L96 in a Monte ? help a noob !

[JonnyVegas]

Hey guys, I need some help/advice

I currently have a 84 MCSS that seems to be all original. It has a dog of a 305 but im looking to replace it. Right now Im mid way through rebuilding a vortec 350 but came acress a seemingly good deal.

I picked up a 2005 savanah express with the 6.0 and it has about 48k miles. I got the whole thing for 500$ The truck looks like complete *ss, but runs strong (drove it)

Should I yank the motor and transmission for the monte? I don't know what that would entail, I've gone through all the sticky posts and read up on it but this is all new to me. I build bikes, but cars is a different world :?
I originally opted for the 350 because its a straight bolt on, yank one out, put the new one in.

Help a brother out !

 

[Kansas Bu Wagon]

Here is 64 pages of people that will tell you to do it.

http://m.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=750522

If you don't think you can handle it, sell the motor and trans, scrap the rest and make a bunch of money off the deal.

 

[Kansas Bu Wagon]

You could also keep the motor and trans, stick it in your garage while you learn more about the swap. Scrap the rest. Hell, you'll probably get $500 from scrapping the van alone.

BTW keep the engine harness and computer.

And also, post pics of your car. Lol

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

The Vortec 350 would be a fairly simple swap while the LS swap is going to be much more complex, especially if you need to do a smog legal LS swap if you live in a strict area (most LS swaps are not done in a legal manner). Plus you have to go to different shops to have work done, have the driveshaft cut, custom exhaust fabbed up, and engine tuning since the LS tuning software starts at $600. With a SBC you should be able to do all the work yourself.

 

[MetroRob]

couldn't you just change the intake and make it mechanical instead of efi ? I say go for it

 

[JonnyVegas]

Thanks for the info Kasas Bu

looks like I'll be finishing the Vortec 350 and dropping it in for now, I'll do my homework on the L96 setup.

Heres a couple of pics, I don't have too many, I really don't drive it much, I cant handle how slow it is !

 

[mac61891]

I agree with Kansas Bu, if you have doubts about how to do it, don't for now, which it appears you have come to that conclusion anyway. However, if you pull the engine and trans for later use or sale, make sure to pull the entire engine/trans harness and the ECM. I have done these swaps before, and personally enjoy the challenge, and Clone TIE is right, it is not straight forward, though it is getting easier with info and products out there now. Not sure where you are, but I would be interested in the whole van if you were anywhere close that way I could put the drivetrain in my upcoming Regal project.

 

[JonnyVegas]

thanks Mac. Like I said, Im going to do all my homework first and maybe get this done over the winter. At least with the 350 I'll get some time with it before the snow hits the ground.

Im north of the border in Montreal.

 

[Kansas Bu Wagon]

Here is something I laid out for another member, should get you pointed in the right direction...

"Like I said above the Cadillac ctsv pan seems to be the most popular pan that doesn't hang below the cross member. It's said the the fbody pan is even shallower.

For cooling it seems the easiest way is to get a dual passenger side radiator. The ls water pumps inlet and outlet point to the passenger side of the engine bay.

Please follow these links...

Ctsv oil pan kit: http://secure.ultracart.com/catalog/PSI ... -1013.html

Fbody oil pan kit: http://secure.ultracart.com/catalog/PSI ... -1013.html

Standalone harness for 6l80E trans and engine: http://secure.ultracart.com/catalog/PSI ... -1077.html

Fuel system: http://secure.ultracart.com/catalog/PSI ... -1013.html

Hooker swap kit thread: http://m.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1733542

The gbody swap thread: http://m.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=750522

I've done so much research on this that it's pathetic, so PLEASE take my advice and follow ALL of those links. Knowledge is power."

 

[JonnyVegas]

dang, thatd a lot of info.

thanks for the help. I'll let you guys know how it goes as I progress.