Lt1 converted to carburator is it possible?

hey guys i have a LT1 of a 96 trans am that i want to put in my 79 pick up i got the block at the machine shop getting it bored out 60 over and my question is if i can put a carburator on it becouse i dont have the LT1 intake and i just like to converted to carburator im keeping the stock LT1 heads the machine shop done a three angle valve job on it already and im getting a 383 stroker kit from mad dog racing all forged 4340 crank 5.700 H beam rods and forged flat top pistons 11 to 1 compression and a magnum 306 cam .555 lift im wonder if this sound right and what else would i need to finish the motor i want at least 400hp on it no less your help will be greatly appreciated thanks

you can convert any engine to a carb, so long as it dosnt have electronicly controled ignition. im not sure about optispark, but i think that it will run without the computer. someone more up to speed will have to throw that out. but as far as the block and heads, you can throw a normal carb intake on it, and shove an old HEI distributor in teh back, and run it like an older style small block. just ignore all the sensors and such. as far as your 400hp mark, i think your good to go. a 383 with that much cam, sounds like a done deal.

Make sure you get a carb. intake to fit the heads. The intake bolts go in at a different angle on 87 and later heads. Also, isn't a 60 over to much? Clean it up with 10 or 30 and save some cylinder wall. The more I look at your post, the less sense it makes. No good machine shop would bore your engine without having the pistons to measure and adjust for clearance. 400 HP. is not a problem with this package, but you need to look at what you use the truck for.

thanks guys for your coments

you won't really be able to run pump gas and bronco is right .060 is a bit much, it should be at .020 over if you want a 383

.030 for a 383

I don't think the LT1 had that opti spark thing did it? I think the LT1 was a 350 block with a "special" induction system. And .060 is a bit, well a bunch much. On a virgine block I wouldn't go over .040. Especialy not with the block you have. They have thin cylinder walls to begin with. 11:1 compression is to high also, unless your in one of them states that offer 103 octain, or 98 with additive. With normal high octain gas you'll get crapy performance and a funny look on your face when you try to shut your motor off. Also, with that cam to get 400hp your going to need big valves, 2.02/1.6. And you may have a .555 lift cam, but how longs the duration at .05? Go with something between 245 and 255 degrees. And with your 383 kit, if you're wanting the big hp get the 6" rods, they put less stress on your rotating assy. giving you more torque and HP. Other than that, get your self a good high rise intake for the late model heads and a good carb, 750 would work and your in business.

.030 for a 383

thanks for the correction

Like every1 said going .60 over on a never before rebuilt motor is not smart and also any 383 kit you buy is going to come with .30 pistons cause that is how all standard stroker kits are set-up. Also going to longer rods on Chevy stroker I would be looking a 6.2 and the newer 6.3 rods. I personally used Eagle ESP SBC 6.3 H-rods on my Ford 393 stroker motor. 11.1 pistons is not gonna happen with normal octane gas especially w/o fuel injection. LT-1's had optispark the first 2 years only then they went to a DIS system.

Converting an LT-1 to carb you need to make sure to get a carbed intake that works with heads that use center-bolt valve covers cause they have a different angle for the intake bolts. Other solutions are a machined intake or intake manifold adapter plates. As far as the opti-spark you need toss it, that is the easiest solution. Buy a new cam for the engine that was made for standard SBC cause any cam for an LT-1 or LS-1 will not have the gear drive lobe on it to run a standard distributor. Also you need a distributor for a SBC.

those rods are way too long...you're suppose to use the 5.700" rods

those rods are way too long...you're suppose to use the 5.700" rods


LoL the rods are not way too long LoL

ARE YOU CRACKED? All 383s are +.060! DO THE MATH (3.1415*(4.060/2)^2)*3.75*8.

If you use 6.3 inch rods, not only will the wrist pin be IN the ring lands it will probably be above the top of the piston. Anything, above a 5.7 in a street motor is unadvisable by most engine builders for longevity reasons due to premature ring failure.

ALL Lt-1 POWERED CARS HAVE OPTI SPARKS, CAMAROS, IMPALAS, CORVETTES, AND YES, EVEN CAPRICES.

AN Lt-1 INTAKE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS ANY OTHER SMALL BLOCK CHEVROLET INTAKE LESS THE DISTRIBUTOR HOLE. YES, THEY SELL CARB CONVERSION KITS FOR IT. THEY EVEN SELL THEM FOR THE LS1 TOO! An LT1 is EXACTLY like ANY SMALL BLOCK CHEVY SAVE FOR THE COOLING SYSTEM (REVERSE FLOW) AND THE OPTISPARK, WHICH IS A POS.
YOU DO NOT NEED , A NORMAL SMALLBLOCK CAM BECAUSE THE LT1S STILL DRIVE THE OIL PUMP OFF THE CAM IN THE BACK.

man... simmer down now!! :grinno: Anyway, just buy the mainafold and stuff to keep it fuel injected. It would be a hell of alot cheaper in the long run. I'm sure a bone yard would have all you need.

no, you're wrong too badLS, look at HOT ROD of January of 2001. it shows you how to stroke a 383 to get 421hp. it says you bore out the block to .030 from 350. according to them, if you start out boring it .060 over, you would later need to sleeve the cylinders and then you'll be screwed for the life of the block. leaving us to the crankshaft. 2.45" mains is whats expected when running the proper 5.700" rods..... Tupac, i suggest you back order that issue of HOT ROD, you may find it to be extremely useful

actually badLS is right. let me rephrase that: the math is correct, with the exception that you dont square the 4.060, its a diameter not a radius. on the other hand, if you use the .030 your only off by about 3.8 cubic centimeters and i dont really think that anyone here can complain about 3.8 cubic centimeters. just sayin is all...

well now, ain't this something. Lets see here...any standard 383 kit comes with .030 pistons, that's just common knowlegde. And about the 6" rods, you have to get the kit with rods and pistons, the wrist pins on the pistons for this set up are relocated to take into acount the oversized rods relieving you ove the problem of having a piston in your cylinder head. And still, going .060 over on a virgin block is a mistake, unless you have one of them rare extra thick blocks. But in any event, it's not worth getting into a heated argument, this is for information not bickering.

geeebus...

