front end of a 97 TA on the front of 98-02 TA?
#1
Why Why Why???
What is required to put the front end of a 97 TA on the front os a 98 and up body? I have had both LT1 and LS1, and now I want the best of both worlds. the power of a turbo 408 LS1, with the look of the 97 TA. I am hoping that its a direct swap...
It should just be the hood, fenders and bumper cover, I hope...
It should just be the hood, fenders and bumper cover, I hope...
#2
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You might try the Appearance and Detailing forum - this is the Tools forum.
But anyhow, you need far more than just the body panels. Lots of brackets, the styrofoam bumper insert, etc. to make it work. If you get all the brackets, yes, it can be done. You might be able to find someone with a 93-97 style front end who wants to swap and you guys might swap even...
But anyhow, you need far more than just the body panels. Lots of brackets, the styrofoam bumper insert, etc. to make it work. If you get all the brackets, yes, it can be done. You might be able to find someone with a 93-97 style front end who wants to swap and you guys might swap even...
#4
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Here's a thread on swapping from an LT1 to an LS1....just read it in reverse
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...end+conversion
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...end+conversion
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#9
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Originally Posted by VinR1
if done right, i think the LT1 TAs look much better than the later models, hands down
the front end swap (I would guess) would be just as difficult but cheaper than swapping an LS1 into an older car... best of both worlds
the front end swap (I would guess) would be just as difficult but cheaper than swapping an LS1 into an older car... best of both worlds
I have 2 of each... 94GT TA, 94 Ram Air TA, 99 WS6 clone and 00 WS6....
Personally I think the 98+ looks MUCH better... but thats just opinion.
What is not opinion is that almost all LT1 TA's have fitment problems where the front fenders meet the bumper cover and it looks like *** if they do. One of mine does... the other does not. No good fix for it either. Why do all LT1 owners use pics of the REAR of their cars most of the time? Thats why.
#10
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Originally Posted by RollTideTA
What is not opinion is that almost all LT1 TA's have fitment problems where the front fenders meet the bumper cover and it looks like *** if they do. One of mine does... the other does not. No good fix for it either. Why do all LT1 owners use pics of the REAR of their cars most of the time? Thats why.
I agree - you hardly see an LT1 TA without some type of gap or misaligned panel. Prolly something to do with the fact that the entire front clip of the car is so flat, its impossible to make so many panels line up correctly. I think the LS1 cars have similar fitment issues - you just dont notice them as much due to the extra scoops, openings, etc. I dont know how many LS1 TA's Ive seen with headlight covers that line up with the hood but have a 1/2 - 1' gap at the bottom...
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Originally Posted by RollTideTA
Sorry... the LT1 TA's dont look near as good as the LS1's....
I have 2 of each... 94GT TA, 94 Ram Air TA, 99 WS6 clone and 00 WS6....
Personally I think the 98+ looks MUCH better... but thats just opinion.
What is not opinion is that almost all LT1 TA's have fitment problems where the front fenders meet the bumper cover and it looks like *** if they do. One of mine does... the other does not. No good fix for it either. Why do all LT1 owners use pics of the REAR of their cars most of the time? Thats why.
I have 2 of each... 94GT TA, 94 Ram Air TA, 99 WS6 clone and 00 WS6....
Personally I think the 98+ looks MUCH better... but thats just opinion.
What is not opinion is that almost all LT1 TA's have fitment problems where the front fenders meet the bumper cover and it looks like *** if they do. One of mine does... the other does not. No good fix for it either. Why do all LT1 owners use pics of the REAR of their cars most of the time? Thats why.
1 for example!
#13
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I have swaped a 97 camaro front end on a 99 camaro ls1 car. It takes alot of modifications for the air box setup to work with it. The car had a cowl hood on for clearence also. I do not belive a stock or ss hood would have worked on it.
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I think the lt1 front end is a lot sleeker looking than the LS1 front end as evidenced by DirtyBird222's car.
