There’s nothing like a good old fashioned project to get our blood pumping around here. When we saw BangShift.com member 1970camaroRS’s project car thread about removing a B&M blown, water logged 454 and installing a massaged LQ4 engine in his Camaro we were interested. After hitting the link and seeing oodles of great photos and progress on the build we were hooked and you will be too.
The 454 had literally filled up with water due to some storm exposure. The blower was removed and put up for sale. A local man who was interested in the blower suggested a swap for a low mileage LQ4 engine he had sitting in his shop. That hatched the idea for building the LS motor cheaply with as many budget and second hand parts as possible and screwing it into the Camaro.
For us the best part of the build is the real world angle. This is not a show car. In fact, the Camaro is shag nasty and in automotive terms, looks like the tough guy at the corner of the bar that everyone is afraid to fight. When it had the mini-blown 454 in it, old ladies must have sought shelter when it came by them on the road.
Go ahead and cry at us about the fact that we’re celebrating someone putting an LS engine into a Camaro, but this thread rules. It’s about using what you have, trading and bargaining for what you need, and doing the work yourself. That’s the holy trinity of being a BangShifter.
UPDATE: Well, we’ve been neglectful in our duties in keeping you updated on the progress of this project! Last we left you the engine had just been bolted together and work was progressing on getting the accessory drive fitted and finished. You’ve got some reading to do, because as of now, the motor is in the car and just a few tweaks away from rumbling to life and making noise. This project is really cool because every step has been documented. While dropping an LS engine into a Camaro isn’t like fitting an aircraft engine into an MG, it does have tips and tricks involved and 1970CamaroLS has been doing a fantastic job documenting virtually all of them. Hit the link below and catch up!
Hit the link above to get reacquainted with this GREAT project!
