ss4ever

Well lastnight I set the engine/trans in the car for the first time. Using the plates I bought I set the engine mounts in the first position mounting the engine farthest forward but the drivers mount wouldn't clear the alternator. With the mounts in the middle postition the alternator wouldn't clear the crossmember. I set the engine mounts at the farthest back position(engine farthest forward) and the alternator clears the frame and the oil pan clears the crossmember perfectly.

What mods did you make to the crossmember to get the 4L60E to mount up other than moving the crossmember back?

Well guys I did buy the 16,000 mile LS1/4L60E from a wrecked 99 Camaro SS. I wasn't really planning on buying a LS1 to start with but after finding this one that was local from a friend I decided to buy it. I brought it home monday night and started stripping off some of the parts I won't be needing. I bought a set of adapter plates off Ebay, they are VERY nice pieces. Right now the plan is to modify the factory harness to use as a stand alone harness(either do this myself or pay someone) and get the factory ECM programmed to get rid of the VATS and the rear O2 sensors. Not sure if I am going to get rid of the EGR or not at the moment(any opinions on this?). I am hoping the factory F-body oil pan will clear my crossmember with the engine set back to the farthest position on the adapters.

Well I ended up finding a 16,000 mile 99 LS1/4L60 Camaro engine/trans for a very reasonable price so it is now looking like I will be going that direction

I got the engine and transmission pulled tonight. The buyer is coming to pick the engine up wednesday night. I hope to get the engine and transmission bought and here next week sometime.

What is everyone using for radiator hoses? What is everyone running for guages and speedometer? I had thought about getting a Cable-X box but after checking the price of everything I am considering just buying a digital dash conversion. By doing that I won't need a cable-X box or an adapter to hook up my tach and sensors.

Why did you swap the steering box? I called PSI today and talked to them about their harness and ECMs and they sound like they know what they are doing. I keep going back and forth about the intake though, I have thought a lot about switching to a LS1 intake but now I hear that if I go with a LS1 intake that I will have problems clearing my accesories. I talked with BRP today as well about their kit, the guy I talked to was very helpfull answering my questions as best he could. He was thinking(not 100% sure) that the truck accesories would clear the frame and hood with their kit. I mentioned being a member on www.montecarloss.com and he mentioned that since they are a authorised vendor there I would recieve a 10% discount(NICE!) I asked if I get a better discount since I am a moderator there LOL, I had to try.

The engine in your Silverado SS IS an LQ9, glad to hear you like it so much. I was not aware that the G-body fuel tank was such a close fit. I run across an occasional TBI Monte fuel tank around here, I have seen the aftermarket tanks before with the pan in the bottom and they roll the metal out pretty thin on them, I will be keeping an eye out for a factory tank with the plasic baffles. Some of the stuff I am still not sure on is stuff like the oil pans, there seems to be several different oil pans depending on the mounts used. I was hoping to hear from some members here as to which accessories they used and how the clearance was on them. Also wondering what everyone has used for mounts. I kind of like the look of the BRP mounts but they are so pricey for no more than there is to them. I keep seeing the cheap EBay mounts but I would hate to buy them and they not work the best for my aplication. I have actually been thinking about getting a LS1 or possibly a LS6 intake manifold and headers to put on the LQ9 before I stick it in the car but then again not sure on that. I don't mind Google but I would rather talk back and forth in an open forum and get different discussions about the swap.

Thanks for the link, I checked it out some but from what I have seen on the links on this site about the engine oil pan is that the Montes set the engine back a little farther than on the chevelles so there is not as much trouble with the oil pan clearing. I was hopeing to hear more from the members here on the site that have done an LS swap to hear what fuel tanks they have used and what engine mounts ecct. I gotta admit I am fairly dissapointed in the lack of responses here.

