1981 Cutlass LS Build

[Mechanic Nerd]

Soon i am going to be starting my journey on LS swapping my 81 cutlass. Always wanted a 800-1000hp street car so i decided that a turbo LS is going to tickle my fancy. I wanted to start this thread to share my journey on the proccess and my trials, tribulations and successes. Thru out the spring summer and fall, i will be researching and aquiring parts for my build. As i progress i will be updating with pictures and steps i took as well as getting into some of the technical stuff! Currently in the car is a 383 stroker making 522/515 at the crank with a th400. Im going to be doing the supporting upgrades as well as installing the LS engine and run it a while on my current turbo 400. I may change to a different transmission set up, i may keep the th400. Good or bad anyone is free to comment as i progress!

 

[stevens1092]

Clean cutlass, I went Turbo LS on my 84 and its been a really fun car, right now getting a new engine put in mine so I can get back out there with it and make more power this time.

 

[Mechanic Nerd]

Clean cutlass, I went Turbo LS on my 84 and its been a really fun car, right now getting a new engine put in mine so I can get back out there with it and make more power this time.

Hell yeah love to hear it! Mind sharing input on what you struggled with the most? And things you would do differently after doing the swap?

 

[stevens1092]

Hell yeah love to hear it! Mind sharing input on what you struggled with the most? And things you would do differently after doing the swap?

Well it really depends on if you plan on buying a premade turbo kit or if you want to fabricate everything yourself, Like I wanted to do a equal length header set up into a single turbo, vs alot of kits that offset the turbo to the passenger side of the engine bay. Because I wanted the turbo in this location it made mounting alot of other parts more difficult, really just depends how much of your car your ok with cutting up.

 

[Mechanic Nerd]

Well it really depends on if you plan on buying a premade turbo kit or if you want to fabricate everything yourself, Like I wanted to do a equal length header set up into a single turbo, vs alot of kits that offset the turbo to the passenger side of the engine bay. Because I wanted the turbo in this location it made mounting alot of other parts more difficult, really just depends how much of your car your ok with cutting up.

Appreciate the input. I am considering doing a full premade kit to start. Been looking closely at on3. I d know their is better craftsmanship in taking the time to build it your self. Im still in the planning stage and have allot of other overhead to think about for the build so my thinking was, as parts or welds give or break, ill starting fabbing up what i need as i need. Im confident in my welds, but i feel like the complete kits will also give me "blueprints" for mocking and fabbing if that makes sense.

 

[doood]

Shoot, looks really nice and is quite powerful already. Here is a suggestion: get another project car for the turbo build 🙂 /s

 

[Mechanic Nerd]

Shoot, looks really nice and is quite powerful already. Here is a suggestion: get another project car for the turbo build 🙂 /s

Ya know. The past couple weeks i been driving it. And man its been running soo good. This has crossed my mind lol. In a perfect world id have a few projects 🤣😂

 

[mclellan83]

Looking forward to seeing this come together for you