LS1 or new vett engine swap
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From: winston-salem, nc
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From: Rotors Vallhalla
For those who have knowledge/ have done LS1 conversion on the FD,I've got several questions regarding the swap:
1. So far from browsing hinsonsupercars.com website, I've only come across mounting parts (subframe, gearbox mount frame, bump steer correction), fuel parts,etc. But I have yet to find them selling Engine Mounts. Do they sell this too? Or should I buy them from GMs?
2. Do we need adapters to connect the gearbox to the FD's rear axle?
3. What sort of "wiring modifications" is done to the stock wiring?
4. How hard is the swap if you plan to do this in your own garage? I wont be able to go to Hinson since I live in Australia :P
5. Would it be fine for me to buy an engine w/o ECM( ECU) and buy the ecu down the road during the project? Or should I buy an engine that comes with the ECM?
6. Considering IF I buy a turn key engine with the gear box, what other bits do I need apart from the conversion kit that Hinson's got?
I'm sorry if I sound kindda stupid. My mechanical knowledge only goes as far as the rotary engine, don't know much about v8.
Cheers
1. So far from browsing hinsonsupercars.com website, I've only come across mounting parts (subframe, gearbox mount frame, bump steer correction), fuel parts,etc. But I have yet to find them selling Engine Mounts. Do they sell this too? Or should I buy them from GMs?
2. Do we need adapters to connect the gearbox to the FD's rear axle?
3. What sort of "wiring modifications" is done to the stock wiring?
4. How hard is the swap if you plan to do this in your own garage? I wont be able to go to Hinson since I live in Australia :P
5. Would it be fine for me to buy an engine w/o ECM( ECU) and buy the ecu down the road during the project? Or should I buy an engine that comes with the ECM?
6. Considering IF I buy a turn key engine with the gear box, what other bits do I need apart from the conversion kit that Hinson's got?
I'm sorry if I sound kindda stupid. My mechanical knowledge only goes as far as the rotary engine, don't know much about v8.
Cheers
Last edited by kuning; Oct 26, 2006 at 09:27 PM.
Power = Cubic Dollars
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Olathe, KS
1) you buy a replacement sub-frame. Then your engie will bolt directly to it.
2) yes, it's called a driveshaft. (Sorry, I couldn't refuse the stab.) If Hinson's doesn't make this, you can have one built by a local driveshaft shop.
3) I know you have to do work to the stock harness, but I have never done one. I will leave that to a pro.
4) Most people have completed this with basic tools, an engine lift, and some basic mechanical skills.
5) I think it is cheaper to pick up a COMPLETE engine, harness, and ECU together. I would at least.
6) I don't understan the question...
Once you figure out how EASY it is to do the LS1 swap, and how much power they are getting out of them, you will wonder why you wasted brain space with any Rotary Knowledge.
2) yes, it's called a driveshaft. (Sorry, I couldn't refuse the stab.) If Hinson's doesn't make this, you can have one built by a local driveshaft shop.
3) I know you have to do work to the stock harness, but I have never done one. I will leave that to a pro.
4) Most people have completed this with basic tools, an engine lift, and some basic mechanical skills.
5) I think it is cheaper to pick up a COMPLETE engine, harness, and ECU together. I would at least.
6) I don't understan the question...
Once you figure out how EASY it is to do the LS1 swap, and how much power they are getting out of them, you will wonder why you wasted brain space with any Rotary Knowledge.
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From: Rotors Vallhalla
So basically once I've bolted up Hinson's sub-frame to the car, I can then put down the engine and that's as far as mounting the engine yea? No other parts required?
What FD stock parts stay in the engine once the swap is done? Considering I would keep the P/S and A/C?
Thanks heaps for the reply guys.
What FD stock parts stay in the engine once the swap is done? Considering I would keep the P/S and A/C?
Thanks heaps for the reply guys.
