LS1 Swap - How To Swap A Gen III Into A '64-'72 A-Body Part II

The MEFI4 system is USB security-keyed for each application. That way, the system identifies your car when you plug it in.

We've heard the crossflow radiator causes overheating problems. Not so. Afco offers this direct-fit radiator for almost any musclecar application, and we drove the car everywhere without seeing more than 190 degrees. The fan is controlled by the MSD MEFI4 via the laptop computer interface. The hoses are generic 90s with a piece of ceramic-coated header connecting them. Check the swap meet.

We hooked the headers to a Flowmaster '64-'72 El Camino exhaust kit. It includes the H-pipe, the 2.50-inch tubes, and the 3-inch tips that exit behind the rear tire. The 50 Series mufflers are mellow at cruise and crisp at full throttle. They idle with a musclecar burble, even though the engine is fuel injected and lacks cam chop.

The fuel tank from Rock Valley, includes either a 0-30- or 0-90-ohm fuel sender. We used the 0-30 and the stock fuel gauge.

We used a 1/4-inch NPT to -8 adapter and ran Earl's Ano-Tuff fuel line to the rail on the engine. The Earl's line works just like the old-school braided lines, except it is soft and easy to work with so you don't bleed.

We mounted a Summit Racing 100-micron fuel filter on the frame because there is no fuel filter on the stock fuel rail.

Another trick is this fitting from Aeromotive that connects -8 AN to the stock GM fuel rail so you don't have to use hose clamps to hold 60 psi of fuel pressure.

We were running out of cash toward the end, so we went to Home Depot and found a 3-inch ID ABS 90-degree plastic tube from the plumbing-supply section and mated it with a 7-inch K&N filter. So far, only one guy noticed, but we think he might work for Home Depot.

A quick shot of Royal Purple and we were ready to go. The LS1 idles at 30 psi, and the oil pressure jumps to 60 when we are on the gas.

The last parts we had to add were the power steering hoses. The complete kit came from S&P, after we filled out the dimensions sheet provided with the accessory drives. The system uses a remote reservoir that we mounted near the radiator.