LT1/4L60 SWAP into the 65

[Hillbilly Deluxe 65]

has this been done by anyone on here, a few pictures and a good idea of what has to be changed would be great, my previous drive train is 400/th 350

[chris6499]

im in the process now not to bad of an install i have left the turbo 350 in for now will change it after i get any bugs worked out the last thing i have left is a fuel system and then hope my wiring is ok of you have any questions let me know i will try to get some pics up of it

[Captainfab]

Asside from the wiring for the injection and the trans, and the plumbing for the injection, it isn't much different than your previous engine. One thing about the LT1/LT4's is they have a reverse cooling system in the block and heads as compared to a standard small block. I'm not sure if that requires a different configuration radiator or not. Might be something to check into.

*Edit* one more thing, the trans will have a electronic speed sensor that needs to be there for the ECM to read, but that doesn't give you the needed drive for a mechanical speedo. I believe there is an adapter of some sort to give you a mechanical drive as well as the electric signal.

[1964C10]

Word of advice, don't ever get water on the optispark, it is an expensive fix! So no washing your engine with water or anything like that. If you need to do anything with the water pump or thermostat housing, drain everything really really really good. I can't stress this enough, these optisparks are extremely water intrusion prone.

[toms84ss]

What are you guys using for a throttle cable? Did you go aftermarket or actually bend up a long rod for the linkage?

[tommys66]

check out www.lt1swap.com there is alot of good info

[dave69]

Originally Posted by chris6499

im in the process now not to bad of an install i have left the turbo 350 in for now will change it after i get any bugs worked out the last thing i have left is a fuel system and then hope my wiring is ok of you have any questions let me know i will try to get some pics up of it

I am just getting all the things I need to do a swap into my 69 C10 I am installing a 96 LT4 from a Vette. I am staying with the TH350 for now. Maybe you can help. What did you do for your throttle and kick down set up? I need to turn the air intake for room for the K&N filter. I have the Vette Rad but want to keep the stock one.I want to run my headers w/ O2 buns. Do has any thoughts have you finished yours and do you have pictures? Thanks Dave

[LT1 Burb]

It is not that hard to do but if you are on a budget it is a little more difficult. You need to get the entire wiring harness and ecem from the donor car. I built my own harness as they wanted around 900.00 for them, to do this you need the wiring manual from the car the motor came from. Throttle cable is from Lokar as is the kickdown cable.

[Jonboy]

The LT1 was already installed in my old '79 when I got it, but I went through a good bit of it. They used a Painless harness, which seemed to work well. Painless offers a VATS bypass module, which was used in my install. The VSS will work to control the computer, but you will need to get an adapter to run your speedo in the dash. JTR has a few solutions on their website, or you can get a cable-x box. Herron Performance had a deal on them recently. Mine used a Lokar throttle cable as well. It is a great swap, IMO, but I would want to run the 4L60E over a TH350.

[dave69]

Originally Posted by LT1 Burb

It is not that hard to do but if you are on a budget it is a little more difficult. You need to get the entire wiring harness and ecem from the donor car. I built my own harness as they wanted around 900.00 for them, to do this you need the wiring manual from the car the motor came from. Throttle cable is from Lokar as is the kickdown cable.

I do have the donor car still and have a lot take off all ready I am sending the ECM off to LT1 swap to reprogram. I just don't want to spend money where I don't need to. I want to do I right and have little or no troubles it is a daily driver so I want to do it as quick as I can. I have a DVD and manual coming as well. I would like to get all want I need before I do the swap. Thanks for your advice.

[LT1 Burb]

If you are sending the ECEM off to get reprogrammed than you should know what you need out of the wiring. For example, you want to get rid of the VATS, the evap sensor, 2 of the O2 sensors etc. , Hey BTW Dave , this motor came out of a car in Maple Ridge, I was just at the A&W cruise there 2 weeks ago with my truck.

[turbostar]

I am in the early stages of putting an LT1/4l60e in my 65 SWB. I bought a donor car,a 95 Buick Roadmaster, for all the new parts. I had an LT1/2004r in the truck previously for a short period so some of the new swap is already done. I'll build my own harness from the one in the Roadmaster. As for accelerator linkage,I used the stock LT1 cable and modified inside the cab to use the pedal from a blazer(could use probably any gm pedal made for a cable linkaga). Cost nothing and worked really slick. Currently,I'm stripping the Roadmaster and hope to pull the drivetrain next weekend.