It just flows mad clean.
However, I would still rather have a black ls1 WS6.
It just flows mad clean.
However, I would still rather have a black ls1 WS6.
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Originally Posted by RollTideTA
Sorry... the LT1 TA's dont look near as good as the LS1's....
I have 2 of each... 94GT TA, 94 Ram Air TA, 99 WS6 clone and 00 WS6....
Personally I think the 98+ looks MUCH better... but thats just opinion.
What is not opinion is that almost all LT1 TA's have fitment problems where the front fenders meet the bumper cover and it looks like *** if they do. One of mine does... the other does not. No good fix for it either. Why do all LT1 owners use pics of the REAR of their cars most of the time? Thats why.
I have 2 of each... 94GT TA, 94 Ram Air TA, 99 WS6 clone and 00 WS6....
Personally I think the 98+ looks MUCH better... but thats just opinion.
What is not opinion is that almost all LT1 TA's have fitment problems where the front fenders meet the bumper cover and it looks like *** if they do. One of mine does... the other does not. No good fix for it either. Why do all LT1 owners use pics of the REAR of their cars most of the time? Thats why.
#16
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Originally Posted by 98redM6
I think the lt1 front end is a lot sleeker looking than the LS1 front end as evidenced by DirtyBird222's car.
It just flows mad clean.
However, I would still rather have a black ls1 WS6.
It just flows mad clean.
However, I would still rather have a black ls1 WS6.
#17
Originally Posted by DirtyBird222
LT1 styling is badass do it. and yes and LT1 hood will clear an LS1. Especially if you get a LT1 Ram Air hood.
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You should be able to do the conversion. Mine is a 97 with the 98-02 front clip on it. So, yes I hvae the LT1, but it is running strong. I just don't like the front nose of the 93-97. Sorry. But, hey you do, and that all that matters. If you do decide to do it, make sure you post some pics.
#19
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Originally Posted by VinR1
...you know what they say about opinions
I agree - you hardly see an LT1 TA without some type of gap or misaligned panel. Prolly something to do with the fact that the entire front clip of the car is so flat, its impossible to make so many panels line up correctly. I think the LS1 cars have similar fitment issues - you just dont notice them as much due to the extra scoops, openings, etc. I dont know how many LS1 TA's Ive seen with headlight covers that line up with the hood but have a 1/2 - 1' gap at the bottom...
I agree - you hardly see an LT1 TA without some type of gap or misaligned panel. Prolly something to do with the fact that the entire front clip of the car is so flat, its impossible to make so many panels line up correctly. I think the LS1 cars have similar fitment issues - you just dont notice them as much due to the extra scoops, openings, etc. I dont know how many LS1 TA's Ive seen with headlight covers that line up with the hood but have a 1/2 - 1' gap at the bottom...
The LS1 or LT1 headlight covers can be adjusted about 1000 different ways for those with that problem.
The front bumper cover 'dimple' as I like to call it on LT1s can't be fixed without replacing the bumper cover with a new one and then sometimes it still comes back. As mine did. It's a plastic flexing and bumper cover design issue. I would say that more than 50% of all LT1 TA's have this problem, some worse than others. The LT1 formula/firebird bumper almost never has it. So if i was going to do that swap to the LT1 front end, I would go for the formula/firehawk look.
It is much worse on metallic colored cars. Gloss colors like black or red don't seem to show the dimpled area nearly as bad and you have to look for it in certain lighting to see it. Our black car looks great on the front, but my silver one bugged the **** out of me everytime someone would ask... "oh did u ding something here?"
Listen, I'm not bashing LT1 TA's...I love them too...I just want anyone with an LS1 to know that this is a possible problem for them if they do a swap to the LT1 front end.
EDIT - Go here and look closely at each car where the fender meets the front bumper cover.
Last edited by RollTideTA; 06-07-2006 at 10:25 AM.