[Dragwagon62]

Hello, I just recently retired from the Marine Corps and have a 62 Impala 2 door hard top that I want to swap/drop an LS3 with an automatic/over drive transmission. Could anyone help me get into the right direction with lessions learned and some tips to make this a smooth as possible transition? I am also thinking of doing remote brakes to clean up the engine compartment and make room for the LS3. I appreciate your time and any help you can give me to get off on the right foot. Your own expierances are welcomed. Thanks in advance.

Semper Fi! Hank
CWO3/USMC Retired

[briskedm]

Sir,
The easiest way I have found to do an engine swap from pre computer to computer controlled is to get a donor car to take it from and buy the WHOLE vehicle... This way you get the transmission, complete motor (intake to oil pan) computer(s) and all the wiring you need (when I swapped my 4.3L v6 to a 5.7 v8 i spent over 200 on just the wiring to make my connections and the swap was in a 98 s 10) and you get to see how the wiring is run through the engine bay from the factory. Room shouldn't be an issue, you may have to make a set of engine mount brackets to get the placement right, but that’s as simple as some 1/4''-1/2'' steel and a drill.
V/R
ET3/USN Active

[candy63impala]

took from another site..

The frame needs to be clearanced for A/c compressor on the ls1, or you could buy a relocate kit for it. or you could just get rid of the A/c

The transmission needs to be an electronic tranny. The PCM controls both engine and tranny, so if your going through the trouble for all the wirining you might as well drop in the electrinic tranny.

Another issue, If im not mistaken, is that the throttle bracket on the ls1 does not accept a kickdown cable.

everything else is pretty straightforward, just like if you were droppin in any SBC

i put this setup in my 64, and the problem I had was that the tranny support had to be moved back.

or just forget about it all and sell it to me

[1ownerT]

A lot of great LS info here: http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/
There is a specific swap section also:http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids-28/

Something to keep in mind the LS engines can be ran with a carb and no computer or electronic trans either if one wanted.