C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

LS1 in a C4?

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Old May 18, 2003 | 11:25 AM
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Default LS1 in a C4?

Will an LS1 engine (2000)easily fit into a C4 (1985)and will it match up to to the 700R4 trasmission? The computer out of the 2000 also comes with teh engine, will it be hard to install?
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Old May 18, 2003 | 11:36 AM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (luck38)

No, the engine mounts don't match up, it'll take a bunch of work.

Eric
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Old May 18, 2003 | 02:04 PM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (silver & red CE)

PLEASE do an archive search...there were a couple of LONG threads about this within the last month.
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Old May 18, 2003 | 03:20 PM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (luck38)

One or two people have done it recently. I wouldnt want to tackle the headaches though.

But I think youre better off modifying your own engine.

Run a search
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Old May 18, 2003 | 03:46 PM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (vader86)

Just a couple of quick things I found out... the LS1 has a different bell housing mount, and a different input shaft size, so only a tranny for an LS1 will bolt up to it... the engine mounts are different, so you would need an adapter, but a few aftermarket companies make them... several people on the LS1tech forum had done this, and they have a section just for this, so you may look around there. As far as whether or not its a headace, I think it would be, however, the L98's and LT1's just can't produce the same amount of power with so few modifications as an LS1. I have seen several LS1 camaro's with only hedders, cam, LS6 intake, cat back exhaust (-cat ), wires, K&N, and ported TB dyno tuned to make 390 rwhp, so if you have the patience, its definetely worth it.
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Old May 18, 2003 | 07:40 PM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (luck38)

I just saw a converter to mate the the ls1 flex plate to a 700R4.

With any engine swap you must "find" engine mounts

The really hard part would be to incorporate the wiring harnes/ls1-computer into the existing car

With the wieght reduction (and power increase) a Ls1 (modiefied of course) could be the secret weapon we needed to beat all those ricers...wait a minute we can beat ricers with two pistons tied behind our back. So why do you want perfection? :conehead
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Old May 18, 2003 | 07:41 PM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (luck38)

sorry here's the link http://www.transmissioncenter.net/highperf700r4.htm
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Old May 18, 2003 | 08:00 PM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (rayosequis)

the L98's and LT1's just can't produce the same amount of power with so few modifications as an LS1. I have seen several LS1 camaro's with only hedders, cam, LS6 intake, cat back exhaust (-cat ), wires, K&N, and ported TB dyno tuned to make 390 rwhp
:skep: :skep: :skep:
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Old May 18, 2003 | 08:13 PM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (Darkness)

Darkness, I have a dyno sheet from my '00 SS to prove this.
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Old May 18, 2003 | 08:56 PM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (Darkness)

the L98's and LT1's just can't produce the same amount of power with so few modifications as an LS1. I have seen several LS1 camaro's with only hedders, cam, LS6 intake, cat back exhaust (-cat ), wires, K&N, and ported TB dyno tuned to make 390 rwhp
:skep: :skep: :skep:
This is true...the LS6s will make in the 425-440rwhp range. The LS motors are superior.
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Old May 18, 2003 | 09:30 PM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (SurfnSun)

the L98's and LT1's just can't produce the same amount of power with so few modifications as an LS1. I have seen several LS1 camaro's with only hedders, cam, LS6 intake, cat back exhaust (-cat ), wires, K&N, and ported TB dyno tuned to make 390 rwhp
:skep: :skep: :skep:

This is true...the LS6s will make in the 425-440rwhp range. The LS motors are superior.
What makes the difference is the flow that the heads can develop with the 15* intake valve angle with a small port...in other words they can flow more air on a comparably sized head (port volume) due to the 15* intake valve angle...that's the only thing that makes the LS1 a better power producer. If there were such a thing as a small-port 15* Gen I or Gen II head, they'd produce similar numbers.
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Old May 18, 2003 | 10:43 PM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (CorvetteZ51Racer)

Yes, its definitely the LS heads that are the real source of their power numbers.

Its a very well designed head
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Old May 19, 2003 | 12:06 AM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (vader86)

But I heard that the SBC has more heads to engine block bolts then an LS1, so the SBC can take more power and boost sompared to the LS1? IS this true? :confused:
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Old May 19, 2003 | 12:19 AM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (Light84vette)

But I heard that the SBC has more heads to engine block bolts then an LS1, so the SBC can take more power and boost sompared to the LS1? IS this true? :confused:
Not necessarily. The LS1 head bolts reach further down into the block than Gen I or Gen II blocks, thus distributing the loads much better. An engine's ability to handle power from the block standpoint (as far as the head gasket and head go) is largely a function of the deck thickness of the block and head. Now, an LS1 is an open deck block, thus making the top end of the cylinders more susceptible to creep under high loads, but that's where the longer head bolts come into play. Gen I and Gen II blocks don't typically fail up near the top of the block under high output conditions. On stock blocks, the main journal area tends to be the weakness in the block. I am not familiar enough with the LS1's to know where they tend to fail.
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Old May 19, 2003 | 01:36 AM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (CorvetteZ51Racer)

But this is at Extreme loads right? Not like a 600HP Turbocharged LS1 or SBC likely to break that easily? ( If built right) :confused:
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Old May 19, 2003 | 12:16 PM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (luck38)

thanks for all of the info, i also read the archive threads. Would it be worth it if i can a 2000 LS1 and computer for $2,000 (20,000 miles on it - my dads best friend had it in his vette - which he crashed but the engine survived). i dont think i am technically sound to install it. How much do you think it would be for the installation?
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Old May 19, 2003 | 12:48 PM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (luck38)

thanks for all of the info, i also read the archive threads. Would it be worth it if i can a 2000 LS1 and computer for $2,000 (20,000 miles on it - my dads best friend had it in his vette - which he crashed but the engine survived). i dont think i am technically sound to install it. How much do you think it would be for the installation?
I seriously doubt you could even FIND anyone to install it, much less at an affordable price. This just isn;t the kind of thing most shops would want to do (unless they specialize, then you're talking mucho dinero- that's cash-money to urban peeps) due to the inherent setbacks involved in such an installation. Half that work is going to be a custom fit, and it's going to eat up a lot of time in trial and error, fabrication, etc....

I couldn't even find someone to rebuild my crossfire and do a TPI swap... much less an LS1 conversion!

Do it yourself if you have the time and garage space. Might be fun and others have paved the way! Biggest issue is just getting all the old stuff to mate up to the new. Get the tranny with the motor and have a shop modify the end of your driveshaft... :D the rest is down hill, baby!
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Old May 19, 2003 | 07:24 PM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (luck38)

...Would it be worth it if i can a 2000 LS1 and computer for $2,000...i dont think i am technically sound to install it. How much do you think it would be for the installation?
IMHO:
The cost of the LS1 and the labor to install it will far exceed the cost to have your existing engine modified with the same footprint/pcm type. There are sooo many issues to resolve, for the kind of costs it's going to run installing an LS1 it's not going to worth it. With $2K you've got a pretty good start on modifying your existing L98.

Eric
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Old May 19, 2003 | 09:43 PM
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Default Re: LS1 in a C4? (silver & red CE)

Yeah, just change the heads, port the intake or get a high flow one, and then Im pretty sure you can reach 400HP like that. Then you can always throw on another 100shot of nitrous or even get a Supercharger on it. :yesnod:
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