First thing would be to get the tape measure out. That thing looks to be a good 8" taller then my LT1 and I would bet it another 8" wider. Those valve cover sit pretty tall and the intake in another 6" over that. My LT1's intake sit level with the much smaller valve covers.

The tranny may bolt up and the motor mounts might need a tweak but plan on making just about every other part that bolts to the motor. I can't see any LT1 or LS1 brakets working. That would also include custom made headers and probably a custom made oil pan. Unless you have a machine shop I would bet that swap would cost 10K plus the motor. That looks just as hard as putting a old school big block in a 4th gen.

 

Gorn, you're right that it'd be A LOT of work. Most likely as much as a BBC. But check these stats out.

 

Pretty much, this an motor GM shoulda kept going with.

Saint, someone did mention on the forum that I got that info from, about the LS6 being the GM's own version on the LT5. So you pretty spot on going with an LS6.

Also found out that someone put it a '88 Camaro. Still trying to find someone who's done it in a fourth gen.

 

LS6? how is a single cam LS6 GM's own version of it? ive been under the understanding that GM did take it and run with it... But they never built it themselves so they can point fingers when problems come up... then they just hide it, and you dont realize it... LOL JK... The Cadillac Northstar was the same set up (from what i understand, correct me if im wrong) Just built by the Japanese.

Either way, you also have to realize from the post you pulled from (LS1 Tech?) the other forum, that GM widened the whole damn Corvette 4 inches, and added 4 inches of length just to accommodate this beast... That already put you behind, as the LT4 had clearance to work on the motor... Does your car have clearance with a block matching in size? mine doesn't...


If you are gonna go through all that and want something that would be outrageous look into custom building your own DOHC LS (which is possible, see picture from old magazine), and go from there.... at that point if you can keep tires on whatever you've got, let me drive it, cause you aren't doing it right...

 

Instead of going through all that work and expense, why not just go and buy a ZR-1 Vette. You can get them, with stupid low low miles, in the low $20's, and less.
You'll spend a bundle converting the Camaro, and you still won't have a car that can hold a candle to the Vette.

 

every time I go under the hood of the 4th gen I want to choke the design engineer.

Winter time hypothetical discussions are nice but come on guys, do you really want to try to fit anything bigger in there for street use?

Gimme a pickup truck (except the Doge Rams) any day where there is more room to work or even the 3rd gens

 

I think that's what i was saying, but highlighting, if you really are going to go do something totally unique, why not go all out? If your going to throw money at it, be completely different, etc...

 

The LS6 was supposed to be, from what I've been told, "GM's traditional style version of the LT5" as in one cam in the block and pushrods. I believe your right with Cadillac Northstar.

Anyways, all though I have all that tools handy to make the LT5 actually fit and a father who makes things work when they shouldn't, I do not feel like cutting up the Camaro I have now. Maybe, I'll run across a nice donor one to do a project like this on. I wasn't really looking to do this and beat a Vette. But it'd be pretty cool to say, I have a LT5 Camaro. I'm sure if people can stick 426 Hemi's in VW Bugs and 351W in Ford Escorts, this could be done just as easily.

If I ever did do this Bud, I surely would let you (and anyone else that'd want to) take a spin in it as the driver.

 

Where the LT5 is a High tech motor the current Zr1 Vet destroys it in about every way. The above “records” where records at the time there is a Youtube video of a 2009 ZR1 on a road course, it blew away the above “records” on a road course. He was hitting 198MPH in the straightaways. The driver was working for GM and I think he was holding it back because he never shifted out of 5th with the tach pegged at 6500 RPMs. Heck with all in the fab cost Id bet the cost of putting in a LS9 motor would not be much more than a LT5. 638 factory reliable HP might be worth the 30K it would cost but like Camaro 69 said, you are better off just buying the ZR1 Vet or a new ZR1 Camaro(I know its 80 HP less).

In the 90’s we saw a lot of these “high tech” motors. You had the DOC 2.4’s the DOC 3.4’s and the LT5. They all held up great early on. If I remember right the 2.4 DOC was one of GMs most successful engine release with less than 25 engine failures nationwide in the first 6 months. That would be about ¼ what would be considered normal and even better than some if its mature motors. But time has shown us the 2.4 is a problem over time. Just call a junk yard and try to find one. You are going to get laugh at. Most larger yards have a waiting list that will never be filled. The 2.0 or the later 2.2 motors (base model motor the 2.4 replaced) runs forever and if you call a junk yard they will give you a price range depending on mileage. Pretty much the same thing with the 3.4 DOC except its release was not as pretty. I can only imagine it was the same with the LT5 as I never got a chance to work on one. Sometimes in mechanics simple is best.

At least some of the testing for the LT5 happened here in the US. I got to ride in a prototype car in 1988 at the GM tech center only then the cams were Belt driven not chain. Marketing had already rejected the belts for sound but I thought they were pretty bas *** sounding.

 

I see what you are getting at Gorn. But you do have to remember you're comparing a 90s ZR1 to a '09. 19 years difference. So one could only hope that in almost two decades the ZR1 would be better. But at that time, the LT5 was a pretty great advancement.

Chances are, I will never have the time or money to convert a fourth gen Camaro to a LT5. While I could (if I had the money) spend the money to just buy a Vette that all ready has the LT5, I like Camaros more. That's why I got the idea. A LT5 in a Camaro would a one of kind, certainly because very few people know about it and many more would not want to try and make it work. Say you were at a car show and someone at it had a LT5 in a nice fourth gen. Wouldn't you stop and take a few looks at it and talk to the owner? I certainly would.
An LS swap of any kind is usually the first thought that comes to peoples minds. And to say I have an LT5 would be make me feel special (more special than I do at other times).

I do enjoy everyone's input on this though.

Gorn, out of curiosity, how was that test drive?