Bobsep84

My buddy just bought a 59 Chevy Impala that needs a new motor. We were looking to put in an LT1 from an old B-Body.....we want to keep the car carbed to keep it simple. We know we need the following....

GMPP LT1 carb manifold, Low psi fuel pump, distributor "HEI?"

What else is needed?
obviously there is no timing marks so how do you set timing?

Thanks in advance

lt1-xjs

The whole point for swapping the LT1 is for the EFI. It's really not that difficult. Otherwise I would use a gen I engine to keep it simple.

bw_hunter

If EFI is all you want, then the L98 or other traditional small block is a better choice. The LT1's strength is in the reverse cooling...allows you to run higher compression ratio and more advanced timing on pump gas. Even carburated, these advantages are still available.....

Bobsep84

Hit the nail on the head We consitered using a standard gen 1 but really would like to use an LT1 for its better flowing heads and reverse flow. We know we need the carb manifold...carb fuel pump...but don't know what else we need....like how to set timing.

bw_hunter

Don't most aftermarket dampers have the crank degrees already marked on them? I would think that,and an adjustable timing pointer would be all you need. That and a degree wheel and dial indicator to find TDC.....

ZZ

You can find TDC with a piston stop and degree wheel and mark the balancer for it, then use a dial-back timing light to set your timing.

Z28SORR

You can also get an aftermarket balancer like ATI with a keyed hub and timing marks already on it.

Bobsep84

It looks like we will also need the GMPP front cover plug....it also has a timing mark on it....do we align that mark to the mark on the balancer when using the timing light? P/N 12367600

Injuneer

Don't trust any factory marks on the stock damper (its not a "balancer"). The stock damper is not keyed to the crank, so the mark is not reliable. For your application, I would buy a keyed hub for the stock damper (the crank already has a keyway), so that you can be certain the damper has not moved.

F550maranello2

i didnt buy the car...the motor is from a 95 caprice wagon it looks complete.. i want to do a lt1 because this motor has low miles and i dont feel like playing with engine rebuilding..

basically need to know what parts im gonna need to put this thing together.. also are the motor mounts gonna line up with the frame? have a pos 305 in her now with bad rod knock..

Z28SORR

They've been called "Harmonic Balancers" for as long as they have been called Dampeners. So that makes the terms petty much interchangable.
Kind of like the lb./in. vers in./lb. thing!

bw_hunter

Well, not quite. Inch-pounds and pounds-inch are interchangeable because they are the same. The device on the crank is a harmonic damper as it damps the twisting force harmonics that could beat the crankshaft to bits if left unchecked. These forces woul still be there even if the rotating assembly were perfectly balanced without the damper present.

People use the terms interchangeably but that doesn't mean it's correct to do so....

F550maranello2

so any more suggestions.. i want to pull the trigger on this engine so i can get the old pos out.. i know there is people on here that have done this