GM LS1 swap into Bronco...

48952 Views 69 Replies 51 Participants Last post by SEMO, 9 d ago

cobra2411

Discussion Starter · Jan 26, 2011

Ok remember guys... This area is flame free...

First let me say I love all things American made - no real brand loyalty. I love Ford Trucks, Old GM Muscle cars, Ford Pony cars and anything Original or 2nd Gen HEMI. The New Challenger is pretty cool too.

Anyway all I've been hearing about is how the LS motors make stupid power and get great economy so I've been itching to play with one. If I wasn't so far into building a 454 for my 70 Chevelle I'd put one in there.

This is most likely just a hypothetical build but what about swapping an LS motor, 4L80 and NP241 into a Bronco? Right now I'm planning on buying a roller shortblock 351, heads, built AOD, rebuilding my t-case, custom exhaust and changing over to a MAF setup. Other then mounts it seems like almost the same to do a LS swap... Maybe driveshafts.

Anybody else think about this or am I the only one?

41 - 60 of 70 Posts

kals1stride

· #41 · Oct 7, 2011

ok, i know its common knol. that the Ls engines make hp easy, and i know chevy engines have been seen in countless fox bodys, and 9" in everything under the sun. i see why its tempting to put an LS engine into anything really. BUT, have you considered the coyote 5.0? from what mags. say everywhere, these engines work magic under boost. they make incredible power in stock form too, and your not giving up your religion in the process. of course a crate coyote is the only way your getting one, ($7k territory) but its still a ford at the end of the day

SourMashII

· #42 · Oct 7, 2011

wyoranch said:
Yeah, divorce case would solve the drivers drop issue.

GeeZuss!!!!

Am I the only person on this whole board that realizes IFS Gm IS!!!!! Driver Drop?

All of the Domestic offerings, and Toyota are Driver drop in the last 10 years for sure, and putting on the flame suit... 1993 was the last pass drop american rig, and that was under a Dodge.

Do it.

better mpg than a Ferd, better power per cube than a ford.... Stupid easy to twist them to 400hp, just a ECm reflash IIRC.

Yup. I blled Blue, but.. (and I am trying to replace my IDI with a Triton) the 5.3 is a damned good engine.

EastTN89

· #43 · Oct 7, 2011

The ford 4.6 and 5.4 respond really well to boost. With all the mustangs, Vans, SUVS, and F150 ford sold those engines are all over the place. The Aftermarket for these engines is crazy. If you want to get crazy lets not forget Alumionator 4.6 that they put in the 2003-04 cobras. I think these engines are often over looked but any mustang lover will tell you these engines loved to be force feed and the respond really well.

Gene1219

· #44 · Oct 7, 2011

EastTN89 said:
The ford 4.6 and 5.4 respond really well to boost. With all the mustangs, Vans, SUVS, and F150 ford sold those engines are all over the place. The Aftermarket for these engines is crazy. If you want to get crazy lets not forget Alumionator 4.6 that they put in the 2003-04 cobras. I think these engines are often over looked but any mustang lover will tell you these engines loved to be force feed and the respond really well.

the 03-04 cobra engines are amazing...as well as their super high price tag. The LSx motors would make a fantastic swap, it's physically smaller compared to a DOHC 4.6 or 5.4 and generally cheaper. It's not odd at all to put a chevy motor in a ford.

jopes

· #45 · Oct 7, 2011

nuckinfutz said:
Man cards revoked...I can see a duramax but a ls1 and you will have to get a clocking ring for the transfer case cause the chevy is a passenger side output for the front..

No clocking ring needed.

Wolfchant said:
hey, if an LS1 will fit in a nissan 240sx with some work, it'll fit in a bronco with some work, i say go for it, the LS1 is a good motor........for a GM built product

and yes, it really fits

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTtiTHcnr68

LS1 into a Mazda Miata

wyoranch said:
Yeah, divorce case would solve the drivers drop issue. And if that's what you want I say go for it. No harder than doing a swap into a blazer really, except you're gonna have to make your own mounts. If you put one in a blazer it's not like you can just hook up the wires, all wiring is gonna have to be done anyway. People are always talking about putting cummins motors in these and never get flamed. If you wanna do it then go for it.

no divorced Tcase needed.

Clydesdale said:
GeeZuss!!!!

Am I the only person on this whole board that realizes IFS Gm IS!!!!! Driver Drop?

:stupid

And no your not the only person who knows GM went to driver side drop. :thumbup

jowens1126

· #46 · Oct 7, 2011

If I was going to go this route, I would skip the LS1 and go straight for the LS3 or LS6 E-rod with a 4L80E and an Atlas 2 Transfer Case.

