I've been planning to build my 89 RS into an AX'ing car that can get there without a trailer ride. As part of my plan, it'll get all CM suspension & K-Member as I'll be trying to cut weight down to 3000lbs or less without driver. As part of that plan, I'm thinking that the LO3 needs to go, but I've not been able to find any solid info beyond Wikipedia that an LS1 from a 98 or newer Camaro is an aluminum engine.

Power is not critical here. Even in stock output, an LS1 is right at my power goal. But since its supposedly an aluminum engine, I'm hoping to cut some serious weight with an engine swap. I'd get the used LS1 setup from Hawks and be using the LS1 Edelbrock Manifold & FAST EZ-EFI kit for the intake, possibly a GMPP LS1 hot cam kit, Hawks headers, and rebuild it with ARP bolts, new bearings, and balance the assembly and new gaskets. Not looking for serious power, 350-400 FWHP for AX is plenty for me. The choice of EFI was for simplicity.

Behind the LS1 would be a 700R4 setup for AX with a kit from Pro-Built Automatics.

Just really need to know if the LS1 is an aluminum block, but any advice is helpful.

 

if it is an ls1, ls2, ls3, ls7, ls9 out of a camaro or corvette or gto then it is an aluminum engine. there are a few more cars they came in but i cant list them all right now. thanks to bud light.

 

What he said! All aluminum.

 

4L60E is a much better choice behind a LS1

Hot cams never have been worthwhile in any of the kits GM put out. Look at common aftermarket kits or even a 02+ LS6 cam

350 at the crank is easily hit with a stock engine and headers. No other mods. Some do it with manifolds

Read the swap sticky up top and do some surfing on LS1tech to get a feel for how awesome this platform really is

 

Wouldnt you want a manual transmission for autocross??

 

I would think you want a manual trans, or at least a full manual/reverse manual 4l80e. You would have to get the 4l60 built, because it is almost identical to the 700r4.

In my opinion I would go with an iron block 6.0 motor from the early chevy trucks, unless you really want to keep that weight off. They are much cheaper blocks and no replacement for more displacement.

 

Unless you use a manual shift valve body auto tranny., but even then, the manual tranny is a better choice for autocross.

But if your like me & can't drive a manual tranny good (due to a physical disability) then the auto tranny is your only choice. You could do a paddle shifter setup on a a 7004r or 7L60E though.
Installing a paddle shifter into a 3rd gen Camaro

 

There is a write up on that!?!? That is sweet. and a 7 gear auto tranny? That has to be expensive to do.

 

I would be making sure the 700R4 is built, this is the kit that I plan on using to build it:

https://www.700r4l60e.com/store/prod...&cat=19&page=1

The kit is rated to 550+ hp. So I'd say that its more than up to the challenge of a stock LS1. It has a manual/auto valve body. Combine that with a good ratchet shifter and it'll be a fun setup for AX.

I would prefer a manual, but in my experience I've rarely ever got into third with either a manual or auto trans. You generally don't have a long enough straight away for it. Most of the time, I get into 2nd and stay there. Now if I was doing road racing, then yes I'd get a Richmond 6 speed without a doubt. And they now make an LSx to SBC trans adapter bellhousing for those who want to do that, but thats expensive as all get out. So seeing as how I already have a good & funtioning 700R4, might as well build it for the purpose. Sure is cheaper than swaping in a manual.

I really want that weight savings up front, so I'd want the LS1 from a 4th gen.

 

You could up the ante with an aluminum LS2

What rear gears are you using? I would think you could utilize more gears using an MN12 from a GTO and some 4.10's or 4.30's in the rear end

 

mmmmmmmmmmmmm......ls2

 

If I find a good used LS2 for the right price, then its a go. Now that I think of it, it'd be great with a set of L92 heads and a good cam.

My current gears are 2.73's, but when I do start working on it, it'll be 3.23's or 3.42's at minimum. Only problem is that the place I really like going is a 2.5hr drive away, but you pretty much get to run all day because no one else goes there.

 

LS1 will be cheaper and will do what you want. Have you looked into v6's? If your sole intention is auto-x, a big v8 isnt a necessity.

 

i would say if you are going to run a 700r4 run the street strip package at least from pro built transmissions.if you haven't rebuilt a 700r4 go 4l60e it will work better with the ls harness. I am going to run a 700r4 in my setup, but that is because i already have a pro built pro street trans rated for 700hp and only has 500 miles on it.

 

Already am going use it. Look a few posts up at the link. Not going to use the LS harness though. I'm going to use the FAST EZ-EFI kit on it with an Edelbrock manifold & ignition kit. I'm one of those people who isn't into tuning and working heavily with electronics.

 

Even with a 2.5 hr drive, I'd highly suggest 4.10 gears and a T56/MN12. You'll still get as good of gas mileage as an automatic and 3.23 gears because 6th is such a nasty overdrive gear. Plus, with 4.10's in the rear end you'll be able to pull out of the corners much faster than having to wind out some 3.42's or something similar.

 

Good point. Think it could be made up by staying in first gear on the 700R4 with 3.42's?

 

I don't know of any trans with a 1st gear that would be long enough for staying in that one gear for autocross... Maybe a powerglide? LoL even then I think you would find it more beneficial to be able to always be in your optimum rpm range with a 6 spd rather than stuck in one gear throughout the track.