I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this...I just had a bizarre thought. Is it possible to pull an old-tired 350 V-8 and replace it with a LS-1...modern technology in the classic body?
With the price of used ZR! Corvettes down to around low 20s, I'm thinking that you could swap engines around and get one for under $8K, after reselling the Corvette with a different motor. That's a pretty good deal considering that the LT5 was a $25K option. There may be spare ZR1 motors out there too, but I haven't looked into that as a possibility. Although I'm considering it. It'd be a great motor for a boat.
I wouldn't 'jump ship' just yet....there is some really cool stuff in the works for the Buick 350"!!:Smarty: :TU: :bglasses: Blown SB Buick
My old 350 probably isn't worth rebuilding...it's either drop a rebuilt 350 or replace it with something modern, LT-1, LS-1, etc....II'm just wondering what would have to be done to make the newer engine fit my Lesabre....
It'll fit. Hope you like wiring. I twould be a whole lot cheeper to dump in a 455/th400. a bit quicker too. but if you are looking to speand a bunch of bread and want fuel injection..... T/A has a fuel injection set up for a 455 as kit form. I like the chevy small block more than the next guy. but it don't belong in your buick.
The LS1 would make an excellent swap. GM and other vendros sell stand along computers to run it and the 4L60E tranny if you decide to use that as well. Not sure it s chevy engine, they use it in all kinds of cars GTO, Caddy, vette, basis for 5.3 in trucks, etc) Individual brand names having thier own engines inside GM are gone. Don't waste your time with the complicated and bizarre LT5, the LS1 or even the new LS6 will kill it anyway, have newer and better techonolgy, easier to work on and probably lighter to boot. Bone stock LS1 powered cars are running low 13's all day long with no worries, excellent emissions and driveability, plus pull down 25-30mpg on the highway..... I do believe there is a kit to adapt it to chevelles...now I know the mounts etc are different but at least its a-body so may get you into the ballpark.... I'm not crazy about rodding old Buicks, but hey if thats your game pretty hard to go wrong with an LS1. Just some thoughts. later Tim
Engine and rearend conversion Weteared here... what kind of 350, out of '95 Roadmaster, with motor # being V1109XHA, have I got.(?) In process of mounting now in '55 46R. Would like to know what GM rearend would be the best to use, have access to the the rearend from the '95 Roadmaster....
I have old stock 350 in my Lesabre convertible. What I'm trying to decide if it's better to rebuild the 350 or drop something else in it. Sounds like the 455 might be an option. I'm not going to do any racing and I don't care if it'll burn rubber in all three gears so I don't need anything high performance. I was thinking of an LT-1 from the 95-96 Roadmaster, but I want it simple. I guess rebuilding the 350 is the most economical.....
If you are trying to keep it simple, remove your 350, take it apart, have it hot tanked and cleaned, get them to hone the cylinders, put new rings and bearings in it and be done.....usually works fine unless you have major wear.... later Tim
Re: Engine and rearend conversion All 94-96 Roadmaster (and Estate Wagons) had 260 HP LT1-350's with 4L60E transmissions. That 260hp is easily bumped up to ~300hp with some very simple mods - nothing inside the motor, just bot-on's and bolt-offs (removing stuff). Go to www.impalassforum.com for LOTS of reading ------------------- There are several companies that make complete wiring harnesses for LT1 / LS1 engine swaps - seems pretty painless too but I haven't done any so its all lip service I've been considering this myself for my SportWagon as the engine / tranny is tired and after driving my RoadMaster wagon for a few years now, I KNOW how potent a setup the LT1 is !! It pulls the heavy Roady Wagon better than the 400" Buick BB ever did and kicks back 24+ mpg on the highway @ 70+ MPH ......Im just not sure I can go through with it - I do like my Buick Buick-powered
alan...have you thought of just either getting a 455 and putting an overdrive behind it? it would save you the trouble of taking the buick heart out and the overdrive should make a lot better milage on the highway too....change the gears in it....or maybe go with a slightly built buick 350? by the looks of it..we are reaching a new high with them and they seem to last forever anyways just my .02 cent daniel
In a way it is cheaper to have a chev motor, I was going to switch to one after my buick 350 went bad. I ended up waiting and getting a low millage buick 350 and now it's in there and running strong. For $200 because no one wants them, well I do. I want more $200 dollar 350's oh yes more for later.
Being a convertible I'd just rebuild the 350 that is in there... they can be built pretty stout and as you know Buick engines go FOREVER!
