LS1 intake swap....difficulty
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 548
Likes: 3
From: Northeast NE
LS1 intake swap....difficulty
I'm considering picking up a used LS1 manifold and painting it to spruce up the looks of the engine a bit.
I'm not short on engine experience, having built several older small blocks and big blocks, but this would be my first dig into a LS engine.
easy swap or just leave it alone?
I appreciate your opinions.
Marc
I'm not short on engine experience, having built several older small blocks and big blocks, but this would be my first dig into a LS engine.
easy swap or just leave it alone?
I appreciate your opinions.
Marc
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,362
Likes: 1,128
From: Dyer, IN
I'm considering picking up a used LS1 manifold and painting it to spruce up the looks of the engine a bit.
I'm not short on engine experience, having built several older small blocks and big blocks, but this would be my first dig into a LS engine.
easy swap or just leave it alone?
I appreciate your opinions.
Marc
I'm not short on engine experience, having built several older small blocks and big blocks, but this would be my first dig into a LS engine.
easy swap or just leave it alone?
I appreciate your opinions.
Marc
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 548
Likes: 3
From: Northeast NE
I have worked extensively with the older small blocks and have access to manuals.
Experience, not a problem, tools, not an issue either.
About how long would it take? Can I get it swapped out in an afternoon.
A little more background on what I can/can't do.....check out the racecar in my photos...built it from scratch, all of it. I've just never torn into a LS engine before.
Experience, not a problem, tools, not an issue either.
About how long would it take? Can I get it swapped out in an afternoon.
A little more background on what I can/can't do.....check out the racecar in my photos...built it from scratch, all of it. I've just never torn into a LS engine before.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 67
From: Bahama North Carolina
I have worked extensively with the older small blocks and have access to manuals.
Experience, not a problem, tools, not an issue either.
About how long would it take? Can I get it swapped out in an afternoon.
A little more background on what I can/can't do.....check out the racecar in my photos...built it from scratch, all of it. I've just never torn into a LS engine before.
Experience, not a problem, tools, not an issue either.
About how long would it take? Can I get it swapped out in an afternoon.
A little more background on what I can/can't do.....check out the racecar in my photos...built it from scratch, all of it. I've just never torn into a LS engine before.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 4
From: Freeport, FL
took me an about an hour to install my BBK intake manifold. Easy job. No coolant or oil passages like the GenI/II engines. But, there is the coolant passage on the throttle body, so you can either leave the TB hang, or bypass it while you're in there.
Have you thought about installing an LS6 intake instead?
Have you thought about installing an LS6 intake instead?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
I wouldn't buy another LS1 intake--just paint the one you have--
BUT as mentioned--why go thru all that trouble --install a LS6 intake instead !!! Same effort basically and an easy 10-12 RWHP gain--
requires some additional modding like a coolant bypass kit ( avail most anywhere) and tuning isn't required--just let the ECM "learn out" with 50 or so miles of driving--
BUT as mentioned--why go thru all that trouble --install a LS6 intake instead !!! Same effort basically and an easy 10-12 RWHP gain--
requires some additional modding like a coolant bypass kit ( avail most anywhere) and tuning isn't required--just let the ECM "learn out" with 50 or so miles of driving--
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 881
Likes: 2
From: hill billy hell
I wouldn't buy another LS1 intake--just paint the one you have--
BUT as mentioned--why go thru all that trouble --install a LS6 intake instead !!! Same effort basically and an easy 10-12 RWHP gain--
requires some additional modding like a coolant bypass kit ( avail most anywhere) and tuning isn't required--just let the ECM "learn out" with 50 or so miles of driving--
BUT as mentioned--why go thru all that trouble --install a LS6 intake instead !!! Same effort basically and an easy 10-12 RWHP gain--
requires some additional modding like a coolant bypass kit ( avail most anywhere) and tuning isn't required--just let the ECM "learn out" with 50 or so miles of driving--
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
I'm considering picking up a used LS1 manifold and painting it to spruce up the looks of the engine a bit.
I'm not short on engine experience, having built several older small blocks and big blocks, but this would be my first dig into a LS engine.
easy swap or just leave it alone?
I appreciate your opinions.
Marc
I'm not short on engine experience, having built several older small blocks and big blocks, but this would be my first dig into a LS engine.
easy swap or just leave it alone?
I appreciate your opinions.
Marc
Crazy winter up here in the northeast so far.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
A LS intake is way way easier to swap than a small block intake. The gaskets are 8 formed rubber pieces that install in channels. Then, you just drop it onto the engine and bolt it down. The only trick is to pre-install the back bolts and use clothes pegs to hold them up a bit as you slide it into place since you have to slip it under the windshield cowl a bit.
No cleaning off the old gaskets. No sealant needed. No worrying about placing the end seals correctly. No distributor to pull and re-install correctly.
Peter
No cleaning off the old gaskets. No sealant needed. No worrying about placing the end seals correctly. No distributor to pull and re-install correctly.
Peter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,186
Likes: 2
From: Woodinville WA
A LS intake is way way easier to swap than a small block intake. The gaskets are 8 formed rubber pieces that install in channels. Then, you just drop it onto the engine and bolt it down. The only trick is to pre-install the back bolts and use clothes pegs to hold them up a bit as you slide it into place since you have to slip it under the windshield cowl a bit.
No cleaning off the old gaskets. No sealant needed. No worrying about placing the end seals correctly. No distributor to pull and re-install correctly.
Peter
No cleaning off the old gaskets. No sealant needed. No worrying about placing the end seals correctly. No distributor to pull and re-install correctly.
Peter
Way easier.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,742
Likes: 1,205
From: Wisconsin
heres a diy link, it shows the manifold removal
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...um_id=1&arch=1
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...um_id=1&arch=1
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
It is not a difficult or complex job BUT,, it is different than you are a custom to The manifold has eight separate sealing O ring seals.
This is a standard early LS1 intake. This is how the bottom of it looks:
The LS6 or late model LS1 manifolds have bigger plenum's and the bottoms look like this:
All LS engines look like this under the manifold with ONE exception. The coolant crossover tube design. This is the LS6 or late LS1 design. There is not a metal tube connecting the front coolant cross over tube to the rear. There isn't even a rear cross over pipe on the LS6 or late LS1:
(PS.. Yours will be that dirty also)
I do not have a picture of a early LS1 cross over tube
I converted my 02 ZO6 so that I could install a coolant cross over pipe in the rear by using a LS6 front cross over and flipping it around back wards. I connected it with a rubber hose:
MAKE SURE that you reference the service manual for the proper torque specs & sequence and installation procedures
This is a standard early LS1 intake. This is how the bottom of it looks:
The LS6 or late model LS1 manifolds have bigger plenum's and the bottoms look like this:
All LS engines look like this under the manifold with ONE exception. The coolant crossover tube design. This is the LS6 or late LS1 design. There is not a metal tube connecting the front coolant cross over tube to the rear. There isn't even a rear cross over pipe on the LS6 or late LS1:
(PS.. Yours will be that dirty also)
I do not have a picture of a early LS1 cross over tube
I converted my 02 ZO6 so that I could install a coolant cross over pipe in the rear by using a LS6 front cross over and flipping it around back wards. I connected it with a rubber hose:
MAKE SURE that you reference the service manual for the proper torque specs & sequence and installation procedures
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,798
Likes: 8
From: It's true money can't buy happiness, but it is more comfortable crying in a Corvette than on a bicyc
St. Jude Donor '13
I did mine in under 90 minutes including swapping all the injectors for later model ones. Since you have a 99 the car would benefit from the LS6 manifold. Well worth it.
