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LTX and LSXPutting LT1s, LS1s, and their variants into Third Gens is becoming more popular. This board is for those who are doing and have done the swaps so they can discuss all of their technical aspects including repairs, swap info, and performance upgrades.
Either modded or not just trying to gauge what people are getting on the track with their LS equipped 3rdgen, please no theoretical times.
I've been thinking of doing this swap for awile now just for the gas milage gain alone my only problem is the only thing LS around here would have to come from a truck and put the price of the project up there so want to know if it would be worth it, thanks.
Id also like to see where our cars stand with an ls swap..modded or stock ls..auto or t56 too.I know being lighter than 4th gens give us an advantage so post up some times I want to see what Im in for while Im gathering parts for my swap.
Id also like to see where our cars stand with an ls swap..modded or stock ls..auto or t56 too.I know being lighter than 4th gens give us an advantage so post up some times I want to see what Im in for while Im gathering parts for my swap.
Where abouts in Ontario are you? I am swapping too
There was one at the track awhile back with I believe a stock motor and he was running 13.5s.
One locally ran a 12.4 with modded heads, a 224/224 cam and long tube headers. To be fair the density altitude that day was between 3000' and 3500'. At sea level he would be maybe a 12.1.
Bone stock 99 LS1 crate motor with long tubes and a T56 (3:42 rear gear at the time) I went 13.2 at 108mph with an uber crappy 2.3 60' time. Should go 12.80's without too much trouble but I've changed a bunch of stuff since then so.....who knows
My LS1 w/small 224 cam, milled stock casting 98 heads(806), stock LS6 intake, hawks long tubes and corsa exhaust. All work except welding done in my driveway.
T56 w/12 bolt 3.08 gears(for future forced induction), MT ET slicks in the rear, heavy 18inch wheels up front(with spacers), full leather interior, sounds system, and dynamated complete interior.
12.41 @ 114 w/ 2.0 60ft time my first time running the car @ the 1/4 and first time racing with this set-up.
DA 3000+
Weather very hot maybe 90's?
Haven't had a chance to redeem myself since my first 1/4 outing but I'm shooting for 11's before swapping to a larger cam and better heads.
Next outing will be swapping in higher gears, running skinnies up front, in better weather. Will post results.
99LS1 with hand ported stock heads. TR224 112 cam, LS6 intake, ported TB, Hawks LT's into 2.5" Y and single 3" with aerochamber full exhaust, 3.73 gears, T56 with LS7 clutch, Tuned. Ran consistent 1.6x 60's and a best of 12.1 at 112mph but I trapped more consistently at 115mph and the day I ran my 12.1 i had trouble shifting so i KNOW there was an 11 in that thing I just never got the slip to prove it.
Fuel mileage was unbelievably good. I actually thought the fuel sender mod or gauge itself was broken when I first started driving it. It was amazing on fuel even when i pounded on it. I drove it daily and it was effortless to drive with that LS7 clutch it was butter smooth. Tons of fun. I cant say enough praise over that swap i NEVER should have sold it off *grumble*
In the midst of an L92 6.2L build up now it better be worth a season down LOL.
there are so many possible combinations of modifications that an LS swap could run almost anything. To get a good idea of what a typical LS motor can do, check the drag racing forums on lst1ech. Keep in mind that our thirdgens are a little lighter than 4ths, so you can expect your times to be a tenth or two quicker if all else is equal.
Pretty shitty but I keep changing the setup before I have a chance to tune it, plus a heavy foot don't help.
Not bad times so far with pretty much a cam change and minor mods. I know there is a lot more LS swappers out there so keep the numbers coming!
The real bonus and advantage of LSx builds isnt just the performance its the driveability. It really is a big cut above the old school in many ways.
