8.1 Chevy Vortec Swap....

[69MyWay]

Okay...I know this is not the most popular, but it is proposing a very interesting angle to my next project.

I picked up a 2007 8.1 off ebay that will be here soon. It is sans accessoreis, harness, and computer. I am told these will run off the LS1 harness (with some mods) and LS1 computer.

Plan is to bolt it to the Richmond Six already in the project 69 Vette that I'll be building.

It has eight coils, eight injectors, front mounted drive by wire throttle body...and roller cam.

They turn 375 hp and 500 ft lbs stock and are good for a little more with a cam, tuning, headers...etc. Raylar makes aluminun heads...cams, etc. and can get an easy 700 out of them.

I think my biggest issue will be fitting the throttle body side under the hood - the intake is 10.5 inch tall on a tall deck (L88 hood being used). Direct fit headers will be an issue (will be running hooker side pipes).

They look like this, and to the casual observer will appear to be an LSx on steeroids!



From a budget side, I picked mine up with 40k miles for 1K plus shipping. considering all else is LSx off the shelf stuff - it shouldn't take much to get it running.

Anybody else crazy enough to fool with one of these?

[70rs]

I worked at a GM dealer for a bit and got to drive a few trucks with that motor. There was a tech there that had stuffed one in a '70 Monte Carlo and he took me for a ride. Both the trucks I drove and the Monte had stock engines with auto transmissions.
All I can say is that Monte HAULED A**!!! The Monte was going to be set up for drag racing but still had stock suspension when I rode in it. It was actually kind of scary how poorly that car handled that motor.

The engine itself is a good unit. GM quit making it only because the 6.0 in the trucks was doing better in sales. The 8.1 got such poor MPG and the gas prices were going through the roof, it didn't help either. (the Monte had a stock truck computer and modified harness, not sure about the throttle)

That engine in a 69 vette would be pretty cool. The aluminum heads would help alot if you can get them. That is a huge, heavy motor but strong and reliable.
I can't tell you anything about the harness and computer running right from an LS1. I would try and get a comp from a truck and tweak it instead. They are cheap in the wrecking yards and can be programmed many different ways.
Good luck with the hood clearance.
Post some pics when you get it installed.

[69MyWay]

That's always great to hear the "been there...done that - or rode in that...." story.

I have confirmation the engine is in route from the seller to me and should be here Friday.

I have been talking to Jared at www.currentperformance.com about wiring...etc.

He also confirmed the 8.1 runs on the same system as the LS, but doesn't know the wire harness lengths - he suggested I get a donor harness, measure things out - then send to him for tweaking.

He can also make sure we match the correct dbw pedal..etc.

I need to talk to Richmond about what sensor will go in the trans for speed readings that the LS will read, so I can make sure I get the cruise control functioning through the LS system and dbw too.

The car is now in a safe place in Cali - and the shipper will pick it up on a couple of weeks or so and it will be headed my way.

Between now and then I need to get a lift in stalled in the shop to make it easy for me by myself to pull the body on/off the frame....and get this puppy hooked up.

Here is a pic from the seller of the engine crated and ready to roll.

[70rs]

Very cool. Please start a build thread and post lost of pics. I like to see this one go together.

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by 69MyWay

The car is now in a safe place in Cali

so you think........................

Jody

[69MyWay]

Originally Posted by camcojb

so you think........................

Jody

[70rs]

I just saw a post on Chevelles.com about the 8.1. Look up raylarengine.com and check out what they have. Heads, intakes, cams...they say they can push it over 600 hp with bolt ons. They even have a Gen VII 600 cid block. 765 hp and hp and 825 tq with 700 rpm idle on 89 octane gas. That one is a turn key marine engine but with a few mods who knows? Big fun huh?
Good luck!

[69MyWay]

Making progress now - parts coming in...etc.

Found some cool info from a truck site that did a 8.1 swap:

Unless you work at the Tonawanda, New York, assembly plant, this is probably the first time you've ever seen the new Vortec 8.1L (that's 496 very nasty cubic inches) big-block on an engine hoist. This one came to us directly from Chevrolet, but it's rumored a GEN VI crate engine from GM Performance Parts is in the works. In the factory HD truck trim these mills produce 340 hp and 455 lb-ft, but in our nonemissions marine trim (no smog pump, no EGR, a set of headers, and a trick new EFI controller) it puts out an estimated 420 hp and 505 lb-ft of torque.

And...on the flywheel/trans:

More good news. The 8.1L is internally balanced and will accept the old 14-inch, 168-tooth, neutral balance flexplate from a 396 or 427. Just don't try to run an externally balanced (weighted) flexplate from a 454 as it will damage the 8.1L's reciprocating assembly.

And...on fitting it in an older or even an LS application:


It gets even better. Even though GM has adopted a new engine-mount location on the new Silverado chassis, the old GM engine-mount pad is still cast into the 8.1L blocks. Want to bolt an 8.1L in where a 454 came out? No problem

Source: http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/brandpa...t_1/index.html

[70rs]

Thats; great news about the mounting and flywheel options. It should make the transplant easier. Any updated pics?

[69MyWay]

Okay boys...here we go again.

First of all, I had to modify the front X member to clear the longer larger front pulley/balancer. This is a common issue if running a long leg water pump on a Vette - it is easily accomplished with a sledge hammer, but I wanted to play around and do some cutting and welding. The frame was already powder coated...so after the mods were complete I had the local paint store match the color - then I base/clear shot it back in. The match is perfect.