LS1 Manual Swap: 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS

GM wasn’t messing around when the seventh generation Impala was launched in 1994 because it was only available as the SS version which meant power from a 260 horsepower LT1 borrowed from the Corvette.  Unfortunately the Impala SS didn’t come with a manual gearbox and was only available with GM’s 4-speed 4L60E slushbox, but that is something that can be fixed with the remnants of a wrecked Camaro, an afternoon, a good buddy named Fred, and a case of Coors.  Find this 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS with LS and T56 swap offered for $12,500 in Columbus, GA via craigslist. Tip from Jeff.

From the seller:

1996 chevy impala ss

condition: good

cylinders: 8 cylinders

delivery available

drive: rwd

fuel: gas

paint color: black

size: full-size

title status: clean

transmission: manual

type: sedan

So you’ve been looking for a 94-96 Impala, but the LT1/ 4 speed auto isnt quite enough compared to modern muscle? This could be the perfect car for you

Call or text with questions: 912 – five nine six – 1202

What it is: built 370 ci iron block with a Vengeance Racing tune, rebuilt T56 six speed manual, and Hotchkis suspension and Corvette brakes when the road gets twisty. You can drive it to autocross, drag strip, or Road Atlanta, then drive it home, getting 20+ mpg on the highway. If you want a street car its ready for boost or spray. The body and frame are solid, and nearly every serviceable part has been replaced or upgraded. This is a drivers car. Ive put around 10K miles on the swap, and sorted out all of the bugs so you dont have to.

What its not: A low-mile, perfect condition show car. The paint and body work are OK, and look good from 20 ft., but if you want something to wax and buff, this might not be the car for you. The body has around 210K miles on it.

Tune: one of top LS tuners in the country

Vengeance Performance LS Swap Dyno & Street Tune

400 rwhp/ 400 rwhp on 93 (dyno sheet available)

Engine: nearly double the HP of the old LT1!

Cam: 232/236 .625 / .625, Duration @ .050, 108. (Picked for good low end with heavy car, stick, and 4.10s; mean idle)

BTR Platinum Dual Valve Springs

** Extra set of BTR springs included

Comp Cam Rocker Trunion kit

LS6 Intake

TMS CNC Ported 243 Heads

**Extra set of 317 truck heads – lower compression – recently checked/ redecked, will be included in case you want to add boost

ARP Head Bolts

TMS 370 ci Iron Shortblock (Stage 2; rated for 800hp

K1 Rods (forged), Wiseco Pistons (forged), GM Crank

ARP Rod bolts

Melling high volume oil pump

Muscle Rods Oil Pickup tube support

LS2 Timing set

Oil Catch Can

Swap: performed by me with all the right parts!

GM H3 Alpha oil pan, new pickup tube, and Lokar dipstick

BRP hotrods engine mounts (poly) and accessory bracket (moved alternator to corvette location on driver side); AC fits down and on pass side. 5th gen camaro/ truck accessory spacing

New GM camaro/ LS3 waterpump

New power steering pump

Current Performance (professional) harness. Computer under air filter in engine compartment in a GM S10 engine mount

Steam ports addresses properly, and vent to highest point in system.

Exhaust:

Hedman Headers (1 7/8”, 4 into 1 (Flat), ceramic coated in and out

**Factory manifolds included, again if you want to flip em and add a turbo

Clear Image Automotive 2.5” cat back (stainless steel, mirror tips no cats)

Flowmaster Hushpower 2 Mufflers

Fuel:

Aeromotive Stealth (In-Tank, 340 LPH; up to 850 hp)

Bosch/GM 36 # injectors (still looking for receipts to confirm – may be 42#)

C5 Corvette Regulator

Red Horse 6 AN Braided Lines (regulator to fuel rail, and return back to regulator

Transmission:

Borg Warner T-56 (2.66:1 first, 0.50:1 6th; great with 4.10s) rebuilt during swap

Mcleod RST Twin Disk/ Aluminum Fly Wheel (up to 800 hp; stock-like engagement. great to drive)

ARP Hardware

Tick Performance remote bleeder/ New GM Slave Cylinder

Tilton Clutch Master Cylinder

MGW Short throw shifter (Ive tried em all for the T56 – this is the best)

B-Body High Performance 6-spd kit #29 (center console, F-body style clutch pedal and reservoir)

Steering: fixed the factory set up!

Lee Manufacturing rebuilt and blueprinted box w/ 12:1 ratio (great shop our of California)

Borgeson Intermediate shafts and u-joints (eliminates slop from tired GM Rag Joint)

New Moog linkage

Chassis: bracing to keep things in control

Clear Image Automotive Transmission cross member

Pro Touring F-body.com 2nd Gen Camaro Frame Brace (“Wonder Bar” connects the frame near front sway bar)

Roadmaster Wagon rear frame brace (connects the frame behind fuel tank/ near rear bumper)

Dick Miller Racing Upper Control Arm Braces (control axle movement with stiffer control arms/sticky tires)

Suspension:

Hotchis SwayBars, front and rear – no more floating!

Hotchkis Rear Lower Control Arms w/ new poly bushings (standard length to maintain correct geometry)

UMI Rear Upper Control Arms (Poly + Roto-Joint)

Moog Springs (same rate/ height/ material as Hotchkis – nearly double the stock spring rate)

Koni Shocks

New Moog front Control Arms and Ball Joints

Energy Suspension Poly Bushings replaces rubber in front control arms

Brakes: heavy car and the stock front brakes werent up to the task!

Kore 3 Brake Kit (C5Z06 325mm front brakes, HD Hubs)

Proforged Stealth Brake Bolt Kit (Improves proportioning to match Impala rear disks)

Russell stainless lines (all five lines replaced)

Hawk HPS Pads

Rear brakes painted to match C5Z Brakes (all brakes are PBR, made in Australia)

Rear Axle:

4.10 Rear End Gears w/ stock LSD

Moser Rear Diff Cover/ Brace

Moser Street Shafts (30-spline, alloy)

ARP Extended Studs

**extra set of ARP studs included

New rear seals

New rear hard brakeline (on axle)

Wheels/ Tires:

Budnik M5 FL Wheels (One offs for Impala SS, full billet)

Front 18X9

Rear 18X10

Hankook RS4 275 front/ 285 rear (less than 5K miles)

Other:

Black Carpet

Lloyds Impala SS Mats

Two tone Impala SS Seat Covers

C4 Corvette Front Seats (now that the car can corner, I needed some support! will swap back to Stock Impala Seats with covers that match the rear if buyer prefers)

Rear Tail light conversion (added light where GM originally left a blank; looks like it should have from GM!)

Aftermarket Radiator

New Heater Core

New hoses

MSD Wires/ new plugs

Air conditioner – New Denso Compressor in 2017; blows colder than new

Cruise Control – all components in place, and works 60% of the time. Simple swap of the module in engine bay will fix issue if you plan to do a lot of highway driving ($15-$40)