LS1 V8 Liberty?????

NewOldTimer · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:08 am

Was watching Xtreme 4x4 and horsepower last weekend, and saw where someone
installed an LS1 Corvette engine into a GEO Tracker. :shock:

They had said person assist them in installing an LS1 into an S10 Chevy Blazer.
Out came the V6, and in went the LS1 V8.
Horsepower went from about 160 to over 300, torque was nearly doubled also.
AND, improved gas mileage over the V6!!!!

I'm thinking an LS1 Liberty is in my future........... :JEEPIN:

(If I can find someone to help with the install)

STINGN · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:15 am

why not just do the LT4...cheaper and probably easier to find

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:46 am

i would do a 5.3l 4l60e just to save on some money. you can put an ls motor in anything with enough money, time and modification.

TAHOE · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 8:19 am

Yeah, you can find the 5.3L for alot cheaper than the LS1 since they come in a variety of GM trucks/few cars. They can give yuo same Hp with a little tuning. LS1s were mainly camaros/TA's/corvettes. I know where one is, coming out of a '01 TA this weekend that was totaled. I sooo want it for my Firebird, but too much $$$ for me. I know people getting 28-30mpg out of them on highway with correct tuning.
One positive note over doing the old school chevy small blcok is no distributor, don't have to worry about that on the firewall as much.

2006 KJ · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:14 pm

i have an LS1 in my 04 gto. with long tube headers, no cats, exhaust, intake, and tune. gets 15-16 mpg town and 22-25 highway. runs like the wind.. but i think it would be a waste to put a LS1 in a liberty.the 3.7L had enough guts to do what i want my jeep to do. it's not like someones going to build a KJ to run 10's.. or even 12's.

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:21 pm

ive always thought if the KK motor craps out i would attempt an Gen III GM motor swap. :twisted:

NewOldTimer · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 8:00 pm

LS1 overkill!?????!!???! Absolutely!!!

It just seemed to me there were allot of "off the shelf" parts being used.
You know, the old... "we needed to do this... so we got (insert part here) from
(insert national auto parts chain here) to make it work." :BANANA:

Not a whole lot of "custom fabrication" being done. :rockon:

Now mind you.......

IF I were to take on such an endeavor, I would first need to become
independently wealthy......
BECAUSE, ..... IF I'm putting an LS1 in a Liberty I'm also doing a SFA swap. :JEEPIN:

This means a couple of Ford 9 inch axles from Currie Enterprises, or Dana 60's from
a one ton Dodge for starters.......... :goink:

Add to that a complete coil-over 4 link front and rear (somewhere between 8 and 10 inches of total lift)
and 37 inch KM2's or Mickey Thompsons....... :shock:

AND we'll need custom front and rear bumpers, a Boiler rack up top,
rock sliders, and skids underneath...... :JEEPIN:

<edit>
AND of course, how could I forget....
we'll DEFINITELY need an Atlas transfer case.......
...and likely would swap in a 6 speed with compound low (granny gear) and overdrive.....

So yeah....... It's nice to dream........
And if you're gonna dream...... DREAM BIG!!! :rockon:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 8:17 pm

NewOldTimer wrote:

LS1 overkill!?????!!???! Absolutely!!!

It just seemed to me there were allot of "off the shelf" parts being used.
You know, the old... "we needed to do this... so we got (insert part here) from
(insert national auto parts chain here) to make it work." :BANANA:

Not a whole lot of "custom fabrication" being done. :rockon:

Now mind you.......

IF I were to take on such an endeavor, I would first need to become
independently wealthy......
BECAUSE, ..... IF I'm putting an LS1 in a Liberty I'm also doing a SFA swap. :JEEPIN:

This means a couple of Ford 9 inch axles from Currie Enterprises, or Dana 60's from
a one ton Dodge for starters.......... :goink:

Add to that a complete coil-over 4 link front and rear (somewhere between 8 and 10 inches of total lift)
and 37 inch KM2's or Mickey Thompsons....... :shock:

AND we'll need custom front and rear bumpers, a Boiler rack up top,
rock sliders, and skids underneath...... :JEEPIN:

So yeah....... It's nice to dream........
And if you're gonna dream...... DREAM BIG!!! :rockon:

Yep a SFA would almost be a must just to handle the extra power.I know of one company,not to be mentioned yet(no not RL),that has done one V8 swap into a KJ with 450hp(engine withheld also,will ruin suprise).This company would not specify who but it did not remain in North America from what was hinted.Same said company is willing to do more V8 swaps but there #1 requirement is it must be SFA'd 1st,and where mine will be going for a 500hp V8 swap as soon as some family issues get resolved 1st.

irollgen4s · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 8:43 pm

I thought the 3.7 was perfectly fine for what your jeep needs to do :roll:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 8:47 pm

irollgen4s wrote:

I thought the 3.7 was perfectly fine for what your jeep needs to do :roll:

It is but why not have some fun.

irollgen4s · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 9:22 pm

I like that answer. I was just trying to poke at some wounds :goink:

. But Tj, for real, you made me want to SFA my CRD in the future, too bad i have college next year so i probably wont have the money for a good while

NewOldTimer · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:10 pm

NewOldTimer wrote:

LS1 overkill!?????!!???! Absolutely!!!