Thanks for the help guys. I am no stranger to a fuel injection swap as I did a TPI swap in my old 88 Monte Carlo SS along with a nice aluminum head roller cammed 355 and a T5 trans. Looking back at the time I should have just done a LS1 swap but nothing ever fell in place for it. I am a full time automotive mechanic, rather be called a mechanic than a technician just the terminology I grew up with. I have access to my shop's Snap On Shopkey system(Mitchell) so I can get all kinds of wiring diagrams and specs and I have a 1972 Monte Carlo service manual(repop). When I did my TPI swap in the SS there were a handfull of VERY informative writeups showing what parts were needed as well as what parts to get from the donor vehicle and which wires to hook to where. I haven't really found much here on this site but maybey I just don't know where to look. Got any suggestions? Here is a picture of the engine I will be pulling to make the swap: Thanks again Randy

Hey guys I am looking to replace the engine in my 1972 Monte. I was thinking of buying a LQ9 Escalade/Silverado SS 6.0 engine. I found a decent price on one complete with everything including the harness but not a transmission. My plan was to buy the LQ9 and a 4L60E trans and stick in my Monte along with a set of headers and some better exhaust. I have seen several posts about guys here doing the swaps but I need to ask a few questions for myself. I was wondering what everyone that is doing LS swaps is using for a fuel tank and pump? I saw someone mention a 94 Caprice tank. How well do the truck intakes clear a stock first gen hood? I know I have seen a few people swap them in fourth gen Montes and have to clearance the underside of the hood to clear the throttle body. What all has to be done to use a factory GM Escalade or Silverado SS harness and ECM? I am guessing the ECM will have to be reprogrammed to get rid of the VATS or do they still have that? Which 4L60E trans should I use? I didn't know if one from a F-body would fit better or if the ones in the trucks were better. Not really planning on doing a 4L80E but if it weren't too much work to do I would consider using one instead of the 4L60E. My car currently has a electric fan on it and a custom fan shroud. Does the factory run a electric fan or mechanical on the LQ9? Thanks in advance. Randy

Your buddy with the 57 did a nice burnout We left within a few minutes of you leaving I believe Dan. I didn't see any police.

Congrats on the progress, car is looking great! I was wondering if you ever got a spare frame or not. Both of the parts cars in the local salvage yard are gone now.

Woops sorry about the slip up guys, don't know where my mind was Good to know of the hood clearance. Right now my air cleaner is fairly close to the hood as it is with the 350, wasn't sure how it would be with the big block. I will start keeping my eyes open for a good used Performer RPM intake and some mid length headers.

I have a 454 engine I am looking to build for my 72 and I have a couple questions. What headers fit good with a BBC in these cars? I am thinking full length coated headers. What intake setups will fit under a stock hood. I am thinking a raised dual plane design like the Edelbrock Performer RPM with a 750 Edelbrock carb on top. I currently have a 350 in my Monte and I plan on installing a 200-4R transmission in it but I already know that my stock 454 flexplate will not fit in the 200-4r, checked that out already. Any chance someone makes a 153 tooth flexplate ballanced for a 454? As for the 454 it will be .030 with a stock crank and rods, possibly forged pistons, non-stock camshaft(hopefully roller), rebuilt 781 heads, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, Eddy 750 carb, headers, stock HEI distributor and electric fans. Nothing too fancy just big and noisey Thanks for all the head guys.

I just bought a set of the same heads in Auxvasse, got them for $100 and just gunna have the seller drop them off at my head guy's repair shop. Good to know about putting bigger valves in, I will be sure to get that done

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140077482415&viewitem= I got the bracket from Ebay, I hope it works ok, if it doesn't I will always swear it should have I have the correct 200-4R dipstick tube. As for the lockup I have actually been planning on just not running one, I have left them unplugged before without any trouble. Honestly from what I have experienced with aftermarket controllers for the lockup none of them function like the factory did. I may decide later this summer to try to wire the lockup up to a switch and have it run through the brake light switch.

Hey guys I have a 200-4R that I am planning on installing in my 72 Monte and I have a few questions. I have heard that for the crossmember all I have to do is move it back to the holes for the TH400 location, correct? I have heard I will be able to re-use my TH350 driveshaft. I have an Edelbrock carburator on my 355 and I bought a bracket to help keep the TV cable tension correct and I bought an adjustable TV cable. My concern at the moment is with my shifter. My car has a factory console shift, what will I need to make this work with my shifter. I know there is a company that makes a shift plate with the correct shift pattern and a plate to catch the shifter itself. What about the bracket and lever on the transmission itself, will I be able to re-use my factory cable and lever and make the bracket work with the 200-4r pan? Thanks for any help you can give. Randy