LT1 transplant with a TBI setup

[natemc]

If a LT1 has vortec heads and a roller cam. Can it be converted to a TBI engine?

I'm thinking no because of the crank sensor ignition instead of a distributor. Does it have provision for a distributor?

Reverse flow cooling?

 

[thearborbarber]

If a LT1 has vortec heads and a roller cam. Can it be converted to a TBI engine?

I'm thinking no because of the crank sensor ignition instead of a distributor. Does it have provision for a distributor?

Reverse flow cooling?

I've seen them converted to a carb setup so I'd think TBI wouldn't be out of the question. You would just need a 4 barrel intake, carb to tbi adapter and a tbi distributor. The LT1 cams already have the gear on the end to drive the oil pump.

 

[dyeager535]

Do you already have the motor?

If not, I'd probably just consider doing something else. I know little about the LT1's, except they had the somewhat problematic optispark distributor, and I assume they are sequential FI. If you get rid of both of those, AFAIK, the advantage over any earlier small block is gone.

Throw some Vortec heads on a "gen 1" motor (or just get a vortec motor) and you'd end up in about the same place, without the distributor issue.

Maybe I'm missing something, but unless you get a free one, the LT's were kind of a bandaid motor until the LS' came out, which were a big improvement.

 

[thearborbarber]

Do you already have the motor?

If not, I'd probably just consider doing something else. I know little about the LT1's, except they had the somewhat problematic optispark distributor, and I assume they are sequential FI. If you get rid of both of those, AFAIK, the advantage over any earlier small block is gone.

Throw some Vortec heads on a "gen 1" motor (or just get a vortec motor) and you'd end up in about the same place, without the distributor issue.

Maybe I'm missing something, but unless you get a free one, the LT's were kind of a bandaid motor until the LS' came out, which were a big improvement.

LT1's are basically gen1 engines with vortec heads. The opti goes away when you use a LT1 to carb intake. Just use the tbi distributor or if going carb stab in a HEI. The reverse cooling allows an increase in spark advance. The cam might be a little too much for a tbi but he's going to have to do some tuning anyway.

 

[eagle mark]

LT1 cams tune fine with TBI.

 

[natemc]

LT1 cams tune fine with TBI.

Thanks Mark.

Back to the OP. GMPP makes an intake for carb on this motor. If the vortec heads are better than my TBIs than it has it already. If a roller cam is the way to go, it has it already. I'm curious to how much difference in motors to make one work in my suburban till I can get the coin to buy 6.0 parts.

So far my list is. Add to and Correct me if you know better on this.
Intake manifold with adapter.
Oil pump for distributor.
I think the radiator has to have different inlet/outlet.

 

[thearborbarber]

Oil pump should be fine just need a TBI distributor.
Forgot about a diff rad.

Jut idea, you are going to have a bit wrapped up in this setup, why not go balls to the wall tbi/lt1 setup?

 

[riflerk20]

i ran a lt1 with a carb in my k20. you need to block the hole in the timing cover where the optispark was. i also used the lt1 water pump, seprentine set up with the power steering pump, and the radiator from the doner camaro because the lt1 has reverse cooling system. the inlet and outlet on the radiator are opposite of a regular radiator. the oil pump thats in it should be fine

 

[natemc]

I don't have an lt1 yet. There's a few on craigslist and the idea of having the upgrades that is recommended in a stock motor was intriguing to me. It looks like the cost isn't effective

 

[eagle mark]

If your going to go LT1 then get the complete engine harness and PCM and run it! Then you would have a good upgrade. Forget swapping to TBI...

The OptiSpark scares are so internet over rated! GM maintenance for the distributor is to replace it every 100,000 miles! Many of them go 150k and still no issues. Waterpump seal is usually the failure as it drips water on distributor and the old O rings in Opti have dry rotted and fail, so water get's in distributor then...

 

[78SWB]

This^^