LT1 ino 96+

Just wondering if anyone has replaced their Vortec 5.7L with a LT1. I am looking to go the LT1 route. I was wondering how you guys got your gauges to work and if you continued to use your 4L60E with the LT1 computer. Was this a tough swap to get working right? Would I still be able to have cruise control? I'm not worried about mounting, just the wiring and making everything work. Should I look into the Painless LT1 harness or would I be better off getting my stock harness and LT1 harness made into one? Any and all help would be appreciated. Thanks

Dan

I had a 93 LT1 in my 92 C1500. It was a simple swap. Regular headers fit fine. I used the stock Corvette wiring harness with a few mods and a chip burned by Street and Performance to delete smog junk and the VATS logic removed. It ran very well. Can't say I would do an LT1 again after doing the LS1. Just the cost of replacing water pumps and ignition units makes me want to :puke:

How did you get your gauges to work and stuff? Was it pretty simple? I wouldn't mind going LS1, but I don't think I can afford one. Also, was your truck 4wd?

used the stock factory gauges without any issues. They are analog, not digital. Screwed the stock water temp gauge in the block and tee'd in the oil pressure gauge into the stock location. It was just all too easy. Even the cruise control would work after tapping into the speedo wiring. You can get an LS1 for the same or lower price of a LT1. Parts are harder to find for the LT1. LS1s are much more common hence cheaper parts and easily located. There are so many LS1 based engines available....4.8, 5.3 and 6.0 truck engines, LS1 5.7 aluminum block from Corvette, Camaro, Firebird and GTO, LS2 from GTO and Corvette, LS6 from Corvette, one of the Cadillacs has an LS1 based engine, also. The sheer numbers will help your prices and availability. Contact a local salvage yard. A 5.3 or 6.0 should be quite affordable. I paid $1400 + tax for a complete 98 LS1 with 4L60E. Check around and also consider that the LT1 was only available from 92 - 97, 6 years only. 97+ Corvettes are LS1, LS2 or LS6.

What about cooling? Did you use a stock radiator? How did you route your hoses? I ended up getting a LT1 from a 'vette. I have just about everything, gotta pick up and water pump and a opti LOL

I used the stock truck radiator. The steam port is important to get vented properly. The heater hoses are pretty straight fwd. There are two sizes of hose outlets on the pump that fit the std hose sizes. I had a Corvette LT1 also. The accessories work perfectly with my 92 truck. Pretty much everything bolted right in, including the power steering hoses.

Do you have any pics of that stuff? I will not see how stuff was routed in the 'vette, so I'm going to have to figure it all out with some tips and guess work. Yours is probably about the same, mine is a '96 with a Vortec. Not to many people on here is there? Thanks for your replies!

I trashed the LT1 in favor of an LS1 two years ago. I don't have pics of the stuff installed in the 92. I only have pics of my engine on the stand after R&R for the LS1.

I picked up an LT1 from a '94 vette. Will have wiring harness and all accessories too. It seemed like a fairly cheap way to go and I also have a little experience with the LT1 from my '97 TA. If you don't mind, could you email me the pics of your engine after being removed from the truck? That may even be useful. Thanks

email is rgs455@nauticom.net

YGM. All the photos of my 106K engine.

What is YGM? Thanks for the pics. I can at leat tell where the rad hoses go, and I know where all the accessories are located now. I probably won't have my motor in my hands for a week or so as it is being shipped from Cali. How long did it take you to get your truck up and running?

I came up with another question. What to do for AC lines?

YGM = You've Got Mail

A/C hoses will have to be custom built. You'll want a high head pressure cutoff switch welded inline, also.

As I've stated before, go LS1 if you can find someone to buy your LT1. Street rodders love them. You'll have far less headaches with an LS1 type engine.

It took me three weeks to convert mine and I did all the work myself except burning the custom chip.

Okay, coming down off my high-horse.

The LT1 is about the only thing I can do. The parents are already disappointed that I built a 383 stroker for the truck and made to much compression and too much cam to get enough fuel to it through stock FI. So now I have to sell that. We figured we would just got LT1. It's a 4x4 truck so if I were to go LS1 I'd probablt have to get a transfer case too. They'd be pissed if I wanted to sell the LT setup for a LS. I'm not worried about it, it will be a good setup hopefully. The LT1 in my Trans Am is great. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to use a LS1. It's just not an option right now.

