I'm 70. Done a bunch of cars in my time and you are correct... this IS the heart of Hot Rodding.

You and driveway engineer are my two main sources of research into this matter, every word you say in this video is of value, thank you!

Best informative video I ever saw on KZfaq on LS swap, you rock

Great video. Nice car I bet it is a whole lot of fun. Would love to see a running and driving video as a follow up.

Love this guy, just straight forward.

This video is amazing. I think I am more impressed with your dash setup than anything. Even if I don’t do an LS swap…I want to build my dash like that. Wow !

I just had to tell you that was a great video. I'm rebuilding a 84 C4 , it still has the original 350 cross fire and 4+3 in it. There's 134 thousand on it now. I was thinking about putting a LS in it and your video is a great help. I still want to keep it stick, but want to up grade to a 5 speed.

This is a great video. Been looking at C4 vette's up here in Canada and they are super expensive ($20k+) for decent '93+ drivers, but one can get decent 84's to 88's cheap ($8k to $10k) because either the engine sucks (84) or it just is a runner without being fancy/has high miles on it. Funny enough I have a local buddy that specializes in Delorean LS swaps so he would be a great resource for this kind of job.

I just finished a truck 6.0 LS swap in a 1986 manual Z51. It was built to be a road course track car that can be driven on the street. It's not comfortable but it's fun. You are correct, the junkyard engine was cheap and had 100,000 miles on it. We did very little to convert it and we will run it till it blows and buy another. It is the most affordable fun you can have. I use a purpose built 5 speed road course transmission that fit perfectly after a bellhousing swap. All Would Be Warriors out there should listen to this man about learning too weld. Not only for automotive purposes but you'd be amazed at how many things are simple to make yourself with basic fabrication skills.

great video, these 43 minutes probably saved me 2 or 3 grand. i picked up an 84 for $1000 last summer and i plan on taking it across the country with the new drivetrain. again great video

Nice overview of your setup! Reminds me I need to make a video too about the little bits and pieces I used as well.

Great video! I could care less of the quality, it’s the information that is priceless if you people out there don’t know a thing about getting this swap to go cheaply. I have the right 5.3 out of a trailblazer that I drove before I popped it out and it drove A-1. The info on rear end, trans selection is good stuff. Along with gauge selection and Holley management ( worth the money I agree wholeheartedly) Again thanks for your time and information.

Great video! Thanks for taking the time to shoot it.

Awesome video with great information, thank you!

Great video, I am in PA also. Indiana, PA near Pittsburgh. I have a 95 C4 with a 383 and 6 speed.

Great video with to the point information. Your honesty was cracking me up. Nice job my man👍

Good video, not many out there with LS swaps in C4s.

I have a 1986 with a 396 stroker, with a tpis miniram, it's got a Yank 3800 stall, 48lb injectors, 200 cc world heads, eagle forged everything. 4L80 with adapter, and a D1 procharger, Hooker headers. I got rid of the digital dash, all analog green LCD gauges, a custom Eprom chip from TPIS. It's got new paint, a body kit, black on black. Put vents in the hood. For my gauge cluster, you'd be proud, there's a guy online who makes a solid steel bezel and it's got all the holes for gauges. I got rid of the breadbox also. This year this thing is done. 20 year project.

Man thank you great info just what I needed to know , ✅✅✅

i Just picked up a 1986 with standard transmission! Didn't realize it was not that common. Its been sitting on a lot for 6 years and hasnt run in that long either. I am planning on doing an ls swap(mostly because shifting feels...odd. Not to mention some better reliability and something im a little more familiar with. Thank you for this overview!

I live in Louisiana, a/c is a must

I'm back -- felt like watching this again, when it popped up in my feed. You've really done a great job with this video. If people actually pay attention, they will be well-guided. However, for those who can't or won't take on a project of this scope, I would suggest that a Gen-1 SBC is about 85-90% as good an engine, anyway, and capable of making enough power for the vast majority of us. Please -- I'm not saying don't do an LS swap, I'm just saying think it through, first. What are your end goals, shop capabilities, and commitment level? Think of the advantages, here: No trips to the junkyard to pull whole engines and other parts, and no custom fabrication to speak of. That stuff adds up to a _much_ bigger project. Also, _you can keep your A/C_ , and potentially keep your digital dash. BTW, an iron block is only about 100lbs heavier than an aluminum block -- do you _really_ care? For an L83 or L98 engine (1984-91), the major components you'll need are different heads, cam, and intake. To go beyond about ~450hp, a block with four-bolt main bearings is recommended, but used ones are cheap. Besides, you could go with your two-bolt block initially. If it doesn't blow-up, it's good enough! While really good Gen-1 SBC heads aren't usually found in junkyards, they can be found used on eBay. A snag; if you do want to keep your digital dash, you have to keep the stock ECU. That means tuning and burning e-prom chips for it, and (potentially) dyno time. Or, you can go ahead with the dash mods and run a self-learning Holley system, like Chad has done for his LS (BTW, nice job on the dash, Chad). There _are_ tuners who will provide ready-made 'baseline' chips for common mods. Then, you can then have them tweak subsequent chips, if you want. Not ideal, but it's cheap and it can work, especially when using somewhat conservative tunes.

