My LSx swap diary

[PPI Typhoon]

Ok, well I've been looking for a SyTy LSx swap diary, and there are some posts, but not any that document the little things. If any of you know me, you know I like to do things myself, but some things are just better left to others that have done the work. With our son expected to be born soon, I'm going to be limited in my time, so I'd rather spend my time getting the motor in my truck rather than doing R&D for custom stuff.

My goals are this:

--Yes it will be AWD
--Yes it will be turbo
--5.3L or 6.0L iron block truck motor (6.0L was the choice)
--The least amount of custom work on my end (Thanks to Turbotime, George Blake, and JS Manufacturing for helping a lot with this)
--T76 or larger turbo (my stock unit could not be used, so it has since been sold)
--4L80E conversion (purchased the BW4472 input shaft from George Blake)
--LS1/LS6 Style intake (got the LS6)
--Plug & play harness from Current Performance
--A/C retained
--Emissions friendly

So I'm going to be documenting what I buy and why......and eventually make posts about the install.

1st purchase:

TurboTime oilpan for LSx comversion: $552 + Shipping


Project Total: $568.86

[PPI Typhoon]

Next purchase:

LS1 intake manifold - Ebay - $40 + Shipping
(Yes, I know the LS6 manifold is better, but it's a budget based build and I can always upgrade later)
My opinion on this is a much better looking install than the truck intakes despite the low end torque loss, it's just a preference. I'm also going to need new injectors anyhow.....so I might as well make the intake swap now so when I do get the LS6 (maybe FAST), it will be a reasonably quick install compared. I also want to get the fuel rail covers custom with the Typhoon logo on them. I was even thinking about making a set saying "Syclone" just for the humor that most people won't get other than SyTy owners


Project Total: $633.86

[PPI Typhoon]

After looking at my budgets, I went ahead and picked up the following items:

LS1 fuel rail $ 58 + Shipping

My plan is to buy a 5.3L or 6.0L iron block truck motor, and the fuel rails/injectors are not the same as the LS1. The injectors also aren't interchangable. The stock fuel rail has been known to support pretty decent HP. I'll eventually go to 5/8" or 1/2" billet rails, but keeping budget in mind for now.



LS1 EGR - $25 shipped

Reason: I plan on a 'visually' compliant swap for emissions. It probably will be welded to my exhaust, but not welded to an open port EGR isn't present on later model LSx motors, but I think 02 and older have them intact. Since I am doing the LS1 intake swap, the truck EGR setup doesn't work with the LS1 intake (at least not easily). Once I get the LS6 intake, they don't have EGR, however you can buy small inserts that you can use to add EGR to the non-EGR intake for emissions compliance.


Project Total: $732.86

[super-gt]

Nice man, when do you think you are gonna begin the build? Any time planned yet that you want it finished by?

Were gonna have to both go to the pavillions when both our trucks are back together and your lsx swap is done....I love parking next to the vettes/f-bodies, pop the hood, and watch people scratch their heads in confusion.

I'm interested to see how you route the turbo cause I still haven;t decided if I want to go turbo or supercharged..anyways

Good luck on the build!

[PPI Typhoon]

Next, I went and got the motor mounts from TurboTime: $155 shipped


Picked up a set of the F-body clamshell motor mounts (engine side): $65 shipped

No pic yet


Project Total: $927

[PPI Typhoon]

Originally Posted by super-gt

Nice man, when do you think you are gonna begin the build? Any time planned yet that you want it finished by?

Were gonna have to both go to the pavillions when both our trucks are back together and your lsx swap is done....I love parking next to the vettes/f-bodies, pop the hood, and watch people scratch their heads in confusion.

I'm interested to see how you route the turbo cause I still haven;t decided if I want to go turbo or supercharged..anyways

Good luck on the build!

Well I might be picking up the motor this month. The swap won't start until I have all the parts I can think of collected.

