For people that have actually done the swap:

Are you happy with it?
Any pitfalls to avoid?
Do you have an oil leak at the distributor?
How did you connect the LT1 fuel rails to the L98 fuel lines?

TIA

 

I have not done the swap but I know that you have to fab. a fuel line or connector, can't remember which. The website that had instructions is down. I think you will get the general consensus here to just go with a super ram setup though and I'd have to agree.

 

I didn't want to get into an intake debate here, but since you asked, I'm not particularly interested in running an SR again. I might buy a used SR if the price was right but ferchrisake Jeg's charges $800 for just the plenum and runners. They are also a major PITA to install. LT1 intakes are also one piece -- fewer possibilities for vacuum leaks. Fab work is not an issue for me and neither are emissions.

Also, this may be stepping on a few peoples' toes but I'm going to say it anyway. There is too much cookbook engine building on this forum. A lot of people are scared out of their britches to run anything but an SR/ 74219 cam / AFR heads setup. Sure it's a proven setup but it's not the "end all" thing. Some people take a certain amount of pleasure from figuring things out themselves and making something unusual and custom work really well.

When things get stagnant and uncreative this forum will begin to resemble some of the Ricer forums where all they talk about are Stage 1,2,3... mods. Nobody does their own thinking, they just write checks and make sure they have the correct brand of parts.

Sorry for the rant. That's been building for too long.


[Modified by jmr302, 4:44 PM 11/18/2002]

 

jmr302,
:yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod: ;)

 

another option is finding a good deal on a used miniram if you like the simple style intake. i paid $600 for mine complete & ready to bolt on. i did some research on the LT1 conversion before hand & here's what i found. you need the manifold $100 used. you need fuel rails $75 used, you need a regulator $100 for a really nice adjustable one. you need rubber fuel hoses and AN fittings, you could also get a bender and run hardline if you wanted $30ish. you would want to run a small distributor in the back, $50 for a used camaro unit. the more i started to add up the amount of labor involved and also the machine work as well as drilling that distributor hole perfectly i started considering other options. i wound up reading the paper one day & reading "wrecked 1989 corvette with 383 and miniram, will part" i drove over and picked up the miniram, a 52mm TB, injectors, and all the fuel lines for $600, a set of fair condition seats for $50 and a complete headlight assembly from the non wrecked side for $25. just keep your eyes peeled & see how it goes. the other nice thing about the miniram is the thermostat is cast into the manifold, on a LT1 you'd have to run hose and a outboard unit, starts getting cluttered under the hood ya know

 

I agree with GTSYELLOW about buying a low priced mini ram, IF you can find one. I think he got a hellofa deal. I have heard the mini rams don't flow evenly from the front cylinders to the back. I can't say if that is true, but have heard it from many people. If you have more time and energy than money or just like to say that you did it yourself, I can't think of a better manifold than the LT-1 to put on. I am working on putting a LT-1 manifold on my 91. I will post more, as the project continues. I am also rebuilding the engine and suspension, so it will be awhile. Best of luck.

 

I put the LT1 intake on my '89 back in June.
Happy? Sure. Did it live up to my expectations? No.

Pitfalls? I don't know what you mean.

No oil leak.

I used LT4 fuel rails and lines back from the filter.

Email me. I'll be happy to tell you all about it. :chevy
SpedRacr93@aol.com

 

I'd run an MR if I could find a used one for cheap. $600 was a really good deal for what you got, GTS. I've never seen one for that cheap. That's definitely the easier way to go in terms of labor but I don't think I'll pay extra to do it.