toddztoyz

I am considering doing my LS1 swap into my 84 Z28 instead of the 86 Monte Carlo SS. I am trying to decide before I begin is whether the swap would be easiest to do in the Monte Carlo or the Camaro. Anyone with perspective on these two swaps please give me feedback.

scogin918

iTrader: (3)

either one is gonna be work. my vote is for the SS. Not enough nice ones on the road.

StickSS

Hi: Personally I think it is easier and cheaper to do the swap on the Monte Carlo SS. Check JohnB Website and the tread on an Ls1 into an 86 El Camino in this section. A lot off good info posted up. The way I would do the swap would be to adapt the engine to 200R trans in the Monte using the custom mounts that Gbody and 5.3 racer used that don't require you to modify the oil pan. This way you don't have to buy a new crossmember, cut the drive shaft or modify the oil pan and you could use the stock speedo. I would just use a single race cat with a 4 bolt flange that TCI sells and make a Y pipe to the stock Fbody manifolds. You have to modify the O2 Bungs however. Gbody used the truck brackets so I don't know if the Fbody alternator will clear. If you change the steering box it might fit? It seems like you have to relocate the AC bracket anyway you go. Just my opinion hope this helps you out.

G-Body

iTrader: (4)

I think it would be about the same work/cost, but I prefer the Monte SS, I think it would come down to what you would rather drive. My motor did fit in without notching the oil pan, but I had to notch the heater box, no big deal, I cut and fiberglassed it with the engine sitting in the car. If you were going to use a camaro or vette motor you may have to cut the heater box a little more to get the coils to clear but it should fit. The low mounted alternator looks like it would work too, the only spot it looks like it might hit would be interference between the bracket on the rear of the alt. and the frame, I think you could cut the bracket down or make a new one to fit.

John B

iTrader: (10)

How can this be a tough decision...obviously it has to be the Monte SS!

toddztoyz

I guess what I was looking at is that I have a complete 99 Z28 in my garage that my bro-in-law (Wicked_Hugger99) totaled last October sitting in my garage waiting to be pulled. What I noticed is that the engine area in the 99 and the engine area in my 84 are very similar. I could probably swap in the fuel tank and fuel lines from the 99 too. I really would rather put the engine in the Monte cause my 84 is a 1 of about 500 2 seater droptops produced by Autoform corp in 84. She only has 28,500 miles on her and the original 305 ho.

On the other hand the Monte already has a 700R4 in her cause the 200-4r was junk. The Monte has been in the family since she was new and now has 97k on her. I think the engine would be more beneficial to the Monte given that my convertible is all original.

jdperk-86elco

Hey, So far in my '86 Elco it has been pretty easy. I used John Bdzel's notched oil pan to clear the crossmember, his motor mounts, and ordered a GForce transmission crossmember and everything bolted right up. I did modify the #8 coil bracket and shifted it up 1/2 inch to clear the heater box and I was still able to use the stock plug wire, however it is tight and I plan on replacing them with truck plug wires as they are longer.

I decided to notch the frame to clear the AC compressor and it turned out nice. Another option is to relocate the AC compressor to the top of the head with brackets.

I got a custom engine harness and awesum support from Speartech which included the Corvette drive-by-wire setup. Just odds and ends left.

Yours should be identical to mine and John B's, and his site is great for information.

rickbat

iTrader: (3)

You know my vote...

chupr0kabra

iTrader: (10)

Another vote for the G-Body. I miss mine...


-Mike

AntiVenom06

do the monte!

toddztoyz

Thanks for the input folks. I think I will do the continue with the plans to put the LS1-4L60E in my Monte SS. I think the built LS1 will do better in the Monte than in my 84 Z28 convertible. Besides, after continuosly watching rick's Montee LS1 smoke the dog crap out of the 05GT, how could I not want to do the Monte swap!!!