LT1 engine in a C3 Corvette Finale

1982 C3 Corvette. LT1 Engine. 700R4 transmission. Wiring is a mess. Fans don't work. Heater hoses were missing. HVAC blower motor not working. Transmission not kicking down and short shifting. Headers and exhaust are heating up the drivers compartment.
Can I fix it? I'll give it a good try.

[@hpjunkie69]

Fantastic work Karl

[@EllweinEngines]

Thanks

[@P-J-W-777]

Out of curiosity why did you not utilize an LS like a 6.0’or 7.0 that’s much easier to tune? Don’t get me wrong I know the LT engines were good strong engines with the iron blocks and will make lots of torque. Curious how much power you’re getting out of the engine with all the upgrades? I had a Trans Am with the LT engine but rebuilt it to a 383. The only original part of the engine was the block and of course the red LT3 corvette intake which was port matched. Had a procharger added on top of that. It took more time to get the tune just right than it did to rebuild the engine.

[@DominatorGarage]

Because it’s different

[@EllweinEngines]

Ah! Good question. I might have even kept the original engine and soup it up if it were my car (to be different). But the real answer is that the owner bought it this way. It was the previous owner who did the work. It may be that the swap was way before the LS era? I really don't know. The one thing that get's me is that they kept the 700R4 trans and did not put the 4L60E in that could have given more transmission control options. Also they kept the larger diameter engine flexplate (in order to keep the stock starter?). Just not a good decision there. The 153 tooth and 1994 Corvette starter would be superior. The car was unfinished in the wiring department...but it really does have a good tune in the PCM. (I did not adjust any parameters except for spark tables).

[@P-J-W-777]

@@EllweinEngines Makes perfect sense. I guess I missed the part when you spoke about it being someone else’s car. I agree with you on the Transmission and Flex plate. They would definitely benefit from the change. Like you I would have been torn about pulling the stock engine. It could have been easily rebuilt and upgraded especially if the Holley Sniper EFI kit was utilized. Don’t get me wrong, I always liked my LT engine, my Trans Am laid down a lot of power and was very fast for what it was back in the day. My biggest issue was having to send out the computer every time it needed additional tuning. I was just thinking LS due to the massive aftermarket parts and support that platform has.

[@P-J-W-777]

@@DominatorGarage I definitely like to see when people do something different!

[@EllweinEngines]

Oh yes! If we had LS tuning platforms for this that would be so much better. I did mention to the owner that when the opti fails he can go with the LS1 PCM via EFI connection or TorqHead. He may do that in the future.