The street custom guys have been putting chevys in 32 ford and such since the 60's.

huggyb1972

· #47 · Oct 7, 2011

You can put anything in anything I even heard of some nut over in Indiana putting a Ford small block in a Pontiac T/A.

EastTN89

· #48 · Oct 8, 2011

If you really want to do a LS motor in a ford. Then you should just save some money and by a Vortec, they are the same thing but with a cast iron block and a few other items. Extreme 4X4 did a whole show about this. I am not saying I agree with putting a chevy in a ford but this could really save you some cash.

Scoop

· #49 · Oct 8, 2011

I think you all are pissin' in the wind here! He has not been on the site since March. He probably gave up or is dong it without advice from FSB. :toothless

enpisi

· #50 · Jan 20, 2013

Been thinking the same thing for my 95, buddy just built a 351 for his 77 and he's got 10 grand in it, my 302 bites and I'm thinking LS 1 for hp and gas mileage

prchrman

· #51 · Jan 20, 2013

I will never understand putting SBC into Ford bodies and never will. Only reason would be people do not know how to get power out of a Ford engine which is not that hard.

thin blue line

· #52 · Jan 20, 2013

remember to build it your way, its your ride

Reactions: 1

rhauf

· #53 · Jan 20, 2013

If i had a badass 400hp LS6 and a hot sister, i'd put the engine under the hood and the sister in the back seat

luckily, I don't have either so that won't be happening.

Shadofax

· #54 · Jan 20, 2013

jopes said:
No clocking ring needed.

LS1 into a Mazda Miata

no divorced Tcase needed.

:stupid

And no your not the only person who knows GM went to driver side drop. :thumbup

That's super stealth, but it looks like nothing was done to the Miata rear wheels and wheelwells, where he would certainly need to be slapping on WAYYYYYY more rubber than his stock tires to hook up anything.

They are putting the LS3's and 7's? I think in the Pontiac Solstice, one example, this coupe is exactly like the one we bought, cept we only got a 2.0 LNF with 315HP, I can't imagine a SC 630HP LS3 in our little car:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RN6XNl1YTFI

This at least has more serious rubber than the miata, but probably not enough for a supercharged LS3.

jowens1126

· #55 · Jan 20, 2013

2

Heres what ya need, its all ready to go right in. At $10750, I think its not a bad deal for what you get.
I dont think it would take a ton of fab work to fit it right in either.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2011-Ford-F250-6-2L-V-8-Engine-Transmission-WARRANTY-/110652541744?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3AFord|Engine+-+Liter_Display%3A6.2L&hash=item19c367cb30&vxp=mtr

And if its not enough power, then just ship it down to these guys before you swap it in for a little upgrade. (600HP)
http://www.hennesseyperformance.com/velociraptor-600-sc.html

See less See more

sr71mopar

· #56 · Jan 20, 2013

Just say no

BigWheelz

· #57 · Jan 20, 2013

Anyone who has changed spark plugs on a dirty mod motor knows that engine family has no business in the mud or dirt. The coil packs do a poor job of sealing the spark plug holes. The coyotes appear to be the same & ecoboost....no way. In this case, there is no "modern" engine from Ford that will work well in the dirt.

The LS, on the other hand, seems to do well in the mud and dirt. Just be sure to shield those fragile electronics well! Good luck with the LSX swap, looks like the aftermarket is really picking up support for it.

shokwave30

· #58 · Jan 20, 2013

im actually building a ls1 now to put in my porsche. and yes it has crossed my mind to throw in the bronco. have a 5.3 sitting ready to go. but cant find myself doing it. my brother the chevy guy would never let me live it down

Andrew James

· #59 · Jan 20, 2013

LS FTW... Old thread already posted but I have been playing with them more and more and boy do I like what I see...

black95-302/M5OD

· #60 · Jan 20, 2013

jowens1126 said:
Heres what ya need, its all ready to go right in. At $10750, I think its not a bad deal for what you get.
I dont think it would take a ton of fab work to fit it right in either.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2011-Ford-F250-6-2L-V-8-Engine-Transmission-WARRANTY-/110652541744?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3AFord|Engine+-+Liter_Display%3A6.2L&hash=item19c367cb30&vxp=mtr

I'll admit to knowing basically nothing about those engines, but 405 ft-lbs torque from a modern, large-displacement (by today's standards) truck motor has always seemed a little weak to me.

41 - 60 of 70 Posts