Possibly LS1 Swap in '72 Elky

[72 El Camino]

Im currently in the process of restoring a '72 elky, and Im trying to take a modern aproach to the car. Big front disks, coil overs, urethane bushigns, perf. suspension, possibly alum driveshaft, power rack-and-piniopn, ect.. And I was thinkin how hard would it be to swap an LS1 and T56(6 speed tranny) into a '72 El Camino. Woudl any custom work have to be done or do they make parts for the swap? Any help is appreciated.

[Poltergeist]

It's been done to a couple of Chevelles around the same year as yours. There are more and more parts avaliable off the shelf to do this. I would suggest that you look at www.ls1tech.com and look in the Hybrid section and do some searches there. You should be able to find some people that have done it in the same body style you have. Use their R&D to help you.

Depending on the approch you want to do I can tell you will need to: upgrade the fuel tank to one with baffels, run a new fuel line and return line, get motor mount adaptor plates, get the oil pan modified or cut your crossmember so the pan clears or there is an aftermarket pan that will work on Camaros that might work for you but it's not cheap, get the PCM reprogrammed (or get the software and do it yourself, get your wiring harness modified or do it yourself. That's just the highlights. I'm not trying to scare you away from it, but it is some work to do but the LS series of motors are phenominal setups to have.