My latest project is a 98 corvette engine (346 cu.in.) ls1/4l60e/np208 into my 88 dodge ram.

I previously have a 440 727 and np203. the gas mileage was poor, overall drivability wasn't great, so I decided to make the swap for newer and better driveline components.

Best 1/4 wit hthe 440 was 15.7 @ 84 and best mpg was 9.5

I'm sure the ls1 will get nearly 19 highway and 16 in mixed driving wit hthe OD.

1/4 times are your guess as good as mine, but I think it should pull mid to low 14's

Overall I think the truck will be about 500lbs lighter the nbefore, I will put it on the scales to find out for sure though

 

Old 440

 

 

 

 

I still have a ways to go yet, maybe a month or 2 and she should be up and running.

 

I can understand your reasoning for wanting better milage but why not stick a 360/46RH/241 in there instead and keep it all Mopar?

 

I got a good deal on the ls1 with computer and harness $600, then the 4l60e only cost me $120.

The old 318, 360's are great motors, but they really don't compare to the newer ls series. The ls1 is all aluminum so the extra weight savings is nice. They also come from the factory with a .500 lift roller cam that idles at 600rpms.

ON spike hp tv, they had a 360, with the good factory heads, mild cam, bolts ons, made low 300's, with a good set of aluminum heads and bigger cam it made alittle over 380 at the flywheel.

The 346 cu.in. ls1 makes 360hp at the flywheel with headers alone, with a mild 224 cam my old ls1 made 425 hp. And with the effiicient head/ intake design mpgs will always be better then the old motors.

The 46rh tranny is a tough unit but the 4l60e usually gets better mpgs, all the newer chevys get the best mpgs it seems like with these trannies.

I'M not bashing the mopars at all!! I'm just trying to do something different with the best parts possible.

I also Have a 2000 z28 camaro with a ls2(364 cu.in) that cranks out 550hp on stock bottom end at the crank all motor and still gets 22 mpgs on the highway. Camaro runs 10.69 and I drive it all the time.

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/bizzlesn.../5/LX6Gj2lR7mo

This is a race against my buddy with a small block 383 stroker on a 150 shot. My car on motor ran 10.73 @ 125 1.52 60' HIs on spray ran 10.8 @ 127 1.60 60'.

So Even the old small block chevy's aren't able to crank out the numbers the newer ls's can.

You must keep in mind that the old mopars, fords,chevy's were all designed in the 40's and 50's, the newer ls's were designed in the early 90's, then didn't see production til 97, so think about all the newer tools and machines they had to make a v8 run the best as possible.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrykiHuSKYw

 

Motor sounds good, still have a few loose ends but very close to being done.

 

what kind of exhaust do you have on it?

 

Open headers until I get a x-pipe with either bullets or spiral flow mufflers on it.

 

this video is on open headers?

 

yes

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8ne1EVt_zY

 

I just puked a little in my mouth. J/K sounds good hope it all runs well.

 

Pretty cool that you beat that Cr@ptang but you should do something about that one wheel peel.

 

Needs more chevy parts...Right?

 

I was thinking more along the lines of a sure grip in the rear axle.

 

 

 

 

I love the ram head n20 purge!

 

It's interesting how the ls block look's allot like the RB..
mopar had it right 50 yrs ago!

 

Yeah..both cranks are up inside the block unlike older gm small blocks and mopar small blocks where the crank hangs under the block skirts.

The aluminum LS1 block is a lot lighter though...truck ended up being 540lbs lighter then previous setup

 

Impressive. What are you running for alxes and gear ratio?

 

And is it still 4WD?

 

3.90 motive gears in 1978 chrysler 9.25 housing, original 1988 9.25 31 spline axle shafts and a stock posi unit for that axle (trac loc?)

Front is the original Dana 44...still has 3.21 gears and I just ordered the 3.90 gears for the front end....gotta get that done soon. T-case is a np208..driveshaft is not in the truck do to the gears being different but I have one for it. Hopefully I can get that setup together soon