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Thread: Swapping to an LS motor and transmission from a vette

  1. #1
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    Swapping to an LS motor and transmission from a vette

    Not sure if this has already been posted or not, just got onto the site. But I have a 56 Bel Air that I am wanting to swap out with an LS motor. I am looking at some 1998-2005 Chevy Corvettes to swap out the motor and automatic transmission from the vette into my 56. Anyone hear of any issues with swapping those into a 56, without having to make a lot of modifications? Or is it better to go with an LS and transmission out of a camaro or silverado/tahoe? Also, wondering if anyone has any recommendations on after market chassis for my 56? Any information is great, thank you.

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    Registered Member BamaNomad's Avatar
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    I'm sure you realize that the '98-2005 Corvettes did use an LS engine, BUT instead of a regular transmission behind the driveshaft, they integrate the transmission/rear end into a transaxle assembly ... Which, while not impossible to put into a TriFive Chevy would be much more complex than a traditional 'transmission' behind the engine...

    A 2wd truck or Camaro with LS engine would have the transmission behind the engine probably like you are expecting, although some trucks (most?) have 4wd and also are not suitable (IMO) for a trifive...

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    I remember reading long ago in a 60's Hot Rod book, that an Oldsmobile engineer said " Horsepower sells cars but, Torque wins races"
    I went with a $1000 5.3 truck engine, and I'm just amazed at how it accelerates a car 2000 pounds lighter than the truck it came out of.
    I have a 5.3 Cop Tahoe that I thought was quick, but in a light car that motor has plenty of fun power and runs perfect.
    I also used a C4 chassis which I can highly recommend from experience.
    IMG_3257.JPG
    Last edited by 55 Rescue Dog; 01-26-2022 at 05:14 PM.

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    5.3 are good engines.

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    Registered Member BamaNomad's Avatar
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    Having had several Chevy trucks with the 5.3 engine, I would certainly agree that they have great power and torque... and ... a 5.3 LS motor is the closest you can get in the 'LS world' to a 327 ci engine!

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    The only bad thing I have ever heard about a 5.3 relates to the ones with the funky lifters that shut down cylinders. That is why I would go 6.0.
    Last edited by markm; 01-27-2022 at 12:33 PM.

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    Thank you all for the responses. I will be going with the 5.3 engine when I find one. Thanks again!

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    It's close enough you can tell people you have a 327 cubic inch motor under the hood. Just don't open it.
    IMG_0350.jpg

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    Registered Member Tabasco's Avatar
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    When I bought my 2001 Silverado with a 5.3 and automatic overdrive I didn't know anything about the 5.3. The sales lady knew how to sell to a Baby Boomer. She said it is everything you ever wanted in a Chevrolet. It has bucket seats, 4 speed, and fuel injected 327 V8. I put 235,000 miles on it before the transmission quit, but the engine was still running well.

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    Registered Member busterwivell's Avatar
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    Our 2001 Tahoe is the 2nd Tahoe we've had. Bought it as a lease return in 2005 with 37,000 miles on it. It has run great ever since we've had it, with a few repairs from time to time, but nothing much. It has 312,000 on it, still gets almost 20 mpg, still pulls my car trailer with ease, and doesn't leak or smoke. We couldn't be happier.

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