I have a totaled 94 impala ss at my disposal because of a dumba$$ old guy blowing a stop sign. Anyways in order to minimize downtime of my new car a
'96 z28 with a six speed, I wanted to take the lt1 from the impala and port the heads as well as put a larger cam and headers on it. I am working on a pretty tight budget and was wondering if anyone had some ideas to get the most power for my money, as well as let me know if their are any potential complications with this swap other than having the obd II reprogrammed and using the old crank sensor.

Thanks for your input

 

The waterpump is gonna be different and the wiring harness. Rest of the motor is the same old LT1.

 

Use your wiring and waterpump or a new one. The b-body LT1 shortblock is the same as an f-body so do not pay a premium for "Impala SS" parts you can VERY often get an LT1 out of a Roadmaster for several hundred less and have it be less abused.
The iron heads are considered by most to be bad or not worth messing with but that is due to ignorance more than anything else they flow more than the 95 and down aluminums and as well as the aluminums on your motor. The actual downside of them is the pressed studs and weight. Some guys have gone damn fast with them but 95% of this forum will tell you to stay away.
Don't mistake this for a completely pro iron statement either as I have aluminums that after porting will be going on my Caprice.

 

Just to make engine hunting easier the Roadmaster sedan and wagon as well as the Fleetwood, and the Caprice wagon got the LT1 standard again same exact engine as the Impala and same bottomend as the f-body. It was optional in the Caprice be it civilian or 9C1(police car) most of the civilian LT1 cars had the tow package which includes a mechanical fan, the 9C1s got electric fans. There was a 4.3L version of the LT1 used in some Caprices be they civilian or 9C1 known as the L99 it can be identified by 4300 behind the drivers head or 588 on the drivers side of the block. The LT1 will say 5700 and 327 in these spots.

 

thanks guys, i already have the impala, it was my baby and now I am trying to make the best use of the parts i have from it. Like I said I am working on a budget and I do not want to have my car down for a real long time hence the reason I am going to use the heavier iron heads. I should be able to make plenty of power with these to make up for the 40lbs or so extra weight, although if i decide to get some patience I will use the aluminums. I guess my main question is in the area of the cam and intake, and what the best options would be.

 

Make sure you are using the correct knock sensor if the motors are different production years. Also, you need to move the coolant temp sensor on the impala LT1 to the drivers side and be sure to plug that hole....you can reuse the plug from the drivers side (with new sealant) that you are replacing the sensor with.

 

Intake manifolds are identical, cam has less duration than f-body, if I remember correctly the duration is 191/194 @ .05 111 LSA.