What to do?? LS2 or Big Block for my project

[jkade]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

You got off cheap & you know it. Why? Because you've done it before. It's alot easier to shave costs when you know all the ins/outs of swapping a certain combo (which harness, which electronics; where to get cheap motors of good/reputable quality, etc....). Most of the general public (read members of this forum) can easily spend 3K when just doing a typical sbc.

I love ls1's. I love the power, reliability, & economy (if you can manage to keep your foot out of it ). So tell us: How did you swap in a LS motor for "about 3K"?

Spread the knowledge!

Well first thing you have to do is buy a motor, doesn't have to be a ls1 you can get a 4.8, 5.3, 6.0, or a 5.7. Places to find one, ebay, ls1tech, ls1.com, performancetrucks.net, ls1truck.com, craigslist, local buy sell paper, car-part.com,etc. You can find a 4.8 or 5.3 for as little as $400 to $600 bucks without a trans if you look on them sites and keep your eyes open. If you already have a good th350 or th400 you can use them also to save some green. The low down on what I did is like this. The 4.8 and 4l60e was had for $600 bucks, had the block bored to a 5.7 bore, bought used piston, rods, and crank, had the crank polished, bought a used cam, ported my own heads, bought used starter, bought used accessories, did my own harness, bought bolts, gaskets, and bearings that I could off ls1tech that people had bought and didn't use, bought used pushrods, keep in mind the used stuff had low mileage, bought the speedo and tach off ebay for about 1/2 cost used. Now don't go thinking that just becasue you are going to run EFI that you will have to change your gas tank, I am running the stock tank. I took the sending unit out, went to the parts store and bought me some 3/8 steel brake line and made my pickup out of that and got a pickup screen off the shelf at the parts store for it also. I them welded the pickup in the hole I drilled and bent it to fit. I used the blue EFI hoses from summit for my feed, walbro 255 inline pump from ebay that was $110 shipped, corvette filter/regulator that return through the stock pickup tube. Motors mounts: made my own adapter plates and I found the template off the conversions and hybrids on ls1.tech (do a search), I then used new stock style clam shell mounts and stands. For the trans crossmember I cut the factory one in the middle and stepped it down so the tailshaft sits right at the top of the crossmember. I also used the factory shifter, you may have to move it back a little but it is working in my truck. For the radiator I found a ls1 camaro radiator and fans and made them work with little effort on the radiator and the fans will plug right into a fbody harness. One the power steering pump just get a hose or use the old stock hose and then get a new style hoses and have them put together at a shop and that is done. I know I am forgetting some stuff.
You can make your factory guages work and if you use a th350 or 400 so will the speedo.
The conversion on the harness is not bad, go to wal-mart and spend $20 bucks on one of those lable makers and lable every wire you need and then cut out what you don't. Get you a couple of those painless 3 or 4 fuse blocks with the relays and use them to power the harness. You can buy the relays off ebay and get ten of them with the pigtails for like $20 shipped. Look here for info on wiring, fuel, motor mounts, etc
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312119

Check out this thread also.
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=818862

Like I said on the gas tank, everyone says it needs to be baffled but I have had zero problems with mine.

There is a book we have at the shop that has all the torque specs, how to port a oil pump, tells about the motors, heads, etc anyone building or doing anything to one of these motors needs this book. GM Performance Parts "LS1 Engine Kit Installation Guide" this is very helpful.

I know mine may not look like a $6000 motor and install but it does the same thing if I would have spent the other $3000. If anyone needs any more info in specific just ask. This was my first install on one of these motors but I did have a little help from my dad who has done a few but I feel that I could have done it myself and it might have just took a little longer. As many of us that have done one on here there is no reason why some of you can't too becasue all of use will be willing to help answer questions.