camo/bird wiring harness , drill the lt1 intake manifold for a dizzy, leave the opti in place to keep mice/small stones out, keep oil in...since you already have a -165 ecm and L98 harness, might be ez ride...can y'all hang with a picker pusher in a brain race ?
....but that's just me.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
head gasket is toast, and it does need complete rebuild. It would of been cheaper to just rebuild but i went lt1 cuz it came with a 6 speed trans which has 80,000 less miles on my 700r. basically upgrading the hole drivetrain instead of putting it all in the motor.
So Got lt1 with 6 speed trans about 45,000 miles on both, then gettting a 3.07 rear diff. instead of my 2.53 ( i think). Tried to find a decent dana 44 but that would tac on another grand. might eventually upgrade the 3.07 to 3.54 or 3.73.
Also got rid of the stock exhaust that had flowmaster mufflers on it and put a custom high performance one on, no mufflers. Still debating if it will be too loud, will wait to see and might put mufflers on.
A factor in me going this direction was my buddy has the radiator for the lt1, has everything for the Manuel transmission, and has a new driveshaft i can use
So Got lt1 with 6 speed trans about 45,000 miles on both, then gettting a 3.07 rear diff. instead of my 2.53 ( i think). Tried to find a decent dana 44 but that would tac on another grand. might eventually upgrade the 3.07 to 3.54 or 3.73.
Also got rid of the stock exhaust that had flowmaster mufflers on it and put a custom high performance one on, no mufflers. Still debating if it will be too loud, will wait to see and might put mufflers on.
A factor in me going this direction was my buddy has the radiator for the lt1, has everything for the Manuel transmission, and has a new driveshaft i can use
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
head gasket is toast, and it does need complete rebuild. It would of been cheaper to just rebuild but i went lt1 cuz it came with a 6 speed trans which has 80,000 less miles on my 700r. basically upgrading the hole drivetrain instead of putting it all in the motor.
So Got lt1 with 6 speed trans about 45,000 miles on both, then gettting a 3.07 rear diff. instead of my 2.53 ( i think). Tried to find a decent dana 44 but that would tac on another grand. might eventually upgrade the 3.07 to 3.54 or 3.73.
Also got rid of the stock exhaust that had flowmaster mufflers on it and put a custom high performance one on, no mufflers. Still debating if it will be too loud, will wait to see and might put mufflers on.
A factor in me going this direction was my buddy has the radiator for the lt1, has everything for the Manuel transmission, and has a new driveshaft i can use
So Got lt1 with 6 speed trans about 45,000 miles on both, then gettting a 3.07 rear diff. instead of my 2.53 ( i think). Tried to find a decent dana 44 but that would tac on another grand. might eventually upgrade the 3.07 to 3.54 or 3.73.
Also got rid of the stock exhaust that had flowmaster mufflers on it and put a custom high performance one on, no mufflers. Still debating if it will be too loud, will wait to see and might put mufflers on.
A factor in me going this direction was my buddy has the radiator for the lt1, has everything for the Manuel transmission, and has a new driveshaft i can use
If you are keeping the D36 reuse your automatic driveshaft. The different manual and automatic driveshafts/C-beams are due to the difference in length of D36 and the D44.
Is it a C4 LT1 and M6? If its a Camaro LT1 and M6 you will have some fitment issues. (long blocks are the same but there are differences in accessories, fuel rail, damper ETC ETC) Do you have the C4 LT1 accessories, if so the LT1 to gen I distributor suggestion would ease your wiring issues?
Last edited by aboatguy; Aug 19, 2010 at 03:48 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
I'd still stick with rebuilding the Gen I
If you are keeping the D36 reuse your automatic driveshaft. The different manual and automatic driveshafts/C-beams are due to the difference in length of D36 and the D44.
Is it a C4 LT1 and M6? If its a Camaro LT1 and M6 you will have some fitment issues. (long blocks are the same but there are differences in accessories, fuel rail, damper ETC ETC) Do you have the C4 LT1 accessories, if so the LT1 to gen I distributor suggestion would ease your wiring issues?
If you are keeping the D36 reuse your automatic driveshaft. The different manual and automatic driveshafts/C-beams are due to the difference in length of D36 and the D44.
Is it a C4 LT1 and M6? If its a Camaro LT1 and M6 you will have some fitment issues. (long blocks are the same but there are differences in accessories, fuel rail, damper ETC ETC) Do you have the C4 LT1 accessories, if so the LT1 to gen I distributor suggestion would ease your wiring issues?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
So are you in good shape with the accessories/motormounts, fuel rails, pedals etc??
What do you have and exactly what are your plans....
IE running ASR/cruisecontrol OPTI..... R134 AC ..... stripped down track car..... or something inbetween.
What do you have and exactly what are your plans....
IE running ASR/cruisecontrol OPTI..... R134 AC ..... stripped down track car..... or something inbetween.
Last edited by aboatguy; Aug 19, 2010 at 07:15 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
A short while ago my cutie-pie, college senior daughter called me and wanted advice on how to refinish a dresser she just bought.
First thing out of my mouth:
"You probably don't know what you're getting into".
Jake
First thing out of my mouth:
"You probably don't know what you're getting into".
Jake
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
This won't be a track car. A road car but gonna have a little more umph than before. really just tackling the wiring right now to get the 87 to work with the motor
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 773
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis MN
On second though if I break her heart I got to deal with that big son of yours-no thanks
Just kidding around
