Car Craft Magazine Homepage Car Craft
 

Power Play

116 0405 Swap 03 Z
The best procedure is to go with a complete engine that includes the accessory drive. Both the Camaro and Corvette drives will need to be modified. For Corvette drives, the A/C compressor must be relocated, but power steering and alternator mounts remain the same. Heino chose to make his own brackets, but S&P also offers pieces.
116 0405 Swap 04 Z
Heino used Fragola Performance Systems AN fittings to plumb both the complete fuel delivery system as well as the oil cooler lines.
116 0405 Swap 05 Z
Heino crafted his own custom motor mount plates that attach directly to bosses on the side of the block. Mounts are also available through S&P.
116 0405 Swap 06 Z
Heino opted for the aftermarket version of the T56 six-speed. This box includes a mechanical speedo drive to work with the early Camaro cable-driven speedometer. Stock T56 boxes use an electronic speedometer drive.
116 0405 Swap 07 Z
The T56 is substantially longer than a Muncie four-speed, so Heino had to significantly modify the early Camaro trans crossmember to accommodate the T56. BRP Restorations also offers a crossmember for this application.
116 0405 Swap 08 Z
Rather than modify the stock Camaro fuel tank, Heino opted for a Rock Valley custom stainless steel tank complete with baffling and a complete in-tank LS1 fuel-pump system. The tank also uses the stock GM retaining ring.
116 0405 Swap 09 Z
Here the engine is test-fitted to the Camaro. Even combining the large factory Camaro A/C "suitcase" and an additional 1-inch setback, the LS1 fits nicely.
116 0405 Swap 10 Z
Painless Performance supplied the LS1 engine harness that eliminates all the extraneous wiring connections to allow a cleaner installation in an early musclecar like the Camaro. The factory ECU is designed to be used in the engine compartment.
116 0405 Swap 11 Z
A Be Cool radiator mated to a late-model Camaro electric fan system provides more than adequate cooling for the LS1.
116 0405 Swap 12 Z
Heino plumbed the oil cooler also with Fragola fittings. Also note the heat shield wiring covering for the oxygen sensor.
116 0405 Swap 13 Z
The new T56 with its hydraulic-actuated clutch assembly also requires an adapter between the firewall and the stock GM clutch master cylinder. You could build your own, but John Wilson of the West Coast Connection offers an adapter plate that tucks the master directly under the brake master cylinder. McLeod also offers a new steel-bodied master cylinder for the T56.
116 0405 Swap 14 Z
This is the T56 in place with Heino's modified crossmember.
116 0405 Swap 15 Z
The '99-and-later LS1 engines used a returnless fuel delivery system. You will need to convert this over to a dual line, return-style system to make the entire system work properly.
116 0405 Swap 16 Z
Air induction and placement of the mass airflow sensor (MAF) is always a challenge in engine swaps. Heino used aluminum tubing and a rubber hose to rout the MAF and air cleaner towards the driver-side fenderwell where it can pull in cool air.
116 0405 Swap 17 Z
Here is the engine in place with all the accessories connected. There are a dozen other details too numerous to mention here that also need to be accounted for, such as the cable throttle linkage from Lokar.

Prev | 1  | 2

Discuss in Our Forums
Get Adobe Flash player
Get a FREE no-hassle price quote on any new car.

Related Photos

Related Articles

 
Shock & Bar - Bolt-On How-To
A Simple Yet Effective Suspension Upgrade... more
 
Emergency Solution!
Got a parking brake on your car? Betcha do. Does it work? Probably not, at least not real well.... more
 
Distributor Gears: What’s The Deal?
Look at the effort that goes into a ring-and-pinion installation, yet no one thinks twice about the... more
 
How To Build A Rearend
It can be hard to purchase parts that don’t offer some sort of aesthetic appeal or an obvious... more

 

Get Adobe Flash player