For you LSx guys - which is better to do? get a wrecked donor (running) to do "The swap" or be a junkyard rat and buy separate? I do have room to store in my shop once the Vega & Nova are sold. Was thinking that the entire package would drop in and run if I go the entire vehicle route. Thoughts? Car in question is my GS California. Plenty of engine bay room. Will be selling off the 455 Stage 1 / TH400 to raise the cash (20,000 mi since total rebuild - free dirt goes with it!). Need to get gas milage to justify driving it again. Looking at an iron 5.3 / 4L60E combo with my 12 bolt 3.31:1 gear set. I've been over to LS1Tech website to get the details on this swap into an A-Body (GS, SS, GTO, 442). Million ways to do the deal, but I need to be cheap and quick. Here's the list so far: 1. Iron block 5.3 & 4L60E Trans 2. Holly exhaust manifolds 3. Reflashed computer & wiring harness 4. Quik Performance relocation kit for the driven accessories (truck type) - This is a non-a/c car, but may get an underdash unit in the future. 5. Grand Cherokee steering box & shaft 6. Trail Blazer SS intake to fit under the GS hood ('69) 7. Fabbed head pipes to mate to my T/A exhaust 8. Aluminum radiator & electic fans - have it. Of course this will be painted "Buick Red".... not a total leaker. Figuring out how to do the coil covers so they don't say corvette or gto. Future mods would be a Z06 cam/lifters and maybe the L92 heads. The goal is 23-26 mpg and the ability to fry tires at will. Of course that may take a turbo/intercooler. (a-la Grand National) Thoughts? What am I forgetting? Jim
Im no expert here ... but I do have an LH6 5.3/4L60e combo in my truck and have done my fair share of reading - I don't think the L92 heads would fit the 5.3 block - The 4L60e will prolly need beefing for anything over stock 5.3 build - 3.31's with stock 5.3 will be real doggy out of the hole - stock 5.3 will not be much of a tire shredder .. and then upping it to do so you will never see your goal of 25 mpg consistantly
For the same cost you can probably get a 6.0L engine/trans out of any one of a gazillion trucks out there in the bone yards. And you'll make more torque to move that 3600 lbs. of fun and should allow you to light up the tires with only a cam change and computer reflash. I believe the stock LY6 engines that came in 2007+ trucks were rated between 355-395hp and 375-405tq, depending on what it came out of. I believe you can buy L92 style heads to fit the smaller bore of the 5.3, but you cannot just put regular ones on there. They are made for 4.000 and larger bores and all ls-series engines are 3.62 stroke (except the earlier LS1/LS6 which are 350's). I've done a lot of research over the last year and a half because I'm going to put an LS in my Z28. I'm actually going to be going for an LSA with a T56 which has 554hp/550tq right out of the box for about $8K and it'll get 20+ mpg going down the road also. Also, you may have to do some surgery on your trans tunnel to fit a 4-speed auto in there. I'm pretty sure they're larger than a th400. Here is a great web site with a lot of info on the LS-series engines. There is even a dyno-proven power area. http://ls1tech.com/forums/
Oil pan - LH8, brings it inline with the x-member. Is sposta fit stock A-body chassis 6.0 engine - This is the LY9 engine. They go for more $$$ than the 4.8/5.3 engines 3.31 gear set - not a dog with the low ratio 1st gear. is deeper than the 2.52 1st gear in the TH400. 3.06:1 so that means 2.52 x 3.31 = 8.35, vs. 3.06 x 3.31 = 10.13. It will come out of the hole harder than the TH400 I currently have in there. 4L60E - about the same size as a TH350/400(length) - the 4L80e & 4L90e & six speed all require surgury to the tunnel L92 heads = future project As for lighting up the 15" tires, not expecting to melt them down, just a bit of squealing is fine. This is going to be more of a cruiser than a hard core street car. 327's were decent performers back in the day ('68 Chevelle) so the little 323 inch LS engine should be fine. If this goes as expected, I'll be doing the same swap on my S-10 as the 4.3 is approaching 200K on it's original 4.3. Anyone have an opinion on a doner vehicle? Thinking of a Tahoe or Silverado 2wd. Transport is a killer though. Jim '69 GS California 455 Stage One, TH400, 3.31 Posi 12 bolt formerly was a 4 speed. Rest in pieces! ---------- Post added at 04:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:09 PM ---------- Oh yeah, LS1Tech site is awesome. But it makes me feel dinosauer old with the high tech stuff.
No mods to the trans tunnel to use a 4L80E and you have to modify the driveshaft anyways for the 4L60E.... If you do use a 4L60E then just have it rebuilt and beefed up before you drop it in... They are terribly week trans stock. I avoided a $600-$1100 computer to run the trans by using a manual shifted paddle shifter setup that was only $300.
Sean, Found a kit to switch the console from 3 to 4 speed OD. So it will still be sorta stock appearing. May swap the dash over to the 70-72 style and go with aftermarket speedo & tach (or clock). I should also figure out if my hood tach will run off the computer. Jim
Spend a few extra bucks and get a 6 litre from the get go. Way more power potential. I love the LS2 in my CTS V. Loads of power all through the entire RPM range.
I picked up a LQ4 6.0L from a junkyard for just under $700. It came with the wiring harness but not the ECM.
Do yourself a favor and find a 4L80E trans now and then you will have a much better trans... Almost no extra work to go with the 4L80E over the 4L60E. This is the kit I am using to manually shift my 4L80E. The column shift will work to select Drive, N, R, P but the only way it will shift is when I push the up or down buttons on the steering wheel. I can shift 3 ways. Using the mouse, using the switches, or off the steering wheel... Nice having options, will just use the steering whee buttons and keep the other two in the glovebox for in case I need them. You can also order controllers from $600-$1000 and then you have a tunable auto setup... This is much better than the factory computer.
Have you looked for a 5.3 L33 HO motor (2005 vin code B), aluminum block, LS6 (799) heads 315HP; its about 150 lbs lighter than the iron block. Goes nicely with the 4l60e low first gear; I get 24 mpg with 3.08 gears.<o></o> I used Holley LS accessory drive brackets that look factory.There built for the Corvette power steering pump that is also metric so it will plumb to the Jeep steering box. I also used the Holley oil pan for both ground and steering clearance, steering linkage clearance is a big issue or at least it was for me on my 65 Special. <o></o>
Hmmmm, the 305 SBC in my '68 California GS is getting tired. Maybe I could sell the drive train out of it, and gut my wife's 2000 Astro Van for the drive train and sell the corpse. I'll bet I can at least break even, and I'll have everything mechanical from the A/C condenser to the rear diff. Then I could commute in the Skylark. This will require metal shavings and a torch, and some electronic work. Nothing I can't handle. I just need 2 weeks off of work to get 'er done. Fat chance of that. Then again, I can arrange a long break over the end of the year...I guess if we can swing another vehicle for the wife, I'm set. That kind of mileage would allow me to get rid of my tinker-Toyota DD, that would be sweet- I currently have 6 vehicles.
I researched this at some length before I decided on a stock rebuild. There is a lot of work to do for sure. I sourced a fresh 5.3 and trans from a 2004 Avalanche from a salvage yard.. all accessories, the ECM and the TCM, all wiring, radiator, alternator, fans, EVERYTHING... 1100.00. I should have gone for it, but I put it back stock.
