Best way to do LS1 swap

[RChevy.48]

One of these days I want to swap out my puney 4.8L engine for a LS1, and I am trying to figure out the best way to go about it. I was thinking about searching for a short block to buy and use the rest of the accessories and equipment that is currently on my truck now to complete it. Or would it be better to just to buy a long block. Not sure the best way to go about this. Money and wife won't permit me to do this anytime soon, but I want to keep this in mind and search for some good deals.

[farmtruc]

Since you have the 4.8 and want to swap in an LS1, you'll have to buy a longblock.
The 4.8 head chamber is too small for the ls1. Your compression may be border line and I've
heard the valves cannot be upgraded to bigger valves because of valve shrouding. Something like that.

The easiest thing would be to get a long block LS1 and easily replace your 4.8L. The engine will even run decent until you get tuning done. The mounts will work just fine and all the accessories you take off the 4.8 will bolt right up. It's an awesome upgrade.

Right now I bet your truck dynos about 220hp, with the swap you'll see about 315 on the dyno, that's rwhp.
It the best upgrade you can do to your truck. Your starting out with a block that is already 100hp and still gets better gas mileage and will make you faster, i'm talking about the ls1 of course. It would take a shot of NOS or a lot of upgrade, heavy cam and heads, to get 100 more hp out of that engine. They are nice engines, but the ls1 is just that much better.

Now go out and get yourself an ls1, hehehe, jk, wouldn't want you to get in trouble.

Hay Hauler found one for about 800$ and sold his 5.3L for 600$, that's a 200$ upgrade, minus labor, him and i did it.

I think he went from a 15.1 to a 14.1 or somthing like that.


later,

allen

[RChevy.48]

What year ls1 do I need to look for? There is a 98 about 56,000 on ebay starting at $100.00 + shipping/handling and crate fee, although I don't know what the reserve price is. Don't know if this is the best place to look or should I look in a salvage yard, and what should I look for as far as miles or does this matter much. I don't know how I would find the mileage from a salvage yard.

[farmtruc]

IMO, to me it doesn't matter what year I would get. Most ppl prefer the 2001+, becuase of the ls6 intake and slightly higher HP rating.
But, you are not worried about the intake cause you only want a longblock, no intake.

Just as an example, my 98Z had a 100K hard! miles on it and the engine never gave me a problem. The trans however is a different story.

Since your buying a long block , it's going to be hard to determine how many miles it has on it. Unless you can get someone to strip a complete engine that was just pulled out of a car you know the history on.

Maybe since you're buying a long block, a new setup might not be too exp$$. Try giving Shaun a call at SMCPerformance. you can find his info on ls1truck.com under advertisers. I bought all my stuff from him and it's still holding up.

If you buy local you will pay a little more than lets say on ebay, but the shipping might balance that out. Usually shipping is under 300$, that might give you an idea.

Good luck,

allen

[RChevy.48]

Thanks for the info. I have heard on the other sites that the intake form the gen3 trucks works better that the ls1 intake, don't know what do y'all think. Also I will need all the fuel setup as well right. Sorry for all the questions, just trying to learn.

Thanks,
R.

[farmtruc]

Don't worry about it, the more questions the better, that's what makes a forum, ask away.

if you just want to trade out the 4.8 for an ls1 all you'll need is the block and heads, eveything else will work, exhaust, pullies, accessories, fuel stuff, etc. You may need to buy some manifold gaskets, but i've reused them before and no leeks.
Your injectors, as far as fuel stuff: will power the ls1 just fine, they may be border line after a few mods, but they will work just fine.
Even the stock fuel system will work, no changes were done to the fuel system when we did it.

Most believe the truck intake flows better than the ls1, and ls6, actually there is some documentation out that disproves it, The only thing the truck is better at is low end torque. Longer runners are meant for lower end power and the short runners are meant for high rpm power.
Your're truck is heavier than an fbody or vette, so i'd stick with the truck intake , two reasons, very easy to do the swap, and you'll need the extra lowend torque. Plus, the truck intake runs just fine at high rpms, it's just a tad below the ls6 at high rpms.

later,

allen

[RChevy.48]

Thanks for your help, now I know what I am looking for. Since I can use my intake, it will make it easier to make the engine look stock. Oh and by the exaust you do mean the manifolds right.

[farmtruc]

oh hell ya, nobody will even know, if they spot the aluminum block just say it's the new 5.3L aluminum block, "they must have started putting these in ealier than expected" hahahah, it will look completely stock.

also, keep in mind that you won't be buying parts for your truck engine anymore, build that engine like it's a camaro, stay away from the cams and mods the trucks do, you'll have an ls1 and not a 4.8L. The only thing you'll mod that is truck like or to take in consideration is the torque converter, that is if you tow, if you don't nevermind.


good luck, and hopefully soon you can get it,


allen

[Sleeper]

dont the 01+ come with electronic throttle control or is that just the vette?

i ask allen questions everytime i get a chance, and sometimes the same question more than once....i confuse myslef so much!!

i am on the third day from waking up with wiring harness nightmares, i saw one on ebay

Brandon

[Domeskilla]

Only vettes have that i do believe. Allens ls1 was brand spanken new and didnt have it.