[dwebster8783]

Im doing this swap now in my 65. had lt1350.com do my harness and comp program with other ecm tuning and trans tune. total cost with the harness extend to get the ecm by the glove boax was 575. well worth it I think. they have a complete wiring diagram on the web site so you can build your own harness. also keep in mind your fuel pump. you will need to run new fuel lines with a return line and a fuel pump that does 45psi min. the pump I used is made by professional products part number 70151. I got it from No limits speed shop in stockton, Ca for $160

[Rannos]

I have dropped an LT1 I converted to carb in my 64 and was wondering what you guys did for the cooling system? I don't have the donor car anymore or the radiator from it and I was going to try to use the radiator from the 64. Sooo I guess what I am asking is does anyone know if I can just run a line across the back of the head and if I can just cap the small port on the water pump on the driver side or do they all need to run to the radiator as they did in the z28? Any help would be great.

[1enick72]

I am interested in the cooling system as well. I am getting ready to perform this swap myself. Any info you guys could give on the cooling system, anything strange?

[turbostar]

My LT1 conversion is now on the road and the cooling worked out quite simple. Stock radiator with a universal coolant recovery system and tie the steam pipe from the back of the heads into the heater hose near the water pump. This setup runs cool and purges the air from the system.

[dave69]

Originally Posted by 1enick72

I am interested in the cooling system as well. I am getting ready to perform this swap myself. Any info you guys could give on the cooling system, anything strange?

It was very easy on the cooling system my LT4 was from a 96 Vette and all I did was swapped the upper and lower rad hoses and the fit to my stock 4 core rad. Heater hose hooked right up with no trouble.
The bypass hose I went from the head to the neck of the water pump just drill into alum. neck of pump and tap it to pipe thread to install 90 deg hose fitting it was nice and tidy. Hope this helps.

[1enick72]

Originally Posted by dave69

It was very easy on the cooling system my LT4 was from a 96 Vette and all I did was swapped the upper and lower rad hoses and the fit to my stock 4 core rad. Heater hose hooked right up with no trouble.
The bypass hose I went from the head to the neck of the water pump just drill into alum. neck of pump and tap it to pipe thread to install 90 deg hose fitting it was nice and tidy. Hope this helps.

Do you have a build thread with any pictures?

[dave69]

I can e-mail you pics. if you want send me your e-mail mine is dsaddler@comtruck.ca

[scandrett]

dave69 whay car was the water pump for?

[nomrlz]

Originally Posted by tommys66

check out www.lt1swap.com there is alot of good info

one of the best swap sites there is. the new ls engines are very nice but the lt1/4's are very capable. almost 170,000 miles on my roady wagon and hundreds of pounds of nitrous

[Trsmotrhed]

LT1 Burb, engine looks awesome in there. What did you do for fuel lines? Mine are on the drivers side and stick up in and look like c@#p. Thanks

[LT1 Burb]

Mine were too but there is a company called street and performance in Mena Arkansas that sell a kit to get it to the frame rails. From there I would advise to go to aluminum to the tank. I had all these lines done in Russell steel braid the first time and they leaked through, to the point my whole frame was wet with gas. I had to move it out of my garage because of the smell.

[LT1 Burb]

Updated with air pics.

[Trsmotrhed]

Originally Posted by LT1 Burb

Mine were too but there is a company called street and performance in Mena Arkansas that sell a kit to get it to the frame rails. From there I would advise to go to aluminum to the tank. I had all these lines done in Russell steel braid the first time and they leaked through, to the point my whole frame was wet with gas. I had to move it out of my garage because of the smell.

Thanks for the info on the braided lines. That's what I was going to go with. I'll go 5/16 or 3/8 aluminum? What size line did you go with? I've heard guys running next size smaller for the return? I was ordering the braided lines next week. You saved me some money and the headache of redoing work. Beers on me. I'm planning on using a tank from a suburban with a pump from tanks inc with the splash guard. Wanted the in tank pump, think will be less noise and pump will run cooler. Thanks
Tim.
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