Thread: LT1 swap into 35 ford questions

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i have a 97 Camaro SS that i wrapped around a pole and my dad and i are toying with the idea of puttin the LT1 and t56 tranny into our 35 ford coupe.....does anyone have any information about this swap? it's either this or rebuild the 283 currently in the car...any help is appreciated

im not gonna lie...i had to read that 3 times before i understood it completely

im not a huge fan of the idea of newer engines in old cars...i kinda want to rebuild the 283 but having a perfect lt1 laying around is tempting because then i could drive the 35 sooner and it would actually have power and torque

then again getting a couple grand selling the lt1 is also tempting

my dad is more in favor of keeping the lt1 than me...

Originally posted by Streets
Well, if its got a small block mouse in it already all's ya gotta do is just change positions with them, and find someplace to hide all that 'pooter controlled crap that goes wif the new'r engine.. Mounts are still/probably the same..

I think that rigging the hydraulic clutch might be the biggest headache of the whole swap. You could sort out the Camaro wiring harness or just get an aftermarket one and use the computer. The aftermarket wiring harness would be a lot less hassle. JMO.

hey 35, i just pulled a 4 cyl. out of my 1997 s10 and installed a 1993 LT1 - 700r4 in it. i used the stock wiring harness but the after market one might suite you better because they have clean them up a lot. you need to look at the ac comp. on the right side bottom unless you are planning on buying all new brackets, the LT1 will need the high pressure fuel pump with return line, there is 2 sets of boss on the block for the motor mounts, one for late models and one for early models i used the stock computer so i had to have a new chip made before i could crank the motor because the burglar alarm was built in to it. on the 94 up they don't have a chip so i guess they would have to reprogram the computer for the dif. ign. switch. ive got another 93 tran am setting in the drive way with a LT1 in it just waiting to go into something. i like the computer, EFI systems. if had a new 35 project id put every elec. gadget on it i could find. i guess you know that the dist. is behind the water pump, and is cam driven with a small shaft, and the water pump is shaft driven with the cam also. you also have to run a elec. fan on the LT1 because the water pump is not made so you can put a fan on it. you didn't say how much of this you could do yourself so i dot know what you really need to know. if this is not what you was looking for let me know.

that's the kind of thing i was looking for lt1s10...im just trying to sort through all the work that would go into this before we jump into it. basically i dont want to start work and realize this is something too complicated for me to get into. if anyone has more little modifications they know of that would have to be made let me know

another swap i want to do but probably wont is drop it in an s10 two door blazer

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the Camaro with a T56 use a hydraulic clutch? If so it would probably be a lot easier to modify the S10 to use the Hydraulic clutch system.

a swap in a 35 ford is not a hard swap , except . are you going to run power steering ? AC ? on the factory brackets ? the power steering is not in a very good place on the motor . it is hard to put lines on the motor , the ac is harder if you use bock hugger headers because the lines want to hit the headers . if you use factory manifolds this is a little easier . the wiring is the easiest part . call street and performance 479 394 5711 or painless wiring and use their harness . then comes fuel system , you have to run 2 fuel lines to the tank 1 for fuel to go to the motor ,1 to return to the tank . then the electric fuel pump for a fuel injected motor has to be installed , prefered inside the tank .
clutch is easy ,call kugel componets and order a pedal assembly for brakes to stop the 35 and a clutch pedal also it is a easy hook up for the clutch .
hope this helps

Originally posted by 35fordcoupe
that's the kind of thing i was looking for lt1s10...im just trying to sort through all the work that would go into this before we jump into it. basically i dont want to start work and realize this is something too complicated for me to get into. if anyone has more little modifications they know of that would have to be made let me know

another swap i want to do but probably wont is drop it in an s10 two door blazer

the biggest problem with the LT1 35, is its so much dif than the standard 350. other than the manifolds i dont know of anything that will inter change, but if youve got the car that the LT1 came out of then that would help a lot. ive done all of them and id say this is right up there at the top far as complication go. a good auto. would help keep it simple also. if you are gonna use the stock brackets and ac comp. you need to look at where the ac comp is. if you can build a chassis and put a reg. 350 in it then you can put a LT1 in it. if the wiring and fuel pump is not a problem then go for it. like kennyd said the people at street and performance was very helpful.

I say go for it! You would have something a lot more unique and as you said something with some real power and probably decent manners and fuel mileage too.

Keep us posted!

Pat

i do have the complete camaro although i need to figure a way to get the SS and 35 in the same garage not over an hour apart haha. as far as the fuel pump could i replace the 35's tank (stock and needs to come out anyway) and find a way to put the SS's tank in with the fuel pump?

i'll have to talk to my dad some but i may not even use AC or power steering...at least for now

i'm getting a little off topic for the engine tech section, but as far as the suspension what would be involved in using the camaro's suspension on the 35? i know c4 vette suspensions are very popular but has anyone used camaro parts? the 35 currently has a partially stock but hacked up suspension with different size leaf springs so something has to be done

thanks for all the help guys...wrecking my SS had me depressed for a while but salvaging part of the car to put in the 35 which my dad has had for about 40 years will make it a little better

Originally posted by 35fordcoupe
i do have the complete camaro although i need to figure a way to get the SS and 35 in the same garage not over an hour apart haha. as far as the fuel pump could i replace the 35's tank (stock and needs to come out anyway) and find a way to put the SS's tank in with the fuel pump?

i'll have to talk to my dad some but i may not even use AC or power steering...at least for now

i'm getting a little off topic for the engine tech section, but as far as the suspension what would be involved in using the camaro's suspension on the 35? i know c4 vette suspensions are very popular but has anyone used camaro parts? the 35 currently has a partially stock but hacked up suspension with different size leaf springs so something has to be done

thanks for all the help guys...wrecking my SS had me depressed for a while but salvaging part of the car to put in the 35 which my dad has had for about 40 years will make it a little better

dont know about the front end but useing the tank and pump and fuel gauge out of the ss wont work, but you can get a after market pump that will work.

Originally posted by lt1s10
dont know about the front end but useing the tank and pump and fuel gauge out of the ss wont work, but you can get a after market pump that will work.

do you think you could elaborate for me on why it wouldnt work? thanks

Originally posted by 35fordcoupe
do you think you could elaborate for me on why it wouldnt work? thanks

ive never put a gas tank under a 35 but I cant imagine how a 1996 gas tank would fit under there and look good. Most stock gas tanks are built for that car and not shaped right for a lot of dif. applications. size and shape I think would keep you from doing it. somebody else might could tell you a little more about it.