LS1 heads

Z06killinSBF · Sep 21, 2008

I remember reading an article about someone trying to retrofit some LS1 heads on to a small block Ford. I can't seem to be able to find that information or if it was ever completed. Any help?

latamud · Sep 21, 2008

google
460ford.com :: View topic - LS1 heads on a sbf? Yeah it can be done!

D.Hearne · Sep 22, 2008

This swap gives the Chevy guys long faces when they find out their precious engines have more in common with a Ford than a SBC.

Hack · Sep 22, 2008

D.Hearne said:
This swap gives the Chevy guys long faces when they find out their precious engines have more in common with a Ford than a SBC.

Yeah it's great. The best Chevy engines ever - the LS series - had so many features redesigned that make it more like a SBF than those old 350 Chev engines.

SadbutTrue · Sep 22, 2008

Would love to see what became of this... LSx heads will probably perform every bit as well as Trick Flows or AFRs..

CraigMBA · Sep 22, 2008

Those LSx engines make monster rip with minimal hassle.

If I was sick enough to want to build 1) another car and 2) a bowtie that's the only engine choice I'd run.

Hack · Sep 23, 2008

CraigMBA said:
Those LSx engines make monster rip with minimal hassle.

If I was sick enough to want to build 1) another car and 2) a bowtie that's the only engine choice I'd run.

They don't defy the laws of physics, though. A lot of the Chivy guys act like there's something supernatural about them. But then they used to be that way about the regular SBC.

They are decent engines, but you can build a SBF to match the HP/displacement without too much trouble. You don't need a power adder or anything. Check the September Popular Hot Rodding - they built a stroker 351W that topped the LS7 by about 20 hp.

Wicked65 · Sep 23, 2008

Hack said:
They don't defy the laws of physics, though. A lot of the Chivy guys act like there's something supernatural about them. But then they used to be that way about the regular SBC.

They are decent engines, but you can build a SBF to match the HP/displacement without too much trouble. You don't need a power adder or anything. Check the September Popular Hot Rodding - they built a stroker 351W that topped the LS7 by about 20 hp.

Dont let the ford guys know that, then they would have to stop being jealous of something thats the same as what they already have, but are to lazy to do. For whatever reason, people cant figure out that when you build a high power motor these days, be it chevy or ford, it costs about the same. Chevy might have been cheaper at one time, but those days are over.

D.Hearne · Sep 23, 2008

The whole impetus for the guy using those LS1 heads was the price tag...............$25 for the set. (Or was it $75?) You're not going to touch a set of Hi-po Ford SB heads for that price, in most cases. The closest thing to them for that price would be a set of 2 bbl Cleveland heads, which would likely need a complete rebuild. Otherwise building a Clevor would be about the same cost wise.

57fairlane · Sep 23, 2008

the major two problems are:

what to do about the intake manifold AND you would have to get a custom cam made from someone.

the ls heads have switched intake/exhaust port locations.

D.Hearne · Sep 24, 2008

The cam to use is a normal 351W cam, same firing order as the LS1. The guy used the LS1 intake. The Ls1 blocks deck is only .020 different from the Windsors. (9.48 vs 9.50)

57fairlane · Sep 24, 2008

D.Hearne said:
The cam to use is a normal 351W cam, same firing order as the LS1.

it wouldn't matter . . . you would be using the wrong valve events.

You are using the intake lobe on the exhaust valve and vice versa.

The easiest thing to use for the intake would be the victor jr carb intake. Where else would you put the dist?

doogie67 · Sep 24, 2008

I attempted this swap. I bought a used set of heads, intake and cam. I mocked everything up on a 351W block. There are two major problems and multiple minor issues. First is that the Ford Block has the Cylinders offset on the passenger side and the Chevy is on the drivers side. This excludes the factory LS1 intake. The intake and exhaust valves are opposite from the Ford to Chevy head. For that reason a Ford cam blank can not be ground to work. That in turn requires a custom cam to be ground ($600-$800). A LS1 cam blank can not be used because of the cam bearing locations are different. A water return system must be installed also because there are no exits for coolant in the LS1 heads. (minor) Believe me I tried to make this work from a affordability standpoint but it's just to costly.

D.Hearne · Sep 24, 2008

Ok, I was under the impression the valve layout was the same for both heads (LS1 vs Ford) The custom ground cam is no biggie, aside from the price tag.

doogie67 · Sep 24, 2008

A sheet metal intake would also need to be made. With all of that work and cost I just did not want to put the effort into something that may not run or run right. I would like to know if anyone ever dose it.

doogie67 · Sep 24, 2008

The cheap cam blanks have the lobe roughed out and they just need to be finished ground. A round blank would be needed and that requires much more grinding time therefore the higher cost. They do have carburated manifolds for LS1's They work just fine with a carb. I also forgot another major problem is custom headers need to be made or the use of stock exhaust manifolds.

57fairlane · Sep 24, 2008

blkfrd said:
Why can't a Ford cam blank be used and the intake and exhaust lobes ground on the opposite locations?

Where does the coolant exit on the LS1 heads? Is there only one passage on the face of the head and another passage on the front of the head or something? I wonder if it could be plugged and another passage opened up on the face of the head at the opposite end.

I worked at a shop building mustangs and thats what we were going to do.

It was a frankenstein motor . . . 351w block, offset ground crank, 6.1 hemi rods and custom pistons. But the shortblock did get built.

If you have all the tools and the knowledge, obviously you can do it much cheaper.

The plan was to drill into the head and use an an adapter for the coolant.

Edelbrock makes a victor jr for the ls1 and if anything you could cut it up and line up the ports (iirc, they are off 3/4").

GM performance parts sells ls1 exhaust flanges for like $30 . . . find a set of longtubes for a 351 and just cut the flanges as the spacing is very similar.

bnickel · Sep 24, 2008

if it were me i'd just buy the LS1 carb'd intake and disrtibutor conversion, which uses a ford dizzy BTW, and have some ford logo'd valve covers designed for the Ls1 and call it done. ....LOL hell half the world wouldn't know the damn difference

LS1 heads

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