I have an opportunity to buy a 60K mile LT1 from a Caprice Police car. Looked at the engine today, looks great. Crosshatching still in the cylinders, guy was going to convert it into a carburetor engine in a project car.

My only concern is that the hub that is part of the balancer is totally different from what is on my 96 Z28.

I'm thinking that the hubs are different between car models, but the cranks are all the same inside. Same goes with the rear main seal.

Am I correct in my thinking???? I can't believe GM would change things that much between engines.

Don't want to buy this thing and end up with a boat anchor.

Thanks!!

 

Yes, the hubs are different lengths. Use the one that matches the year and model of belt driven accessories.

APPLICATION.............................. OVERALL LENGTH
92-95 Corvette, 93-95 Camaro/Firebird 3.519"
96 Corvette, 96-97 Camaro/Firebird 3.419"
94-95 Impala/Roadmaster/Caprice 4.09"
96 Impala/Roadmaster/Caprice 3.99"

Nothing else you mention is different.

 

Same cam between the two?

 

No, the b-body cams are designed for a little lower RPMs and more torque at those RPMs for the heavier car.

 

Shoe box. is it the accessories or the bracket that holds them the difference?

 

All I know is the accy bracket is not the same.

 

So I guess I can swap the cam from my engine into this one.

Thanks for the help!!!

 

Are you planning to use the B-body's cast iron heads?

 

No...I'm planning to use the aluminum heads that are on the car now. Should I stay with the iron heads, and keep the engine as is?

 

Ok, that makes sense, so you change the crank hub or the bracket and all the accessories bolt up the same. Thanks

 

Your choice on the heads. The cast iron heads flow better, but can't run as high compression ratio, and they weigh more. They would be harder to port than the sluminum heads.

 

If you're gonna put a B-body LT1 into a F-body, you'll need to swap the hub.....AND.....the accessory bracket.


Simply put.....you may want to stick with your plan to use the aluminum heads.

KW

 

If you decide on the iron heads/cam try to match the rear end gears of the police vehicle for expected results and similar tuning. But first make sure that LT1 is not the L99(4.3). The 5.7 has 327 cast on the side of block.

 

John95....you just scared the crap outta me!!!!

Ran out to my garage right after reading you're reply and made sure it had 327 on the engine where you said......says 5.7L on rear cast flange too...

Shooo!!! Had me sweating there for a second.

I'm sticking with the heads, cam from my 96 Z28...swapping them over...

Thanks all for your input!! I appreciate your input.

 

Ok...I've calmed down enough to write this post.

Took the heads off this engine to check the cylinders, and as luck would have it, the #1 cylinder has small traces of rust on the surface of the bore from water or anti-freeze that got inside.

Figures. Now I'm a quagmire again.

Being that I'm trying to fix a bent crank, could I just replace the crank from this motor to the one in my car without balancing issues?? I know I'll have to buy new bearings and measure things out.

I'm at the point if this doesn't work, I'm going to send this car off a cliff.