LSX Swap questions

[RAB38]

I am in the process of putting together a swap in my 72 K5. I plan on buying the GM perf LSX 454 crate engine. I plan to mate it to my T-350 trans for a while. May change that to an overdrive down the road.

Questions.

1. What headers will fit best? Looking at hooker’s, schoenfeld, and headmans.
2. What flexplate do i need to mate to my TCI torque converter
3. What front drive accessory system works that is affordable? I would like to reuse my existing alternator, PS pump and my r4 AC compressor. If I cant then thats fine but I would think it should be possible. These are all part of the GM Performance Parts accessory drive kit i have on my 383 SBC.

Thanks

[prodjay10]

I’m curious to know if you can use the old alternator on the swap. I just used all the accessories except the ac compressor from the donor vehicle. The one issue I feel I’ll have is with the AC compressor which I don’t have installed yet. I’m thinking high mount with a sanden but many have complained about a squeal on this site.

[RAB38]

Another thing I am thinking through is how to handle the kick down cable for the Th350. Since the throttle body is DBW, has anyone come up with a solution to solve this? Do you just go off the accel pedal?

[skyphix]

Originally Posted by RAB38

Another thing I am thinking through is how to handle the kick down cable for the Th350. Since the throttle body is DBW, has anyone come up with a solution to solve this? Do you just go off the accel pedal?

There are a few options
1) Don't run a kickdown cable - downshift manually to pass if needed.
2) Run it off the accelerator pedal - I believe it was GM A bodies did this. You could probably figure out some way to adapt that with a DBW pedal.
3) Convert to a DBC throttle body.

Personally, I was going to do option 1 because I knew that eventually I'd be going OD. I ended up going with a 4L80E right away because I got a good deal on a low mileage one and my TH350 was pretty thrashed.