Hey whats up everyone. Sorry for another LT1 question
Well I came across a LT1 from a 1994 Corvette that a shop teacher at the local JC is selling for $2000 complete with harness, computer and even the 4L60E tranny! Well if I read into and get good responses I may get this proven combo. It all matters on my money situation in the next few weeks. Anyway......here they come(as I know some of you all have done this swap in here)

1). Radiator...the LT1 is a reverse cooling engine, what will I need to make the Vette's motor work in my car without cooling becoming a problem? Hoses, aftermaket radiator etc... what do I do about this?

2). Pulleys....Will the Vette's stock pulleys be a pain(I may not keep the A/C if it s too big of B****.

3). What problems will I encounter along the while doing this swap? I don't want no hidden surprises.

4). Will the Vette's oil pan fit with some mods or do I need to get a different pan?

5). Please answer anything else I may ask in the future as I don't know what the hell I may run into if I DO decide t do ths swap.

Thank you for your help in advance.

Paul Lagunas
Third Gen Racing

 

It will work without any problem.

The vette accessories are located on the top driver side, it will be easy to keep the AC. no mods to do.

The oil pan will fit

The rad can be 3rd gen rad or 4gen, you just need to match hoses. I used a corvette lt1 rad.

Tell us what kind of car you have and we will be able to tell you what problems you will encounter.

 

I just bought an LT1 out of a caprice with no accessories other than the water pump and the power steering pump....also, two of the brackets are broken,( I only paid 100 dollars out of the local pick a part for the engine and 4l60e) What can i use for accessories? Can i ditch the harmonic balancer for an earlier style one? Are the factory internals, ie, crank and rods, worth refurbishing, or should i get new ones? Can i get a rotating assembly for any one piece main seal block, or does everything have to be LT1 specific? Where can i go to find info about LT1's?

 

z86roc28,


The alternator I recommend to look for is something over 110 amp or + .

The Harmonic balancer is proprietary to the LT1.


if the motor needs to be rebuild completly go for it. if you think it's in good shape, give it a try.

The crank and the rotary assembly is the same on the LT1 as any block made 87 later with rear main seal.

The camshaft will be a bit different since it has a pin the drive the waterpump.

and you cannot use your tpi harness with the LT1

Do you get the optispark with the motor ?

 

If the optispark is the thing behind the water pump where all the wires come from, then yeah its there...but im not sure how it works or how the ignition system works...i have spent all my years on the standard small block, thinkin i was so technically inclined because i could deal with TPI and be proficient with it, now i feel like an idiot lol

 

Matt, whats up with the stock internals, if it means anything, it is an iron head engine, what can u tell me about this engine, you seem to be very knowledeable about LT1s, I am NOT!

 

Yup it's IRON heads on your LT1.

The optispark will probably need to be replaced since it's a junyard engine and it will probably be in bad shape . check for a vented model 94 and up.

The internals are the same as any sbc altought the timing chain is different since the camshaft drives the waterpump and the another gear drives the optispark.

What makes the LT1 different is the way that it is cooled. it's reverse flow and the heads have steam holes to cool the engine better.

 

Man, sure are a lot of things to do for this swap, most seem pretty easy though. The fuel rails have me concerened thoug. On a Vette they are on the passenger side aren't they? I would have a hell of a time with this it seems. I wanna use a Summit Alumminum radiator will that work if I get the hoses from say a F-body or a Vette?
It seems like my bigges deal also will be my speedometer, tach and th Vat. Do I really need the VAT system?

ThanX
Paul

 

I have been thinkin about what to do about the transmission also...do I use the 700r4 in my 86, or the 4L60E that i got with the LT1. If i use the 700r4, i'll be able to use my speedo cable, but what do i do about the elcetronics, if i use the 4l60e, what do i do about the speedo? Arrgggghhh

 

z86roc28, just use your mecanicly driven speedo, you'll have to remove the sensor of the tranny tail and but the assembly that's off your old tranny. you should keep the 4l60E, it is much better then the 86 700r4 that you have.

 

Well I got the lines today from a Caprice. Also they have a throttle body from the Caprice that I got for a fe extra bucks and a intake(giving to my friend!! Lucy him). The TB and Intake are from a 4.3L V8 Caprice. Anyone know what the 4.3L Intake and TB flow? is it the same as the F-body and Vette? a 48mm TB and the same Intake I would think. Anyone? Also I got the injectors with the rails and lines are they the same as the f-body or Vette?