swapping 268 for a LS1 engine in 78 cutlass

[lnpzuni]

Hello all, I am new to this forum, not just the this forum but the whole forum enviroment. I have a 78 cutlass supreme brougham. I would like to swap the original engine which is a 4.3L V8 for a 2000 LS1 fuel injected engice. I also bought the computer for the LS1 Engine. I've attempted anyting like this so i am looking for help and advise with this. My biggest concern is going from carburated to Fuel injected....wireing, mostly the electrical side of it. I'm also replaceing the TH200 trany for a TH 350. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for all the help.

 

[clean8485]

If you go to the website www.montecarloss.com, then go to the technical forum section, I believe there is an area which shows an LS engine swap into a Monte Carlo. The Monte Carlo is pretty much the same car as your Cutlass, so that should give you a starting point for the info that you're looking for. Good luck, and let us know how your swap turns out.

 

[lnpzuni]

Thanks for the help, the DNS server for that website seems to be down because I can't log on. I'll keep trying. is there anything other help out there for a LS1 engine swap into a 78 cutlass

 

[kingcolbert83]

Try www.ls1tech.com It will have all the info you will ever need. They have a specific subforum for conversions. You can also do a search on that site and look for g body swap. There is a whole thread. Also try www.maliburacing.com Go the the ls1 swap section for info on people who have swapped the ls1 already or are currently doing it. You can get info on mounts used and different issues and problems from both sites. www.brphotrods.com sells a kit specifically for the gbody. I priced the kit without the crossmember and I think they told me 150. You will need the complete kit if using the ls1 transmission. If not you will need to get an kit to mate the motor to your current trans. Some require less parts and some more. Depends on your motor year. All those sites will be able to help you.

 

[lnpzuni]

Thanks G body guru. I found a 350 trans and I bought the engine from a a friend. I got the engine and pc for 50 bucks. It's missing the intake manifold and fuel rails. The engine came out of 2000 chevy 1500. I'm sure it'll fit but all the info you've given me is great and i'm finding out that's it's going to be a little tougher than i thought. Thanks again

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

You can do it carburated, and that may be easier and cheaper in the long run. Remember that the stock ECU from any 1988-present GM V8 car will have some sort of VATS system (Passkey or Passlock) which is not fun to try and bypass (ask me how I know!). Also, if you are going to use the ECU and fuel injection, I would use the 4L60-E transmission that is native to the LSX instead of the antique TH-350. Why go with a modern engine and couple it to a transmission from almost 50 years ago? Keep in mind that none of this will be cheap. You can't use the truck accessory drives from what I have heard as they will hit the hood (someone correct me if I am wrong), and the FWD Wimpala SS, or RWD F body, GTO, Corvette, or CTS will all present their own challenges as well. It can be done, but it is not a swap for a first timer to do by themselves. If you don't want it to take forever, you will need to understand all the basic systems involved and how to make them function together. Remember that it will not be the cost of an engine or transmission that kills you. It will be all the ancillary systems that will rob you blind. I am talking about the mounts, oil pan, electronics, cooling system, accessory drives, air conditioning, fuel lines, fuel tank, fuel pump, driveshaft, exhaust, suspension, power steering, air filter box, starter, flywheel or flexplate, gearing, etc. It can get VERY ugly and expensive very quickly if you do not plan for all these eventualities beforehand.

 

[79loserbluebu]

I beleive on the 01' and previous LS1 based engines you can bolt it up to a TH350. You should double check to make sure but I do know that the earlier 6.0Ls had a slightly longer crank which would go into a TH350.

 

[87National]

As indicated earlier there is an LS1 swap section at maliburacing.com and a fair number of montecarloss.com members have completed the swap. And JohnB's website: http://www.ls7montess.com/ has an excellent write up on swapping an ls7/t56 into a monte. ls1tech.com has a great conversion section.

You will want to spend a long time researching the above sites to get an idea of what you are getting into.

I am planning on a 6.0/4l80e swap into my 86 SS. It will include:
1. Reworked factory wiring harness and ecm from wait4meperformance.com
2. Ebay motor mount adapter plates to bolt sbc mounts to an LS block
3. Rick Fischer (at maliburacing.com) transmission crossmember.
4. F-body pacesetter headers (will need to modify these to fit in a g-body)
5. True dual 3" exhaust to exit in front of rear tires with summit mufflers
6. Intrepid dual electric fans.
7. Gauges will be factory with the exception of an electronic autometer speedometer.
8. LS1 intake and accessories.
9. Baffled fuel tank and sender from an 85-88 4.3 tbi monte/w walbro fuel pump
10. Braided stainless steel fuel line and ls1 corvette fuel filter/regulator

 

[corvetteronw]

I just bought this book from www.half.com for under $20 shipped. I may not ever do this but I feel it is a great tool for my library.
http://www.cartechbooks.com/vstore/show ... 5&CATID=16

 

[lnpzuni]

Thanks for all the info. I sounds like i might be getting in over my head for that amount of time that i have before the Marine Corps moves me again. I biggest concern was the electronics, but I really didn't consider the other stuff like AC, fuel lines, power steering, and the likes. Well i'll keep searching and getting info to help me get this done. Again thanks for the help