Before I start this post, a couple disclaimers: If you're just here to say "Don't bother FWD", you can find somewhere to be more helpful to people, I've seen that comment enough when it comes to swaps for the Monte. Second, I do realize that an L67 swap would be far easier, and plenty fun (My Dad did that for my Mom's car, and it's a joy to drive every time I get the chance), but I want to do some thing unique, plus I just love that V8 sound. Now, on to the actual post!

I was considering buying a wrecked LS4 W-body as a donor car for a swap into my 1995 Monte z34, since the engine is probably getting close to it's last legs anyway (216K miles, engine whining, shuddering, not running right, dying occasionally, etc.), it'd be nice to swap it out, plus the transmission's the old 4T60E transmission... But in order to do such a swap, I'd need to know if the engine (with all accessories, gotta have that AC/Heater) would fit in the engine bay, hence asking for measurements. So, anyone who's done an L67 swap before, did you take measurements of the engine bay before you put the new engine in? And if so, what were they?
Thanks for your time, in advance.

(Edit: 1/24/2020)
If it helps, I need the minimum space between the strut towers, the length of the engine bay (firewall to the radiator), the width in the area just in front of the strut towers, and the height of the engine bay with the stock hood.
It'd also be helpful to know how close the engine bay is in size to the 6th generation monte, since I know for sure there's been an LS4 swap into a 2004, and if the engine bay is identical, that would make the swap very possible.

 

I found this one a few years ago and I have put this link here so maybe the info you need they can
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...h-7y508PKED41N

I corrected that attachment

 

https://www.facebook.com/SpeedObsessed/videos/1730804497169567/?t=18

 

Ahhhhh, seen this video on Youtube but I watched it without sound, so I didn't realize it was an LS as well as being turbocharged. Thought he just meant the trim, lol.
That IS pretty cool, have you seen any that have done it FWD though? I know it's less fun than RWD, but it sounds a fair amount easier to drop in the driveline of a later gen monte than it would be to do a full RWD conversion... I will still hit them up over there and see if that guy got the measurements though!

 

TBH, you probably aren't going to have much luck with the L67 swappers as theyve got no reason to measure anything. Since the 3800 was a factory engine in the 5th gens, it drops right in.

I'd suggest just posting which locations you're looking to see measured and maybe someone with a 5th gen will go out and measure theirs.

 

Ah, gotcha. I'll edit my post real quick with the measurements i need, thanks for the suggestion!

 

Interesting project. You get the ball moving on this, you will have to keep posting pics and updates. I knot the 5th gen Monte was an earlier W-body and the 6th gen Monte, well, that W-Body platform GM definitely designed to put a FWD v8 into. Curious what you find out and have to fabricate to make this happen.

 

I get about 34 1/16" at the tightest point.

This is tricky as the firewall is a fairly complex shape. I'm right about 32" from the furthest out spot of metal (passenger side HVAC bump out) to the radiator.

Lots of comments on this one though:
-Thats right in the area of the C100 connector. If the new engine overlaps this connector, you lose 1.5" in plastic alone (not to mention space for the wires to exit and turn).
-As requested, that's to the radiator meaning it would be through the fans. Youd have to convert to a pusher fan setup to get anywhere near this much room.
-My radiator is a bit thicker than stock at about 1.25". I dont recall what stock is, but IIRC was maybe 5/8? So your number may be a bit larger depending what thickness radiator you've got.

I'm assuming you mean down on the body rails as theres really not much up top. Im right about 38" measuring right under my front header (can't go further back as my engine is in). Note there are a few tiny bump outs for attachments and such that make this a bit tighter, but coul always be ground flat if needed.

Cant help on this one as I've not had a stock hood in a long time.


A few other points of note / concern:
-The 5th gen downpipe tunnel is diffenent from 2nd gen wbody stuff as evidenced by the people who have to hack it up to put 3800 headers in that fit fine in any 2nd gen Wbody. No clue how the stock LS4 rear manifold / downpipe compares to that of a 3800, but just something to be aware of.
-The 5th gen brake booster / ABS module is pretty big and located differently than 2nd gen stuff. Kinda hard to quantify as it's an odd shape.

 

I'd check the fbody v6 swaps. As I believe you'd run into most of the same problem short of rear axle and fabricating engine mount to the subframe.


but that being said it'll be fun and a nice ride.
hell I've seen a 500ci in a Chevy cevette before so let her eat.

 

Curious how researching Fbody swaps would help with what he's asking for? He's wanting to put a FWD LS4 into a 5th gen.