LT1 swap questions...

[snotrocket71]

i know, i know, the idea of swapping a chevy into a 442 and not keeping it original is awful... if it were me id keep the 307, rebuild it and MAYBE add some parts to give a little more oomph. the LT1 was sitting in a guys garage and came with nothing other than block, heads and intake and the price was right.
the poor car has lived outside its whole life since they bought it new as a present to my grand mother for graduating nursing school. they drove me home in the hospital in that car so its the first car i was ever in (emotional attachment). it was nearly sold to a guy just for parts but i talked them out of it, after that i was supposed to get it as my first car but i found my 71 cutlass instead, then my little brother was supposed to get it but he's getting my 87 cutlass so its been tossed to wayside a few times.
after sitting a few years (almost 10) she deserves a second chance, that chance comes at a price of losing a touch of its originality. she'll look like she rolled off the factory when he's done both inside and out. it will not be hacked up by any means and it will be easy to convert it back to stock if we wanted.
i'm only posting for my grandpa, this isnt what i wanted... it doesnt exactly make me happy that it wont be 100% stock anymore but on the flipside it is getting restored to stock appearance.... i appreciate and understand what everyones saying and thanks for the input so far. -Josh

 

[tc1959]

Unsolicited editorial alert: I know you said that Gramps is stubborn but I think you guys could spend your money better in other ways. The real "value" of the LT1 IS the fuel injection. By removing that and the Optispark, you just have a regular 350. It is widely agreed that the Vortec heads were designed after the LT1s (not reverse though). Standard (gen I) 350s can be had for nothing. A standard rebuild + Vortec heads will be pretty much the same as a carbed LT1 -- just much cheaper. Add up the cost to de-LT1 your engine and I think you'll agree. If you want use the LT1 - use all of it. They really are pretty good engines. Most of the bad wrap the Optispark got was due to poor maintenance and was undeserved. Personally, I think a true 442 should remain stock(fish)...at least Olds powered. Carry on :lol: .

I concur.

With who.? You disagreed with me three posts up you said the LT1 wasn't worth the effort. :?: :?: :?:

 

[Qdub24]

Unsolicited editorial alert: I know you said that Gramps is stubborn but I think you guys could spend your money better in other ways. The real "value" of the LT1 IS the fuel injection. By removing that and the Optispark, you just have a regular 350. It is widely agreed that the Vortec heads were designed after the LT1s (not reverse though). Standard (gen I) 350s can be had for nothing. A standard rebuild + Vortec heads will be pretty much the same as a carbed LT1 -- just much cheaper. Add up the cost to de-LT1 your engine and I think you'll agree. If you want use the LT1 - use all of it. They really are pretty good engines. Most of the bad wrap the Optispark got was due to poor maintenance and was undeserved. Personally, I think a true 442 should remain stock(fish)...at least Olds powered. Carry on :lol: .

I concur.

With who.? You disagreed with me three posts up you said the LT1 wasn't worth the effort. :?: :?: :?:

Not you. I didn't quote what you said. The LT1 isn't worth the effort in my opinion, even w/the fuel injection.

 

[Randy_W]

The LT1 is a great engine and a very easy swap. They make good power and torque and simple stuff like long tube headers with a good exhaust system, good air intake and a good tune are very quick and get great mpg. That combo put my '67 Impala SS at 3940 lbs with 3.08 gears and 25.5" tires in the 13.80's. That's considerable faster than the stock SS 427 was. :wink:

 

[snotrocket71]

again, i appreciate everyones opinions on the matter and thank you all for the helpful information..... i'd still like to try one lasat time and convince him to keep it at least olds powered... thanks -Josh

 

[thedoctorisin]

I did a LT1 swap in my 79 Cutlass. Check my user page, I should have some pics of it. 100$ buy. With the performer gm intake you use the hei style distributor. But olds/Chevy parts aside. It's a gm car and everything bolts in perfectly. Unless you intend on keeping a numbers matching car go with the LT1. The carb intake gives you rumored 20-30 HP over stock. However you might lose out on high rpm ignition. I had a 260 in mine. The LT1 with a power tuned PCM and a locked rear end will give you plenty to play with. I'm getting at least 20mpg with mine. I do have 2.23 gears tho. I love what my car is now tho. Check cardomain.com/id/wrightlimousine to check more in-depth on my build.

 

[youngdeezy]

^^^ yeah thedoc has 1 badass ride and it moves with no problems at all. cant wait to go for another ride in it

 

[snotrocket71]

i think after the trip we took to the machine shop he's slowly being turned off by the LT1, we thought about trading motors (my 350 for the LT1) but my little brother might get pissed because he wanted it, oh well... considering its going to be driven my grandpa and his only real request is "having the tunes come out of the tailpipes" and being slightly better than stock i think he can get away with the 307. i found a build up list from when i was younger (15), it goes as follows:
-5A heads, rebuilt
-roller tip rockers
-lunati 51803 roller cam (apparently no longer produced?)
-stock replacement roller lifters
-hooker headers and flowmasters
-non computer: HEI, MSD box+wires, non CC q-jet
-edelbrock performer intake (have already)
-not sure on pistons, ~9-9.5 to 1 comp. ratio would be nice
-rebuilt 200-4r
thats just a basic outline of what i was thinking