Small Block & Big Block Chevy Specific - carbed v-8 in 02 trans am

hey I've got a 2002 trans am that HAD an ls1 and a 4 speed auto tranny in it,I'm just trying to figure out how hard it would be, and if anyone makes the parts needed to put a regular smallblock 350 in it?

thanks
brady

i was looking to to the same but with a lt1 body. it can be done. im not quite sure of all the parts you need but im sure there are some guys on here that will tell you everything you need to know.

check out the new hot rod magazine they have an article on it

its not that hard to do at all..

just have to change the fuel system and use a fuel pump for a carb and sump the stock stank.. easy to bolt the motor up to if you will buy an aftermarket BMR k-member that is for a old style SBC.. then just slap the motor in it and use a low profile msd distributor and you might possibly have to cut a little plastic off of the windshield cowl panel.. and you should be able to use a set of LT1 headers on it even tho it was a LS1 car they should still fit the same..

feel free to ask all the questions you want.. there are a few other threads on here that should be able to help you out as well! good luck

I dun mean to be an ass.... but you'de be stupid to put a sbc in it unless you were going ALL OUT race car, then I would go big block. But if your doing it to be a street car this is probably going to be a big mistake IMO.

Josh S.

I don't see how you can say that is stupid? Why? Cause LS1's are so bad ass? I'm guessing that is your reason for saying this right?

First of all, SBC parts are a shit load cheaper than LS1 parts.. 2nd, they are alot easier to find.. Everybody knows where SBC parts are and there are so many more options with a SBC setup.. 3rd, ALOT easier to work on, tune, etc etc. No wires, no sensors, no computer shit, no tuning issues, etc. Build it, put it in the car and GO! Everyone has their own opinions, but most people know that old school is alot easier and cheaper than new school!

Chevy completely redesigned the "350" for a reason. The ls1 is that "bad ass". To make the same horsepower that some of these guys are making (600-700-800+) with ls1's, you'd be looking at close to the same $$$ as building a "reg" 350 to do the same. I agree that there is a whole lot more reg sbc stuff than ls1 stuff, but yes it is BAD ASS. Try getting a carb'd "reg" 350 with a lumpy cam to idle like damn near stock...ls1 guys do it all the time. Don't be "scared" of the new technology. It has proven itself time and time again and is easily improved upon with more tuning. Just to further add to my point, today's factory performance cars are faster than yester year's factory hot-rods. Put a stock 69 z28 against a stock 2002 z28... no contest :devil: I'm a die hard chevy man and feel almost guilty about my whole "rant", but facts are facts. :(

p.s. your old tech 350 isn't gonna start without wires!!! j/k I know what you meant :jest:

I don't see how you can say that is stupid? Why? Cause LS1's are so bad ass? I'm guessing that is your reason for saying this right?

First of all, SBC parts are a shit load cheaper than LS1 parts.. 2nd, they are alot easier to find.. Everybody knows where SBC parts are and there are so many more options with a SBC setup.. 3rd, ALOT easier to work on, tune, etc etc. No wires, no sensors, no computer shit, no tuning issues, etc. Build it, put it in the car and GO! Everyone has their own opinions, but most people know that old school is alot easier and cheaper than new school!
I just read your "mod" list...tell me you don't have some $$$ tied up in that!?!? :eek2:

Well I'm not completely done with it yet.. I'm still piecing together the motor, but everything else in the sig has been bought already. And Yes, I have a ton of money in the car already and still have quite alot left to spend. But, when its done I'll still be able to drive it where I want to and still be dependable and the tuning can be done in about 30 minutes max. I don't care about the idle, I want it to be loping like a SOB..

As far as the new technology goes, I know how it works and I'm not scrared of it. My car had a nice setup with Stage 2 heads, 600 lift cam, etc with the LT1.. IF I could afford to buy an LS1 car and then put this much money into it then I might do it, but this car is payed for so its gettin a SBC race setup with alot of nitrous.. LS1's ARE BAD ASS, that is no mystery.. Just costs alot to build them and keep them up in my opinion.. I'd still like to have one tho, just can't do it right now.. I like being different and you don't see to many old school SBC fbodys rollin around..

