I just finished putting a vette LT1 in my monte carlo ss, so i have a some knowledge with the engine...but i was wondering how a LT1 would fit in my 92 RS (V8, 700r). I've never seen one done before with an LT1 and i was just wondering if its worth my time, money and trouble to do it. Doing my monte carlo was easy because the engine bay is huge, the camaros seems really tight, and it would look like headers would be a tough fit. So if anyone has done this swap from a 305 to an LT1, leave a message here on how the hell you crammed everything in, because i think i might do it.

 

Since the LT1 is basically the same physical dimensions as the 305 SBC, I doubt there's any issues about "cramming it in". We ran a "Fastest Stock-style suspension F-Body" event at Englishtown (NJ) a few years back, and the $3,000 in prize money attracted some of the 4th Gen LT1 top dogs like Madman and George Baxter. The money went home in a 3rd Gen with a nitroused LT1. I don't think its a difficult swap.

This should be in "3rd Gen Engine Tech". Moving it there.

 

Yeah...I did it over 5 years ago.

You can check out my site if you'd like any info regarding it.

Eric

 

I did 1.5 LT1 swaps. Mine is still half done. I've got Hedman longtubes and they fit in there fine, took about 10 minutes to install.
I've got a few pics on my site in my sig.

 

I put a ’92 vette LT1 + ZF 6 speed into an ’83 Z28 in ’92 or 93… from what I remember:
- accessories are a non issue with the vette setup, conveniently the ‘vette accessories mount high and fit perfectly, unlike the 4th gen accessories
- I had 3rd gen ends put on the LT1 PS hoses and ends to match the vette AC compressor crimped onto the 3rd gen hoses. Easy/cheap solution, get some high pressure brass barbs and cut both and splice them together
- 4th gen and b-body lt1 exhaust manifolds will fit in the engine bay (I’ve got a set on my L98 right now), and most 3rd gen headers will fit on the LT1. Things to look out for is that the LT1’s have raised D ports and some 3rd gen stuff will block part of the port opening. LT1’s typically use the bolt holes drilled further out on the ends, not all 3rd gen stuff has anything in those locations to bolt to, and I’ve seen LT1 heads that you couldn’t use the inside bolt holes (I’ve heard of them without them, but haven’t seen it). I ended up using the edelbrock TES that was on the car with the LT1
- the flexplate/flywheel/tranny is pretty much the same deal as the ’87-92 3rd gen stuff… getting a ZF into a 3rd gen sucked… there was a bit of hammer work there and had to use an aftermarket TA (at the time GW was the only one).

 

Damn dude, you picked some old posts. Also, I've got a site I'm working on. Still under construction

 

They are tons of people who have done this and it is becoming more common every day, although I haven't actually seen anyone else on the street with one.

At least I have somewhat separated myself from the norm and added a supercharger to mine

 

Not that unique… that car that I was describing got an ATI setup (the vette kit for the year that the engine was out of fit pretty well, besides some IC plumbing issues it was pretty much a bolt in) about 9 months later.

 

GM High Tech Performance has been doing a play-by-play LT1 install into a 3rd gen RS over the past few issues. couldn't hurt to get some back issues, it's interesting reading.

 

Besides the "Oooh and Ahhh" factor, I don't really see the point. Way too much work for too little gain. You only gain in the distributor drag and the reverse cooling which doesn't amount to much. You'd have to bang stuff around to clear and change the entire harness. Now, stock to stock, maybe. However, your money would be better spent in making an L98 work better. Taking an LT1 to the max and an L98 to the same level, it is doubtful you will see more than a 20HP gain out of the LT1. After all, they are both 350 engines.

 

[QUOTE=aklim]Besides the "Oooh and Ahhh" factor, I don't really see the point.

You have a point but he is talking about an RS, not a tpi 350. Same situation I was in. I think I made out pretty well in the cost department. I did all the work(including the harness) myself so I saved a ton. When you start paying other people, the cost vs benefit changes for the worse. I am happy with mine.
Then again, I more than doubled my hp with an engine swap and bolt-ons

 

i've heard of no problems fitting the motor in with f-body lt1's, but for some reason, i've heard of problems with vette lt1's going into 3rd gens.

 

no, other way around. you have to modify the cross-member for the F-Body LT1's, Vette's drop right in.

 

or change the oil pan....

 

It’s not the oil pan that’s the problem, but the location of the AC compressor. There is some weirdness with the engine mounts on that side also. Unlike earlier SBC’s they have 4 bosses cast into the passenger side vs the 3 that most have, but I believe that you can actually bolt an older bracket on using the front 3 bosses if you move some of the accessory brackets