I want to get my truck running with this LT1 in it by Thanksgiving. Is this an impossible goal? Keep in mind I may not have it for another days.

First thing you will need is a chip for the PCM with the VATS disabled. If it has OBD 1 you'll need that. Contact Street and Performance and they'll fill you in on the details(www.hotrodlane.cc). When evaluating the wire harness, connect orange wires to hot all time connections and pink wires to switched 12v connections. Black or black with white stripes will be grounds. Tee in your factory oil pressure guage into the LT1 fitting. The OBS water temp sensor screws right into the head. You'll need a high volume/high pressure pump. I used the 93 Corvette stock pump in mine. Be sure you use hose made for fuel injection to connect the pump to the intake steel hose and use stainless steel hose clamps on the hose in the tank. If you don't get the factory fuel hoses on the engine you'll have to get you some quick connects at the auto part store. One is 5/16" and the other is 3/8".

You'll have to go through your factory harness and graft it to the LT1 unless you buy a Painless or S&P harness.

Done by Thanksgiving? Maybe, but I doubt it. If you have no job and nothing but time, maybe.

FWIW, in TX you can't put an older engine in a vehicle and expect to pass vehicle inspections. Only same year and newer. I'd check with your local laws before attempting the transplant or you'll be doing it again.

Do you think a Painless harness would be 100% plug and play, or do you think there would still be some small hurdles? How hard is it to graph two harnesses together? I don't have a job, and I do school on the internet (senior in high school). So I got time. I just wish I had the stuff so I could get started at it. I can't do anything right now I guess. I kind of doubt I will have it done in time for Thanksgiving... it sure would be nice though. I will have it mounted by then for sure. The wiring will probably be what holds me back.

See the previous post about inspection legality before going any further. You do want to drive it don't you?


Can you take your stroker pistons out and have them cut to reduce compression or just buy you a set of pistons made for low compression 383s that are used in turbo and blower applications?

I talked to the garage I normally get my vehicles inspected at and it is OK as long as I have the same emissions equipment (EGR, cats, etc.). I could do that, but I just want to get away from the Vortec spider injection system. I already bought the LT1, I have to stick to it.

Sounds like time to get wrenching, then. If you want it done by Turkey day you're going to have to hustle. You might want to have S&P send you a DVD of how to do the conversion. You may be able to do without it but it couldn't hurt. I have a friend that we put my old LT1 into his 90 C1500. I'll see if he wants to help you out with any other information. While waiting for the engine, you can swap fuel pumps and pull the old engine or are you driving it with the 383 in there right now?

I'm driving it right now, but I could swap fuel pumps. Would a fuel pump from a LT1 F body work? Could you by chance get me a link to that DVD? Thanks

Go to www.hotrodlane.cc and download their 2006 catalog or view it online. It's at the bottom right corner of page 69. Under $20 for the video. Awesome price!

Well Turkey day is tomorrow and still no motor. Finally got a tracking number and it won't be here till Monday :( I will probably be using a Painless harness. Do you know if my stock throttle cables will work with ome custom brackets?

I am not sure of the length of the Vortec cable. My TBI cable was way too short. The dealership should be able to get you one from a mid 90s Impala that fits really nice. I just picked up one for a 98 camaro for $18.

NEWS NEWS NEWS

I got my motor today and I am pumped. It is really clean looking and the fluids are very clean... you know, red transmission fluid, tan oil, the stuff that makes you feel good LOL. I was going to buy a Painless wiring harness... but after thinking, I would probably have to graph my harnesses together in order for EVERYTHING to work right such as the pushbutton 4wd, the blower motor, AC, gauges, cruise control, etc. Would you agree that graphing them together would be the ony choice if I want all to work right? I am ready to do this, can't wait to get the project started.

BTW, did you use an Impala CC cable or just an Impala throttle cable? What I mean is will I need both cables from the Impala or just one. Thanks!

You'll want both cables from the Impala. Just be sure who you buy them from will accept them back if you need to try a shorter one from an F-body.

So what do you think about the wiring?

I got a question about the power steering lines. Mine is missing one. It is missing the one that is on the passenger side of the reservoir. Can you tell me which line that is, and where it is supposed to go to? I need to get one. Thanks

Get the factory original Corvette line. It will screw right into the C1500 gear box inlet. There are two sizes so don't worry about mixing them up.

