DC97monterider Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 i was talking to a friend of mine today and he was telling me that i can put the impala ss 5.3l ls4 motor in my 97 monte. and he was say it would fit and only thing would need to change something for the tach. should i do it or not. would like to know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3.1cutlass Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I am sure it could be done. There would be a lot more work than just something for the tach. Motor mounts, wiring, tuning, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC97monterider Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 yeah, he was saying if u have the dog bone motor mounts, u shouldn't have a problem. so imma do more research on it b4 i really think about doing it, and if i do it. i'm gonna make sure its done right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3.1cutlass Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I hope you have a lot of experience in fabrication and wiring. It would be cool to see it done though so good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 i thought the engine was too wide for the engine bay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC97monterider Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 what kind of car do u have mary k? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3.1cutlass Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 i thought the engine was too wide for the engine bay? I doubt it is much larger than a northstar. I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 what kind of car do u have mary k? why would that matter at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cully77 Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 I think you'll find it's more work than you are imagining right now, but good luck if you do go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC97monterider Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 yeah,cuz gonna weigh my options right now, but if don't go for that, i will go with my original plan of putting the 3800 in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 I don't know if it's too wide or not. I also can't imagine it being any wider than the Northstar, but anything is possible. Dog bones aren't the only problem you'd have to deal with. There is typically a hydraulic engine mount under the front of the oil pan (by front, I mean the timing cover end). That's the main motor mount, the dog bones only keep the engine from rotating. You would need some fabrication for that mount, I doubt there is a bolt-in engine mount or bracket for that. Electronics are also fairly complex on that engine. I believe it's Drive-By-Wire and also has DoD. It wouldn't surprise me if it also needs BCM communication for some kind of VATS type system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotrodolds Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 The electronics will KILL you. The LS4 powered cars were all CAN-Bus. You have none of that. It won't be worth the time or effort. The V8 sound would almost make it worth it, but swap in the L67, and the scream of a blower will be just as nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonteCarloChick Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 Swap a real big block in it and covert to RWD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted July 21, 2009 Report Share Posted July 21, 2009 imo a rwd sbc swap would be more worth the time and effort than a LS4 swap. a 3800 swap would be infinitely easier and cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 FYI, I was looking at the LS4 stuff in the GM ESI the other day and it uses similar engine mount locations on the subframe as the 3.4 DOHC. It's highly-unlikely the front mounts for the LS4 bolt right onto the 3.4 mounting locations, but it looked like it wouldn't be too much trouble to modify either the mount locations or the LS4 engine mounts themselves to work. I like that the LS4 starter can be removed through the top without removing anything else from the engine. Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IRONDOG442 Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 what kind of car do u have mary k? Ken pwned by an ignorant NOOB !!! DC97 FTMFW!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunerlover3 Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 Its not worth it. With all the computers you are going to have to swap over (cause the main PCM wont start the engine till some interior BCM's kick on) its just going to be a large hassle. The engine and trans would "fit", but there would be so much custom work. I mean A LOT. 3800 turbo or L67 would be a better choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 Just throwing this out there, but you could possibly use a PCM from a 98 F-body. You'd lose DOD, but I think it would work. I don't know if 98 PCMs have a lot of dependencies or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 If I were to do it: Remove drive by wire, and mate a different throttle body to it, probably with some sort of adapter (or if it is typical GM, the TB mounts are generally identical). Use Megasquirt, or equivalent, as they have provisions for cam, crank, o2, etc.... all the necessary sensors to run it properly. Will also allow easier connection into the stock interior harness, without the use of a BCM, and you can completely remove Passkey/Vats. Custom mounts are going to be necessary. Compare the mounts in the 5.3 equipped cars to whats in the non 5.3 cars in the 2nd Gen's. Thats going to be your best bet, as we all already know what to do for mounts when swapping over L67's. Your also going to have to deal with the transmission, which depending on if it is the same from the 3800's to the 5.3 (don't know, never cared enough to look), then you'd be alright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 Custom mounts are going to be necessary. Compare the mounts in the 5.3 equipped cars to whats in the non 5.3 cars in the 2nd Gen's. Thats going to be your best bet, as we all already know what to do for mounts when swapping over L67's. Your also going to have to deal with the transmission, which depending on if it is the same from the 3800's to the 5.3 (don't know, never cared enough to look), then you'd be alright. The mounts are completely different. L67 uses the exact same mount locations as the pushrod 60-degree V6's. LS4 has one mount attached to the passenger side CV outlet of the transaxle and one on the radiator side of the engine block. Very similar to the 3.4 DOHC. Transmission is a 4T65-E like the 3800's use, but the 3800 doesn't have the mount on the pass side CV outlet. Only the LS4 and 3.4 DOHC have that. I really doubt the LS4 mounts could possibly line up to the 3.4 subframe locations on a gen 1/1.5, but stranger things have happened. At the very worst, the subframe could be modified which would be relatively simple for someone who can weld. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 Yep, a welder and some knowledge will fix it all. Nothing I'd want to attempt in a FWD car, but it can be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 I'd just buy an LS4 car and drive it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwmin Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 i agree...with all you would have to do, it would be cheaper and easier (as much as I hate to say it) per horsepower to build up and drop in an L67. if you really want a V8, I would agree w/ going RWD instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cully77 Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 I'd just buy an LS4 car and drive it.... word Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kuntzie Posted August 1, 2009 Report Share Posted August 1, 2009 upgrade ur car to a gen 2 w-body and swap the subframe from the donor car... swap the dash, and all the wiring, and add a "T" to the fuel for a return line.. that would be the easiest way to do it but the least amount of fab work as everything would just bolt right in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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