My wife wants a Vette. We've settled on a late 70s and I'm shopping for a project car and maping out a rebuild plan. I want to pull the stock gen I smallblock and drop in an LT1/A4 set-up. I figure it will pretty much bolt in but was wondering if anyone knew anyone who did it or what problems I might run into.

 

I think you should probably upgrade the rear end, and should get a 98+ driveshaft.

 

From an engine and trans standpoint it is a bolt in swap. You will have to use the early style motor mounts and GM was kind enough to cast and tap those on the block! You most likely will have to do a tiny bit of fab work for the trans mount depending on what the origiona car had in it. Sanderson makes some d-port headers that are center style exit for a reasonable price. The AC compressor is low on the LT1 motor and you may have to do a touch of clearencing on the frame for that depending on the year. The hardest part to the swap will be wiring. Make sure you get a uncut harness with the engine and it will make life much easier. I would think if you got a new / aftermarket radiator for the year you are working on and add a electric fan it would be all good. I think an Lt1 is the best thing that could happen to one of the old vettes. Good luck

 

Go out to the Corvetteforum.com and then go to the C3 section. There are several guys that have done that conversion.

 

Not really worried about the durability of the rear because my wife will be the primary driver and it will have an A4 trans. It will also never see the strip. I'm not building it up too much either, planning on using a set of Loyds heads and a CC304 or simular cam to keep running smooth. The wife loves the power of my CC305 but thinks the idle is too rough.

I've also thought about throwing Vortec heads on the existing engine with an older TPI set-up. I don't like this idea as much, but it would be easier.