As another thought for ya if you want to build on a budget theres a boat load of boosted 4.8's and 5.3's running tens and still getting excellent street manners and fuel mileage. Its a lot of fab work to do a twin front mount but if you can do the piping seeing as your already boosted your fuel system is likely up to par. One of my local crew just finished up a 6.0 twin front mount on a bone stock LQ4 ( stock truck cam and all ) did 644 whp check it out
'82 Berlinetta, no GFX. 2000 Camaro LS1/4L60E; shaved 317 heads with L92 springs; LS6 intake and injectors; stock 2000 Camaro cam; Hawks 1-3/4" long tubes with 2-1/2" collectors, 3" exhaust with Magnaflow 3" single in/out muffler; stock tune with emissions (EGR, rear O2's, EVAP, skip shift, etc.) tuned out; 3000 stall, shift kit in tranny, 3.73 gears; BMR torque arm; 3" DOM driveshaft with 1350 yoke; boxed LCA's, poly bushing & mounts all around except tranny mount is stock 4th gen; Hoosier Quick Time Pro DOT 26x9.50-14 at 19 psi. Race weight 3455 lbs. Shifting at 6500 RPMs.
Best: 12.88 @ 106 MPH at 5800' elevation, ~7800' DA, 16 MPH headwind.
At sea level (Topeka), best 12.41 @ 110 MPH (this was right after the swap was finished, was running 13.4's at altitude - it started running much better at altitude after that as I sorted things out), DA ~3400' (crappy compared to what we usually see there). Using NHRA correction factors, the best at altitude translates to 11.95 @ 114 at sea level (but you didn't want theoretical - although this is based on real data).
Launch at altitude:
Oh, this is my daily driver (with highway radials on the rear). It snowed the other day.
Last edited by five7kid; Nov 17, 2010 at 06:49 PM.
Best: 12.88 @ 106 MPH at 5800' elevation, ~7800' DA, 16 MPH headwind.
Using NHRA correction factors, the best at altitude translates to 11.95 @ 114 at sea level (but you didn't want theoretical - although this is based on real data).
I thought my 3000+ DA was bad!!!
What kind of 60ft. times are you laying down? Either way, that's moving out without aftermarket heads or a cam.
In the interest of full disclosure, the best time was actually a 12.889. But it went through the traps at 106.6 MPH with a 16 MPH headwind, DA 7300 according to the track weather data (my weather station reads a little higher). The 60' on that run was a 1.886. The rest of the day it was running mid-12.9's.
More stall would probably get the 60' and ET down a little more.
I'm pretty pleased with the way it runs for what it is.
Last edited by five7kid; Nov 17, 2010 at 11:50 PM.
The real bonus and advantage of LSx builds isnt just the performance its the driveability. It really is a big cut above the old school in many ways.
As another thought for ya if you want to build on a budget theres a boat load of boosted 4.8's and 5.3's running tens and still getting excellent street manners and fuel mileage. Its a lot of fab work to do a twin front mount but if you can do the piping seeing as your already boosted your fuel system is likely up to par. One of my local crew just finished up a 6.0 twin front mount on a bone stock LQ4 ( stock truck cam and all ) did 644 whp check it out
If I did decide to go LS I would probably keep the procharger and make a new bracket for it.
I'am still learning all the different LS engines out there and what parts I need for a swap but would be nice to have good power and fuel mileage with the street manners to go with it. If I didn't already spend so much on my setup I would be running one now.
Originally Posted by five7kid
Using NHRA correction factors, the best at altitude translates to 11.95 @ 114 at sea level (but you didn't want theoretical - although this is based on real data).
Oh don't worry I know all to well how altitude affects power, thanks for sharing.
My first outing was right around 11.9's @ 125 mph.
Full leather interior on 275/40-17 tires
T56 trans, 3.73 gears
6.0L truck block with 427 stroker kit
L92 heads and FAST intake
I am rev limiting and not using the whole power band yet
Average of 13 mpg mixed city/highway. I make no attempt to get good mileage. I never use 6th gear, hammer on it every time I drive, and do a lot of short trips.
