KIKIRIKI

First, may I say **** Irma and **** Spectrum internet. Internet is up there with air water and electricity I've discovered. Even my 80yr old neighbor said he's not been this board in a looong time.

Anyways... got my internet back and I'm still planning my restomod. So got an '81 and I'm looking at the LS swap . Plenty of questions and lots to get my head around, but a few in particular are causing me trouble.

First, I MUST have side pipes. What are my options? So far all I can see is this. Any experience with them? Do they fit nice and tight up by the door without looking like they hang way down? There anything else out there (w/out having to hack up hookers... hehe)?

Second... lsx4u.com. What's ya'lls opinion of these guys? At face value they seem great and I've gotten quotes from them already. Very positive interaction so far.

Third... I'm homing in on the L33 with an 4L60E. Along with other weight savings, I'm looking at, at least 150lbs drop from the engine bay. What are my options for the suspension? I really am not too eager to cut my stock springs. I don't want a race car, I want a GT car. The stock suspension is a nice balance and I wish to maintain that. Any suggestions on how to do that with such a drastic weight drop from the engine bay?

Thanks in advance, I'd be in over my head without everyone's knowledge here.

Tim 1973

Here are a few things you will need to deal with, I'm coming close to being finished with mine and yes I'm running side pipes.
1. You will need to deal with the heater lines coming off the LS water pump housing.
2. depending on what pulley setup you run the drivers side power steering pump pulley is a issue.
3. only a few oil pans will fit. I went with the batwing as it gave me the best ground clearance.
4. Radiator and steam lines.
5. Tachometer, for a 81 should not be a issue just putting a resister from the + to the signal side.
6. if the 81 has a cable speedometer you will need to deal with this. I put a different Tail shaft on my 4l60E that has a connection for the cable. I did away with all the vacuum system except for the brakes.
There are a few threads on the forum on doing this. Look at them all and see how others dealt with the issues.

I'm running a LS3 525 HP version crate engine. Just remember to read the complete thread as when one way does not work you will find that most of us change to find a way to make it work.
here is a link to my thread. But look at more then mine.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...estration.html

Good Luck and I would be glad to answer any questions you might have.

Tim

71 Vert LS1

I have an LS1/4L60E in my 71.

I used VBP front springs and then cut one half coil off.

I used Fbody accessories and they worked well.

Fbody oil pan. It does hang below the cross member. I believe to run the bat wing pan you need to do a Borgesen steering box?

Modified the water pump heater inlet and outlet to clear the a-arm.

brent319

I think you will enjoy the LS a lot.
There is a shop in South Dakota whose name shall never be spoken here. They have done a ton of LS swaps and sell side pipes and headers for C3 'Vettes.

ignatz

Does your car have a clutch? If so and your headers provide clearance you will need an adapter plate for mechanical linkage. Otherwise there're lots of people here who've installed hydraulic throwout bearings. Seems to take some fiddling to get that right.

71 Vert LS1

On my 99 BMW 3 series LS/T56 swap I used the stock Camaro LS hydraulic throw out bearing with a LS7 clutch and flywheel. It's been great.

Not a Corvette but similar application.

CPTCroaker

Why? Super helpful and very knowledgeable resource

Grey666

Billy Boat Exhaust makes an LS side pipe and headers in brushed stainless.

Tim 1973

I'm running a steroids Rack n Pinion on mine with the batwing.

Tim 1973

Here is a look at the clearances on both the drivers and passenger side sidepipe headers on a LS3

KIKIRIKI

Good stuff, but the collector needs to be on the side of the car. Not having none of that single large pipe dumpin down and out the side of my car.

KIKIRIKI

Is there such a thing as... the springs I have but in like... 370 lbs flavor? I mean I really wanna stay away from a harsh ride and in particular half cut springs. The seat for the spring is setup in such a way to discourage that. Also, I will be getting a Borgesen upgrade.

KIKIRIKI

No clutch, thus the auto... manual conversion will be down the road.

KIKIRIKI

Now we're talking! Is that the "stainless headers" product? Do you have any pictures with the body on? My main concern with side pipes is how low they hang. I really don't want them low.

Tim 1973

It will likely be a month or two before I put the body back on the frame. Yes they are polished SS

Tim

Tim 1973

this is the picture I got from the company that makes them

Tim 1973

Here is a link to where I purchased my headers...

https://www.gpheaders.com/project/c3...epipe-headers/

KIKIRIKI

So I've pulled the trigger on LS... it's happening. Now, these side pipes I'm concerned about. Here's what, in my eye (and really that's all that matters), bad side pipes look like:


This is what I'm shooting for:




Ignore the rims. Notice how they're tucked higher up. They don't look like an afterthought like they do in the video. Anyone know if stainless headers looks like what I'm looking for? Are there other options?

Tim 1973

When I started looking for sidepipes I wanted them to look like the hookers. I also wanted
them in SS. I could not find them at all. I purchased some Hooker and modified them to fit a LS motor. When I found the SS ones I pulled the trigger on them. I'm putting a heat shield on also with the stingray lettering on. They or in the storage shed and will be but on after painting. The SS ones from GPHeaders sit the same height as my hookers did. I do have a picture of them in my build thread with the body on. I also have a video with the LS3 engine running with the GPheaders if you want to here the sound. But I have not had the engine tuned yet.

71 Vert LS1

Spring wise the half cut coil I cut doesn't make any difference in regards to how it sits in the spring pocket.