my c4 has a 4.8 ls with a t5 5 speed. originally a 350 crossfire with 700r4. i regret not replacing the intake manifold with a corvette/camaro style. i kept the factory intake manifold so im in the middle of building a cowl to bolt on

Thank you for the advise I am wanting to LS swap my 91 C4 it came with the L98 and its an automatic

You're certainly the keeper of the flame when it comes to hot rodding a C4. I just got a 1984 black auto vette that runs and drives for 2500 bucks. This is the perfect solution for a smog controlled junk powertrain. i love rowing gears but you cut it down to size, in large theyre all autos till about '89, no matter what the 84 will have a dana 36. I wished you had the go pro because this would have 100k's of views. This really sheds light on how much our engines have evolved and what we take for granted, it will be a tough moment for me to modify an incredibly preserved vette with just 82k miles...but it's for the best. I've owned over a dozen TBI vehicles from 1984-1995 and they all suck, but this is the worst, the single TBI L89 is a reliable unit but this cross fire is horrific, like trying to balance 3 carbs on a 3 cyl snowmobile or pwc, the Million dollar question is...what preserves the cars value, because one day, 1 couple million people will realize the 84 was the best seller year and only about 55K were produced...then where does the price go! We don't want to butcher these cars, i think you've found a solid middle ground and to that, I say CHEERS!!! To LS swap and beyond!

most only drive them for 3-6mnths and stored in winters.great info.

Great information thanks. I'm in the process of building a C4 (I have an 800whp C7). I have an 1988 roller that has had the interior completely done with all new weather stripping. It's the perfect car for a swap. My plan was an NA 5.3 or 6.0 with 4L80E and Terminator X (with 7inch screen for gauges). My only issue is the rear. I know at some point I will add boost (likely a roots blower) and I'm not sure the Dana44 is up to the task. I know some have built their D44 and some have live axle swapped but at this point that is the holdup. Because of this I have considered changing my plans to stick with an NA build and putting in a CD009 6sp trans from a 350Z. I haven't seen anyone that was done a CD009 and the only real issue I see with it is the C4 has an offset shifter and the CD009 does not so I'll have to fabricate something. One quick question, when you put the motor in, did you pull the hood and come in from the front or pull the tire and come in from the side?

I managed to pick up an 84 doug nash car that I've had to chuck another doug nash into... it blew up on me. I'm not giving up on this car though and I hope to eventually to the LS treatment and chuck a tkx in the car

Vetteworks sells plates that work perfectly and locate the engine in exactly the right place. All other swap plates move the engine back too far. Also the c5 oil pan fits very well.

Long video and I’m gonna try to watch as much as possible, aside from the engine and trans, what other big money items are needed and how much custom fab/tuning is needed??

I've done the same but I wish I saw this before you did that. It's so easy to maintain the factory cluster. Just add an aftermarket tac c and temp oil pressure a/f gauges on your pillar. U just need the factory vehicle speed sensor

Great video

Considering an LS swap in the future but I'm a total noob when it comes to mechanical skill. Gotta learn more before I tackle something like this or make a lot more money to pay someone! Lol I'd rather learn and do it myself though...

Love the video

We would work well in the workshop, just getting it done while having fun

Any advise on swapping in a manual transmission to a LS into C4 corvette? That’s all I need I’ve got everything else And thank you for the video. Getting to the point is all a simple man ask for and sir you sure did deliver in this video

Hello, thank you for all the good info I have 1989 Corvette what engine you suggesting ? for more horsepower`s thank you 👍👍

More videos !!!! I’m starting mine tomorrow… Tone of LS swaps … But the c beam has me a little worried. My car was a 1986 Doug Nash stick car . It’s got the d44 . Good video for sure for people wanting to get their feet wet.

Excellent, thanks!

Taking notes 🗒️ Great video man. Pretty wild if you really did it all for under a grand. Would love to do one for my 94

Thank you sir!

The GMC Envoy is the same as the Trail Blazer if you're looking for the aluminum 5.3

My son has a beautiful low miles 1994 LT1 C4 however, he spun a rod and was looking at LS swaps however, he understands the electrics can be a problem due to the CPU running the drive-line and the car items as well. Any thoughts? Thanks.

