I was wondering what I could use if I bought a 1994 Buick Roadmaster with an LT-1 and put the engine in my Elky. Can I use the transmission? Rear end? TCS system? ABS system? Do I need to use the radiator from the Buick or can I use the one on the 305 now? If I can use the TCS and ABS systems, how well would they work?

You can use the motor, tranny and the wiring harness. I don't think the rearend would fit. The TCS and ABS could be added but it would be a major under taking. There are sensors in each wheel and the rearend. For the work I don't think it would be worth it.

Depending on the tranny you have now you will need a new transmission mount. Your current radiator will work but needs a return tube added to it for the water return from the heads. That's what I did to mine.

This isn't an easy converion but a number of people here have done it.

Poltergeist I didn't know you had done that with your radaitor. Can any radiator shop do it? I'm almost ready to install my LT1 in my '79 Elky now so I need to start thinking about that. I have the original radiator out of the donor car (94 Trans Am) but I haven't looked at it to see if it could be used.

I would think any radiator shop should be able to. The brazing that is needed isn't major work. You can see the new return line in this picture just to the right of the radiator cap.

http://www.poltergeist.us/page/Elky/Engine_Bay/Pics/New_radiator_support2.jpg

Hey Poltergeist thanks for the picture. That tells more than words ever could. I see a couple of steel braised lines in there as well. Are those the power steering hoses? I am about to start installing mine and I was wondering about that as well. Did you make sonmething up or have someone buiold you some lines? Also I've got a solenoid of some sort on the passenger side of the motor alongside the intake manifold that has a electrical connection to it and there are two vacuum lines that come out of it. One goes to the throttle body and the other one crosses over under the throttle body to the other side of the motor. I can't figure out where that line goes! I must be missing some parts I guess. I got all the wiring harnesses out of the donor car and I'm about to get into that now as well. Yikes! I didn't mean to hijack this thread.

The hoses on the right are for the oil cooler. The ones on the left are the heater hoses. The power steering is also braided. I made the hoses with Russell hoses and ends that I got from summit. They were not that hard. I did have to get some adaptors that took the steering box mm to -an fittings. I might have the part numbers somewhere if you want me to look them up.

The part you're describing sounds like the evap purge solinoid. The hose would go to your charcole canister.

Thanks again and you're right about that being the purge solenoid. I just saw that last night when I downloaded the instructions for the painless wiring harness. I would appreciate the adapter part numbers if you can find them.

I too am interested in the part numbers. I have a complete '94 Roadmaster I am using for parts/supplies to perform a swap, but every bit of info helps.
Thanks...

I can't find the receipt from buying them but I took a look at Russell's site and it should be one of these two:

648060 -6 to 16mm x 1.5 O-ring Seal

648070 -6 to 14mm x 1.5 O-ring Seal

If you can figure out the mm size on the steering box you can get the right one.

Also make sure you use hose designed for power steering systems. I used Russell's

http://www.russellperformance.com/auto/hoses/pf_steer_hose.shtml

And also used their hose ends.

http://www.russellperformance.com/auto/hoses/pf_steer_hose_ends.shtml

The steering system has a lot of pressure on the high side and normal braided hose will blow out on you. This stuff has a teflon inner core and is rated to 2500 psi.

It's probably one of those fittings at the pump as well?

On the high pressure side - yes. The low pressure (return) it's just the stock clamp on mine.

My best suggestion would be to get 2 bolts the size of the adaptors and trying them out. I wish I could remember how it was I figured out the sizes that I used.

do i NEED to use the wiring harness? or is it ok 2 use the one in the elky now?

The motor harness? If that's what you mean then yes you have to use it. The Elky harness will not have the connections for the sensors, fuel injectors, etc. You can wire the engine harness and the elky harness (from the cab) togeather for starting and power.

another thing i forgot to ask was what about the speedo and tach and the rest? can i still use the mechanical ones in the elky now or do i need to buy an all new set or can i some how fabricate the ones in the Buick to fit in the elky? what did you do?

I did a custom gauge cluster and used new Autometer gauges. But a couple of member here have used their stock gauges. Hopefully someone will answer up with what they did.

Gauges

TACH
LT1 swaps should just be able to plug into the tach output on the computer, it should already be a 8cyl signal. that will work if you already have a v8 tach.
If you have a v6 tach get a factory v8 one.

LS1 swaps reprogram the tach output in the computer with HP tuners or EFI live 7. You can also get a converter box from baker electronics for about $40.

Speedometer
LT1 You have a couple options here, for about 200 in parts from street and performance you can run the mechanical speedo. Or for about $300 buy a abbott cable X box and you can run the mechanical speedo. I picked option C, get a 3 3/8" autometer 120mph electric speedo, take it apart put the guts behind the El Camino face and make a new face that reads to 120mph.

LS1 for about $300 buy a abbott cable X box and you can run the mechanical speedo. Or get a 3 3/8" autometer 120mph electric speedo, take it apart put the guts behind the El Camino face and make a new face that reads to 120mph.

I don't know how guys have been handling the speedo issue, as the Elky has a mech. speedo and the Buick, I think has an electronic speedo. I didn't have that issue since I used a 700r4 trans that has a speedo cable. You need to address the Vehicle Speed sensor if you use the Buick computer. The Buick has a speed sensor on the front brake rotor. The Elky doesn't. Painless and others will sell you a gadget that goes into the trans inplace of your speedo cable and then the cable goes to the gadget.Your speed sensor wire from the computer plugs into the gadget which fakes out the computer. The speedo issue is the reason I used the 700r4. Well that and the fact that the 700r4 was already in the car before I swapped the LT1 in.