LS engines

[dsraven]

anybody seen the super chevy write up on the ls engine popularity in hot rods? looks good.

[mr48chev]

I don't normally read Super Chevy as it has no vehicles I am currently interested in it an I could give a rip on how many ways you can do 55 Chevy cars or 68.

If I wasn't building a totally traditional custom truck with a them set in the mid/late 50's I'd be hunting an Ls engine to put in my truck. Serious performance level, the potential of great fuel mileage, longevity of the engine it's self. That means no backwards nonsense of sticking a carb on it or other regressive work because you want the modern engine but not the modern system though.

[dsraven]

I'm not a big fan either, for the same reasons, but my buddy sends me links for stuff like the ls engine write up, routing the ls intake, ls engine swap mounts etc. sometimes just to bug me a bit, haha. the hotrod network.

[dsraven]

if you go to their site they have some ok stuff in the tech write ups. ideas if nothing else.

[solidaxel]

Have you checked the LSx Swaps in this site?

[FAKKY]

Originally Posted by dsraven

anybody seen the super chevy write up on the ls engine popularity in hot rods? looks good.

Link ?

Or hard copy only.

[iowaboynca]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

Have you checked the LSx Swaps in this site?

TON of info on our site. Very helpful, at least to me.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Well, I don't know about the other guys but I'm happily putting an LS in my '55.2 big window truck. It's a stock re-ringed, new main, rod & cam bearings, new head bolts, etc LQ4/l485e transmission.

Here's a picture when it was mocked up:


As you can see I am using a Holley intake and throttle body that will give the appearance of a carbureted engine though the fuel rails will be fully visible. The coils will be mounted on the frame and not be visible - unless youre looking for them. I won't be "fooling" anyone, I'll be pleasing myself with the look.

I may be unusual in that I am building ONE truck. Not a succession of projects. This is intended to be my daily driver retirement vehicle. I want it to start reliably in any weather, anywhere. Give excellent mileage, etc. if i were worried about what other guys thought i wouldn't have put in Corvette C4 IFS, a Mustang (eek, Ford?!) 8.8 rearend and a few other things.

[iowaboynca]

Dan- Nice! Are you running the stock cam?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by iowaboynca

Dan- Nice! Are you running the stock cam?

Yes, stock cam. The engine will produce about 300hp and well over 300 ft/lbs torque so it will feel VERY healthy compared to the old 283 with a weak cylinder that it had.

My guy doing the swap has built a lot of turbocharged LS engines and says my 6.0 would be easy to do if i ever want additional power.

[b00sted]

I have to admit I was one of those who said na... I want old school cool. So I stuck with the old SBC for a long time and then it happend. The 6l went in with a 4l80e. 27mpg and it would fly. As some of you know I learned a hard lesson with a truck pan and it being a bit low. So now it is a 408 with 243 heads, howards 625 lift 242/250 @.050. 3200 lockup converter and 3:73 gears. Truck runs reall good now and still gets mid 20's pn mpg... Just cannot beat it. Turn key and go..

I know some will never swap to an LS but I want to drive my truck, wear it out, rebuild it and drive it some more... I just cannot see saving it for someone else...

[clegg]

Originally Posted by b00sted

I have to admit I was one of those who said na... I want old school cool. So I stuck with the old SBC for a long time and then it happend. The 6l went in with a 4l80e. 27mpg and it would fly. As some of you know I learned a hard lesson with a truck pan and it being a bit low. So now it is a 408 with 243 heads, howards 625 lift 242/250 @.050. 3200 lockup converter and 3:73 gears. Truck runs reall good now and still gets mid 20's pn mpg... Just cannot beat it. Turn key and go..

I know some will never swap to an LS but I want to drive my truck, wear it out, rebuild it and drive it some more... I just cannot see saving it for someone else...

I am in the middle of the LS conversion right now. What oil pan did you use?

[b00sted]

Originally Posted by clegg

I am in the middle of the LS conversion right now. What oil pan did you use?

The Holley 302-1. You will also need an LS dipstick and tube as well if you are using the lq series motor.

[BAM55]

I'm also putting a LS-based 5.3 engine in my truck. I bored it to a 5.7 and added 5.7 flattop pistons, harden 7.4 pushrods, TSP 228r cam, and ARP rod bolts, 243 heads, 2001 Camaro oil pan, wingage tray, and dip stick other than that the rotating assembly is stocked. I'm running the truck instake manifold and drive by wire throttle body. I also rewired the tac module to run the smaller corvette gas pedal. Transmission is a rebuilt and beefed up 4L60e.

[clegg]

Looks nice. I am rollin with an LQ4 6.0, DBW TB, 4L80E trans, C4 suspension. Oil pan is 2" from the ground at current ride height. I am considering a C6 Corvette oil pan.

[mongocanfly]

Clegg you got pics? We like lots of pics..