If you're really going to build a street efi sbc like I did;
414 dart
AFR 210s
Hyd roller
HSR intake
EBL ecm
headers
TKO 600
Etc etc
It is actually cheaper or about the same to build LSx. Right now you can buy a NEW 6.0 engine, trans and ecm for under $10k. Depending on your fabricating skills but probably another $4k getting it all going. I have more than that in my setup and although it runs great and makes over 400WHP I get around 16 city and 22 hwy with a fairly streetable combo. Then, when you get the urge to add a cam, heads or whatever you can go faster and be more streetable than me.
If it were 2 years ago and I knew how much I would end up spending I would have gone LSx no contest. Even now I am strongly considering it.
Think of it this way, it's like in the early 60 and were still considering building a flat head motor. In hind sight it sounds stupid. LSx all the way for me from now on.
Haven't ran my car yet but my all stock internal ls2 third gen feels faster than my 2015 1le and gets better fuel mileage. My 2015 is averaging 17.8 and my third gen ls2 is 19.2 average. The third gen averaged 25.3 mpg from Virginia to myrtle beach and the 2015 only 21 even. So I think the ls2 car should run mid to high 12s hopfully!!!
Said by the OP, and I think that is a great idea. Just want to create a list of real data points that people can look at when planning out their next build.
Then added a cam and supporting mods and went 7.1@96 first outing( Also the boot by track officials). Now it's nhra compliant and will be runnning again soon.
Stock 01 LS1 w/long tubes/T56/3.42 torsen on 315/35R17 nitto DR's before tune. Couldn't get off the line without bogging (this was cured when it finally got tuned).
2.102 60', 13.484@105.7mph
Not sure what the DA was but everyone in my group ran a new best that day. Pretty good for July in the midwest. A friend DA corrected and calculated the car at 12.8
Went back in October after a tune. Much to our surprise, the air was terrible. almost 3000ft, moisture was high, just awful. Despite my reluctance to leave hard for fear of breaking the 10bolt I cut a 1.979 60', 13.608@102.09.
Car is focused for autoX/RR so I really don't have any plans to improve on my 1/4 mile times.
Last edited by plum92_camaro; Dec 17, 2016 at 04:26 PM.
1989 iroc, 5.3 stock bottom end, 317 heads with the intention of going boosted but never happened, 4l60e, stock converter, 2.73's, and street tires. car ran a 14.1 @ 99mph. we put 4.10's in it and retuned, turning torque management off and have yet to get it back to the track. This car has a ton of potential truthfully, but it's my brother's car and he stays pretty busy with work and family, and for whatever reason he doesn't have much desire to race it anymore. this car is largely untouched since i completed the swap in 2011.
then there is the 1987 GTA budget built bracket bomber my cousin and I built together. it's lightweight, simple, and fairly cheap. has a carbed cam only ls1. the car has been 10.96 @ 126 mph. this one also has some more potential in it and my cousin is digging deeper to buy a 9" and a better converter for it hopefully over this winter.
then lastly there's my car. 1990 camaro (sport coupe clone) with a 370" ls, super vic, prc stage 2.5 ls6 heads, 11.2:1 compression, custom cam, t56, tons of gear, tons of rpm. car has been 9.97 @ 135 with the t56. more to come next year with the new GF5R trans.
picture of the new hardware
these swaps can go from mild to wild. i'm in the middle of a long term swap project for my wife, which is a 71 chevelle. i'm also doing another swap for my mother in her 84 firebird (that's just getting a bone stock 4.8. something for reliable drivability).
‘89 Iroc with stock interior except no rear seats. LS3 with medium cam and headers. 4l80 with tight 3000 stall. Drag wheels and tires. 3300lbs with my 210 lbs in car. 1.63 60 ft, 7.20 at 98 mph in good air. 4:10 gear. 6.64 at 105.5 with small shot of gas through single fogger nozzle.
I want to see what Im in for while Im gathering parts for my swap. 
