Buick roadmaster LT1 swap

bustedknuckles · Jun 28, 2020

The Roadmaster at auction is in really great shape and will bring a nice price. The one I have is nice as well but far from that one. I would think 1500. To 2000. For mine would be fair but as I was saying I can't build another engine for that price. Im not looking for high horsepower as the 300 it has is more than enough for my needs. I was just wondering what all I would need to swap out and wouldnt my current 4l60e bolt right up. Plus I would have an extra transmission. Just undecided as which way to go.

Pinger · Jun 28, 2020

Don't butcher the Buick!
Over the previous few years (here in the UK) before I got my Suburban and was thinking of going American V8 on LPG (propane) only two other cars were on my radar. Caprice (preferably wagon) and Roadmaster (either wagon or sedan) with its 5.7l motor.
If one had appeared here I'd have jumped at it.
In my mind from this side of the pond, it's the last of a breed the likes of which we'll never see again. A low mileage one like your's should (IMO) be preserved. It's a slice of USA history. Old school simple but with enough tech to be everyday usable. A classic.

inscarguy · Jun 28, 2020

Keep this in the back of your mind, " a vehicle is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it ". My grandfather who ran two oldsmobile dealers told me that all the time. Any old RWD GM brings money. Just because they dont bring money in your area does not mean they won't bring bigger money somewhere else. Roadmasters are sleepers. Everyone has a chevy or a fake SS.

Dax Shepard built a roadmaster wagon, Rutledge wood built one.
If you decide to sell I would advertise it nationally. I definitely would not cut it up with that low mileage.

Erik the Awful · Jun 28, 2020

I am not a fan of the Roadmasters, but there are people who want them. Put a solid price tag on it and wait. You'll get a hundred people whining that you won't drop the price, but if it's clean enough you'll get that one guy who has to have it.

bustedknuckles said:
I can sell it all but I can't sell my truck. Ive had it longer than I've had anything in my life.

I had an '83 RX-7 that I loved. I drove the crap out of it for twelve years, but the rust monster got it. I could have saved it, but it wasn't economical. I stripped it of all the good stuff and towed it across the scales. It hurt, but sometimes you have to learn to let it go. Vehicles are depreciating assets. They are appliances that we attach an unreasonable emotional value to. If you can't sell it, I understand, but look at it with your logical mind as well as your emotional mind, and then ask yourself where your happiness would be in a year if you didn't have it but also didn't have to deal with it.

skylark · Jun 29, 2020

Well, you've heard everything except for what you've been asking about so here you go. The lt1 will bolt in. The wire harness will have to be adapted. Your transmission will work. You need a higher pressure fuel pump. Make darn sure that it truly is the lt1 and not the baby version (I believe that it is a 4.3 l99).

Markat666 · Jun 29, 2020

As skylark said, not one of these long rants answered your question. I can’t say about the trans question, but I had an LT-1 in my 95 shortbed, manual though. The swap was done before I got it, but they used a wire harness from Painless, which I believe is what you’d need as well. I never had any issues with that engine, and only sold the truck 3 months ago after daily driving for 7 years. They also had to notch and box weld a spot in my frame on the passenger side to accommodate a pulley. My engine came out of a 95 Camaro, so not sure if pulley layout is the same or not. On the corvette all the accessories are on opposites sides to the rest of the LT1s.

Markat666 · Jun 29, 2020

I just noticed that my profile actually says roadmaster swap...that was long before I found out which engine I had by part number cross referencing.

Blazer92 · Jun 29, 2020

As Mark said it can be done, they notched the frame because the AC compressor will hit the frame. I too had a road master with good running lt1 but gave that engine to my cousin and I opted for an L98 TPI for minimal change plus I like the looks better. If you can get the corvette accessories brackets you will not need to notch the frame

Markat666 · Jun 29, 2020

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Markat666 · Jun 29, 2020

Now giving it more thought, your transmission will definitely bolt up. Mine was manual, but it was the stock NV3500 to that 95 pick up. Only the engine was swapped. The camaro would’ve been a T56 I believe.

Buick roadmaster LT1 swap

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