The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1967 - 1972 Chevy/GMC Suburbans & Panels Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-31-2007, 02:54 AM   #1
SUBURBULANCE
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: bOZEMAN, MONTANA
Posts: 8
LT1 conversion into a 1970 C20 ambulance

Hello,
I am relatively new to the board and was looking for some advice on an engine swap. I have a strong running buick road master that I am looking to pull the LT1 out of along with the whole set up and have it installed into our 1970 suburban ambulance. what are some things that i need to consider or common issues that tend to happen.
SUBURBULANCE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2007, 02:03 PM   #2
OldCreek
Registered User
 
OldCreek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Central Coast California
Posts: 1,026
Re: LT1 conversion into a 1970 C20 ambulance

Hi there. Not much info on the engine transplant... but I guess you've got a lot of room in the engine bay for most anything. Sometimes posting in the engine forum may bring results.

Specifically, I wanted to comment on your name/call sign.... That's cool. Almost sound Regal!
__________________
1972 K20 Suburban 5.7/700r4/NP205 Dana 44/H052 Sold
1972 C10 5.3L/4L60E 12bolt 5Lug - Sold
1971 K5 Blazer 6.0L LQ9 4L60E NP205 Dana 44/H052!!!
1970 K3500 1ton CrewCab 8.1L/Allison1000/NP205 Dana 60/14B!!!! - Sold
1984 K10 SWB 7.4L/4L80e/NP208 Corp 10/12 bolt Sold
1988 V30 CCLB 7.4L/TH400/NP205/Dana 60/Dana 70/3.73!!! (Sold)
2003 K2500HD 8.1/Allison1000/NP263
OldCreek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2007, 05:56 PM   #3
oldiron
Designated Grumpy Old Man
 
oldiron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: arlington, washington usa
Posts: 3,092
Re: LT1 conversion into a 1970 C20 ambulance

Welcome to the board. There has been a couple of conversions here. Look around the site and give it some time for folks to find this thread to response.
oldiron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2007, 10:32 AM   #4
BEACON6
RUTHLESS EMS
 
BEACON6's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Elon, NC
Posts: 54
Thumbs up Re: LT1 conversion into a 1970 C20 ambulance

Would love to see a couple pics of your ambulance!!! Got any?
__________________
"The finest steel in the world has to go through the HOTTEST fire..............Bring it if you got IT!!!"
BEACON6 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2007, 10:18 AM   #5
boostat4500
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 346
Re: LT1 conversion into a 1970 C20 ambulance

Hello. I put a Vortec 6.0L ( LS1 ) in my burb a few months ago. Is there anything specific your wondering about the swap, or just general info? What tranny are you using?
__________________
1971 Suburban 4x4, LQ4 6.0L, 4L80E, etc.
boostat4500 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2007, 02:38 PM   #6
SUBURBULANCE
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: bOZEMAN, MONTANA
Posts: 8
Re: LT1 conversion into a 1970 C20 ambulance

The motor is coming out of a buick roadmaster wagon so the tranny will be a 4160e. As for the info, I am mainly looking for any other things to consider. I am not sure if I am going to have the time to do it myself so I might be turning it over to a shop/
SUBURBULANCE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2007, 07:04 PM   #7
Pyrotechnic
Registered User
 
Pyrotechnic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 3,930
Re: LT1 conversion into a 1970 C20 ambulance

From what I've read on many LT1 swap, you usually have to cut small notch out of the frame if you want to use the LT1 A/C compressor in it's stock location. Also consider replacing the Optispark unit with MSD pieces as they are much more reliable.

Is the Buick Roadmaster in good shape? Something else to consider is selling the car complete and putting that money towards a LS Engine like a 5.3 or 6.0 and a 4L60E. Usually you can buy engine, trans, computer, and wiring harness complete. Just seems like if you are going to go through the trouble of an engine swap and fuel injection conversion, the LS motor will be much better than the LT1.

For a low buck, low time investment deal, a standard carbureted small block will be the easiest and least time consuming. If you want fuel injection, TBI is a fairly simple setup and parts at this point are pretty cheap.
Pyrotechnic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2007, 03:57 PM   #8
boostat4500
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 346
Re: LT1 conversion into a 1970 C20 ambulance

I second the notion of doing an LS based motor instead. If your going throught the trouble anyway, I'd definetley put something really nice in there. The extra 100+ horsepower will also make it worth it. As far as doing the swap, yes the frame will need to be notched a little for the A/C compressor. I would also recomend completely gutting the engine bay of all old wiring before you do anything. It won't be needed anyway and just gets in the way.
__________________
1971 Suburban 4x4, LQ4 6.0L, 4L80E, etc.
boostat4500 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2007, 09:43 AM   #9
Hart_Rod
*************
 
Hart_Rod's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 17,837
Re: LT1 conversion into a 1970 C20 ambulance

Here's a link to an LT-1 Conversion:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=52057

I've got one out of a 97 Camaro in my 48 Chevy. Tones of power and low end torque. I'm putting this in my 69 Burb, 5.3/4L60E (only 10 miles ).
Attached Images
  

Last edited by Hart_Rod; 04-08-2007 at 09:43 AM.
Hart_Rod is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2007, 01:46 PM   #10
67Cowboy
"GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!"
 
67Cowboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: What use to be a free country
Posts: 184
Wink Re: LT1 conversion into a 1970 C20 ambulance

Quote:
Originally Posted by SUBURBULANCE View Post
Hello,
I am relatively new to the board and was looking for some advice on an engine swap. I have a strong running buick road master that I am looking to pull the LT1 out of along with the whole set up and have it installed into our 1970 suburban ambulance. what are some things that i need to consider or common issues that tend to happen.
This question has been asked several times before, so a search should give you a couple options here on the board. There is a web site about your engine, mostly Camero guys but there is alot of info, you'll find a link in one of the threads. Also that site has alot of links to info on the ignition system swap, A/C brackets, etc... I looked at it because I wanted to know what the swap would be like from my 283/350TH in my '67 because I heard of guys getting 28 mpg which would be about a 40% increase for me and in the long run would pay for itself easily.
67Cowboy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:30 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com