[1project2many]

Originally Posted by BAM55

I'm also putting a LS-based 5.3 engine in my truck. I bored it to a 5.7 and added 5.7 flattop pistons, harden 7.4 pushrods, TSP 228r cam, and ARP rod bolts, 243 heads, 2001 Camaro oil pan, wingage tray, and dip stick other than that the rotating assembly is stocked. I'm running the truck instake manifold and drive by wire throttle body. I also rewired the tac module to run the smaller corvette gas pedal. Transmission is a rebuilt and beefed up 4L60e.

This is sooo cool to me. In '82 people were throwing away anything with a computer. By 89 folks were predicting the end of traditional hotrodding because average guys couldn't do anything with electronic control systems. I spent sooo many years helping to learn to tune and swap these parts, soo many years educating people about emissions components, soo many years showing you could make new and old tech play together because junkyards wouldn't always be filled with '80s Camaros for parts and the technology was improving faster and faster. There's so much info out there now that I'd say a guy with little experience could learn enough to complete the electronics portion of an LS swap in two weeks' time. Heck, there's plenty of folks here who could school me on swapping LS engines since I usually only work on them in stock form in buses these days.

The LS swap has replaced the old smalblock Chevy swap as the cheapest bang-for-the-buck swap. When you go to a car show and hear someone say "Oh, no... not another LS swap" it's a pretty big clue that it's a popular route to take. It works, parts are available, and the internet has more reference material about making a swap happen than most shops have for repairing them. Unless a person already has a pile of smallblock parts they've collected over the years like I have, I'd say go with the LS engine.

[yossarian19]

I put a bone stock '03 4.8 in my 1957 long bed. It weighs 3,900 with me in it. Periodically I get motor envy, wish I had gone 5.3 or 6.0, then I just hop in and drive it - the 4.8 is enough. From a stop or a slow roll, it'll spin the tires make smoke and sing me a nice little song. On the highway it gets up to as fast as the suspension wants to go pretty quick.
It also starts right up in any weather, any time and I haven't had to touch the EFI since I got it running. If a hack like me can do it, just about anyone can. Great swap.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by clegg

Looks nice. I am rollin with an LQ4 6.0, DBW TB, 4L80E trans, C4 suspension. Oil pan is 2" from the ground at current ride height. I am considering a C6 Corvette oil pan.

Clegg, It sounds like your drivetrain and mine will ALMOST be the same. Mine won't have a drive-by-wire throttle body, I'm using a Holley but mine is a 6.0 and a 4l85e. I'm running C4 IFS too, no IRS.

I'd love to hear your opinion on it? Performance, mileage?

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

As you can see I am using a Holley intake and throttle body that will give the appearance of a carbureted engine though the fuel rails will be fully visible. The coils will be mounted on the frame and not be visible - unless youre looking for them. I won't be "fooling" anyone, I'll be pleasing myself with the look.

I may be unusual in that I am building ONE truck. Not a succession of projects. This is intended to be my daily driver retirement vehicle. I want it to start reliably in any weather, anywhere. Give excellent mileage, etc. if i were worried about what other guys thought i wouldn't have put in Corvette C4 IFS, a Mustang (eek, Ford?!) 8.8 rearend and a few other things.

thats pretty cool, I knew there were kits for the old valve covers but not for an EFI intake that looks like a carb. the wide intake makes it look a little like a pontiac engine, which would be kinda right for a GMC of that era.

I dont think its unusual to build just one truck, I am a contract engineer with a lot of free time so I build a lot of trucks because I am used to cramming 12 projects through a year. your goals are ideal, there is nothing so deflating like trying to drive your dream truck on the weekend and spending a whole day getting it running right before you leave or stopping for gas every 200 miles.

[clegg]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Clegg, It sounds like your drivetrain and mine will ALMOST be the same. Mine won't have a drive-by-wire throttle body, I'm using a Holley but mine is a 6.0 and a 4l85e. I'm running C4 IFS too, no IRS.

I'd love to hear your opinion on it? Performance, mileage?

Well I should have said going with instead of rollin. Not street legal yet. I am waiting for delivery of my 2010 Camaro manifolds so I can finish the steering shaft/exhaust. I will post some pics when I get a chance.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by clegg

... I am waiting for delivery of my 2010 Camaro manifolds so I can finish the steering shaft/exhaust. I will post some pics when I get a chance.

Not sure if you saw this picture in my thread but my engine will use early Z06 exhaust manifolds modified to allow the use of V band clamps. The flanges, etc you see will be removed, cleaned up and then Jet Hot coated silver. They're good for over 400hp on a stock Z06 so theyll flow plenty well for my stock LQ4.

[4544speed]

I wanted to go with the old 350 but buying a running motor and trans with all accessories for 700 bucks is just hard to beat. 5.3 with 4l60. Will probably last another 100K miles.