dhirocz

iTrader: (2)

Wondering what you guy's think.

Have alot of spare time on my hands overseas with nothing to do in my offtime in the army. So I started brainstorming and think I might have this figured out.

I was thinking how possible it would be to make an LT1 timing cover fit an earlier SBC block, to take advantage of the newer EFI on a more cost effective level while expanding engine building choices. Since more is better I immediately thought of the 400. Not to say a 302 or 327 LT1 wouldn't be a nice conversation piece, or a 420!

The cover is different, but not much. From what I can see, I was thinking how I might be able to fabricate an adapter plate and shave a little off the face of the LT1 timing cover (so the oil pan gasket fits right), so an opti can be used. Then the timing chain came to mind. Not sure if it'll clear the stock block from here. But I was thinking of either deleting the LT1 pump and using a standard SBC pump(while making the pulley work, haven't figured that out yet), or using a modified LT1 pump and using aluminum adapters (in which case I have the coolant route figured out with LT1 heads). Do some of you see this possible? I was wanting to build a 396 LT1 but notice how much cheaper 400's are. Suggestions or comments?

BTW, just a thought. Please dont flame a guy for trying!

Zepher

iTrader: (1)

LT1 EFI and Cost Effective don't go well together at all.

What I want to do to my Fomula when the T/A is done is build a 400 (or 406) with an LT1 converted intake and run the TPI electronics on it.

Right now, I am trying to find a cost effective way to get rid of my opti spark.
I was considering drilling that LT1 intake on my LT1 motor and running a distributor with TPI electronics on that.

dhirocz

iTrader: (2)

True, but cost efectiveness is not the only reason. My biggest reason would be for more cubes. I'm about done now building a motor based on the converted LT1 intake, but my problem is that the old TPI is batch fire, and I wanted sequesntial too. maybe the best thing is to use a 400 with DFI, but that costs $$$!

bes217

You do realize that an LT1 is a COMPLETELY different block and heads that a traditional 350. To start off with, we can talk about the reverse flow cooling. So unless you could use an LT1 block and bore and stroke it to 400 then you would have an LT1 400 small block. But if you used a 400 block it could never be called an LT1.

stevedave454

go to www.lt1intake.com

converting a timing cover, and pump, etc seems like too much work in my opinion, you could just build a regular 400 sbc and do the lt1 intake conversion, and optispark sucks on anything but stock.. even in stock motors its not very good... so i would strongly recomend going to the computer controled distributor from a TPI engine

dhirocz

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, I realize that the two motors are different. They aren't completely different though...actually, they're alot more alike than different. The main differences are at the front of the block. which are what I discussed. If the accessory offset and routing could be figured out, you could use a standard water pump with the opti design. Who said it had to be an opti though...it could be a dynaspark or LTCC as well. You could then use a TPI top end or converted LT1 intake or whatever you choose. Just looking for suggestions, keep 'em coming! This is the nice thing about machining things...you can find a way to make things work and have something nobody else has.

True, it would be more of an LT1 hybrid than anything else... since it's not factory.

John Millican

iTrader: (1)

Amen to that! That's called Hotrodding. That's the way it was done in the old days because there were no hi-performance parts makers or suppliers.