305 to an LT1 or LT4???

[ksjms2000]

I have a 1998 2wd 1500, I currently have a 305 in it with 75,000mi, I want to put a LT1 or an LT4 in it, but I don't know how hard the conversion is, I want to know before I start looking, any tips or suggestions??

[Shortbus]

The only way to do this is to get a donor Vette or Camaro jout of a salvage yard. You will need the complete engine bay wiring harness, the electric cooling fans, PCM, the list goes on and on. If you want that type of performance it is achievable but not on a tight budget.

[quaddriver]

It will go in in a day, but wont run for a while. the intakes are very different and Im not sure anyone makes an intake that will adapt to your TBI. There are intakes that will let you use a carb and 'real' distributor however. so if you used an LTx then you would need the rest of the controls, which in itself is doable except you will need a prom burned...the truck starts at a 3.42 rear and the car never got that high - the vss will always be off.

[SloNlo_350]

Try www.FullSizeChevy.com

There are plenty of people on there that are very knowledgeable on the swap. Why don't you just get a Vortec 350 (either a used one from another truck really cheap or a new one through GM GoodWrench) and just build it up. The only difference spec wise (not taking into account the crazy optispark and reverse flow coolant and just the weirdness that is the LT1) is the Cam intake compression and heads. Vortec heads actually flow better than LT1 heads though (the Vortec ports are modelled after the Iron LT1 heads from the Impala SS). You can easily match the LT1's power with just a cam and some bolt ons. I'd say get a Vortec longblock and sell yours. Before you put it in the truck maybe get some head work done and put a new cam in (maybe an LT1 cam) with some 1.6 Comp Cams Magnum roller rockers and then once it is in the truck get it dyno tuned. It'd be alot easier than doing the LT1 swap and optispark is not fun at all from what I hear. Distributors belong at the back of the motor = ).