I'm back and need advice please

After being gone for awhile, and neglecting my poor wagon for months I almost sold it. I jumped it last week and it started almost instantly, first sign it wasn't ready to go. I messed with it a few times with no trouble, guy showed up to test drive it and the car stalled as soon as the lights turned on, sign 2 it wasn't ready to leave. Then on the test drive I remembered what I loved so much about the car. We got back the guy was going back and forth about little price and little problems it has, that's when I told him the car wasn't going anywhere.
So now on to the real questions, what should I do about my rough running lt1? It had developed a strong hesitation with a miss fire condition and erratic idle. Most likely opti spark and tune up would solve all this. But I want more power, I have a low mileage complete l29 vortec 454. Needs thoughts and opinions on the 454 or keep lt1, and what upgrades you would recommend for either.
I'm looking for a fun auto cross style wagon, low firm quality suspension and big sway bars. 18" or 20" tires as wide as I can go, this no longer has to be a daily driver as I have my rusty old truck forvthat. Want something fun and reliable may see some road trips and some light towing, but mostly want a fast fun cruiser. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

I f I had a 545 in the garage, I'd replace the ailing engine. Others have boldly gone before. so there should be some info out there to help you.

Also have a 30k mile ls 4.8 I could use with a turbo for some fun. Want reliable fast fun, worried that the extra weight of the big block could have a negative effect on handling.

Yeah... I would skip the boat anchor 454, personally. If you want fun and reliable, the 4.8 is the obvious choice.

L76

*Mic drop*

I am currently working on a 454 install, and if you use aluminum heads, aluminum water pump, and intake manifold, the 454 will only weigh about 30-50 lbs. more than an all iron small block. You can also get a kit to put the FEAD from a 93 (and similar) S10 on the BB for $150. You can keep your AC, and it uses the same PS pump, and alternator (you may have to clock the alternator).

I was planning on using the l29 big block as is for now if that's what I choose so iron heads and aluminum intake. May upgrade to aluminum heads down the road, but I know guys making good power with stock heads with some mild porting.

My concern was only the added weight of the engine. Aluminum heads are 70 lbs. lighter than Iron ones. I am not sure what the L29 big block is vs. any other big block. The one I am working with is a 98 Gen 6 truck engine. I have had some strange experiences with the build. The parts are a little harder to find than a Gen 4 or earlier. The parts list is often Gen 6 only. Single piece rear main seal, different cam, timing set, pan, lifters (roller), crank, and a bunch of petty stuff. Stay away from Pro Comp heads they are weird. Stock compression ratio is about 8.5 to 1. (Had by heads milled and raised the compression to 9 to 1).

You want to have the trans built to take the torque as well. A stock 700R4 or 4L60E will not take the power for very long.

My engine is the same as yours from what I've seen in your build thread, mine is a 97 vortec 454 I was always told it's an l29. I could be wrong so don't quote me. But it's the same thing your building for your car.

If you run into any quirky stuff, let me know. I have already done the groundwork. If you want to keep the crank trigger, you have to use a single row timing chain. A two row will push the reluctor out too far and hit the back side of the timing cover. I used a Cloyes timing set. I tried a Comp Cams set, but it was so tight that I could not turn the engine over. It was supposed to me, that it might have been made for an engine that had the mains line bored. You need the computer from the truck unless you are going to put a carb on it. You also have to use either the crab distributor or the LO5 distributor to clear the firewall. If you use the LO5 distributor, you have to figure out how to run the engine with it. I am using an aftermarket fuel injection system that also controls the ignition, and can use the LO5 distributor. I had to bore out the manifold to accept the wider base for the distributor.

I get my torque converter next week, and am almost ready to put it in the car. I hope to have it in the car by the 15th, and running by the end of the month. Since everything is dried out, or new, except for the heater core (I can dry that out quickly), I am going to use Evans waterless coolant. I just bought 3 gals. of it for $115. That is as cheap as I have seen it. I do not need the prep, because there will be no water in the system.

