The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Putting LS engines in AD trucks

Any of you guys have an opinion on the advantages/disadvantages of putting crate LS engines in these old trucks vs. carbureted. It seems that I'm seeing more LS's in the for sale ads/auction sales than just a yr. ago. I've got an LS engine in a wakeboard boat and it sure is low maintenance. Looking for guys that have actually put one in.

I was at the Lone Star Roundup over the week end and I saw several LSs in ADs . Talked to 1 young man , he said he used almost every thing out of a '98 camaro computer wireing etc .. He said it was no bid deal ....Good Luck ....

I was at the Lone Star Roundup over the week end and I saw several LSs in ADs . Talked to 1 young man , he said he used almost every thing out of a '98 camaro computer wireing etc .. He said it was no bid deal ....Good Luck ....

..... I'd like for someone to describe "LS1" for me. Years and vehicles it comes in.

Alvin,
"LS1" is specific to all aluminum 3rd generation smallblock that came out in 5th gen Corvettes I believe in 1998. The next year it was in Camaros and Firebirds and an iron block, aluminum head version in trucks and SUVs. The iron blocks have different designations, for example the 5.3l truck motor is an LM7. They were branded "Vortec" in trucks but this just continued a brand used back in time that started in the 80s on older motors.

All sequentially fired GM V8s of this architecture are generally referred to as "LS" motors. There is substantial interchange of the parts and accesseries between all of these motors. You can even buy aftermarket blocks. They are on "Gen IV" versions now. LS3 is in current Camaros.

In stock form these motors are recognized by single coil packs for every cylinder mounted on the valve covers, single throttle bodies, plastic intake manifolds, and uniformly spaced exhaust ports.

You have one in your Silverado. Hot Rod magazine turbocharged a stock 4.8l truck LS motor to 1200 horsepower in a durability test -- they are good motors and folks transplant them into everything. They are a favorite for Mustang guys read this months Car Craft magazine all three cover cars are F*rds with Chevrolet motors in them two are 5.3l truck motors.

Also they get transplanted in just about every other car/truck. Horsepower TV show put one in a Nissan. Also have gone into airplanes just about anything that moves.

Street Rodder magazine built a AD shop truck with am LS this months issue.

I have a 5.3 LS to go into my 59 Task Force.

I am going off the top of my head and did not look anything ip but I believe this information to be accurate.

Regie, it all makes sense. Thank you for taking the time. Its just that all I hear is LS....Ls....LS and I don't think very few people I "question" about their "LS" even know themselves. Thank you and I do understand the designations better. Great memory!

Alvin,

This is why I should never post from memory:

Corrections:
LS1 was introduced in 1997 in Corvette (RPO LS1), then Camaros and Firebirds 1998 and trucks in 1999 (at least got that right). 5.7l displacement all-aluminum.

Also, "sequentially fired" while technically correct, is not the right term for what I meant to describe, which was that they are individually fired with a coil for each cylinder (and a way to identify them by sight).

Firing order 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3 is not the same as original smallblock 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2...

This from the book "How to Build High-Performance Chevy LS1/LS6 V-8s" by Will Handzel, of which I have two copies of since it was apparently published with two different covers, thank you Car-Tech books.

Here is a handy guide to all the LS engines, including production dates. ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1369110-lsx-engine-identification.html

That site (ls1tech) is to LS motors as Stovebolt is to old Chevy trucks. If you want to know more....you can have it at for days and days. My life will be close to fulfilled if I ever have time to learn how to program/configure the engine management computers for these motors.

http://www.schwankeshortblocks.com/shopping/?k=LS1%20engines

Here you go Alvin, He will build an engine for you, How many horses do you want? The limit is only determined by the depth of your pockets! I would even go and observe your engine when its complete being run in on his dynometer! Tim Schwanke, the owner is an interesting and knowledgeable guy. He rebuilt the 235 engine which I have installed in my 1951 Chevy 1 ton. Look around the web site, www.schwankeshortblocks.com for alot of interesting stuff. Jerry

YAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWN!!!!!!

Boring, the LS swap is about as original as the 350 swap.

Let's see something different for a change.

how about one of these ....

