motodog

i was on fleebay and seen some lt5 engines and my small mind started thinking. i bet some forum members have done it.

mnstrlt1

there is word that this swap has been performed, but only a handful of times. the general response is that the swap is VERY expensive, and with the soft market, you can find a true ZR1 (possibly a driver) for less than $15,000.

mnstrlt1

engine swap "best bang for the buck".... LS-x based v8's....

the LM7 is VERY affordable! It's the 5.3L v8 with the iron block, and produces about 285-295 crank hp

the LM4 also makes abuot the same power

the L33 is the alloy block version of the LM7, but is harder to find

the LY5 is the "new" 5.3L (2007+) and produces something like 315 crank horsepower

These engines, with low miles, can be found for less than $1,000, and if you do some research some can be found for as little as $500 dollars!

if you stick with the automatic consider the 4L60E, also can be found VERY cheap, and VERY strong, and the combination would yield a very fun and cost effective engine swap!


BTW,

the LQ9 is the 6.0L all alloy v8 that produces a ton of torque and something like 365 crank horsepower. These are a bit more expensive, like $1,500-1,800

all you need is to swap an f-body/corvette intake manifold on it and all these engines look identical to the LS1/LS2/Ls6 etc

coupeguy2001

There were a few factory installs in non ZR-1 cars at Barrett-Jackson auction. They were pretty cool. They were given to department heads back in the early 90's

92ZR1WANNABE

Not worth it imo.

Options

1. Buy a LT1 car for less then that swap.

2. Buy a LSx and swapp that in.

3. Stick with a GenI smallblock , sink money into it and make it sick fast.

Any of those 3 will yield better results for cheaper.

Pwnage1337

I would go for an LSX. There is way more support for them, they make assloads of power very easily

ndanl

what is LSX ?

aboatguy

Best known was Tim Taylers LT5 Impala SS

http://www.depanorama.net/impala/111.htm


I would skip the LT5 swap

If you want 375-425 CHP mod your current engine or stick with Gen I

If you want bigger streetable power LSX starts to make sense

aboatguy

Common way to express the LS1-----LS9 and the myriad truck variants of GMs SBC replacement

MK 82

How much is an "assload?"

Mojave

Read a magazine article, they took an LQ4 6.0L low compression truck engine from a junkyard, 100K+ miles. Put on L92 heads (LS3, Escalde L92, very affordable straight from GM) and a healthy cam, and made 550 crank horse power on an engine dyno. No ported heads, no bottom end rebuild, and this was a low compression engine from one of the millions of 2500HD trucks that got a 6.0L engine. 550 CHP is an assload on factory unported heads IMO.

Pwnage1337

That's an assload

RC000E

Well, to just elaborate on this a bit for sh*ts I have some questions on the subject.

Put aside the cost, other options, etc for a minute. Let's just talk facts. Do the trannies bolt up, what are the mounting differences, what are the true difficulties involved...wiring/electronics ASIDE. Also, is this swap theoretically easier in a 6 speed car?

mnstrlt1

I am sure more will chime in, hopefully some with actual hands on experience.

the transmission bolt pattern is the same. From there back everything is the same. The computer is different on the two platforms, the LT5 platform also has a key opperated device to go from 8 injectors to 16 (i.e. "Valet" mode, or "full power").

The air-conditioning box on the passenger side has a different housing for the Lt5's to clear the valve covers.

the intake assembly (at leas the box) is "probably" the same, but the link between the box and the TB is different as the LT5 has a larger TB.

I do believe the engine mounts are also the same.

The physical transplant is not the problem. it's typically the cost involved for the end-result that deters most that have considered this swap.

the suspension geometry is the same on both platforms.

the LT5 (Zr1) cars are wider in the back, as well as a few other associated cosmetic differences.

Bill at Zfdoc.com was going to swap an Lt5 into his 89' 6-speed vette', which is equipped with the Lt5 as well. Although after much thought (and having the LT5 ready to go) he decided to go down the Ls-x swap route.

I would call him to pick his brain. he's an incredibly analytical person, and would have a great deal of information for you regarding this swap.

The input shaft on the tramission is different!

Cost of modifications is ASTRONOMICAL

I do not believe any LT5 (even the protoypes) ever came with an automatic.

RC000E

For me in particular, coming from motors with pentroof chambers and 4 valves/cyl, the motor simply appeals to me as a result of its design. Certainly money spent elsewhere on an LSx or just simply put into the stock LTx or L98 will produce more power, but sometimes certain small details get me motivated/excited...lol.

That's interesting about the valet mode. I always knew about its existence, but never knew how they actually designed it to work.

EDIT: Yikes! Looked on ebay myself and only found one motor....for 8 grand.... I thought these motors went for 4000-5000 here and there.

pr0zac

waste of money.. you could easily build a sbc that would run circles around a stock lt5. D-1SC FTW

TheCorvetteKid

Wrong! The ZF6 transmissions on LT5 cars, while they had the same designation (and bolt pattern) as L98/LT1 cars, they had shorter input shafts. So to perform a swap like this you'd have to get a ZR1/LT5 specific ZF6 transmission.

This swap has been considered before (as mentioned, Bill at the ZFDoc was in the midst of this swap) but very few have ever gone through with it. It is incredibly expensive (especially considering that LT5 parts are becoming more and more rare to find too) when you take into account all the 'ZR1 specific' parts needed (ie. ECU, wire harness, engine, transmission, etc...), it would prove less expensive to find a clean ZR1.

motodog

the one i found on ebay was engine trans and harness complete and it went for close to 4grand

abc 123

The LT5 had a longer input shaft, the L98/LT1 cars had a shorter shaft.

TheCorvetteKid

I stand corrected.

Regardless, the shaft length was different on LT5 vs. L98/LT1 cars, requiring that a LT5/ZR1 specific transmission would be needed. That was my point.