Chevy completely redesigned the "350" for a reason. The ls1 is that "bad ass". To make the same horsepower that some of these guys are making (600-700-800+) with ls1's, you'd be looking at close to the same $$$ as building a "reg" 350 to do the same. I agree that there is a whole lot more reg sbc stuff than ls1 stuff, but yes it is BAD ASS. Try getting a carb'd "reg" 350 with a lumpy cam to idle like damn near stock...ls1 guys do it all the time. Don't be "scared" of the new technology. It has proven itself time and time again and is easily improved upon with more tuning. Just to further add to my point, today's factory performance cars are faster than yester year's factory hot-rods. Put a stock 69 z28 against a stock 2002 z28... no contest :devil: I'm a die hard chevy man and feel almost guilty about my whole "rant", but facts are facts. :(

It would take a TON more money to make an ls1 make 600-700-800 HP than it would to get a conventional sbc to do that...Heams Cam carb intake good pistons and a nitrous kit 3000$ at most and there you go....To make an ls1 do that you got that much money in a fuckin fuel system. LS1's are cool but much more complex than sbc's for speed on a budget you cannot beat old school!
And The lumpy cam with a carb car, very easy if you know how to tune a carb..Have many 600+ lift cams out on the street from my shop that run and drive everywhere..Many 383 carb motors that drive to the track go low 11's on motor and drive home...69Z against a 2002Z stock for stock would be a close race,they 02 wouldnt walk away from it in any way shape or form. Dont forget you could get old school cars with pretty much any motor you want, it wasnt very rare to see a 69z leave the showroom with a 427 and not be a Yenko or COPO...

Very doable, and has been done many times. Try to leave the GM PCM controlling as much as possible and use a FAST sytem.

It would take a TON more money to make an ls1 make 600-700-800 HP than it would to get a conventional sbc to do that...Heams Cam carb intake good pistons and a nitrous kit 3000$ at most and there you go....To make an ls1 do that you got that much money in a fuckin fuel system. LS1's are cool but much more complex than sbc's for speed on a budget you cannot beat old school!
And The lumpy cam with a carb car, very easy if you know how to tune a carb..Have many 600+ lift cams out on the street from my shop that run and drive everywhere..Many 383 carb motors that drive to the track go low 11's on motor and drive home...69Z against a 2002Z stock for stock would be a close race,they 02 wouldnt walk away from it in any way shape or form. Dont forget you could get old school cars with pretty much any motor you want, it wasnt very rare to see a 69z leave the showroom with a 427 and not be a Yenko or COPO...
The thread title is about a 2002 trans am. It's already an ls1 car. I realize he says it HAD an ls1 in it. I don't know if he still has it or not. If he does, don't you agree that making the already existing ls1 fast would be as cheap if not cheaper to make hi-per than an "old" 350? Keep in mind that he needs a new k-member and other "little" odds and ends to make it work. Like I said b4, I am die-hard CHEVY, I'm just saying that with the car already set up for the ls1, it would be worth his while to "just" work with that. Ls1 stuff has come down in price considerably and has become easier to find over the past few years. If it's going to be an all-out drag car and idle/emissions/everday reliability aren't a factor (and he does NOT have the ls1), then I would say go with the old-school set up. If he has to build either engine from "the ground up", the "old" 350 is going to be slightly cheaper. When I say slightly, I'm talking brand new parts vs brand new parts. As far as the 69z vs 02z, I meant an apples to apples comparison(small-block v small-block)that would be NO contest. Not to mention that with JUST some computer tuning, the 02z would still beat a big-block 69z. You could "tune" the carb on the BB on day and still not get close to running the computer tuned 02's #'s. Look at hptuners web site, and at the owner Keith's car. 10.98 with just tuning= BAD ASS!!!!!! :devil: :)