Official Glass Tech
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 271
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From: Raceland, La
Originally Posted by kuning
For those who have knowledge/ have done LS1 conversion on the FD,I've got several questions regarding the swap:
1. So far from browsing hinsonsupercars.com website, I've only come across mounting parts (subframe, gearbox mount frame, bump steer correction), fuel parts,etc. But I have yet to find them selling Engine Mounts. Do they sell this too? Or should I buy them from GMs?
you use the stock mounts
2. Do we need adapters to connect the gearbox to the FD's rear axle?
hinson sells a steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber driveshaft with the mounting kit
3. What sort of "wiring modifications" is done to the stock wiring?
they cut the unnessisary stuff out and shorten the wires basically
4. How hard is the swap if you plan to do this in your own garage? I wont be able to go to Hinson since I live in Australia :P
i know enough about cars (cause i work on them) that i could do the swap, but i also have an ASE certified tech friend who explained things as we went through the swap... i'm not complete, but i've got the basic ideas on how to do it
5. Would it be fine for me to buy an engine w/o ECM( ECU) and buy the ecu down the road during the project? Or should I buy an engine that comes with the ECM?
if you are going with a stand alone then you only need the harness... i would get the factory cpu as well and tune it with a piggyback first
6. Considering IF I buy a turn key engine with the gear box, what other bits do I need apart from the conversion kit that Hinson's got?
nothing!
I'm sorry if I sound kindda stupid. My mechanical knowledge only goes as far as the rotary engine, don't know much about v8.
Cheers
1. So far from browsing hinsonsupercars.com website, I've only come across mounting parts (subframe, gearbox mount frame, bump steer correction), fuel parts,etc. But I have yet to find them selling Engine Mounts. Do they sell this too? Or should I buy them from GMs?
you use the stock mounts
2. Do we need adapters to connect the gearbox to the FD's rear axle?
hinson sells a steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber driveshaft with the mounting kit
3. What sort of "wiring modifications" is done to the stock wiring?
they cut the unnessisary stuff out and shorten the wires basically
4. How hard is the swap if you plan to do this in your own garage? I wont be able to go to Hinson since I live in Australia :P
i know enough about cars (cause i work on them) that i could do the swap, but i also have an ASE certified tech friend who explained things as we went through the swap... i'm not complete, but i've got the basic ideas on how to do it
5. Would it be fine for me to buy an engine w/o ECM( ECU) and buy the ecu down the road during the project? Or should I buy an engine that comes with the ECM?
if you are going with a stand alone then you only need the harness... i would get the factory cpu as well and tune it with a piggyback first
6. Considering IF I buy a turn key engine with the gear box, what other bits do I need apart from the conversion kit that Hinson's got?
nothing!
I'm sorry if I sound kindda stupid. My mechanical knowledge only goes as far as the rotary engine, don't know much about v8.
Cheers
Last edited by Russo; Oct 26, 2006 at 09:48 PM.
Displacement > Boost
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Mississippi
Originally Posted by JesterJess
Once you figure out how EASY it is to do the LS1 swap, and how much power they are getting out of them, you will wonder why you wasted brain space with any Rotary Knowledge.
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 240
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From: Rotors Vallhalla
OK, regarding handling, I'll ask questions this time only to avoid any keyboard fights.
1. Will the weight distribution be the same? I.e Weight distribution NOT weight of the car.
2. Since the rotary engine sits lower compared to the LS1, would this affect the car's handling? I.e. the one with LS1 would understeer more than the one with 13B?
1. Will the weight distribution be the same? I.e Weight distribution NOT weight of the car.
2. Since the rotary engine sits lower compared to the LS1, would this affect the car's handling? I.e. the one with LS1 would understeer more than the one with 13B?
Last edited by kuning; Oct 27, 2006 at 03:19 AM.
Official Glass Tech
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 271
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From: Raceland, La
Originally Posted by rarson
Whoa, wait, you guys are talking about stand alones and piggybacks when there is LS1edit? I don't get it...
Originally Posted by Kuning
OK, regarding handling, I'll ask questions this time only to avoid any keyboard fights.
1. Will the weight distribution be the same? I.e Weight distribution NOT weight of the car.
2. Since the rotary engine sits lower compared to the LS1, would this affect the car's handling? I.e. the one with LS1 would understeer more than the one with 13B?
1. Will the weight distribution be the same? I.e Weight distribution NOT weight of the car.
2. Since the rotary engine sits lower compared to the LS1, would this affect the car's handling? I.e. the one with LS1 would understeer more than the one with 13B?
2. i don't have a side by side comparison of it, but i would be willing to bet that just because the motor MIGHT sit a little lower, you may experience SOME understeer... thats not a bad thing though...
Displacement > Boost
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,503
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From: Mississippi
It's true. I know just about every possible porting mistake imaginable (I think) with rotary engines because I made just about every possible porting mistake during my 3 year stint with 1.3l tuning. In light of how much *** a mild 5.0 kicks in comparison, it is all worthless knowledge to me now. 
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