290 HP GM inline

I swapped the ls-1 into my AD. it is a 4.8 out of a tahoe I believe. very simple to install, I purchased a wriring harness from a seller . I have never built anything untill now. I am also no mechanic but it was done. I have biult my truck in my garage , starts up and runs fine , I even installed the drive by wire.

P_51 Why did you decide to go with an LS? My big concern is the electronics and learning how to connect a laptop to the ECU (onboard computer) to get everything tuned properly (process eluded to in earlier post in this thread). Maybe it's plug and play if you find the correct wiring harness? Seems like a lot less maintenance/worry for a vehicle that is not a daily driver. What's a drive by wire?
Thanks

The LS engines don't have a throttle cable, the gas pedal is connected to the engine by "wire". I believe you connect via the OBDII port. The LS engines are great, my DD has a 5.3 and I love it.

I'm not sure what you mean about less maintenance for a non daily driver? The whole idea of a fuel injected LS is making it more driveable, so in effect it would be more suitable as a daily driver. Painless wiring and other companies have wiring harnesses that connect directly to the factory computer/sensors to make the wiring easier. You should also get decent economy, but the drawbacks are that if you have an issue on the road, you're less likely to get it solved roadside with a fuel injected vehicle.

For me I've seen a lot of people have issues with LS-transplanted rods, and they usually need to be towed. I've heard that the Holley (or others) aftermarket fuel injection is more reliable, so you could put that on top of the LS if you chose to go that route. I stick with carburetion due to the ease of tunability and the fact that it's more likely to solve a problem on the side of the road.

Just food for thought.

46 GMC - great input. I wasn't being clear, but for a vehicle that's driven 3-4 times/month was wondering if the LS would be less troublesome over the long run. Haven't done much research yet(that's the purpose of the post) but hoping there is a "hot rod" chip/setting so don't have to fuss with all the modern emission kit.
Thanks

Going from carbs to FI is a big step for a rodder. Go to any car show and you will see very few of the hot rod folks step up to FI on the retro cars and trucks. I have a '62 short bed with an IROC camaro FI in it and it is the only one in a rather large city. It is challenging. You have to plan for a pressurized fuel system, a relay system so that your ignition can deal with the extra amps on 12 v. power, a return fuel line, hiding wires so it doesn't look like a mess, etc. etc. I think there will come a day when carbs are not in vogue, and FI will be the standard. Do it. You will be in the 21st century and will learn a lot.

If you're only planning on driving it 3-4 times a month, I would stick with the carb. I don't think it's worth the hassle to get the EFI going to only use it that much. That said, if you can get the LS working I expect you'll want to drive it more than 3-4 times a month! They can be great if they're working well, but do you have the patience and skill to troubleshoot the EFI should something go wrong? If not, can you afford to have someone get it going again? Just things to consider.

As Tim mentioned, there is a lot to go along with the fuel injection to worry about.

I think my next hot rod will have an LS engine as they're wonderful engines, but it would probably either be carbureted or have aftermarket injection.

What emissions stuff are you worried about? Any fuel injected engine will need a minimum of one O2 Sensor, and the stock GM setup requires 2 per bank (I'm thinking of the 5.3). You might be able to remove the catalytic converters, but that would be about it. It's not like the 70's-80's engines where there are smog pumps and all that stuff.

Hope that helps.

A carbureted, HEI, Chevy V8 is the least troublesome. BBC or SBC. If you are looking for least potential trouble with a V8, that's it. (no wires, sensors, computers, chips, MAP, PCM, MAF, COP, plastic...) The best HP is 70-72 usually.(pre-smog) A few little things, like aluminum intake and headers/duels, makes some added cheap/easy HP. I will say that the offset for all those electrics that fail, is that OBD codes enable us to fix a lot of things ourselves. We could NEVER figure it out without a reader we can rent for free. (and UTUBE)

I used a 2002 5.7 vortec L31 out of a 3500 chevy express put a Rochester quadrajet carburetor on it and as hot rod linclon suggested put in a 268h cam. this thing runs like a scalded dog.
Thanks to all the help ive gotten from the BOLT I am finely enjoying driving the truck.

