The V8 Owners Forum -

Has anyone put an LS1 and a T56 gearbox into their SD1?

I know of a chap in Australia who has, and I'd love to do the same with my car. He is using his for racing, I want mine to be street drivable.

I'm in Canada, and a LS1 + T56 from a Camero are pretty cheap an plentiful around $4000.

How hard can it be? I like the gear lever to be basically where it is now.

If anyone has done the conversion, tips/faq's hints etc gratefully accepted.

I have already upgraded the brakes to Jaq brakes, and can get the suspension done easily enough.

Thx Ken./

that would be clean off!! and the LS engines can produce big power too by all accounts!

An SD1 with LS-power will be one beast of a car, and if left stock externally, one heck of a sleeper too!

#JusticeforAluu4

Nollywood wrote:An SD1 with LS-power will be one beast of a car, and if left stock externally, one heck of a sleeper too!

And downright dangerous.

The engine should fit, the LS is very slightly smaller than the rover, the box could be an issue unless you are prepared to substantially modify the transmission tunnel. The suspension set up is of a very good design, however it will need to be in top condition and the De-dion tube will probably need a bit of stiffening you will need a better diff, Jag maybe? I would find some very good brakes.
Best regards
Mike

I dont know how big the tunnel is in an SD1, but I had to make only minimal modifications to squeeze the T56 into my Ford Granada ( nothing like a US car )

So if the SD1 has a roomy tunnel around the LT77, I dont think it should be too difficult to squeeze in a T56

Gear position on my car with the LT77, Supra R-154 and now T56 is pretty similar.

Camaro stick position would be a few inches further forward than a GTO so I wouldnt be tempted by the GTO box.

SD1 is a big car, so I'd think the swap will be pretty easy.

Hi
I think the combination would make a superb long distance mile eater, get the final drive ratio right and it will be very relaxing to drive.
Best regards
Mike

kiwicar wrote:Hi
I think the combination would make a superb long distance mile eater, get the final drive ratio right and it will be very relaxing to drive.
Best regards
Mike

The most common 6th gear is a 0.5 ratio. So almost any diff ratio will be a cruiser.

With 3.55 rear and 17" tyres mine does about 70mph at 1650rpm
With the 3.27 rear that's down to around 1500rpm.

I think some SD1's are actually taller than that ? Like the Viper's 3.08 ?

Might be a little tall for a standard LS engine.

kiwicar wrote:The engine should fit, the LS is very slightly smaller than the rover, the box could be an issue unless you are prepared to substantially modify the transmission tunnel. The suspension set up is of a very good design, however it will need to be in top condition and the De-dion tube will probably need a bit of stiffening you will need a better diff, Jag maybe? I would find some very good brakes.
Best regards
Mike

SDI has a solid rear axle. With drum brakes.

All (UK) SD1 V8s have a 3.08:1 final drive - except for Vitesse and EFI auto. That is 2.85:1

DaveEFI wrote:

kiwicar wrote:The engine should fit, the LS is very slightly smaller than the rover, the box could be an issue unless you are prepared to substantially modify the transmission tunnel. The suspension set up is of a very good design, however it will need to be in top condition and the De-dion tube will probably need a bit of stiffening you will need a better diff, Jag maybe? I would find some very good brakes.
Best regards
Mike

SDI has a solid rear axle. With drum brakes.

And they are pretty good axels in stock form anyway. I have a shortened one under my MG converted to run Sierra Cosworth rear calipers / Mercedes discs drilled for the SD1 5-stud patter. Nice, except the handbrake is a b!tch to remove as I found out last night!

You are right , got my brain stuck on P6 for some reason just getting old I think!
Best regards
Mike

Check out the post about the build in OZ

http://tinyurl.com/LSSD1

One thing I noticed, is that he used a GTO Engine/Drivetrain.

But I understand the Camero version LS1/T56 is 4 inches shorter. This woudl actually be better, as it woudl locate the gear shift almost exactly where it is today with the RV8/LT77 combination.

+ Camero donor cars are much more common than GTO's here.

yonexsp wrote:Check out the post about the build in OZ

http://tinyurl.com/LSSD1

One thing I noticed, is that he used a GTO Engine/Drivetrain.

But I understand the Camero version LS1/T56 is 4 inches shorter. This woudl actually be better, as it woudl locate the gear shift almost exactly where it is today with the RV8/LT77 combination.

+ Camero donor cars are much more common than GTO's here.

The Camaro/GTO box is the exact same length. But the shifter on the GTO is a weird arrangement where it uses a mechanism or long bent lever to locate it a few inches further back.




Whereas the Camaro and most others have a conventional setup. ( Ford website, but same idea )

That is awesome, the dimensions are almost a perfect fit for the SD1.

I have emailed the guy in Oz to find out what challenges he encountered.