Ok, I know there will be a bunch of you that will hate this idea but I have an LS6 sitting around and I would really like to put it in my '50 Buick, which at the moment is completely stock. Yah, I had plans for a nailhead but since I have this motor, why not use it? The bad news is that I've never done this before, but since I'm not getting any younger, now is the time. My plans are to use a T56 6 speed and Camaro rear end. I would also like a Fat Man front clip, money permitting. Since I have to fab the motor mounts, the question is what angle should the engine sit? What is the best way to determine the angle and, most importantly, any advice that anyone has will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Gary
I could see putting an LS-6 in it....that way you could just set the carb flange on the intake parallel with the frame.... but in your case, try to get the engine oil pan rail (or whatever other level surface you can find on that wierd aluminum beast) to sit at 3 to 4 degrees "nose up" compared to the frame
Ditch the Camaro rear. You'll break it. Instead of the weaker 7.5" 10 bolt, look for an 8.5" 10 bolt. Sign up for the forum at www.LS1tech.com They're the best resource for LSx motors anywhere.
The GM Powertrain Application Manual says not to exceed 5 degrees. The best way to measure is to use the center axis of the crankshaft as a point of reference.
What are you gonna do with the straight eight?Does it run?If so.........I might know someone who would like to have it............he shall remain nameless........(chough,evilone chough)
Yes, yes that would do nicely. I ***umed with his LS6 and T56 talk he has a wrecked Camaro or something he's using as fodder, and the late 7.5s leave a bit to be desired.
BTW Gary...you won't be the only person here to put an LS6 into a 1950 car. Here's a pic of my 50 Merc ch***is w/LS6 & 4L60E. I have lots of tech data on this application if you need it...
CharlieLed - Would love all the data you can provide, and pics.The best email address for me is: gnoub51@gmail.com Yep, it's one of the plastic ones. Actually, it came from a wrecked '01 Z06 road racer that I sort of body slammed from about 6 feet high. Since all was bent every which way, I've been replacing everything. My plan was to rebuild the motor and then decided, after some machine shop work, buying a cam, rods, lifters, rockers, etc, etc) that she would be much more valuable with a new crate motor. At least in the road racing circle. My plan is to sell the Vette when complete, leaving me a partially built LS6 and a stock '50 Buick, and some cash to work with. The Straight 8 runs good but needs a rebuild. Uses oil like crazy. For now I'm going to keep it. I don't have a "fodder" car as it were so the rear end question is still open. I think the Camaro rear is close in measurement and the spring perches are there, I guess. I don't know, this is still new territory to me. Thanks for the replies and anything else anyone could add would be really, really appreciated. Gary
Not so bad considering it is a closed engine bay. Don't those things have 400+ HP, ought to run like a scalded ape!
That LS6 could easily tear up an 8 1/2"......a nine inch Ford with at least 31 spline axles might be best.
I think more like 450 plus with the Cam, etc. That's of course predicated on me actually getting it back together in a manner that will allow it to actually run. RetroRod - Love your car. Any more pics? Thanks! Gary
I hate this idea..... Sell the LS6 for 12 large on the bay and buy all the nailhead stuff. (We are talking 1970 something LS6, right? - Otherwise, you might want to find another message board, lol. Even 1970 is too new for me.). If you want to go fast - buy something else. '50 Buicks are fat, heavy and sloppy handling. You'll have to put so much money and **** together to make having the LS motor worth having that you'd have been better off sliding it into something that it was meant to fit in - just an opinion. Plus nailheads are WAY cooler - I don't care about the whole power issue at all when it comes to full bodied cars, but that's just me. Now if you were building a fenderless hot rod and you really wanted to go fast......umm - wait - no I still don't like the LS motor....nevermind. Go ahead - do whatever you are going to do. I'll just have to hate it.....
Late Caprice/Impala SS guys are running low 10s and pushing near 600 HP through their stock 8.5" rears.
Ohh, I see - Bugman is an insomniac just like me... Well two can play that game dude! I am so unsupportive of this I can't express it. There is a local guy who has butchered his 50 Buick in many of the same fashions - and I hate hate hate hate HATE it!!! He has the BBC, the narrowed Ford "9, Fuel injection, MII frontend, (over)chopped top and 1990something p***enger car seats..... It gives me the ****ing creeps. And even though you're not talking about going to that extent - I get the same sick feeling. But then I am biased...(towards tradition).
