ach1992880

I know the resounding opinion of the members here regarding the type of work I am completing, but today is an exciting day for me. After a year of doing research, spending $, getting close only to find there are more hurdles to jump I finally started the Cutlass last night.

A little background, I had a very worn and abused 350 in my 71 Cutlass that I purchased back in 2010. After a painful issue with a 2004R transmission swap from hell, I gave up on the 2004R and had the builder put together a 4l60e instead which committed me to an LS swap. I proceeded to pick up a LQ9 6.0 engine from a fairly low mileage Escalade, installed a 228r cam from Texas Speed, larger injectors, long tube headers and am running a 3,000 stall converter to make the best use of the cam. It has been a lot of work, and although I know that LS swaps aren't popular here I have to say that doing every bit of it myself has given me the chance to familiarize myself with my car in all kinds of new ways. It's been a big project, far exceeding anything i've tackled in the past but it's coming to fruition and i'd say it's worth it.

oldcutlass

Congrats on an important milestone for your build. Lets see it.

ach1992880

Here are a few compressed pictures.

oldcutlass

Nice work!

ach1992880

Thanks for the comment

MDchanic

I'm not a big fan of cross-marque swaps, but that looks like a really nice neat job.

I hope it serves you well!

- Eric

ach1992880

I appreciate the kind words. My first car, bought when I was 15 in 1995, was a 1971 Cutlass. I loved that car and after a valve job and a decent tune it really ran great for a stock 4 barrel 350. I had a lot of fun with that car, and had this one run anywhere close to that well I may have just kept it. Since that wasn't the case I soul searched about a 403 or a 455 swap, but then these LS thoughts crossed my mind. Hindsight, I'd have been able to do a nice 455 build for what this has ended up costing but in the end i have a car that should beat down 20+mpg on the highway and I have first crank startability and no timing or carb issues to chase around every time the weather changes. I fully appreciate all aspects of these old cars and have spent a lot of time learning how to work on old engines, but it was something different that called me. I was conflicted on removing the olds 350, but it's still around if I ever decide for any reason to go back that direction. We are here to personalize our cars to our own interest, and for the time anyway, this is mine.

RetroRanger

Yeah that looks nice and clean, 20mpg and I assume 300+rwhp, well that sounds like a nice combination!

I hope to routinely get 20 mpg when my 455 swap is complete

ach1992880

Guys running this cam in a 6.0l are pushing right up on 400rwhp. I would need a day on the dyno to get near those numbers and wont have anywhere near the torque curve of a bbo but it should be a ton of fun on the street. I'm also using the drive by wire which made integrated cruise control simple to hook up.

garys 68&72

Great choice on the LQ9, I'm running one with just a tune in my 68 vette. Amazing torque curve. My 5.3 Olds is great to drive, you're gonna love yours.
Yeah, that's me following you on LS1tech.

ach1992880

I'm stuck right now waiting for a transmission dipstick. The one I originally got is a flexible "bellhousing" mount one that is buried fist deep between the header/AC box/firewall and there is no way to properly check the level and top off my transmission right now. I've ordered a firewall mount one that'll be about 13 inches longer and be much more accessible. I can't express how anxious I am to drive this thing.

Since i last had it on the road I've installed 3.73 gears and a posi, all new UMI rear suspension with adjustable roto-joint uppers, rebuilt the front suspension with all new Moog bushings/balljoints, installed UMI front/rear swaybars, Jeep GC steering box, of course the engine/transmission. It's going to be a whole new car. I can say that the LS must weigh quite a bit less than the 350 olds, the front sits pretty high so new springs are in the plans soon.

garys 68&72

Had the same front end issue with the springs. I went with chevelle 350 springs without AC. Lowered the front nicely but turned out too soft for "spirited" driving. Not an issue for me as a DD, but with your suspension mods, might not work for you.
What did you end up getting your diff/driveshaft/engine angles at?

