LS2 in 1985 elco

[Airman Haas]

I recently purchased an Ls2 out of an 05 GTO with auto transmission, all belt driven accesories, wiring, ecm, etc., i am wondering what all i need to do to get this engine in. I know i need to customize my speedo and if anyone has any advice on that i would be greatful.Fuel tank i know will have to be swapped or fab'd to fit a fuel pump, has anyone done a swap similar to this that could share some info. Can i use the ECM and wiring from the GTO or will i need to get something new, also will the stock ls2 manifolds need to be swapped out. This will be my first engine swap into a car the engine was not designed for so any help i can get will be greatly appreciated

[darbysan]

Been done a bunch of times, so sure you can get the help you need.

Here's a good thread to read ( if you've got time!). Will probably answer most if not all of your questions.

http://www.montecarloss.com/communit...=860328&page=1

[jlcustomz]

There is someolder info on this site,ls1 tech.com has a conversion section that has a g-body thread. I also posted a pretty good swap book here.

With these kind of swaps ,there are many different options for most every issue, Different fitting positions, & many you can either buy or fab your way out. There is a tank swap thread by ccc here I reccommend,I'll eventually do it to my 2002 install. Harness can be modified by you or a shop to add on to existing vehicle with a few wires OR buy new swap harness such as from speartech. I went all aftermarket gauges in mine, set tach on 4 cyl, speedo was programmable.Mot sure about your manifolds, Long tube headers are best. there are swap models,& many use 4th gen f-body headers, all with different results. Pretty sure your pan CANNOT work, there are now factory style muscle car pans. I notched & reboxed for my f-body pan & ac low mount setup. Not familiar with gto mounts. Other info sources are Street & Performance, Retro lsx, Howell, BRP, Holley.

[Airman Haas]

thank yall for the information, currently deployed to afghanistan so i will not be starting until i get back but i will post updates and pictures of the progress once i get started

[darbysan]

THANKS for your service When you get home, we'll all be ready to jump in and help get you the info to build your ride the way you want it.

[greywolf]

I also put in a Caprice wagon gas tank, worked like a charm. If you happen to get a tank and sender from a TBI car (didn't know they came that way), the higher pressure pump for fuel injection will slip right onto the sender in place of the TBI pump.

[Airman Haas]

Anyone have any suggestions for an Air Intake?, i found a swap kit on eBay with engine mounts, Long tube headers, and an oil pan that you can use together that u do near to none fab work to get the engine in, im gonna try and get a 92-96 caprice tank from a salvage yard as mentioned in CCC's thread, as well as putting a ford 9" rear with disk brakes and either a 3:46 gear ratio or 3:73, still deciding how to do the guages and will have to get a custom drive shaft i imagine, cant wait to get this project started

[jlcustomz]

You could make an intake like mine in your spare time.
http://hooniverse.com/2012/11/29/tru...tion/pict3763/

Or you culd use some type of 4" tubing. if you want to just buy something, check Spectre.
My first ls1 intake was black abs drain pipe from lowes. Used a 90* angle & a straight section. took some grinding to fit maf sensor. sanded off letters & polished plastic so no one knew it was drain pipe.

[Airman Haas]

im also trying to find some dimensions or pictures on the notching of the frame required to use the stock ac compressor, i have an aftermarket pan so i wont need to notch anything for that if anyone has any insight let me know thanks

[jlcustomz]

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I now have the sanden 508 compressor with brp mounts, fits looser to frame than larger factory compressor.Much more reliable also, I wouldn't waste freon on a factory compressor again. The gto setup may be different, may even be better compressor than my 99' was.

Ls1 installs can sit in variable locations, you probably will have to test fit before cutting.

[Bonez84]

Best of Luck with the project, I hope to be doing somewhat of the same engine mod real soon.

[Elke87Vette62]

I just posted an album with pictures on an ls1 swap into an 87. I didn't have any problems. They were able to use the original wiring harness with a few mods. The engine was out of a 2000 corvette and was purchased from Fparts in Bristol Pens.

They are right about alot of them have been done. U won't have any problem getting any information. I ended up using an oil pan out of a cadilac ctsV.

[EL S ONE]

Airman Haas, This site might be of some help. Terry




http://www.montecarloss.com/ls1montecarloss/index.html

[Airman Haas]

Thanks again everyone for your help, im nearing the time that i get to leave this place and go home to begin working on my elco, im excited, i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for radiator hoses, im using the radiator that autozone sells for the 85 el camino which has the stock placement for hoses im pretty sure, i need to find out what are the best hoses to hookup to my ls2 or if im going to have to get custom flex hose

[jlcustomz]

On my ls1 swap with factory rad, I hand picked hoses at an auto parts store with old hoses& a tape measure estimating what I needed. Trimmed ends to fit. When I later dropped my radiator mounting 2", I used1 1/2" stainless pipe(bathroom handrail from home depot) to extend between the 2 sections.