5 Things to Know About Swapping an LS Motor Into a Chevy 58-64 X-Frame Car
The 58-64 X-Frame cars along with a modern LS engine makes for the ultimate cruiser! Want to LS Swap your 58-64 Impala, Bel Air or Biscayne X-Frame car? Here's some things you need to know to get the job done right.
1. Finding your LS Motor
Before your begin your LS swap, you must decide what member of the LS engine family you are going with. There are tons of options to choose from and your choice will depend on your power goals and budget.
In general, LS-based iron block engines are the most budget friendly and are extremely durable. Iron block engines cam in trucks and can be found in 4.8L, 5.3L, and 6.0L variants, which are all available as crate motors or from junkyards. The aftermarket has made more crate engine options ranging all the way up to 7.4L. The downside of the iron block is they weigh about 50-100lbs more than an aluminum block, but they still weigh less than the original motor. If you plan on tossing in a power adder like nitrous, a supercharger, or a turbo, then the iron block is more reliable and bulletproof than an aluminum block.
If you have a bigger budget, then an aluminum block LS motor is the way to go for most swaps. They can be found in the same displacements, plus 5.7L, 6.2L, and 7.0L variants. The lightweight characteristic is an advantage if you plan on racing or pro-touring your car, but these cars had near perfect 50/50 weight distribution with an iron small block.
The picture above is from a forum members 1963 project, and there is a great X-frame thread here.
2. Mounting your Engine
Now that you have chosen your engine, you need to find a way to get it to fit in your X-frame chassis. Luckily there are now motor mount kits out there to fit an LS motor in anything. One thing if for sure, you will need a F-body oil pan and exhaust manifolds. Headers made to swap an LS into a Chevy S10 are a tight fit, but they do work. Forum posts indicate there is not problem with hood clearance, but it all depends on which intake you run and how the motor is mounted.
It is highly recommended to buy a swap kit because there is more to mounting your engine than simply dropping it into your engine bay and bolting it down. A swap kit already has all of this figured out so your engine install won't be as anger-inducing.
3. Choosing and Mounting your Transmission
The next step in completing your LS swap is to choose and mount your transmission, and weld in a new crossmember. Usually, an automatic transmission is more budget-friendly and easier to swap into your car because there is less transmission tunnel and interior modification. However, many people opt for a manual transmission like a T56 which will require the installation of new clutch hydraulics and other parts like new pedals. In the end it may come down to what donor car/truck you get the motor out of, because if you find something like a 2001 Camaro in the junkyard with a T56 you can swap the whole package.
4. Finding your exhaust
The first step in your exhaust system is the exhaust manifold or headers. There are tons of options for universal LS swap headers on the market, and both F-body and Chevy S10 truck applications seem to fit. Another option is to buy headers specifically made by the manufacturer of your swap kit if they offer them. These will almost guarantee a perfect fit as they were made to work with the swap kit. Next, you will need an exhaust shop to fabricate the rest of your exhaust, which usually consists of 2.5" or 3" dual pipes all the way back to the tailpipes. The piping diameter and muffler choice will be up to you based on your engine choice and preferences.
5. Electrical and Miscellaneous
There are tons of other things to consider in your swap. However, depending on what your purpose is with the vehicle, you will need to choose the appropriate path to take. For example, you will need to put together a fuel system including a fuel tank or fuel cell that will mount to your chassis. If you are going to run a high horsepower engine with a power adder, then you will obviously need a much more substantial fuel system than a stock 4.8 engine.
Perhaps the easiest part is the wiring harness, because nearly everyone makes one for the LS motor. Beyond this, you will need to determine what you want to do for gauges, suspension upgrades, and other supporting mods like a stronger rear end, the 8.2" stock removable center one is notoriously hungry for spider gears.
For tons of X-frame specific information, look up this LS1Tech thread.
If you have an LS powered car, or are fitting LS power to a classic, check the how-to section of LS1Tech.com for help.