There are two main spots to...
There are two main spots to mount an oil pressure sender on an LS engine. The first one is a port at the rear of the intake manifold, which is where the factory sender would mount, and the other is down near the oil filter. To mount your sender you will either need an early piece like this one, from a C5 Vette, or an aftermarket one like those sold by Turn Key Engine Supply.
From The Desk Of Michael Copeland:The GM LS Series of engines is a popular choice for use in almost any vehicle not built with one. Virtually every vehicle GM has built in the last 100 years could benefit from swapping in an LS engine. And why not? GM has built millions of them. They make great power, deliver amazing fuel economy, are compact, and lightweight. Not to mention, with all the factory and aftermarket support, these engines can be built to meet almost any requirement. Here are some of the "most common" topics that come up when discussing LS swaps.
Generation IdentificationCurrently, there are Gen III and Gen IV versions in the LS family. The easiest way to determine which version you have is the location of the cam sensor. Gen III engines have the cam sensor located in the block at the rear of the intake manifold. Gen IV engines have the cam sensor located in the front cover. Gen III engines have 24x crank sensors, and Gen IV have 58x. The 24x sensor has a black connector, and the 58x has a gray connector. Engine controllers must be matched to this sensor or the engine will not run. Both cam sensors will work with either crank sensor, but the connector has to be repinned to match the engine controller.
The cooling system design...
The cooling system design on a LS engine seems to work best with a radiator that has the inlet and outlet both on the passenger side. Many companies like Be Cool, Flex-A-Lite, and the AFCO radiator shown here offer these cross-flow units just for LS swap applications. In addition to the packaging benefits there are also cooling benefits to the cross-flow design.
Engine SizeAll LS engines, from the 4.8-liter through the 7.0-liter, are the same external size. This is true for even the maximum horsepower versions from GM, including the supercharged LS9 and the LSX 454 crate engine. All production LS engines have the engine size cast into the block. There are different power levels available in LS engine sizes, and the only way to identify which version you are looking at is to check the vehicle identification number stamped in the block.
There are aftermarket blocks available (Dart, World Products), both in short- and tall-deck versions. GM Performance Parts has a standard-deck LSX block, and joined this group with a tall-deck version in early 2009. RHS (a division of Comp Cams) will soon have engine blocks available as well. These blocks allow you to build LS based engines all the way to past 500ci. With some of these aftermarket race blocks, the deck is higher, but the rest of the block shares common dimensions with the production LS engine.
Engine MountsAll LS series engines have the exact same mounting bosses for the engine mounts. This makes swapping any LS for another LS a bolt-in. There are many aftermarket companies making adapter mounts to install an LS into almost any vehicle made. While most share the same basic design, there are some differences. Make sure you use the adapter mount the manufacturer recommends, and install it per the instructions. Not following their directions can make the engine sit in a different location, this can make other components like headers or oil pans difficult to install. Before purchasing additional components, you should contact the mount manufacturer to determine which components were used in the design of their mounts. Many of these mounts locate the engine in slightly different locations, and unless you verify which parts work with their mount, they might not fit without modification.
Oil PansThere are numerous versions of oil pans available, from both GM and the aftermarket. Most are rear sump designs, except the GTO and Holden, which use a front sump. Almost every vehicle uses a differently designed pan, so selecting one for your specific application is difficult. Early Corvettes used a "wing" pan. It is difficult to install in most vehicles, but is a good choice if your vehicle will be used for road racing. The "F" car and CTS V oil pans both work well for engine swaps. The "F" car pan has a shorter sump front to back, and is the most popular. The aftermarket offers a number of different style oil pans for various applications. Companies that can get you set up include Milodon, Autokraft, Moroso, and Canton, just to name a few. They all offer oil pans for engine swap applications, but remember to match the oil pick-up, and dipstick to the pan.
 The aftermarket has really...  The aftermarket has really responded to the need for wiring solutions. Speartech Fuel Injection Systems can either modify your factory harness or build you a custom harness to your specifications. Speartech also offers ECU programming and if you want to run the fly-by-wire throttle body they can hook you up there as well. FAST offers their top-of-the-line XFI computer and can provide you with the wiring to make it work. Other companies, like Turn Key Engine, offer the MEFI computer shown along with simplified harness systems that makes install a snap. It sure is a lot easier than it used to be. |  There are two points on an...  There are two points on an LS engine to pick up water temp information, one located on each head. Chances are that your computer will be using the factory sensor on the front of the driver side head, so that leaves the port on the rear of the passenger side head open for an aftermarket sender. Remember, it's metric and requires a special fitting available from most major aftermarket gauge companies. |  In a stroke of genius, GM...  In a stroke of genius, GM decided that all LS variants would be externally identical. That means that whether you're dropping in a 4.6L truck engine, the big daddy 427 LS7, or anything in between, all the external brackets and mounts are the same. That means the factory pulley system on this LS7 will bolt right to any other LS variant. |