I have a 2005 Buick Rainier V8 AWD, that my wife totaled, it has the Aluminum block and 198,000 miles.

I have considered pulling the engine and trans (rebuilding both) and swapping it into a 3rd gen Firebird, thought it would make an interesting swap.

I already figure it would require a LS1 oil pan & intake to clear the hood...

Has anyone done this swap and how difficult is it... Would it be worth getting a supercharger, or just leave it stock?

I hope I have put this in the right spot.

 

Shouldnt be any different from the regular LS swap. Basically the same engine with a smaller bore.

Definitely look into the LS1 pan and intake. Or even better an LS6 intake but generally people want a lot of money for them. The Stock Throttle body will also fit on the LS1-LS6 intake pending its not DBW.

Im unfimilier with AWD stuff, I doubt the trans would work. You may need to pick up a 4l60e from a 98-02 Fbody.

Cheapest source for the intake/windage/pickup is Superchevyperformance.com

Also should add, the general LS1 swap with longtube's generally will get the car into the High 12s. Also 4.8/5.3's Love boost.

Good Luck!

Jay

 

I am not sure but I am under the impression that the trans is the 4L60E or something similar, but at the output there is a transfer case for the AWD. But I will keep that in mind about the LS1 trans.

I had this hair brained idea to keep the AWD and customize a car to accept it... The axle literally goes through the oil pan of the engine and everything is pretty low profile under the small truck... One thing about the AWD is this particular truck did not have traction control but I would have never known it if I did not know. What fun to put a Super charger on top or a Turbo and have AWD traction...

I can dream can't I?

 

I just put a cast iron 5.3 in my 88 gta. The short drive that I took it on (up the street)... well it seems like its gonna be fun. The 98-02 style transmisssion from the camaro or transam has provisions for a torrque arm mount on the tail housing and is already set up for 2wd. I don't know how many cars got the f-body stlye torque arm mount, but the rebuild trans I got had no torque arm mount, so I had to source the tail from somewhere else. good luck...

 

I take it the tail from a 700r4/4L60 and the 4L60E are not swappable? Is the case that much different?

John

 

This is from memory, but the 700r4/4l60 transmission has a 4 bolt tail shaft and the LS 4L60E has a 6 bolt so they will not interchange.

 

Correct 700r4 has 4 bolts and 4l60e has 6 bolts and are not swappable

 

Thanks,
You specifically noted the LS 4L60E... Do you know if the LT (94-97 the same way?

 

The 94-95 is a 4 bolt design. I think the 96-97 are as well but uses a different vss sensor.

 

94-97 LT1 are a 4 bolt tail shaft so it will not work on an LS 4L60E. You can use a 96-97 LT1 style transmission behind an LS1 and the wiring is very similar if not the same since both are OBD2 and computer controlled. I think Pocket had a post from a long time ago on the topic. One small issue is the number of bolts each trans uses and how they attach.

 

Ok, So the bell housing is different for the LT & LS? Good to know...

I am just wondering if I used the original trans from the 05 Rainier and just got a different tail shaft piece... With 200,000 miles on the old girl (granted I have owned it since 60,000 miles in 2008 I know the history of the motor) I will want to have both rebuilt and freshened up a bit.

The 2005 - 2009 V8 in the small Trucks, IE Rainier, Trailblazer SS, Ascender, 9-7 & Envoy apparently used the displacement on demand by going into 4 cyl mode under light load... I got 22.7 mpg going both ways on a highway in the UP of Michigan last year...

 

The BH is different, but not enough to matter. Older and non-LS trans require an adapter ($40)

Overall the swap is no different than any other truck swap. Its a GEN III long block, so follow the sticky

On the trans, since its getting an overhaul, why not ask the trans shop how much extra to convert to 2WD. Grab a core trans of CL or a JY to save a few bucks. V6 or non LS doesnt matter, only that its a newer 2pc case. Keeping AWD would require a good bit of surgery. Good luck on that

Ive never seen DoD successfully implemented on a conversion, even bringing the BCM and other modules from the donor over. LSx engines are very efficient though. I smacked down 27MPG with a stock 5.3/4L60E swap without any effort. The lighter chassis makes a big difference, even when hitting on all 8