The turbo routing: My plan is to use the S&P high mount A/C setup (using a Sanden 508 compressor), or possibly a custom bracket using the stock F-body tensioners. I don't want to cut into my frame quite yet, and I need that space to run my crossover pipe. I've seen some nasty looking crossover pipes with LSx installs, and I would like to keep it looking much like the SyTy crossover where it goes under the crank pully and hugs the block reasonably well. Then the turbo will go next to the highmount A/C setup.

[PPI Typhoon]

Next was the waterpump from an LS2.: $160 shipped
This is needed for the LS1 intake conversion, but also the pulley is shorter than the LS1, so it provides more room for the electric fans. I think it saves you 1.5-2" of depth.



Project Total: $1087

[PPI Typhoon]

Ok I think that's it so far that I've bought this week. Thanks to E-RUE for his quick shipping and great service as always.

So yeah.......already a grand thrown down and I don't have a motor yet.

[sy#2921]

I know the egr wont be functional but are you going to at least chop down the part that goes into the intake as well? If you notice it goes in quite a bit and causes flow issues

[super-gt]

Originally Posted by PPI Typhoon

Ok I think that's it so far that I've bought this week. Thanks to E-RUE for his quick shipping and great service as always.

So yeah.......already a grand thrown down and I don't have a motor yet.

lol....owell, I just dropped a 1700 dollar deposit on wheels I'm having made for my truck.....and uhh yea...1700 is only the deposit..theres more to go...I feel ur pain..haha

But yea...I was really thinking that KB blower would be cool on an LS1 swap, but I was looking at my headers that idiot in chandler made for me last year...and man they are such a piece a shit(or two pieces a shit I should say) So I was just thinking I'll have to get them remade one day..may as well just have someone make me some turbo headers and stick a big turbo under the hood...lol..

Now you see how my way of thinking gets me in trouble

*self* I need new headers, eh may as well just get a turbo system fabbed while the truck is apart.

PS..that oil pan looks super nice!

[PPI Typhoon]

Originally Posted by sy#2921

I know the egr wont be functional but are you going to at least chop down the part that goes into the intake as well? If you notice it goes in quite a bit and causes flow issues

Yeah, it's going to simply bolt up to the intake, but if there is any restriction to the intake flow.......it's getting chopped.

[PPI Typhoon]

Originally Posted by super-gt

lol....owell, I just dropped a 1700 dollar deposit on wheels I'm having made for my truck.....and uhh yea...1700 is only the deposit..theres more to go...I feel ur pain..haha

But yea...I was really thinking that KB blower would be cool on an LS1 swap, but I was looking at my headers that idiot in chandler made for me last year...and man they are such a piece a shit(or two pieces a shit I should say) So I was just thinking I'll have to get them remade one day..may as well just have someone make me some turbo headers and stick a big turbo under the hood...lol..

Now you see how my way of thinking gets me in trouble

*self* I need new headers, eh may as well just get a turbo system fabbed while the truck is apart.

PS..that oil pan looks super nice!

Yeah it gets expensive. I've not been able to put any money into the truck until the baby's stuff is all taken care of. He has just about everything he'll need for now, so I have about 6 weeks before he's here so I'm collecting as much as I can.

The turbo setup is going to consist of a truck header turned around on the driver's side, fabbed crossover, fabbed passenger side header, and then the downpipe going into my existing 3" exhaust.

I really like this setup, but I don't think the crossover work work this way with our trucks:

[Raist103]

good write up i will enjoy following this

[JuStBlAzIN]

yes very good write up. As i am gearing my self to do the same in the syclone.

[PPI Typhoon]

Originally Posted by JuStBlAzIN

yes very good write up. As i am gearing my self to do the same in the syclone.

Well part of the reason doing this writeup is because of the Syclone install posted here:

http://www.syty.net/forums/showpost....34&postcount=1

Dont even ask what it took to accomplish this conversion Lets just say Buddy is an absolute perfectionist and his fabrication/determination should not be challenged!!! Buddy built this truck from stock form to where you see it now.

Well.....that's not very helpful to those of us working on these projects to, so it was simply for him to come in and brag.

That's great and all..........but shared advice is more important to me