Broman, go to bed... Were it my car, it'd be Straight 8 all the way, all hopped up with lotsa carbs and a tripple split manifold(3-2-3). But, it's not my car, and I'm probably not able to talk Gary N out of his swap. That being the case, I don't want him in over his head so he gives up on it. Something like that could turn him off to cars, or worse yet, onto hondas. Oh, and GM has a Zeta platform Buick sold overseas(and will be sold here in 2009) that is avalible with the LS6, so technically, it is a Buick motor, just not directly from a Buick donor
You'll need some help getting that T56 to work. Keep the hydraulic clutch - they work nice and smooth. Call these guys to make it all work in the Buick: www.t56kit.com Not what I would do, but that's not what you asked about...LOL! ~Scotch~
Ok, I knew this would not go over really well here.... Thanks for the info Scotch....since I've talked to you so much about my Straight 8, you must think I was hit by a bolt of lightening or something? Ok, I know, I must not be a real man! Broman, are you sure you don't like this idea...lol My '50 is a four door jetback. I like the lines but am still having an issue trying come to grips with building a 4 door (for like 2 years now). I've been looking for a suitable 2 door jetback. Anyway, I thought why not experiment on this one and maybe learn a few things. Up until recently, I was just going to rebuild the 8 and try to make it handle a little better. But I have this motor and there's just something about having 450-500 HP in this tank. A 425 dual quad nailhead would really be really nice too though...I quess I'll reserve the right to change my mind. Ah well.. Gary
It's funny you should mention ATS (at least their webite)...when Tyler was building his Gen1 Camaro he had Wayne Due build the ch***is with a full Corvette C5 driveline. He bought a brand new C5 frame from GM so that Wayne Due could build the jig for the suspension components. I bought the C5 frame from Tyler with the expectation that someday I would build a project car with it...I have all the C5 driveline components, just don't have the time. As for installing a late model engine in an early car...isn't that what hotrodders have done since day one? Take the body style you like and the engine you have or can afford that gives you the most HP and make it go fast! Just because an LS1/LS6 engine puts out twice the HP at half the weight, has a roller cam and roller rockers straight from the factory, can pull 600HP with the stock bottom end, and is reliable...doesn't mean that it shouldn't be used in a 50's car.
what good is 450-500hp in a heavy *** car without the ****ing torque the nailhead has the torque to move that beast and actually looks nice. is it just not understood that torque is the motivating factor in moving a car? seriously...go for the REAL engine!!! sell that piece of **** plastic engine that's computer controlled and go for something nice. i'm sorry of i seem like an ***, but i've been sitting back watching this thread and wondering what the **** has been going on in the heads of the other guys replying. i'm amazed that someone can get away with even the mere mention of an ls6. hell, i've seen veterans around here get flamed for metioning something less stupid. SELL THE ****ING LS6 AND BUY A NAILHEAD!!! from your original post, it seemed that's what you really wanted to do...but if not, this is the wrong board for you.
Ohh well hell, if that's the arguement then why not just run a Toyota hemi? Or a Honda - I mean in the HP per cyl world they're practically unchallenged...4 cyl - 500 hp - c'mon do it!! Don't get me wrong - I understand the capabilities of an LS6, I'm not that ****in' dumb. What I'm getting at is - if you really want speed, starting with a 4 door Buick is practically retarded. It weighs 4000 lbs, it handles like a tug-boat and it in order to get that 500 hp to the ground your going to have to gut the entire undercarriage. The rear end The rear suspension The ****** The driveshaft The engine The entire front suspension including the crossmembers which leads to the other junk.... steering shafts & box steering column (especially if yours was like mine - 3 on the tree) shift mechanisms ....shall I go on? I mean damn are you even still building a Buick if your taking all of the Buick out of it? ****, by the time your done and you have all of the BBC stuff up and going - you'll take it out to the track and pull a 14 second timeslip and think to yourself...Jesus ****ing H Christ - I could have put an air cleaner on my 1989 Chevy pickup truck and beat that!!! (a dramatization) Ohh, sure it'll FEEL quick, and it will be able to uproot trees - but what's the point? You should just bolt that motor into a dually - same effect.
The LS6 in question is not a "BBC"...as for all the rest of the rant, the car belongs to Gary N not Broman...what his end goal is for the car is his goal. Arguing about what road to take is ridculous when there is no agreement on the destination.
Ohh, ya got me. I made a slip. I guess I loose..... Gary - the SMALL Block Chevy slips right in - plus hardly anyone's doing it....
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