[paulm]

There are many options for adding EFI to you camaro, but one option that caught my eye a while back was using an LT1 intake.

I could have bought an aftermarket intake but at the time it seemed a little pricey so I went down to the local bone yard and found a complete intake off a 96 firebird for a hundred bucks. This included the intake, fuel rails, pressure regulator, injectors, throttle body, MAP, IAC and TPS. To make this fit on my 383, it had to be modified. It just so happens that there is a guy that modifies them to fit an old school SB for two hundred bucks, so I sent it off. He drilled the hole for the distributor, modified the bolt pattern and ground off the EGR bosses to make room for the distributor. You can do this yourself, but I didn't feel capable and didn't have the desire.

My rational for using an LT1 intake was that I am personally comfortable working on/rebuilding old school SB's. They are cheap, easy to find and I felt more comfortable with having less variables in converting to EFI. I knew that the engine would drop in and most everything would just "bolt up". All I had to do was make accomodations for the intake change and EFI setup.

After I got the intake back it was ready to just bolt on with regular intake gaskets. An LT1 intake does not have T-Stat accomodations on the front, so holes were drilled and tapped on the back of the intake so that 3/4 hose nipples could be screwed in. I used ninety degree fittings on the back and ninety degree hoses to try and make the coolant hose routing look a little cleaner. The hoses then route from the back of the intake around the drivers side valve cover and to a remote T-Stat housing. I had to make a bracket to mount the T-Stat housing to the head.

With the coolant hoses routed, the next thing that I had to deal with was mounting the alternator and power steering pump. Since the LT1 intake has no provisions to bolt first gen camaro brackets to I had to buy brackets from Alan Grove to get the alternator and PS pump out of the way.

With that, the intake was installed! Next up was connecting the throttle linkage, so I picked up a six cylinder pedal and a throttle cable from a 95 impala...Done! I am running a 2004R, so I needed a TV cable, 93 camaro cable worked perfectly.

In any EFI setup, the fuel system needs to change from stock. I bought an in pump tank from Rock Valley, had Right Stuff Detailing bend me up two stock 3/8 steel fuel lines with extra length on the front and back and bought some LT1 conversion lines from Street and Performance. After that I used some compression fittings to connect the braided steel to the hard lines and I had fuel from tank to intake!

Next I needed a distributor. I figured that I would let the computer control the timing so I had a local shop build me a small body GM HEI. I just had to make a little bracket to mount the coil to the firewall.

To run closed loop as with any EFI setup I also had to weld in the bung for the O2 sensor into the exhaust.

I also needed an air cleaner, Street and Performace makes one with a built in port for the MAT sensor.

OK so now I have all of the hardware in place, the last step is the wiring harness and ECU. I had a Holley 950 Commander ECU from running TBI injection on my 69 ragtop, so I used that. I just had to change the harness. I bought the right connectors from Ebay, spliced everything in I had wiring! I mounted the ECU on the firewall, just made up some brackets and welded them to the back of the heater delete plate that I made. You could use a GM computer/harness and have it reprogrammed, but I like being able to connect my laptop and change the settings whenever I want.


So that's basically it, after that it's all just tuning the fuel and spark maps with my laptop. Using an LT1 intake may not be for everyone. It doesn't look as clean as some of the aftermarket intakes because of the mods to the intake and the coolant hose routing (see pics in my signature), but it works for me as I am kind of a redneck anyway!


Parts required:

Modified LT1 intake
Fuel rails
Fuel pressure regulator
Injectors
Throttle Body
TPS (Throttle Position Sensor)
IAC (Idle Air Control Valve)
MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor)
MAT (Manifold Air Temp Sensor)
CTS (Coolant Temp Sensor)
O2 Sensor
ECU
Wiring Harness

Fuel supply and return lines
Electric fuel pump (either internal or external)
conversion lines to connect to LT1 fuel rail

Aftermarket Alternator and PS brackets
Remote T-Stat housing
Throttle cable and pedal

Various heater hoses, connectors, wiring, etc


Resources:

http://www.lt1intake.com
http://www.hotrodlane.cc
http://www.alangrovecomponents.com
http://www.rockvalleyantiqueautoparts.com
http://www.holley.com
http://www.rightstuffdetailing.com

[JimM]

Fantastic, Paul! Why is this the first we're hearing of you lil "franken-jection"?

I've had a couple LT1 vette's, and have always loved the look and performance of that manifold. Marrying it to a holley controller is right up my alley, too.

I've been leaning toward a holley TBI due to general cheapness, but this could fit my plans real well.

Exactly what did you use for an air filter? Is it one of thier street rod shorties, or something more?

We need pics!!

[paulm]

Originally Posted by JimM

Fantastic, Paul! Why is this the first we're hearing of you lil "franken-jection"?

Exactly what did you use for an air filter? Is it one of thier street rod shorties, or something more?

"franken-jection", LOL!!!

S&P, sells an LT1 air cleaner that fits right on.


Here are some pictures:

http://www.stratagaz.com/67L30M35RS/...RSEngine01.jpg

http://www.stratagaz.com/67L30M35RS/...RSEngine02.jpg

http://www.stratagaz.com/67L30M35RS/...RSEngine03.jpg

[lortsie]

Click on his 2nd link in his sig

Looks great man, good work! Cool to see an LT1 intake with an HEI distributor lol

[bearcat44]

Hey can I get a pm on how much all that cost ya? Looks great to me as I'm just about as hickish!

[paulm]

Originally Posted by bearcat44

Hey can I get a pm on how much all that cost ya? Looks great to me as I'm just about as hickish!

Sheesh, you're going to make me add this up!!

EFI Stuff:

LT1 Intake $100
Conversion $200
Holley ECU, wiring & sensors $400 (I think, could save money here on GM stuff)
Air cleaner $125 (S&P)

Rought total of EFI Stuff $825


Ignition:

GM Small body HEI, Cap, Rotor & Coil $200, roughly

Rough total of Ignition $200


Misc:

Alan Grove Brackets $100 (???)
Throttle Cable & TV Cable $100 (???)
Remote T-Stat, Hose & Connectors $150 (???)

Rought total of Misc Stuff $450 (I'd add a little here for unknowns and forgottens)


Fuel Delivery:

Steel Fuel lines $50 (??? Right Stuff Detailing)
Conversion lines steel to fuel rails $100 (??? S&P)
Gas Tank $700 (??? Rock Valley)
Braided Steel lines from steel lines to tank, fuel filter & connectors $150 (??? Summit Racing)

Rough total of fuel delivery $1000
**You have to do something to deliver fuel for any EFI, I chose the expensive way. Cheaper would be an external pump.



That's my best guess as I don't have all of the invoices/receipts in front of me.

[bearcat44]

Thanks and sorry for the extra work!

[paulm]

Originally Posted by bearcat44

Thanks and sorry for the extra work!

The wasn't because of extra work, but because I had to add up what I spent.

[JimM]

Originally Posted by paulm

The wasn't because of extra work, but because I had to add up what I spent.

OH NO, you don't ever want to do that!!!
Your wife might find out!

[Rodder]

[quote=paulm;775514]S&P, sells an LT1 air cleaner that fits right on./quote]

Gotta love S&P's Hot Air Intakes...

[BonzoHansen]

Originally Posted by Rodder

Gotta love S&P's Hot Air Intakes...

LOL

[paulm]

Originally Posted by Rodder

Gotta love S&P's Hot Air Intakes...

I could have bought or fabricated a cold air intake, but it just wasn't that high on my list. The ducting IMHO would take up too much room, I set everything up to leave the most accessibility to everything. Kind of a "meat and potatoes" install....just the basics, minimal bling.