383 situation - 4.030 bore = 382.667191ci while 4.060 bore = 388.385675ci buy a calculator, and make damn sure before you start telling people to crunch the numbers youve done it yourself, otherwise you come off as an ignorant prick. also 6in rods are not to long, they are actually quite regular. and most 383 kits use them. i am using 6.125in rods on my 302 build up, that way i can use pistons with a very small compressino height and they will be lighter, allowing my engine to wind up faster. its engine designing, you should read up some on it.

LT1 situation - these engines were different. reverse flow cooling, optispark, different intake. they all had optispark, they didnt come out with DIS ignition on the V8 till the LS1.

and yes, its NOT WORTH ARGUING ABOUT!!!! if your not sure, you could be wrong, so dont push your point unless you know what your talking about.

well bloody hell!

[QUOTE=89IROC&RS]geeebus...

Also 6in rods are not to long, they are actually quite regular. and most 383 kits use them. i am using 6.125in rods on my 302 build up, that way i can use pistons with a very small compressino height and they will be lighter, allowing my engine to wind up faster. its engine designing, you should read up some on it.
QUOTE]

Someone who understands :worshippy

it was not established if this was a street motor or a race motor...if its a race motor, then by all means use the 6.000" rods but for street its recommended you use the 5.700" for longevity

if you use quality parts, it dosnt matter. remember the deal with longer rods for a shorter compresion height piston??? the shorter piston weighs less, meaning less rotating mass, meaning less stress on the engine, bearings, and all related components. the only thing to worry about with longer rods, on some blocks, is that they might, and i stress MIGHT come into contact with the block during rotation, however it is very simple for a machine shop to notch the block to clear the rods. but so long as you use proper clearances, and quality parts, then you can really use either one, the shorter rods and taller pistons will be a good truck setup, and the long rods and short pistons for performance, street/strip, or strip, or street, dont realy matter.

"383 situation - 4.030 bore = 382.667191ci while 4.060 bore = 388.385675ci buy a calculator"

oh i did it in my head so i guess thats right, sorry guys...

if you use quality parts, it dosnt matter. remember the deal with longer rods for a shorter compresion height piston??? the shorter piston weighs less, meaning less rotating mass, meaning less stress on the engine, bearings, and all related components. the only thing to worry about with longer rods, on some blocks, is that they might, and i stress MIGHT come into contact with the block during rotation, however it is very simple for a machine shop to notch the block to clear the rods. but so long as you use proper clearances, and quality parts, then you can really use either one, the shorter rods and taller pistons will be a good truck setup, and the long rods and short pistons for performance, street/strip, or strip, or street, dont realy matter.


This man is a genious!!!! Too bad he drives a Chevy.... Oh well we can't all be perfect :evillol:

Man GTstang, I finished up a ford motor today, and let me tell you, I'm glad I'm a chevy guy. Just getting the engine in and out of the car was brain surgery in comparison. Plus, every thing is back asswards. Oh well, it's all good. Anyways, like Iroc said, make sure you know what your talking about before you start to smart off to what some one else is saying. Some of us do know what we're talking about, and if you call someone out be respectfull about it.

thanx GTstang, i do what i can, dont know everything, but i know engine design. oh and if it makes you feel any better, i drive my dads 1996 taurus SHO every once in a while ;)

Man GTstang, I finished up a ford motor today, and let me tell you, I'm glad I'm a chevy guy. Just getting the engine in and out of the car was brain surgery in comparison. Plus, every thing is back asswards. Oh well, it's all good. Anyways, like Iroc said, make sure you know what your talking about before you start to smart off to what some one else is saying. Some of us do know what we're talking about, and if you call someone out be respectfull about it.

If you say so man..... All I know is what the fuck is the distributor doing in the back of the engine?!?!?! LoL And I know there are 8 spark plugs on an 4th Gen F-body but has any1 actually seen the mythical 8th plug? :rofl:

It's all good gentlemen keep the love and knowledge for cubic inches alive!

I like the fun that we are having talking all this shit but like i said i got the block bore.060 and i know most people would never do this on a virgin block but if for any reason the block was to go bad i can get an other block in a day,and get it ready again i own a used auto parts and i hope this works well im gonna put 5.700 rods all forged asembly crank,pistons and maybe run some crack (NOS) later

[QUOTE=89IROC&RS]geeebus...

Also 6in rods are not to long, they are actually quite regular.
QUOTE]

Someone who understands :worshippy


Yeah my ol lady likes my rod just fine.. It really dependable too :evillol: :p

Vlad!!!!!!!!!!!

oh well shit, if THATS the kind of rod were talking about 6in just is wayyyyy too small ;) were gonna have to have some insain stroking on here.

Hey Bro just call me 302.... not much for the low end but bro I can rev it to the moon =Þ

well said ;)

You guys are nuts, or are you just playing with them? hmm

hmm, what do youthink, nuts, yeah i agree, nuts yeah thats us :)