These newer GM direct injection engines powering the Corvette, Camaro, are the most technologically advanced engines GM has made to date.
These engines have unique issues when they are retrofitted into older cars. They offer no hydraulic system for power steering, (late model cars are running electric columns) and their remaining accessories to run air conditioning and electrical needs are placed in areas making transplanting into earlier cars very difficult or impossible.
Drive Junky has addressed the LT1 and LT4 fitment issues, these kits are designed to fit earlier frames, even our kits with air conditioning compressors. This system runs the compressor low on the engine, but its location is in a higher position to the engine than our low mount AC LS systems which have a near perfect history of bolting into just about anything. Also, our philosophy on these latest engines are to keep them as close as possible to the way they were designed to run by GM, keeping the factory new style improved water pump and other systems so it runs just as GM engineered it to do.
Important Note: The LT1 crate engines are shipping from GM in one of two configurations as far as accessories go. They come bare with only the harmonic balancer, or bottom crank pulley, and the water pump. Our system picks up from there and includes everything else you need, including the addition of a power steering pump. Like the LS there are some differences with the water pump and balancer installed on the engine from GM which depend on the vehicle they were designed to be installed in. There is a Camaro and the Corvette variation. The water pumps differ and the belt distance from the face of the block to the belt is a bit further on the Camaro version. This system is a direct bolt on for the Camaro variant to give the option of different alternator setups (the water pump has a built in bracket on the corvette version which limits those choices), as well as packaging concerns and best belt wrap, layout etc. If you have another “version” we can accommodate those engines, please call on those. We have included a photo of the correct style GM engine at the end of the picture gallery on this page. Engine shown is an LT4.
Most of the engines going out now ship this way from GM, Especially with connect and cruise packages etc. when they are ordered as wet sump. Once again, if you don’t have this version call us we have you covered.
General notes on Drive Junky systems.
Custom designed and machined aircraft 6061 aluminum brackets and pulleys. There is a trend in the industry to cut aluminum plate in a 2d kind of way, and attach to the engine with a myriad of spacers washers and loose parts to reach the necessary areas to secure them. We machine custom individual parts to fit perfectly in the most efficient and straightforward way. The OEM’s do this as well (although many of those parts are cast and not machined from billet aluminum). The OEM way functions perfectly of course, minimizes vibrations, fits accessories rigidly, but either has clearance issues with older cars, has omitted unneeded components in newer cars (like power steering), or may not be as attractive as aftermarket options.
Also, our often imitated Rigid idler pulleys and custom tensioner pulleys feature stainless axles and twin 20,000 rpm bearings for all out street machines, as well as supreme durability on the road.
ALL USA Kit includes
-Designed to be bolted into earlier cars WITHOUT modification
-Custom parts machined for application, see above.
-Aircraft 6061 CNC aluminum brackets and pulleys machined and assembled here in house in the good old USA.
-twin 20,000 rpm bearings in idler and tensioner pulleys
-Enhanced Power steering belt wrap for pro touring and competition builds running late model boxes, racks and larger front tire wheel combinations.
-Aluminum USA power steering pump fitted to our LT1 pulley with integral reservoir.
-Powermaster 170 amp single wire alternator. (high end internal fan late model unit)
-Sanden (brand, not knockoff) AC compressor to work with all aftermarket and stock AC systems. Custom AC billet cover.
-Gates belt
-Detailed instructions for a no surprises installation.
-This is for the new LT1 Wet sump engine, call if you have the dry sump LT1 or LT4
-And of course entirely engineered and machined by us here in the USA