Re: LS1 swaps.
canadian said:
1) custom oil pan is needed to clear front diff. i *thin* a 4wd oil pan cut to clear as the vette and fbody are different styles. rumor is that the ssr oil pain has a hole through it like the old chevy deuce ones did.
2) hydroboost gives you more room with the drivers side valve cover
3) corvette accessories on the front are required due to space
4) custom headers. i dunno if there is anybody doing a naturally aspirated swap or not.
Those are most of the biggies....But I do have some notes and additions:
1.) Turbotime is working on making the pan available (they already have mounts available, for I think $100). I expect it will be a modified truck pan (full size trucks use the same pan for 2wd & 4wd). The 4wd Trailblazer pan does have a hole thru it, but I'm reasonably certain its in the wrong place, and the 4wd parts are different (shaft won't fit thru hole). The Vette, F-body, and GTO pans are all different, don't have any info on the CTS-V pan. All of those pans have fitment issues (interference with the front diff). The truck pan is probably the cheapest & easiest to source.
2.) Hydroboost is a good addition for operations and such. Not sure if its necessary or not to make it fit. I expect you can run the vacuum booster, but may require moving the coils on the valvecover or other changes. Guess I'll find out soon.
3.) C5 access are definitely a must. F-body accessories put the alternator in the same place as the steering box, so they won't work. Truck accessories would work layout-wise, but are 3" longer (further away from the block) and that space just isn't available.
3A.) The AC compressor mounts down low on the pass side of the block. It won't fit as is. The 2wd guys notch the frame to make it work. I don't know if it is possible to notch the frame and make it fit or if it HAS to be relocated. Again, guess I'll find out soon.
4.) I'm going to be doing a NA swap (at least to start). This is the area that makes me the most nervous. I'm hoping to make the '97-'98 C5 stampings work by reworking the drivers side (which is the tough one) to clear the diff & steering column. I guess I'll see whether that works out or not.
5.) Harness & PCM. Depending upon the year of the truck, you may have to run the LS1 PCM & the truck's PCM. I'm doing a '99 truck, because I will be able to get by with just 1 computer to run the engine, talk to the BCM, etc. Expect to spend a fair bit on the harness (time or money) and reprogramming the computer (I'd guess $700 to $1000 combined, but that's just my guess).
6.) I believe you'll have to relocate the pass side coils and maybe rework the AC / heater box for clearance of the pass side valve cover.
7.) Fuel system changes. The late LSx series motors do not have a fuel return line. I'm not sure what they're using on the trucks. Also, the LSx is running like 58psi fuel pressure, and you need to make sure you've got a pump to do not only the pressure but adequate volume. For me & my Bravada, that probably means a fair bit of work, not sure about other applications.
Thats all that comes to mind at the moment. I think one of the reasons that these swaps aren't more popular is the technical hurdles. They're not easily solved with off-the-shelf parts as yet. Add to that the fact that its tough to do smokey burnouts with AWD and alot fewer people are interested. Personally, I like the idea of traction when I need it. I'm tired of getting on my camaro and getting tire smoke instead of go....
'JustDreamin'
come on guys....kick it in the ass!!!!
