All maner of LS questions, 1959 Impala.

[ProTouring442]

My father is in the process of doing a 1959 Impala 2-drht, and wants to install an LS engine and a 6L80 transmission.

Questions:

Anyone know what sort of fitment issues we might have?

What's a good source for a used take out engine (he's in Raleigh, NC)?

What parts do we want to ensure come with the take out engine?

Do we want use the factory ECM, or some other?

Do we need to have the harness reworked? ECM?

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[WSSix]

My father is in the process of doing a 1959 Impala 2-drht, and wants to install an LS engine and a 6L80 transmission.

Questions:

Anyone know what sort of fitment issues we might have?

What's a good source for a used take out engine (he's in Raleigh, NC)?

What parts do we want to ensure come with the take out engine? Everything on the engine like accessories, wiring harness, MAF sensor, etc. Also try to get the pedal and control module from the interior along with the harnesses there.

Do we want use the factory ECM, or some other? I like the factory PCM. It's more than capable for your needs.

Do we need to have the harness reworked? ECM? PCM will need to be tuned slightly even if you leave the engine stock. Harness might need to be reworked depending on where you mount it, how you route the wires, and if the wires will reach their destination.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill


Answered what I could in your quote. There's plenty out there to make this happen so don't be afraid to jump right in.

The Roadster Shops build thread on the Biscayne may help answer some more fitment questions

[NAPA 68]

Perhaps this will help?

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/466656/1

[Che70velle]

Give RetroLSX a call. They are one of the biggest movers of ls engines in the country, and really know their stuff. I buy all of my engines and Holley parts through them, as they are a Holley dealer also. They are in N. Georgia, so pretty convenient or you. You can find better deals on CL, and other places, but these guys will stand with you until you are satisfied. No matter what.

678-873-0847
Ask for Shawn Henderson

[dontlifttoshift]

The ls is pretty straight forward but I think the biggest problem will the 6l80 transmission......both the tunnel and x frame will require surgery I believe. Run a 4l60 and all should be well.

[srh3trinity]

I would buy as complete of an engine as possible. I have pieced mine together and while it may seem cheaper or not as much cash outlay, these LS engines can really add up with bolts here, bracket there, sensor, etc. Travis (daytonayellaz) seems to be the resident LS supplier on here and PT.com. I would check with him along with the others recommended.

The 6L80E is a big transmission, are the older Impalas X-frames?

[ProTouring442]

Thanks for the info guys! Our research has been showing the 6L80 to be too large too, so it looks like we're looking for the 4L80.

I think... note the "think"... we're looking for an LS2/4L80 GTO motor.

Any other cars/trucks we can pull from to get in the neighborhood of 400hp?

Thanks!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[kwhizz]

05-06 GTO w/4L65E drivetrain is a good choice....get the harness, computers, gas pedal, fuel pump assy out of the same car ....send the harness to John @ speartech.com and everything gets simple.......Check napa 68's thread.....I have a set of the motor mount adapter plates left to raise the engine like in Tim's build thread if you need them.......

Ken

[srh3trinity]

The GTO LS2 would be a good choice. Cam swap away from good HP.

[timpala62]

i put ls2 (2006vette) and put in new GMPP 4L70e ($2600 with converter ordered at local chevy dealer just find one online and ask them to match it) in my 62 impala wagon. it works great. no mods on motor....dynoed 339/342RWHP/tq

[renegade6]

Try looking over at ls1tech.com, there are a lot of ideas on how to do it there.

[Sparks67]

Here is a few photos of a friends 1960 Impala with an LS1 and 4L60-E. He made his own engine mounts. The Impala was done about 2003.. You can find a pullout with L92 engine from a truck, but you have to switch the intake. Anyway, they are from 403 hp.
I just saw a pullout listed in the forums here, from 2012 Escalade.

I used an L92 Engine block with a Harrop TVS 2300. It is hooked to a 4L80-E.


Here is from the wiki...
L92

The 2007 Cadillac Escalade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_Escalade) has a 6.2 L Vortec 6200 (RPO L92) (≈376 cu in) engine. It is an all-aluminum design which, while still a pushrod engine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pushrod_engine), boasts variable valve timing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_valve_timing), a first in a mass-produced non-overhead cam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overhead_cam) V8 engine. The system adjusts both intake and exhaust timing between two settings. This engine produces 403 hp (301 kW) and 415 lb·ft (563 N·m) in the GMC Yukon Denali (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMC_Yukon_Denali)/XL Denali, Sierra SLT (2009+), GMC Sierra Denali, and in the Cadillac Escalade. and makes an additional 2 lb·ft (2.7 N·m) torque in the Silverado and Sierra pickups, and 393 hp (293 kW) and 415 lb·ft (563 N·m) in the Hummer . It was also available in the Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ, with power ratings of 395 hp (295 kW) and 417 lb·ft (565 N·m) .
Applications:
2007+ Cadillac Escalade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_Escalade)
2009 Chevrolet Tahoe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Tahoe)
2007+ GMC Yukon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Tahoe) Denali/Denali XL
2007+ GMC Sierra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMC_Sierra) Denali
2008+ Hummer H2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummer_H2)
2009+ Chevrolet Silverado (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Silverado) 1500
2009+ GMC Sierra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMC_Sierra) 1500
Jeff

[john 67]

You may be o k with the 6l80 . I am currently converting my 4l80e to a 6l80e ( 67 chevelle )and found that the 6l80 is actually shorter , it has more girth in the middle and the pan is hanging a bit low ( just ordered a g-8 pan ) . I am not complete with the switch yet so I dont know what other obstacles if any I will run into . JOHN

[ProTouring442]

Just wanted to thank everyone for their input!

My dad is now the proud owner of an L99/6L80E we picked up from a 2010 Camaro. Originally he didn't want to worry about cutting the floor, and so we were sticking with a 4L60E, but when we found this engine he decided it would be OK to cut, and I could just weld up anything he might need. :headscratch:

In the meantime, all the searching, reading, researching, etc has led me to decide that I should put an LS engine in my 1989 Grand Wagoneer. :idea:

So I just ordered a nice LY5/4L60E from an '08 Silverado!

[renegade6]

Where did you end up getting the engine/transmission from?

[ProTouring442]

Where did you end up getting the engine/transmission from?

Got it from an Ebay seller. I purchased an LY5 for my Jeep project from a different seller. The one who sent the LY5 was probably a bit better to work with, but both were quite helpful.

I had a deposit on an LS2 from someone on the board, but that fell through sometime just after Christmas (still haven't gotten my deposit back either), so I started cruising Ebay. Just watch the person's feedback, and ask questions before bidding or hitting the "buy it now." If they are hard to communicate with prior to the sale, they'll be worse after it.