Don't worry about the electronics, there are plenty of companies that will do that for you. Send them your info , tire size, gearing , etc... then it's plug and play.My harness came in engine would not start, battery was dead, then the starter was out, once that was corrected, the injectors were plugged.Once all that was done the engine started right up. So in short it's plug and play.

Interesting thread--I'm putting 5.3 LS1 from a 05 Tahoe in, not there but working on it. My concern has been the electronics but there does seem to be many different suppliers of wiring-just don't know which might be better than another. One thing I've heard from other places that HP is only ltd by imagination and money!

Mine has alot of miles but inside valve cover it looks like new and very well kept. Guess I'll pull it down and check it to be sure. Should prove to be an interesting experience but hope driveability and reasonable fuel economy to be on the positive side in the end. If anyone has used the Holley system I would like to hear how that has worked out as to performance and expense???

This site has a lot of good info, plus he guides you though cleaning up and making the OEM harness usable in any swap.

LT1 Swap

Our very own NEALS49 is currently doing this very swap and making a pretty neat job of it too.
Well worth checking out his progress if he's not too busy driving the wheels off his C.E.

Agree very nice compact package !

Neal, what did the engine come out of? Also what front end did you put under it.

Great job on the Panel truck too.

Allen, I won't join in on the old school 350 carburetor v.s. the FI. But don't be discouraged with the talk it will go on forever. Go outside and see how many of today's cars are running FI. it's for a reason. all those sensors they talk about are taken out of the wiring.(your year model don't require them.)Yes you will need computer,ecu.etc... but once it's done it's done no tuning or adjustments necc..(unless you want special things done)I ordered all my wiring ,computer, etc.. from one vendor.you can go to scrap yard and pick this stuff up for nothing, but i did not want the headache trying to figure what part would be the bad part if it did not work.one stop shopping if it did not work ship it back !!

Boring is someone that thinks like the above.

O.k. Let me correct myself. I can personally appreciate updating a 60 year old drivetrain. The LS market has opened up alot of avenues for do late model swaps with factory ECM/PCM setups. To me, the LS swap is getting a little vanilla. It's kind of like the 350/350 or 350/700R4 swap.

I would like to see something a little different. An Olds 400, Cadillac 4.1, even a Ferd coyote motor would be o.k. with me. God knows there's plenty of Chevy engines rolling around in blue oval chassis'.

I personally like this swap best of all.

http://www.vortec4200.com/forum1/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=939
or
http://www.vortec4200.com/forum1/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=843

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/t...tec_4200_inline_six_engine/photo_02.html

There are plenty of those swaps you mentioned around. Heck, I saw tons of different swaps this past weekend at two large shows in Vegas. The LS is a great engine, and so is the SBC, no matter how boring it may seem.

As mentionned earlier in the thread, the site called LS1Tech is full of infos about the LS engines, they have been installed everywhere, and they are very good too!
As for the electronics, it is plug-and-play, after your computer has been reprogramed for you and your harness (slightly) modified. The computer has to be reprogramed if only to remove the anti-theft system. Since you will not use catalytic converters, you only need 2 O2 sensors, and the computer needs to know that kind of things too. Also, the computer needs to know which trans you are using.
Plenty of companies will do all that for you; I have used Speartch a few years ago, very nice, friendly, and good! Then, plug and play! No need to plug in your laptop (that is for the guys looking for serious performance!).
As for repairs along the road, there are many shops nowadays where no-one can work on a carb/distributor set-up, whereas the LS engine will have the factory plug to read the computer and diagnose the issue...

My 5.3/4L60e swap into a 96 Chevy S10 4 dr Blazer was great, trouble free for a lot of trailer towing miles. Used the stock 2005 harness which had 0 miles when received, stock PCM, removed above mentioned items, stock engine compartment fuse box and connectors with minor rewiring to supply fans and power to tranny. When the frame cracked I swapped everything over into my 68 C20 Custom Camper. Been trouble free used towing a 28 ft 68 Airstream all over the country for work. Great reliable, decent milage and power combo. Thumbs up for doing the swap if its going to be a daily driver. Good luck however you go. Jim.

WAVE1957 is correct ! Along the road now, you will find more mechanics conversant with FI than a carb set up. I would encourage you to go FI and be in the 21st Century if you are looking for a reliable daily driver.