My first ever project

[jac55chevy]

I have a 55 chevy that my dad just gave to me and it's been in the family since new. Right now it has a 307, borg warner T10 4spd on the floor tranny and pos-trace rearend with 4.10's. I just picked up a ls1 block today that it's been gone through by a machine shop. Here is a link to what has been done to the short block
http://www.dfwstangs.net/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=107776&cat=11
Now I'm going the carb route with this one. Is there a thread that someone else has done this route? I did a search and nothing comes up. I might not have worded it right. But just seeing if someone can point me in the right direction on building this motor. I want a streetable setup but I do hope to make 450 hp to the wheels. This car might see the track and mostly driven on the street on the weekends. Thanks for any help.

[chevman57]

Welcome to the site. It seems that most that are installing the LS series engines are staying with the fuel injection route. I know i`d like to install one in my 57 in a couple of years and it`ll be injected.
Terry

[MightyMouse57]

Welcome!!:sign0016: Sorry I can't help with the LS, just wanted to say hi.

Glad you found us:D

[jac55chevy]

Welcome to the site. It seems that most that are installing the LS series engines are staying with the fuel injection route. I know i`d like to install one in my 57 in a couple of years and it`ll be injected.
Terry

That's what I was leaning towards, but I kinda want to keep it simple and leave it carb. I mean it is a 55 chevy and it came carb. Also I don't want to put too much money into this. I know I will spend some but not as much as I would with fuel injection.:beer:

[BO185]

That's what I was leaning towards, but I kinda want to keep it simple and leave it carb. I mean it is a 55 chevy and it came carb. Also I don't want to put too much money into this. I know I will spend some but not as much as I would with fuel injection.:beer:

OK going carb. Well you will need an ignition contoller. The MSD setup will work. You need a carb intake the GMPP one is pretty good. So for those two alone it will be 600 bucks! Plus, you need a carb another $300 bucks as well as a electric fuel pump.

So for the price of converting to a carb you cold keep the fuel injection, and get better MPG. Power would be the same with either, but you would have alot more tunablity/drivablity. You can mod or have someone mod. a fuel injection truck harness and PCM, which can be had for pretty cheap, to work with the LS1. And get PCM tuned and buy a LS6 or even Fast 90 used for $600-$800 bucks total for the complete fuel injection set-up and intake.

Carb Intake $375
http://www.sdparts.com/catalog/lsgeniiigenivperformance/fuelsystem/intakemanifolds/GMPerformancePartsLSCarburetedIntakeManifold.aspx
MSD Carb contoller $300 bucks
http://www.sdparts.com/product/MSD6010/IgnitionControllerforLS1LS6CarburetedEngines.aspx

Looks like you need heads as well. The best stock heads that will work with the LS1 bore are the LS6 243's. Also there are a ton of aftermarket ported and cnc heads that aren't to bad expensive. You can get CNC 243 for around a grand.

With your setup LS1, 243(ported CNC)heads, nasty cam, and Fast 90 intake 450-500 hp easy at the crank depending on what CR you pick.

The stock LS6 with 243 heads was 400hp just porting and adding a cam to it made it 450hp.

Read this as well!
Budget LS Engine Swap Guide <$1500 (http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1075693-my-budget-ls-engine-swap-guide-1500-a.html)

[r66ss]

Jac

Just want to say, And sorry carb here.

welcome aboard :happy0030:

[carls 56]

:hello: hi jac and welcome! nice intro. good to have you here :anim_46:............... what a great dad. great also to be in the family since day #1:cool0010:

[Gregs210]

Hello and welcome.

[jac55chevy]

Thanks for all the info and help guys.

[belairdave]

Welcome to trifive jac55chevy.... Sorry no help here.... I'm an "Old School" 327 Tripower guy.... Later, Dave

[five7kid]

I agree with BO185.

If you want to keep an LS swap simple, stay with fuel injection. A carb complicates things; have to work around an engine that was not designed for it, aftermarket support is small, carb'd LS engines are peaky (good top end power, gutless down low).

[AUSSIE55]

keep the injection

[Tojach]

Hello Jac
I am a new member also recently and acguired a '55 but not in the desirable way you did...i bought someone else's project. It came with a 327, high rise dual quads sticking out of a butchered hole in the hood and the rest of the car had been "crafted " in that same fashion. I bought an LS2 from a 2005 vette and am in the process of installing that on a different, boxed (California) frame along with all the goodies I can afford. I have a trailing arm suspension with coil overs, Unisteer power rack and am researching a TKO 600 or T56 Magnum as the tranny leading into a narrowed 9". Do youself a favor and make a thorough plan with research, costs and steps detailed out and stick by it. It is amazing how the money will add up so quickly and especially if you have to dramatically change your direction in midstream. I will try to post some pictures of my build but in the meantime,Good luck! This is a wonderful sight to explore different avenues and meet some great and caring people. Enjoy the build, that can be as satisfying as the finished product. Tojach

[n0mad3]

I 'm think of doing the samething to my ls1. There is a kit out that uses a f**d dist. And you can use mech fuel pump. Wouldn't need the computer. Talk to a guy that works at RCR. Said GM brought couple of ls engine to engine shop. Tested them with FI and with carb. They were getting 50 more hp with the carb. Couldn't get any detail on it.

[BO185]

I 'm think of doing the samething to my ls1. There is a kit out that uses a f**d dist. And you can use mech fuel pump. Wouldn't need the computer. Talk to a guy that works at RCR. Said GM brought couple of ls engine to engine shop. Tested them with FI and with carb. They were getting 50 more hp with the carb. Couldn't get any detail on it.

The carb and FI hp will be the about same. The carb will make a little more because it does flows more air.

The front mount distributor is expensive 400 bucks with out a dizzy and fuel pump. (which ut will take a mech pump) http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm

Then another $400 for the intake http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/results.cfm

Then you still have to buy a carb.

Thats alot of money just to run a Carb

[first 56]

BO185,

The results to the links you provided state
"No parts were found matching your search".
Do you mind reposting???
Thanks

[Jim '57]

Keep the FI, it will be more dependable and give better mpg and the HP will be good.
Jim

[BO185]

BO185,

The results to the links you provided state
"No parts were found matching your search".
Do you mind reposting???
ThanksYeah the link didn't save the search. Go to tis site and enter the GM part number at the upper left. http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/

Here's the intake
GM PART # 88958675
CATEGORY: Engine Fuel Intake Manifold
PACK QTY: 1
CORE CHARGE: $0.00
GM LIST: $540.00
OUR PRICE: $396.90
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/part_images/889586751.jpg

The front cover for dizzy.
GM PART # 88958679
CATEGORY: Engine Front Cover
PACK QTY: 1
CORE CHARGE: $0.00
GM LIST: $542.86
OUR PRICE: $399.00
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/part_images/889586791.jpg


The funny thing is I can get a complete 5.3L with 60,000 miles for $800 bucks mod the harness and tune it all for a grand total of $1000 bucks!

[first 56]

Thanks!!

[BO185]

Thanks!!I have seen people use the carb intake and drill for fuel injectors and mount a TB on top of it with an air cleaner so it looks like a carb. Looks pretty old school as well.