I have a 93, just thinking about "swapping" out for a C5/C6 that comes from the factory with an LS... 😉

Sweet build. Id think the car would handle even better too because the engine is so much lighter! What kind of MPG are you seeing? Id love to do convert an 89 with the 6 speed!

trying to install by LS1. I have it connected to a 4L60e and have a couple of questions if you can help. What engine mounts did you use? I have the ICT brackets but can seem to find a good mount that will fit the C4. I need to move the block forward about a half inch to keep the heads from hitting the firewall. Second, what kind of linkage did you use for your transmission? Will the stock shifter work, or do I need to find an aftermarket shifter? Thanks for your help and advice.

My engine on my lt4 c4 just got a rod knock, Ive rebuilt the engine twice now and was thinking of swapping it. Any advice?

My friend I'm from California i have a 86 convertible automatic but I got problems with my original motor any recommendations to swap the motor and all the stuff that I need it ? I hope start with my project but I would like to be automatic because I'm in whellchair and that's the only that I can drive with my hand control with out bug modification thanks in advance if someone had ideas I'm be happy to get it thanks to the corvette community ..

Still have your 4l60e adapter and stuff it came with ? Willing to sell it?

i LS Swapped my 1986 K10 to make it a daily driver last summer . i work 50 miles from home each way . i got 12,000 miles on swap so far . but if you plan on making it a daily driver dont worry about miles get an old motor that runs with all the brackets and stuff . Do the swap run the hell out of it till it dies then get a long block from summit .

For the drive shaft get a costume made carbon fiber one

Southern California can't find combos those prices, must be nice

I'm Doing A 4L80E Swap With a Built And Stroked LS2. What exactly can I do as for as the transmission fluid pan for clearance?🤔

Wanted to see what your thoughts were on spacing for the intake manifold. I know it's tight, but how tall do you think you can go? I put a FAST intake system on my L98 and it was kissing the bottom of the hood, but it fit, so I'm curious on the LS intakes. For example, LS1 intake vs LS6 vs Holley AirForce. Thanks.

What size cam are you running?

I have the 2.59 (92 vert c4 with automatic) and plan on driving the highways to see family. What gear ratio do u recommend. I will be leaving the original motor in. Thanks!

Where did you mount your computer?

What mounts did you use?

i have an 84, im 20 and want to do the same as you but suspension kits are so expensive. shocks are 2 grand alone, any suggestions? should i get a decent c5 and build it up or keep the c4 and swap it

I have a 87 vette and it sometimes don’t want to start.it’s turns over Avery time I hit the switch but it will not start. I put new sparkles and wire and stripper cap and rotor was still on crack. The next day I go out and hit the switch it Fri right up. I Drive for a couple more days and it does it again can you help me out with a problem thanks

I like the cut of your jib

What did you use for pvc valve brake booster connection ?

What type of exhaust headers would you use on a LS swap on a 86

84 vette is 🔥

What year vehicle can I get an LS1 off of? Thank you in advance.

This guy is right on 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

so you are able to keep the stock gauges with the 5.3 swap? its just harder to do?

I have a c5 that I wrecked it’s a 1999 5.7 6 speed, the frame took allot of damage but everything about the drivetrain/ suspension is fine, any idea how easily all that would swap over?

What do you think about a lq4 turbo build what tranny and diff should I use

I have the 3.07 swap from 2.59 they were doodoo the 3.07 is much nicer but i think the better gear is 3.54 for street.

I have a 1996 automatic with the LT1 motor. Is it a good idea to add a turbocharger ? Thanks

Sorry if this was mentioned in the video and I missed it but does the 4L80e bolt right up to your LS1(LS6) or are there any adapters needed? I'm thinking of doing the swap with an LQ4, 6.0 truck engine, but don't know how simple the mate to the 4L80e will be. I've been doing a ton of forum reading but for a guy who's completely new to this, reading so many different terms has me a bit confused. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!

Hey Chad... I'm working on a special c4 project, I have a few questions, and would really appreciate it if we could get in contact please

Hey man I just got my dads 89 vette and what motor mounts did you use for the ls 6.0

What kind of coil overs are you running?

Guessing your front brakes are low.

I'm here because of the coil over shocks. got any content on that?

I'm thinking I want to build myself an 84' C4 with an LH2 version Northstar engine with twin turbos at about 650hp, a Chrysler A518/46RH OD trans, and 3.70 Ford 9" with a 4-link system and coil-overs. Then get rid of everything that's not absolutely required for street use, even the passenger's seat, no body's ever been crazy enough to ride with me anyways.

doesnt the corvette have a LS alredy from factory ?

what header are you using?

Is there a difference between 4l60e 4l60 ??

Bookmark for myself 15:30

The automatic put out more than the manual somehow, look it up.

84 corvettes can still be had in excellent condition shop very little money. They’re not desirable because of the goofy fuel injection system.

Preaches on welding but uses a flux core welder….too funny😂😂😂

Yes most people don’t put miles on their vette, I daily drive my c4. I go anywhere and drive as long as possible