f-body?

peppersac · September 12, 2005

what do people mean when the say that they are converting their silverado or sierra to a f-body?

asilverblazer · September 12, 2005

Maybe drivetrain components or individual parts from an F-Body, but converting a Silverado or Sierra to a Firebird or Camaro, would be a little tough. Although with enough money anything is possible...

facn8me · September 12, 2005

That's a new one on me.

mudbug660 · September 13, 2005

It sounds like they replace the engine and tranny with an f- body's. That would be crazy.

AirForceAngler · September 14, 2005

I'd love to have an all aluminum LS1 in my truck!

AmericanMuscle · November 23, 2005

I'd love to have an all aluminum LS1 in my truck!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The LS1/LS2/LS6 engines are externally (minus the intake system) essentially the same as a 4.8/5.3/6.0L in a 99' and new GM truck.

The main differences being they have an aluminum block and heads (most all of the newer GM truck engines have aluminum heads, but some of the early 6.0L's had cast iron heads), different intake system, camshaft and related components, and the exhaust system.

A hot swap is putting an LS1 in a 1/2-ton inplace of a 4.8 or 5.3. Since the LS1 and LS2 were both available with 4L60E automatic trannies, the factory LS1 or LS2 engine computer can be used to control the 4L60E in your late model truck.

(Ironically, the 5.3 truck heads flow a little better out of the box than the LS1 heads, so you'll actually see guys swapping the aluminum 5.3 heads onto their LS1s)

99Silver6.0 · November 24, 2005

I'd love to have an all aluminum LS1 in my truck!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A hot swap is putting an LS1 in a 1/2-ton inplace of a 4.8 or 5.3. Since the LS1 and LS2 were both available with 4L60E automatic trannies, the factory LS1 or LS2 engine computer can be used to control the 4L60E in your late model truck.

(Ironically, the 5.3 truck heads flow a little better out of the box than the LS1 heads, so you'll actually see guys swapping the aluminum 5.3 heads onto their LS1s)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

More people are swapping in 6.0's than LS1's. bad thing is the tranny wont hold up to any motor other than a 4.8. The 60E sucks. Not that f-bod guys love the 5.3 heads for flow as its not a hell of alot better than the LS1 castings. Its the bump in compression they get from the smaller dome size. The LS2 ECM or E40 uses a different PCM than the LS1/6 motors do. Thus a new harness also.

In LS2 equipped cars, the ECM no longer performs transmission control. Its a true ECM.

PewterC3 · November 24, 2005

thats why you have to go to the 4L65-E...its 20% stronger then the 4L60-E

or even a modified 4L65

AmericanMuscle · November 24, 2005

I'd love to have an all aluminum LS1 in my truck!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A hot swap is putting an LS1 in a 1/2-ton inplace of a 4.8 or 5.3. Since the LS1 and LS2 were both available with 4L60E automatic trannies, the factory LS1 or LS2 engine computer can be used to control the 4L60E in your late model truck.

(Ironically, the 5.3 truck heads flow a little better out of the box than the LS1 heads, so you'll actually see guys swapping the aluminum 5.3 heads onto their LS1s)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

More people are swapping in 6.0's than LS1's. bad thing is the tranny wont hold up to any motor other than a 4.8. The 60E sucks. Not that f-bod guys love the 5.3 heads for flow as its not a hell of alot better than the LS1 castings. Its the bump in compression they get from the smaller dome size. The LS2 ECM or E40 uses a different PCM than the LS1/6 motors do. Thus a new harness also.

In LS2 equipped cars, the ECM no longer performs transmission control. Its a true ECM.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good catch. It's more compression the 5.3 heads give, not so much air flow. I remembered when I was more into the f-body scene a few years ago that was a swap guys were making. I thought I remembered it being due to air flow, but your right it was related to compression.

Didn't know about the LS2 ECM change. That's neat. Does GM now use a separate transmission controller for the tranny?

I agree that the 4L60E isn't the stoutest transmission, but I had two of them and never had a problem. I had a 94' Z28 I hopped up that put out 345rwhp/340rwtq and the trans never gave me a lick of trouble. I spun the motor to 6500rpm on each shift as well. I also used to have a 95' tahoe that I similarly modified. It didn't make nearly as much power (probably about 340hp/400tq at flywheel). I used to tow with it quite a bit and it never gave me a lick of trouble either in 127k miles (40,000 with the engine pumped up).

I think the 97' and newer automatic trannies are weaker than they used to be in the 96' and older cars and trucks. Maybe it's just perception, but I've had so many friends and family have 4L60E's go out in late model vehicles.

99Silver6.0 · November 24, 2005

I'd love to have an all aluminum LS1 in my truck!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A hot swap is putting an LS1 in a 1/2-ton inplace of a 4.8 or 5.3. Since the LS1 and LS2 were both available with 4L60E automatic trannies, the factory LS1 or LS2 engine computer can be used to control the 4L60E in your late model truck.

(Ironically, the 5.3 truck heads flow a little better out of the box than the LS1 heads, so you'll actually see guys swapping the aluminum 5.3 heads onto their LS1s)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

More people are swapping in 6.0's than LS1's. bad thing is the tranny wont hold up to any motor other than a 4.8. The 60E sucks. Not that f-bod guys love the 5.3 heads for flow as its not a hell of alot better than the LS1 castings. Its the bump in compression they get from the smaller dome size. The LS2 ECM or E40 uses a different PCM than the LS1/6 motors do. Thus a new harness also.

In LS2 equipped cars, the ECM no longer performs transmission control. Its a true ECM.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good catch. It's more compression the 5.3 heads give, not so much air flow. I remembered when I was more into the f-body scene a few years ago that was a swap guys were making. I thought I remembered it being due to air flow, but your right it was related to compression.

Didn't know about the LS2 ECM change. That's neat. Does GM now use a separate transmission controller for the tranny?

I agree that the 4L60E isn't the stoutest transmission, but I had two of them and never had a problem. I had a 94' Z28 I hopped up that put out 345rwhp/340rwtq and the trans never gave me a lick of trouble. I spun the motor to 6500rpm on each shift as well. I also used to have a 95' tahoe that I similarly modified. It didn't make nearly as much power (probably about 340hp/400tq at flywheel). I used to tow with it quite a bit and it never gave me a lick of trouble either in 127k miles (40,000 with the engine pumped up).

I think the 97' and newer automatic trannies are weaker than they used to be in the 96' and older cars and trucks. Maybe it's just perception, but I've had so many friends and family have 4L60E's go out in late model vehicles.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Some truck guys pushing good power never have a bit of trouble but yet some do. I fried my stock tranny with just a frikkin intake!!!!! The 700R4 was a better tranny!

From EFILives site:

E40

Plain old LS1/6 PCM