Carb LT1 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Chris' 86 · 04-20-2012, 06:02 PM

A friend of mine is going to give me an LT1. It's ready to build just need pistons and gasket kit. I am thinking about putting a carb on it, but just trying to figure out what I would need to do fuel injection. He is giving me the intake and throttle body with it, but he doesn't have the wiring or the computer. How much work and what kind of costs are associated with it. I am putting it in an 86 C10 that has a carb. I think a $300 intake will be easier and cheaper. What do y'all think.

77c10 · 04-20-2012, 10:59 PM

I have a 95 LT1 in my truck and it is carbed. I bought the truck with the motor already in it. You will more than likely have to use a radiator that is specific to the motor. The radiator in my truck is from a 95 Z-28. Also, unless it is out of a corvette, all of the accessories will be mounted on the passenger side of the motor. You will need to notch the frame to clear the ac pulley or ac delete pulley depending on what you are running. Just a few things to consider. I love my motor, it makes tons of powerbut if I had my wish there would be a big block or 1st gen small block in it. Feel free to pm me if you have any other questions or would like some pics of my setup.

lilpoindexter · 04-21-2012, 03:23 PM

The LT1 was cool until the LS engines became so easily available.

Firebirdjones · 04-21-2012, 05:06 PM

I've done a few LT1 swaps, they were all fuel injection. This was back when tuning software wasn't so hard to get. To go fuel injection you'll need a computer and harness obviously. Most guys are ditching the opti and going with an LS computer and coil per cylinder ignition, really makes these engines run night and day difference and then you can use todays software to tune it (EFI Live or HPtuners). It's all expensive though.

My opinion anymore on them is to ditch the fuel injection and go carb to simplify everything. These engines are still capable of running a rear mounted distributor once the intake is changed over to a conventional carb, distributor drops right in. (cam still has the drive gear back there for it too) Then you can remove the opti stuff and cap off the hole in the timing cover.

After that is done then you basically have a gen 1 sbc but with reverse flow cooling and vortec style cylinder heads. Actually the popular vortec sbc heads are patterned off of the LT1 head with conventional cooling for the gen 1 stuff.

04-20-2012, 06:02 PM	#1
Chris' 86 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Centerville, GA Posts: 20	Carb LT1 A friend of mine is going to give me an LT1. It's ready to build just need pistons and gasket kit. I am thinking about putting a carb on it, but just trying to figure out what I would need to do fuel injection. He is giving me the intake and throttle body with it, but he doesn't have the wiring or the computer. How much work and what kind of costs are associated with it. I am putting it in an 86 C10 that has a carb. I think a $300 intake will be easier and cheaper. What do y'all think.

04-20-2012, 10:59 PM	#2
77c10 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Gallatin, TN Posts: 782	Re: Carb LT1 I have a 95 LT1 in my truck and it is carbed. I bought the truck with the motor already in it. You will more than likely have to use a radiator that is specific to the motor. The radiator in my truck is from a 95 Z-28. Also, unless it is out of a corvette, all of the accessories will be mounted on the passenger side of the motor. You will need to notch the frame to clear the ac pulley or ac delete pulley depending on what you are running. Just a few things to consider. I love my motor, it makes tons of powerbut if I had my wish there would be a big block or 1st gen small block in it. Feel free to pm me if you have any other questions or would like some pics of my setup. __________________ 77 C10, 6.0LS/4L80E, 3:73 12 bolt. Boss 338's 20" x 10" w/ 285/50/20 rear. 20" x 8.5" w/ 245/40/20 front. Vintage Air. Full Autometer gauges recessed in factory bezel (Thanks bigblock73!) Gm Storm Grey Metallic paint "Cool ain't ever cheap and cheap ain't ever cool"

04-21-2012, 03:23 PM	#3
lilpoindexter Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: los angeles Posts: 1,132	Re: Carb LT1 The LT1 was cool until the LS engines became so easily available.

04-21-2012, 05:06 PM	#4
Firebirdjones Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Prescott, Arizona Posts: 2,396	Re: Carb LT1 I've done a few LT1 swaps, they were all fuel injection. This was back when tuning software wasn't so hard to get. To go fuel injection you'll need a computer and harness obviously. Most guys are ditching the opti and going with an LS computer and coil per cylinder ignition, really makes these engines run night and day difference and then you can use todays software to tune it (EFI Live or HPtuners). It's all expensive though. My opinion anymore on them is to ditch the fuel injection and go carb to simplify everything. These engines are still capable of running a rear mounted distributor once the intake is changed over to a conventional carb, distributor drops right in. (cam still has the drive gear back there for it too) Then you can remove the opti stuff and cap off the hole in the timing cover. After that is done then you basically have a gen 1 sbc but with reverse flow cooling and vortec style cylinder heads. Actually the popular vortec sbc heads are patterned off of the LT1 head with conventional cooling for the gen 1 stuff.



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