I read awhile back about a way to use ls coil packs, and the ls computer to run the 454 with no distributor. I would have to do some searching on that one. I'm really trying to decide on what I want to do right now, 454, 4.8, I've got the 4l60e in the car, 4l80e in the truck with the 454, and a 200 4r attached to the 4.8. The 4l60 is the only one that doesn't need rebuilt, but big block or turbo 4.8 all 3 with need beefed up depending on which I run.

The 4L80e is not a bolt in. You will have to make some more room for it, and make a crossmember.

You can probably get an LS computer to run it with coil packs. You will need the oil pump drive from the LT1 if you do not use a distributor. You may have to drill and tap a hole for the hold down screw. Somebody makes a distributor "plate" that has the gear and shaft that bolts in place of the distributor.

Clear image automotive makes the crossmember, I've read a few articles on the swap and it doesn't seem like a big deal, some say you have to mod the tunnel and a couple don't but it's tight. I'm kind of thinking maybe the 200 4r because the overdrive ratio is a little better than the 80e and the 60e.

Now what a strange turn of events, I posted the 454 on Craigslist over a month ago and had no real interest. Make this thread really strt thinking this is what I want to run, and boom I got a guy with cash wanting it asap. Now what to do I still could go 4.8, but it won't have the torque of the big block. Decions Decions

Maybe he was following this thread.

That would be my luck, he says he needs it to replace his newly rebuilt on that has coolant in the oil. Just run it till the engine builder can fix his.

zach.skinner510 wrote:

Now what a strange turn of events, I posted the 454 on Craigslist over a month ago and had no real interest. Make this thread really strt thinking this is what I want to run, and boom I got a guy with cash wanting it asap. Now what to do I still could go 4.8, but it won't have the torque of the big block. Decions Decions

Maybe do a little research on the 6 litre?

makes lots of torque with some l92 heads and a cam change,..

I'm looking to use what I have available on hand now, 6.0 ls motors around sell with high mileage for some big coin. It's hard to find one in my area for less than $2k that's not stripped to nothing and completely worn out.

Not all 6.0's are LS engines.

Sorry then I'm not sure what engine you are talking about then. The only 6.0 I'm aware of is the ls style, please educate me on this other engine.

car-part.com

L76 from the G8, L96, L98, L77,

In the truck realm: Vortec 6000, Lq4. Lq9, LY6, LZ1

And these are just the ones that don't have the LS prefix.

Car-part.com is one of the first bookmarks on my phone, I'm a collision repair tech and do all my own mechanical work also so I'm very familiar with it. Even the local j/y want crazy money for used beaten 6.0s.

Ok so they don't use the ls prefix but they are still LS based and share the same block and components correct.

Correct. BUT it is all about marketing. The LQ4 costs less than it's LS1 counterpart (albeit it is an iron block instead of the LS1's aluminum...)

Keep in mind, the truck engines are physically larger and fitment MAY be an issue.

Ok than I wasn't that far off, anything 6.0 around is gold in the eyes of the owner. Worst thing is there is idiots around here that pay the money so the cycle continues. 5.3s are starting to rise as well, I got my 30k-40k 4.8 for dirt cheap because nobody around here thinks they have potential.

He's offering enough to do a quality tune up on the lt1 and maybe some bolt ons too so the 454 is going. With as busy as I am with wife kids and house projects I'm worried an engine swap might be another abandoned project. I'll start with tune up and suspension work for now.

zach.skinner510 wrote:

He's offering enough to do a quality tune up on the lt1 and maybe some bolt ons too so the 454 is going. With as busy as I am with wife kids and house projects I'm worried an engine swap might be another abandoned project. I'll start with tune up and suspension work for now.

smart move. you can massage alot of power outta an lt1 with bolt ons and a tune

Yeah that's what I'm finding, and with 5 kids and wife, full time job, and never ending home improvement projects I just have to be honest with myself and say I don't have the time to get it done.

zach.skinner510 wrote:

Yeah that's what I'm finding, and with 5 kids and wife, full time job, and never ending home improvement projects I just have to be honest with myself and say I don't have the time to get it done.

Welcome to grown up land.....it sucks ha ha ha
Seriously though in the amount of time you save not swapping the engine, you'll be done with all the mods, win win