The thread title is about a 2002 trans am. It's already an ls1 car. I realize he says it HAD an ls1 in it. I don't know if he still has it or not. If he does, don't you agree that making the already existing ls1 fast would be as cheap if not cheaper to make hi-per than an "old" 350? Keep in mind that he needs a new k-member and other "little" odds and ends to make it work. Like I said b4, I am die-hard CHEVY, I'm just saying that with the car already set up for the ls1, it would be worth his while to "just" work with that. Ls1 stuff has come down in price considerably and has become easier to find over the past few years. If it's going to be an all-out drag car and idle/emissions/everday reliability aren't a factor (and he does NOT have the ls1), then I would say go with the old-school set up. If he has to build either engine from "the ground up", the "old" 350 is going to be slightly cheaper. When I say slightly, I'm talking brand new parts vs brand new parts. As far as the 69z vs 02z, I meant an apples to apples comparison(small-block v small-block)that would be NO contest. Not to mention that with JUST some computer tuning, the 02z would still beat a big-block 69z. You could "tune" the carb on the BB on day and still not get close to running the computer tuned 02's #'s. Look at hptuners web site, and at the owner Keith's car. 10.98 with just tuning= BAD ASS!!!!!! :devil: :)

First it is yes,but things you are saying arent making sense because you have been misinformed or something else... You dont need a new K Member to do this swap,it would be nice if you had one but not neccessary..Other odds and ends and all I can think of is mounts..And alright if your gunna tune the computer give me the money it cost you to tune your computer..Since I can tune my carb for free...I know what can be done with these cars,I have done many many fast ls1's and lt1's...i have an lt1 that is going for fastest 6 speed car next year...Our arguement is neverending,its preference!

First it is yes,but things you are saying arent making sense because you have been misinformed or something else... You dont need a new K Member to do this swap,it would be nice if you had one but not neccessary..Other odds and ends and all I can think of is mounts..And alright if your gunna tune the computer give me the money it cost you to tune your computer..Since I can tune my carb for free...I know what can be done with these cars,I have done many many fast ls1's and lt1's...i have an lt1 that is going for fastest 6 speed car next year...Our arguement is neverending,its preference!
I'll tell you what...let's agree to disagree and be happy he want's to keep it GM. :judge:

I'll tell you what...let's agree to disagree and be happy he want's to keep it GM. :judge:
YES sounds good to me! :drive:

hell he could sell the LS1 and Tranny and build a nice hi-po SBC with the money! LOL but yea, at least he isn't goin to the darkside!

I own both a carbed and a fi'ed ls1 car. If you want to make an all out race car go carb. I think he is thinking about building a mild 400 hp sbc, which isn't hard and is relatively cheap. BUT when he finds out that he could have put a camshaft, headers, a converter and a tune and been FASTER with about 2500-3000 dollars and thats about what it would take to build a nice good running 400 hp sbc(considering your starting from scratch) and thats just money in the motor. A trans, fuel system, and wiring will have to be added also. You could hack the stock wiring harness up and use it for a wiring system i guess.

I'm not trying to start a here but my ls1 car is MUCH more fun b/c I can hop in it and ride across the country.... in my carb car I'm kinda scared to travel farther than an hour or so just b/c I don't beleive the technology is up to date enough(keep in mind this is in a 68 Camaro) It is also a carbed 383 w/brodix heads and a small solid roller. Gas mileage SUX!!!

Josh S.

if he only wants 400hp then screw doing the SBC swap.. but if you want 500-600hp and the use of nitrous then go old school SBC. and if you only drive the car on weekends then SBC swap for sure..

I own both a carbed and a fi'ed ls1 car. If you want to make an all out race car go carb. I think he is thinking about building a mild 400 hp sbc, which isn't hard and is relatively cheap. BUT when he finds out that he could have put a camshaft, headers, a converter and a tune and been FASTER with about 2500-3000 dollars and thats about what it would take to build a nice good running 400 hp sbc(considering your starting from scratch) and thats just money in the motor. A trans, fuel system, and wiring will have to be added also. You could hack the stock wiring harness up and use it for a wiring system i guess.

I'm not trying to start a here but my ls1 car is MUCH more fun b/c I can hop in it and ride across the country.... in my carb car I'm kinda scared to travel farther than an hour or so just b/c I don't beleive the technology is up to date enough(keep in mind this is in a 68 Camaro) It is also a carbed 383 w/brodix heads and a small solid roller. Gas mileage SUX!!!

Josh S.

if you feel unsafe driving your car for more than an hour jus because its carbd i think you have the wrong engine builder!

its not the engine I'm scared of.... its pretty much everything else

I think a traditional Pontiac engine would be pretty cool, and you'd be different. The traditional engines make tons of torque, too.