LS1 into a vk

[boogs86]

hey,
im looking at putting a ls1 5.7l into my vk calais(3.3L)
i can get the engine, gearbox, computer, loom, compressor and alternator for $3500.
i know i will need new extractors to fit, a new bigger radiator and a new tailshaft.
what else would be involved?
have many people done this without too many hassels and what were the rough costs?
cheers

[SL/ENUT]

Lots!. You need to get engine mounts, engine wire loom, gearbox X member. I think it costs about $4000ish to get the kit to fit a LS1 donk into an early girl Commy.

[Tom_1569]

V8 K-frame, V8 Diff (a strong one at that), radiator, wiring, mounts, V8 + brakes.
To put a gen3 into any car you want atleast 10 grand, if your doing all work yourself.

[1991_Vn2nV]

You also have fuel system etc. also.

It adds up and it adds up fast.

[Cobez]

Man if this actually ever gets done, post it up, i would LOVE to see an LS1 in a VK. Would be a weapon!!

Like that red VB commodore with the plates REBILD, awesome thing had an LS1 in it.

[immortality]

add in some trans tunnel mods as the autobox won't fit in a early car without clereance issues from memory

[cpbait]

yeh i looked into this when i had a vk calais 5ltr, something has to be swappwed around(to the opposite side) from memory due to the space and where the rack sits in the older cars compared to the newer cars, i ended up selling it and buying a vy ss, i know its not the same and i miss the calais a bit due to its old charm, but with the car iv got now, i love driving it, a good one would be a injected 5ltr although its been done alot, and don't forget custom tailshaft to suit the longer transmission and shorter distance to the diff. and as stated fuel system, new fuel lines due to being an efi motor, etc.

if you can get it up and running and prepared to spend the time and money, awesome project, seen it done in a vl, was in street commodores from memory, do a search there might help.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Its the starter that has to be swapped to the other side and thats not very hard. Theres a lot more to worry about than that.

[monsteroz]

Is there any update to this project? I am interested

Cheers

Sean

[Fusion]

V8 K-frame,

Whats the difference between the 6 and 8 K frame ?

[ari666]

i thought k frames were the same, but struts/sway bars/brakes are different.

anyways, castlemaine rod shop have a early 350 to VK kit for 2650. Holden VB-VK Commodore

the kit includes pretty much everything you need. k-frame spacers, engine mounts, sump, starter conversion and remote oil filter kit.

granted, it is early chevy, but ls1's cant be that different can they? i am told it is a bit of an ugly kit cos' the k-frame spacers make the engine sit up higher than normal and you will have issues with higher manifolds/carb spacers or nos kits.


i have been waiting for ages for someone to install this kit and post up how it goes. i dont wanna be the dummy. there are also a few horror stories on google also, so bear that in mind.

[Fusion]

i thought k frames were the same.

Thats what i was thinking . I have a VB with a 6 in it and the VH with an 8 and the K frames are identical .

[DANNY8]

Yeah they're definitely the same, out of all the old girls, the only odd kframes are the ones for RB30's and V6's. All the Holden 6's and V8 kframes are the same for the old girls.

[SL/ENUT]

granted, it is early chevy, but ls1's cant be that different can they? i am told it is a bit of an ugly kit cos' the k-frame spacers make the engine sit up higher than normal and you will have issues with higher manifolds/carb spacers or nos kits.

A lot of people think the same, but the LS1 kit is completely different to the 350 chev one.

I think the kit now includes a ring gear to move the starter motor from the drivers side to the other.

also AFAIK, the kit doesn't include K frame spacers.

[Tom_1569]

Yeah sorry K-frames are the same, not sure what I was thinking when I posted that nearly a year ago

[ari666]

also AFAIK, the kit doesn't include K frame spacers.

i think you will find that it does...

SP05
VB-VK TO CHEV K-FRAME SPACERS - Pair
$240

[SL/ENUT]

I was talking about the LS1 kit and k frame spacers.

[vh sle !!!!!]

castlemaine rod shop or castle auto electrics sell parts to fit the ls1 to vb to vk,
will also need to make up extra spacers to fit between engine mount to raise it otherwise hits k frame, im doin thjis to my vh atm

[monsteroz]

Have you got any pics of the VH.. love to see them

Sean

[benny999]

thinking about doing it to my car also (vh sle 5.0) think i might go newer was even thinking 6.0 but not sure yet might not even do it and bolt a turbo onto the gas research im running

[dirt drifter]

anyone keen on doing this swap check out calaisturbo.com there's heaps of threads/info/pics on there

[yellowvk]

I was thinking about doing this conversion to my vk as I already have a 9 inch and bigger trans tunnel but its a lot easyer and cheaper to build a 304/308/355 and slap a good sized turbo or charger on

[combatantsomeone]

I should think it would cost around $10k
as im doing this in my VR and without upgrading the diff im looking at just over $10k worth of parts including the $5k i paid for the engine + box

[juzz89]

it is onley worth it if you have the cash i was thinking of doing the gen 3 in to the vk and there is alot of head ****ing around it was going to cost me 10g plus i had to change alot of stuf it is better to keep the 5.0L in and work it off its guts then you will still beat a gen 3 but in all honstley do a injected 5.0L convershion much more cheaper and dose the pocked really good lol

[greenfoam]

If you move the rack mounts 5mm the ls1 goes in without moving the starter or any of that rubbish, half price for a 5mm move