I am trying to install my lS7 (LS engine) into my 1986 vette and I cannot get it past the windshield wiper motor. I have checked the engine mount positions compared to a SBC and from the bellhousing to the engine mounts they are the same. As I slide the LS back it hits the wiper motor before I can get it to drop down into place on the support for the engine mounts in the car. Other people who have installed LS engines how are you getting past the wiper motor?

 

Well, if anyone knows it would be someone like Phobos here, who had an LS motor already modded into his C4 and decided he wanted even more power. It appears he modified the wiper motor housing front end which contains some of the electronics, etc... His thread is entertaining to read also -

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...d-v-2-0-a.html

 

I seem to remember someone fitting a small motor too.

 

I would think you just remove it and after the install of the LS you set about doing the wiper motor 're-install'!

@DMITTZ has undoubtedly the cleanest/professional and I believe the best 'engineered' install presented!

I'd ask him and the fellow that did his. He's some outstanding install images and there are wiper mentions I believe. I helped him a bit with a connector to the wiper motor cover.

 

I pulled it out but it will not go back in, not enough room. I will have to study this.

 

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1601750803

 

Dumb question. Are you trying to lower the motor in with the intake on? On an LS always pull the intake to lower the motor in. It will give you more clearance and you wont break the manifold. I had the wiper motor issue and I went with a unconventional solution. With the engine in the car the drivers side fuel rail hit the wiper motor on mine. I couldn't move the motor forward because the adapter plates I got only had one position. So I removed the wiper motor and used Rainex for that summer. Well that kind of sucked so I opened up the wiper motor. Most of the bulk in that motor is the control circuit. So i removed it. I removed all the time delay circuitry. Then I cut the plastic lid on the motor cover down and covered the hole with fiberglass and gave it a shot of black paint. Then I took the wires from the wiper controller. I wired in 2 relays. One for full speed and one for low speed. The low speed sent 12 volts when the wiper speed slide was anywhere other than all the way up. The relay fed 12 volts through a heavy ballast resistor I mounted on the firewall. This gave me high, low and off. Good enough for me and it clears my LS.

But you can pull the wiper motor off and then install it after the LS is in. This might be all you need to do depending on your motor mounts.

 

In case you wanted to kind of see my wiper motor. Take a look at the pic. You can see how much I cut off the motor cover. The white thing next to the wiper motor is the ceramic resistor I used for low speed. The two relays I used for "High" and "Low" and behind the battery.

 

Thanks, I will look into the 2 speed operation.

 

The most straightforward way is to modify the rocker cover - its the PCV outlet that causes the problems.
The LS motor cylinder heads sits right back at the very rear of the block - much different than the Gen 1 engine block/head arrangement. This causes numerous problems as it butts up against the firewall.
This modification will allow the engine cover to slide under the wiper motor - also as others have mentioned remove the plastic cover during installs.

 

that's a good idea. I never think of stuff like that because I don't have a way to weld aluminum.

 

I will look at this, seems like an easy fix.

 

I cut off the PCV tower with a die cutter, made a plate to fit, drilled a hole for the -6 fitting for the new PCV line, then got a welder I've used a number of times to TIG it for me. He's a car guy so he doesn't charge much.
If you put the fitting in that particular spot there is a plate on the underside of the rocker cover that will stop oil from being sucked up the line.

 

Thank you WVZR-1, you really helped me out big time with figuring out that connector for the wiper control cover! I always appreciate your wealth of knowledge.

OP, I actually was out in the garage today and looked at my wiper motor area after seeing your post earlier. So my valve cover is not modified at all and it just basically sits just below the wiper control cover, and the lower cylindrical part of the wiper motor is between the back of the engine in the space between the engine and the fire wall. We did have to trim the plastic 'LS2 Corvette' coil covers to clear the wiper motor but that was not really a big deal.

I know a lot of people have issues with the wiper motor/valve cover interference. I think the reason I didn't have that issue is that they guy that did my swap custom made my motor mounts, so he took that into account when making them. Making custom mounts wouldn't be all that hard... he basically took some 3/8 steel plate (cut to shape) and then drilled the bolt holes in it and attached a thick walled piece of round stock that then had a energy suspension poly bushing Inserted into it. Of course taking all the measurements for engine placement was the tricky part.

If you check out my build thread I documented the mounts as best I could. Your welcome to read the whole thing but the mounts are shown starting on page 13

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...d-swap-13.html

Hope that helps and best of luck on your swap.