Finally finished my LSA swap in my 78 Malibu.

Back to the engine.......Once I had the long block completed I picked out accessories. I wanted to keep the R4 compressor and lines I was using on the old small block. I also wanted to keep a separate belt for the blower. The best compromise was the LS3/LSA water pump spacing. To go along with this I used C5/C6 Corvette accessories on the left side (alternator is from a C5 without the decoupler pulley, ps pump and reservoir). ICT Billet has compressor brackets that fit PERFECTLY. I did not even discharge the system. I laid the compressor to the side while swapping the engines and when the LS went in the compressor dropped right in place with NO modifications. The power steering pump clears the steering box by about 3/8".

20240825_234652.jpg20240825_234658.jpg20240825_234707.jpg20240827_223719.jpg20240827_224302.jpg
 
Last edited:
During the install we had to revisit the clearance issue at the HVAC box. I was not able to get the engine to tilt back far enough to get the gear box onto the engine. During the course of fitting things it popped a hole in the box. I ended up taking measurements and opened it up to give myself the needed clearance. I made templates and then metal patches to cover it.

20240827_220829.jpg20240827_223509.jpg20240827_223512.jpg20240910_213747.jpg20240910_213758.jpg20240911_195714.jpg20240911_195718.jpg20240911_195813.jpg20240911_195818.jpg20240911_195826.jpg20240911_201730.jpg20240911_201736.jpg20240911_203550.jpg20240911_203558.jpg20240914_135342.jpg20240914_135344.jpg20240914_135346.jpg20240914_145301.jpg20240914_145309.jpg
 
Last edited:
I had the engine in and out of the car a bunch of times. The next clearance issue was with the Hooker 302-3 oil pan. The mid section was hitting the frame. I tried shimming to engine up but it would have require VERY thick shims. I did some more research and ended up spending the money for the Mast Motorsports pan. I am not sorry because it provided a ton of clearance. I could probably remove the pan with the engine in the car!

20240914_145946.jpg20240914_145951.jpg20240914_145959.jpg
 
Last edited:
and then there was the clearance issues with the back 2 coils on the right side. The bottom of the coil towers were just about touching the hvac box. This took several days to resolve because I only had so much realestate to play with. I made 2 brackets for each coil to angle them and shift them upwards. In the process I had to cut a superfluous cast aluminum tower off the right side valve cover that was in the way. I removed the valve cover to do so. Believe it or not, I can remove the valve cover with not too much effort. I am happy to report that the plug wires fit and are not rubbing on the box.

20240916_161926.jpg20240916_161929.jpg20240916_163805.jpg20240916_163829.jpg20240916_200042.jpg20240916_200045.jpg20240926_225429.jpg20240927_181758.jpg20240927_181804.jpg
 
Last edited:
The engine was finally in for good. I was then able to start dressing it. I am using the Chevrolet Performance LSA connect and cruise wiring harness kit. This came with a brand new E67 computer, the mass air sensor, o2 sensors, bungs, a DBW pedal from a CTS and a very nice harness. I played around with laying out the harness and came up with an installation that suited my taste. In the process I also removed the radiator support and blasted and painted it to help clean up the engine compartment. Radiator was an aftermarket replacement that I bought for my Grand National. I wasn't happy how the transmission cooler lines attached on the Buick and ended up getting another radiator for that. But this brand new radiator seemed like it would be perfect for this. I installed it with a Cutlass top plate and dual Spal fans using a Casper's Electronics dual relay harness for a GN. I also used a GN fan pig tail to make removal easy in the future
.20240930_212354.jpg20241003_204053.jpg20241003_204220.jpg20241006_103546.jpg20241006_103550.jpg
 
Last edited:
A bunch of awesome work, only one suggestion that would help show it off better is once you have the pictures loaded. Click insert multiple select all and then either do the thumbnail or the full image so that it is actually in the post and easier to look at. But very much looking forward to seeing this all come together
 
Moving on to more details. The Corvette power steering pump requires an external reservoir. The problem is the Corvette reservoir is supposed to mount off the accessory bracket right where the throttle body of the LSA blower is located. I weighed several options including using an external reservoir from an 86 or 87 Grand National. That reservoir is not conducive to mounting next to the alternator. I played around with the Corvette reservoir and devised an idea of mounting it to the inner fender well just like the Grand Nationals do. My original 78 wheel well does not have the molded towers like the Buick wheel well has. But, I remember seeing mid 80's El Caminos with them. I called my good buddy Steve (El Camino Kid LLC) and he had a real nice one for me. I swapped the wheel well out and started devising a mounting solution. I cut the metal bracket from the Corvette reservoir and made an L shaped bracket that bolted to the front tower. I then fabricated a rear bracket to grab the rear tower. The reservoir now cleanly bolts to the fender well. One problem was the plastic nipple for the return hose is pointed at the alternator preventing installation of the hose. I tappped the nipple and installed a set screw with sealer then capped that so it would not leak. I drilled a new hole in the back side and tapped the reservoir for pipe thread. I used a 90 degree brass nipple pointed down. For the feed hose to the pump I used the Corvette 45 degree hose that came with the reservoir. To connect to the pump I used a double ended brass barb and used a Grand National feed hose. Worked perfectly!
Last detail for the power steering was a C6 Corvette pressure hose. Some tweaking of the hardline gave me the fit and the look I wanted.

20240827_224302.jpg20241006_175759.jpg20241006_175807.jpg20241009_194952.jpg20241009_195003.jpg20241009_195007.jpg20241009_195016.jpg20241009_204822.jpg
 
Last edited:
The gas pedal that came with the Chevrolet Performance kit was for a Cadillac CTS. It did not look like an easy fit for a G body. I did some research online and found a guy on Youtube doing an LS swap on a Malibu and he was using the 2006 to 2016 W body Impala. I wasn't sure how it would work for me as the guy in that video had to change the pig tail and repin for his swap. I went out to the local U Pull it and found a pedal for $20 to try it. It turned out to use the same pigtail and be pinned the same as my Chevrolet performance harness. It also bolted into the car using 2 of the original 3 bolts with NO drilling, cutting, etc. The only modification I had to make was to bend the metal pedal arm to move the pedal to the left away from the tunnel. I bought a brand new GM pedal once I was satisfied with the fit and function. 20240625_193022.jpg20240625_193033.jpg20240625_203804.jpg
 

GBodyForum is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Please support GBodyForum Sponsors

Classic Truck Consoles Dixie Restoration Depot UMI Performance

Contact [email protected] for info on becoming a sponsor