It just seemed to me there were allot of "off the shelf" parts being used.
You know, the old... "we needed to do this... so we got (insert part here) from
(insert national auto parts chain here) to make it work." :BANANA:

Not a whole lot of "custom fabrication" being done. :rockon:

Now mind you.......

IF I were to take on such an endeavor, I would first need to become
independently wealthy......
BECAUSE, ..... IF I'm putting an LS1 in a Liberty I'm also doing a SFA swap. :JEEPIN:

This means a couple of Ford 9 inch axles from Currie Enterprises, or Dana 60's from
a one ton Dodge for starters.......... :goink:

Add to that a complete coil-over 4 link front and rear (somewhere between 8 and 10 inches of total lift)
and 37 inch KM2's or Mickey Thompsons....... :shock:

AND we'll need custom front and rear bumpers, a Boiler rack up top,
rock sliders, and skids underneath...... :JEEPIN:

<edit>
AND of course, how could I forget....
we'll DEFINITELY need an Atlas transfer case.......
...and likely would swap in a 6 speed with compound low (granny gear) and overdrive.....

So yeah....... It's nice to dream........
And if you're gonna dream...... DREAM BIG!!! :rockon:

... A few more things added to the "Dream Liberty"......

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:32 pm

Why not put a LS1 in a Libby?

I've seen Wranglers with LS1s in them :juggle:

There's a 4x4 shop out west called COP 4x4 that does v8 swaps on Wranglers. I'm sure if you had the $$$ they would work on your KJ. Cop is a good guy.

I'll keep my eyes on where this project goes
:JEEPIN:

I can say this, if you do put a LS1 in your Libby you'll most likely be the first to do it.
There will be enough "nay-sayers" that might discourage you from the project, but just block them out and have fun!

ramlebliberty · **Posted:** Fri Jul 22, 2011 12:00 am

SAS... definitely, but you do not NEED dana 60's, or spider 9's. Would it be nice? sure you could smash the skinny pedal all day long and not worry about a thing, but think about this. I know a guy who has a ultra clean YJ with a 350 swap with 33's and he was not easy on it, the stock dana 35 survived! He now rocks a 383 stroker with 35's and a 8.8. I imagine a 8.25 could easily handle the power output of a 5.3 and 33's or 35's with cromolly shafts. I'm sure the swap would be no harder than dropping a hemi or vortec into a TJ or JK. Not for the light of wallet though, especially if you want it to go through inspection. Would love to see it, its not on my wish list however.

Next on my list is coilovers :pepper:

SweepnChoke · **Posted:** Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:33 pm

If you have any questions about the LS1-LS4 engines send me a message, I do alot of engineering work for the assembly lines that build & test those engines.

KJWildman · **Posted:** Sat Jul 23, 2011 9:44 pm

Marlon_JBT · **Posted:** Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:08 pm

KJWildman wrote:

:POPCORN:

x2. Heh.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 23, 2011 11:00 pm

ramlebliberty wrote:

I'm sure the swap would be no harder than dropping a hemi or vortec into a TJ or JK.

I would have to disagree on this one buddy. I foresee alot of cutting and hacking for something like this.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:45 am

there's typically cutting, welding and or moving certain obstructions when doing anything out of the "box" in a literal sense

usually depends on how willing you are to cut and weld and how thorough you are with reinforcements

while the kj's with a v6 aren't necessarily davey jones locker under the hood..

I've seen more go in tighter spaces

so to speak

NewOldTimer · **Posted:** Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:19 pm

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

there's typically cutting, welding and or moving certain obstructions when doing anything out of the "box" in a literal sense

usually depends on how willing you are to cut and weld and how thorough you are with reinforcements

while the kj's with a v6 aren't necessarily davey jones locker under the hood..

I've seen more go in tighter spaces

so to speak

Another "cool factor" Jeep I saw several years ago was a Wrangler with a big block 454 under the hood. :shock:

Things were tight under the hood, but it looked like a factory install, and the thing would just about climb up a wall......

LS1 V8 Liberty?????

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