ach1992880

I used UMI mounts for the engine after a couple failed experiments, which brought the engine down quite a lot. This gave me 2.8 degrees down at the transmission tailshaft, I matched that with 2.8 degrees up at the pinion and the driveshaft is right around 2.5 down from transmission to rear end. came out to really good angles. My first mounts sat the engine so high that I was closer to 6 degrees down at the tailshaft.

garys 68&72

That's pretty good. I've read where other A bodies with T56s and 4L60s had issues with that. I used a T10, so with it's size, I was able to keep the trans high and ended up with angles similar to yours.

ach1992880

This car is fun to drive! I am headed on friday for a dyno tune to resolve a sketchy idle and make sure it's optimised across the board. Can't wipe the smile off my face.

olds 307 and 403

I also don't care for swapping out the Olds V8 but the LS is a much better choice than the sbc. I personally would have went with a 4L80E. Your 4L60E better have all the goodies. I have killed 2 2004R trans and a 4L60E. I had the dreaded super weak reverse and screwed the pump on the 4L60E. I picked up a low mile rebuild and already isn't shifting as firm. I cooked the 3-4 clutch pack on our work truck. Just not a heavy duty trans and not much stronger than a 2004R stock and weaker built up.

ach1992880

The 4l60 is a stage 2 built by lonnie at extreme automatics. I have hope that it will survive street duty for a while. Time will tell.

Octania

Well, well done

let's hear it [video]

then get some race track time slips

I suspect that it would be quite fast compared to say an iron headed 455 car.

ach1992880

I will see what sort of video quality i can get from my phone after work. This car wont see a track but when i get around to a dyno tune i will be able to give real world numbers... i know that doesnt translate but it will be something.

ach1992880

http:// https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ybCTru5QrTI

Fixed the link to make it public now.

olds 307 and 403

Extreme seems to know the 4L60E. Did you have an issue with their 2004R?

ach1992880

He built me a good working 4l60, that's all that matters to me.

firefrost gold

link to ls tech to see the build ?

ach1992880

There isn't a true build thread on LS1tech either. I made the mistake of not taking a lot of photos to document the build. Since this was my first approach at something like this, any free time that I had to work on it was spent turning wrenches instead of snapping photos. I regret not documenting the build with more pictures but the end result is something I can be proud of... especially given the fact I was able to do it with very limited experience or knowledge going into the project.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversion...lq9-4l60e.html

A-BodyLover

What headers did You use?
I see You kept the truck intake. Did You also use the truck accessories?

ach1992880

I ended up going with doug's headers. They fit well but are pretty close to the floor. Yes, I am using the truck accessories.

wr1970

LOL your are out of your mind!! Maybe if you built the 455!! Maybe if it was a smog 455!! Yeah lets see how fast it is with time slips!!

ach1992880

I am not in any way interested in taking this car to the track. This car was built to be a reliable and somewhat quick cruiser. That has been accomplished and i am pleased with the results. I am not interested in "is your ls faster than this guy's 455" discussions, this build is a different option... not proposed as a better option in any way to a big block olds.

A-BodyLover

What mounts?
Any custom spacing?
Any trimming or modding the crossmembers?
What did you do shifter wise

ach1992880

I used the Holley 302-2 oil pan which allows good clearance for both steering and engine crossmember.


UmI Performance swap mounts http://umiperformance.com/catalog/in...roducts_id=825


I did end up cutting the mount section out of the crossmember, flipping it upside down and welding it back in with bracing to allow the transmission to be lower, then had to drill new holes to mount the crossmember to the frame.


I used a shiftworks kit to adapt the column shifter http://www.shiftworks.com/kugel.htm#kit

wr1970

I understand but when chris start lip service about 455 engines i draw a line. I race them and know they can lay down decent numbers. Wasn't trying to start something with you and good luck with your car!! It is your car build it the way you want!

ach1992880

Gotcha. I'm possibly over anxious about upsetting the Olds enthusiasts, that's sincerely not my intention in starting this post.