This is going pretty well. I started installing the wiring harness today, but didn't have much time so I didn't get that far on it. I will hopefully have this done in the next few days which seems very doable as long as I don't run into anything too time consuming. I do however need some help with venting the steam port. What can I do? How did you do yours? I will NOT be running the coolant through the throttle body as done from the factory. Thanks again for your help.

Dan

I teed into the return line from the heater hoses. just get a piece of pipe the same size as the heater hose and braze a hose barb or nipple onto it, cut the original heater hose and fit it into position. If your radiator has a heater hose return port then you could plumb it in there. My old rad didn't have the nipple but my new one does. Oh yeah, it's not the one that goes to the overflow bottle.

RedHeartbeat can you hook me up with some pics? cadillacthischevy2001@yahoo.com im only a few weeks away from starting the swap

Thanks for the pics any installed pics?

Nope. I did that install about 10 years ago. The pics of the engine were after I pulled it out to install an LS1. Do you need any other information about the LT1? What year engine do you plan to install? Is it out of a Corvette, F-body, or Impala?

Motor is from a 93 firebird and its going into a 91? or 95? Silverado or GMC

Hey guys! I'm back!

I've had this thing up and running since sometime before Christmas.. don't remember the exact date. I've been pretty busy since and haven't worked on her untill today. I still have a few things to work on, although it runs great.

-I have a bad front crankshaft seal oil leak that I have to fix
-I need to know what kind of relays to use for my cooling fans (universal flex-a-lite)
-I need to hook up my speedo
-I need to hook up the voltmeter
-My alternator will not charge the battery. This is probably because I have 3 white wires coming from the alternator that are not hooked up to anything. I need a 1994 Corvette charging and starting system wiring diagram.


Anyone wanna shed some light on this? Redheartbeat? Thanks!!!


Got any questions about the swap guys? I can help too now that I did it. And it really wasn't bad at all.

I should have that. I'll look tonight.
I use standard Bosch relays for my fans. Use the wiring diagram for fans from the GM manual. Works great.
One word of caution when removing the front pulley, use some kind of pusher rod that will clear the thread ID and bottoms out in the hole. The puller will not remove the pulley if you pull against what looks like the flat end of the crankshaft. I've seen guys break pullers trying to remove it incorrectly.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fergymoto &#064; Jan 26 2006, 09&#58;09 AM) [snapback]42315[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

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Hey guys&#33; I&#39;m back&#33;

I&#39;ve had this thing up and running since sometime before Christmas.. don&#39;t remember the exact date. I&#39;ve been pretty busy since and haven&#39;t worked on her untill today. I still have a few things to work on, although it runs great.

-I have a bad front crankshaft seal oil leak that I have to fix
-I need to know what kind of relays to use for my cooling fans (universal flex-a-lite)
-I need to hook up my speedo
-I need to hook up the voltmeter
-My alternator will not charge the battery. This is probably because I have 3 white wires coming from the alternator that are not hooked up to anything. I need a 1994 Corvette charging and starting system wiring diagram.
Anyone wanna shed some light on this? Redheartbeat? Thanks&#33;&#33;&#33;
Got any questions about the swap guys? I can help too now that I did it. And it really wasn&#39;t bad at all.
[/b]

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Hmm thanks. You always come through :thumb:

The only LT1 related manual I have is a Haynes manual that I have used on my Trans Am. I should be fine with that though, I imagine the fan relay wiring will be the same for both cars. The charging and starting system wiring diagram is a different story though, I can&#39;t find it anywhere online and none of my local parts stores had the manual. If you got that diagram I&#39;ll be pumped :rock:



I went to get the new truck inspected yesterday... needs &#036;1,500 worth of work and parts to pass&#33; 2003 Chevy 2500HD. That motivated me to get this thing done ASAP. I can&#39;t afford that right now and I have no transportation till I get my Corvetterado done.

I&#39;m back&#33; What have you guys been up to? I ended up getting the truck running and driving, then it needed some work and I didn&#39;t have the money to invest into it so it has been off the road with no insurance since May. Right now I am swapping an NV3500 into it. 4L60E has blown too many times.

What happened did you all die or something? Where you at?&#33;

We&#39;re all here still. Had a close brush with death but cheated it this time around. What are you needing help with?