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Ive got the opportunity to trade an old trans for a 92 350 chevy bottom end. Ive been brainstorming an lt1 build for my old BMW and Im wondering:
Is it possible to put the intake manifold, and opti on an older version of the 350, I realize the lt1 is reverse flow cooling but is the cam any different? Heads? Block?
I appreciate any input. Thanks.
-Webb
The heads are different. You have to have LT heads for an LT Block. Same with the intake manifold...only a setup built for an LT will work. You can modify the heads for an SBC but it takes a lot of machinework. If you can get them to work on the SBC Block then the Intake Manifold will follow however. As for the Opti, it would take some work...I don't know what parts are out there but I am pretty sure it wont work on an SBC due to the water pump setup...the Opti is cam driven and sits behind the LT water pump and it is already a tight fit...I don't think a normal SBC pump will leave room for an opti however I have seen LT's use a traditional distributor before but I am not sure what it would take to make it work on an LT1 Intake Manifold...I am sure someone here will have experience with that one. I am not sure if the cam is any different, but I know the cam drives the oil pump drive, not sure if it will drive a traditional distributor as well.
If I am wrong at all please fill me in people haha. I am no expert.
Honestly if you've got a Gen I SBC it makes no sense to spend the money on an LT1 valvetrain/head/intake retrofit. The SBC stuff is very cheap, very common, and can make just as much, if not MORE power than an LT1.
Agreed, it wouldnt be cost effective. Stick with Gen I parts, or go all Gen II...too much cost and not worth it to try and mix and match.
Gotcha thanks guys. Reason its in my mind is Im wanting the budget fuel injection because I will be driving the car, alot. If it wont fit though, it wont fit.
Thanks for the info.
If you want the injection get a TPI system from a 92 Camaro lol
a lot of companies sell fuel inj setups for the small block chevy. no reason to put the weakest link ( opti ) on a sbc . you could have the sbc heads converted to reverse cooling to allow more compression on pump gas but dont know if the performance gain would be worth the cost
Very possible to run a LT1 PCM on a SBC. Unfortunately you would have to fab something as there is nothing that you can go out and buy. Two ways its been done before - opti internals in HEI distributor or custom timing cover to hold an optispark unit.
I'm about 85% done in building an ebay TPI dizzy with optispark internals for my LT1 using very cheap parts from a hardware store. Mine will look similar to Speartech's (who made one years ago) of which I've attached a photo.
In my case, I just don't like the location of the opti, the small bolts that hold down the fragile rotor on the opti, need the LT1 pcm to run my '95 4L60E, and the LS1 system(24x/4x) requires a lot of additional parts, money, and work to install in addition to having to change out transmission parts to update the transmission.Attachment 7948