I’ve obtained a ’66 Chevelle with an inline six cylinder and a Powerglide and I wish to swap in an LS engine. I’ve been studying about LS swaps however there’s a lot complicated data that now I’m not so positive. Do I’ve to hack up the ground pan to put in a 5.3L truck LS and a 4L60E in my Chevelle? Is there a simple reply to this? Thanks!
B.P.
The issue with the web is that everyone has an opinion—and infrequently instances they’re simply flat mistaken. We’ve achieved the precise swap that you just’re speaking about in a ’67 Chevelle and likewise in a ’66 Chevelle with a wide range of transmissions.
The excellent news is your swap is fairly simple.
We don’t have the area right here to have a look at all of the variables however we’ll hit the excessive factors to cowl your query. You talked about the 5.3L truck engine and 4L60E so we’ll go together with that.
Suggestions & Recommendation for LS Swapping a 1966 Chevelle
We’ll supply some perception with Holley LS conversion components since we’re most aware of their merchandise. (I’ll put a components checklist on the backside of this text.) If you happen to use the usual inventory location motor mount adapter plates, the engine will match however the oil pan gained’t. First, the truck oil pan is just too deep and can be about 1-1/2 inches deeper than your crossmember.
We’ve discovered that the Holley 302-2 oil pan suits fairly nicely in these automobiles. All Chevelles are entrance steer automobiles, which implies the steering linkage is in entrance the crossmember. Even with a inventory small or massive block, the linkage comes very near the oil pan at full lock. So look ahead to this.
This oil pan swap additionally would require a brand new LS3 dipstick and tube for the correct oil degree indications. As a result of the pan in shallower within the entrance to clear the crossmember, you additionally must trim the windage tray however that’s additionally a easy job when the unique oil pan is changed.
With the engine within the automotive with the correct oil pan, the subsequent hurdle can be squeezing the 4L60E underneath the inventory ground pan. On the 1967 Chevelle we transformed, a number of folks informed us that we must butcher the ground to be able to get the trans into the automotive. In our case, that was not crucial. There have been two locations the place the 4L60E was near the ground. The primary was the entrance servo cowl truly hit the ground within the higher portion of the quilt.
We marked this location after which used a big hammer and an equally giant radius physique dolly to maneuver roughly a two inch by one inch part of the passenger facet ground upward. This allowed for enough space to clear the servo cowl. The second space was the cooler line connectors which have been very near the ground as nicely. We have been in a position to make use of some cast AN becoming adapters to clear the ground with the cooler strains however you’ll have to hammer the ground on this space as nicely.
Generally the physique will match nearer to the body as a result of the unique rubber physique bushings have collapsed, this tightens the clearance between the physique and the body and this instantly impacts transmission tunnel clearance. After all, the 4L60E will even have to have the transmission crossmember relocated as nicely and you’ll need a unique size driveshaft because the outdated driveshaft will possible be too lengthy. However neither of those are troublesome to resolve.
The OE truck consumption manifold also needs to clear the hood in case you plan to re-use that inventory manifold. If the engine is provided with drive-by-wire (DBW) throttle, you’ll have to eradicate the inventory throttle pedal meeting and convert to a DBW throttle pedal that’s obtainable from a number of sources together with GM and Holley.
After all, there are a couple of hundred extra little particulars you’ll need to deal with like utilizing the truck accent drive and the facility steering pulley could be very near the Chevelle higher management arm space and you might want to deal with that, however general the swap is pretty easy. The one giant gap you’ll have to make within the firewall can be for engine harness.
In any other case, the hacking of sheetmetal needs to be minimal—have enjoyable!
1966 Chevy Chevelle LS & Transmission Swap Components Record
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