Purchased an LS1 & have a few questions!

ATLMonte88 · May 7, 2013

Good day all!
I'll start off by saying, yes i have searched the forums as well as ls1tech.com and several others and my head is spinning from all the info... The issue is i keep finding conflicting information and i hope yall can sort some of this out for me.

The car is a 88 monte carlo ls, i purchased a full ls1 swap from a 02 trans-am with the 4l60e trans. I plan to keep the car fuel injected and would like to retain my column shifter and A/C. I know there are a few kits out there that come with the needed brackets and trans cross member as well as a few oil pans ect.. Are these kits the most cost efficient way to go about doing the swap? I have been told and read that the f-body oil pan will work, some say with modification others say no mods needed, whats the final answer? Also, is it possible to use the stock headers from the f-body? If not, what headers will work and let me use the column shifter? (Headmen told me via phone that theirs will not allow it) My overeall goal with this is to keep it simple , im not going to put a cam in it, no port and polish, i dont really want lt headers or any other aftermarket performance parts! (300+ hp is enough for me, for now) Also, i know i will need to swap out my fan(s) and radiator, what is the best/ cheapest route i can go? Any info that can help me complete my goal will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

ps- if you are local to me (Georgia) I have a LT1 from a 92 vette (full swap) for sale. pm me if interested.

bigmandengo · May 7, 2013

The stock exhaust manifolds will clear everything fine. The Driver side o2 sensor will have to be relocated due to clearance with the frame. The f-body oil pan will fit with 1" setback mounts but it is TIGHT!! I would recommend the CTS oil pan for better clearance. The third gen radiator is a popular swap and will cool the LS1 just fine.

ATLMonte88 · May 7, 2013

bigmandengo said:
The stock exhaust manifolds will clear everything fine. The Driver side o2 sensor will have to be relocated due to clearance with the frame. The f-body oil pan will fit with 1" setback mounts but it is TIGHT!! I would recommend the CTS oil pan for better clearance. The third gen radiator is a popular swap and will cool the LS1 just fine.

thank you for the info! glad to know the stock manifolds will fit, sure dont want to dish out 600+ for headers.

ATLMonte88 · May 7, 2013

another question- will my stock speedometer work with this swap? if someone can chime in i'd appreciate it!

85GPLef41 · May 7, 2013

to use the factory speedo you have to get the tailshaft housing modded for the speed gear. its a bit pricy though, http://speedscenewiring.com/ssw_zen/spe ... ersion-kit ,you need the vss to send a signal to the ecm as well or Use the cable x box:http://www.abbott-tach.com/cablex.htm have heard mixed reviews though...
you can also upgrade your guages with electrical ones if cheaper. I modded my t56 tailshaft housing cuz i wanted to keep the og look.As for as the rest of the guages i made them work except the tach which is analog and i need to convert to digital..
Also if you use the one inch setback plates you may have to notch the heater box and relocate the power steering pump. I also am goin to use the stock exhaust manifolds for with relocated o2 sensor on drivers side for now.. And the like bigmandengo stated the V oil pan has great clearance!! you will have to modify the trans linkage to make it work if it's column shifted.... or convert to a center console, and a/c will also create another issue unless you get vette accy drive or notch the frame for the compressor. If you go that route might as well notch the frame for the f body oil pan imo..

ATLMonte88 · May 8, 2013

85gp- thank you for all the input! I'll make sure to put this down in my project notes and i'll keep yall updated! Motor should be pulled by end of the week and then the fun begins.

MREGW · May 18, 2013

when I did my swap I used this as a guide http://www.montecarloss.com/ls1montecarloss/ its old info, but I did mine in '06. I used this guy's mounts and modified pan. I'm not sure if he does them anymore but it was the easiest way to do it at the time and the only acc that had to be changed was the ac. I used hooker A body headers and I had to fab new shift linkage.
good luck, hope this helps some.

AndrewMrChevy · May 19, 2013

Brother, sounds like a good build, I have attached couple of sites to help you with your speedo. I am running the 4L60E and running the original speedo, but I have drilled and taped my transmission and at reluctor wheel to control trans for the speed sensor. Have you upgraded your brakes?? I asked because you have another option at this point you could run 98-02 S-10 Spindles W/hubs which have speed sensor in the hub then you would not need to modify the transmission with the exception of pulling the Speed sensor wheel and adding the correct speedometer drive gear and upgrade to the bigger Brake set-up.

If you dont want to upgrade the brake system, the first site below will get your transmission gears needed to run the factory speedo. You then will need to modify the transmission to add the speed sensor, there is two options, one you spend about $500.00 (Second site/ third site) and buy the housing with the gear and speedo set up already in the tail shaft or second and cheaps way is to the Third site. I used the reluctor wheel mounted in the governor position and drilled thru the transmission case to mount the speed sensor.

(First Site)
http://www.transmissioncenter.net/speed ... ____va.htm

(Second sites) $$$
http://www.shiftworks.com/tailhousing.htm

http://bowlertransmissions.com/p/270/cu ... eedometers

(Third site)-Money saver.

http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_ ... rRing.html

AndrewMrChevy · May 19, 2013

More pictures of the modification. For the A/C if your condensor does not exit with both ends on the passenger side (RH), you can pick up a condensor for a 88 Monte Carlo SS (both lines exit on the passenger side RH) and this will clean up your A/C lines and have short lines on the passenger side only.

http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/ac/com ... ers-79.php is a great location for hoses and fittings you can cut and modify yourself.

ATLMonte88 · May 20, 2013

Thank you all for the replies! The speedo is the big thing i cant decide on but that mod may be just what im looking for.. still wondering if i can get a aftermarket vss driven speedo and swap it in place of the oem one without destroying the original parts.

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Purchased an LS1 & have a few questions!

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