Tommy69z

iTrader: (4)

Bought a GN setup a couple a years ago, thought it was what I wanted, but could not get motivated to swap it in. Found a deal on a wrecked 98 T/A I picked up yesterday. I was all hyped about putting it in my 69 Camaro, but now I am second guessing. The car had a LT1-T56 a year or so ago, but I was unhappy with it, the way I modded it, so I yanked it and sold it.

Old _School

iTrader: (1)

What are your intentions with the car? Why were you unhappy with the LT1, what mods did you do to it? Give us some more info and we will be able to help you out a little better with your decision.

Tommy69z

iTrader: (4)

Tried to make it a fast street car, did not like the 4.56's. I want a quick street car, that is more cruiser friendly, gets good mileage. The LT1 sucked the gas down. I just went about it all wrong, so I sold out. I now have a set of 3.31's for the rear, was prepping for the Buick set up.

Lickeyman

iTrader: (1)

The LT1 should have gotten still decent mileage even with the 4.56s with a t56 unless you were running lowrider wheels LOL What did a 69 z with a small block weigh like 3700? So high teens mpg on a modded lt1 should have been doable.

LS1 + t56 only marginally better economy.

Buick stuff is fairly more expensive IMO

How quick do you want the car is the real question? 10s, 11s, 12s?

Tommy69z

iTrader: (4)

I just want a fun car to drive, gets good mileage, and can smoke most punks on the street(newer mustangs, and camaros) and maybe run in the high 7 sec 1/8 mile.

Tommy69z

iTrader: (4)

Also, I don't have deep pockets, so the words TIGHT BUDGET are a very important part. Hey 50 posts, now maybe I can post the 98 unwanted parts for sale!

SUPERBOOST

iTrader: (11)

A 69 z with a stock ls1 and t56 with 331-355 gears should weigh 33-3400 lbs or less all according to your setup.Being conservitive it should get 25 mpg or better.A decent set of heads,cam, ls6 intake,caltracts and decent tires should get your high 7's.You can sell the buick setup for good money or keep it for another project.You can always add a small turbo or blower later if you ,or should I say when you get power hungry.Parts are readily availible for ls1 into first gen camaro.

Lickeyman

iTrader: (1)

If you have a complete ls1 fbody I would go that route. You can get mounts, headers, and hoses even.

You really wouldn't have to do any fab work LOL

Tommy69z

iTrader: (4)

I think I am going to give the LS1 a try, mainly because I have a complete car, and I can fab pretty much everything I need. I do have basically everything from the buick, as I had the car when I robbed it also. From my perspective, I will have to spend more on the buick setup, which LOW budget is what I am after.

subtlez28

iTrader: (15)

Best of both worlds:
LS1/T56....PLUS....TURBO (S)

fast

iTrader: (24)

the turbo V6 doesn't look right under the hood of a 1st gen

so the lt1 is already gone? mine always surprised me with good mpg, I'd have just gone to a more friendly gear

ls1/t56 +331s should do very nicely on mpg (4th gen ls1 t56 cars had 342s and got very good mpg)

good luck and enjoy your ride!

rockytopper

Quote "can smoke most punks on the street(newer mustangs, and camaros)"

Good luck with that, feel lucky if you can just keep up with em. Read this forum, they know way more about these LS1's and how to make them run faster than most of us old school farts do. I just put a stock ls1 in my 65 A body and got 22 mpg in a box on the first tank even while guning it ever time I took off. Good luck I have zero regrets retiring the 455 and going LS1. The sweetest part of all is starting it. Just turn the key and it fires.

bczee

iTrader: (12)

Go with the Gen III/IV engine.. with a stocker LS1 / T56 and 4.10 gears.. I crank out 23+ at 75mph on the highway.. that is about 2k on the tach.... maybe with some tuning and a lighter right foot, I'd get better MPG'..

With a Gen III/IV engine, your going to upgrade to the best of everything.. and they respond very well to mod's and upgrades to make great power.

If you do most of the fab work yourself and electrical wiring. You can save a bunch of $$$ doing the swap. Cause it is not really much money to phyically swap in the engine and trans. It the little things that adds up and doing upgrades (AN fitting, SS braided hose, Billet and chrome, etc) that are not really needed. For a stock LS1, you an get by with many of the everyday equiepment, but just don't be cheap on what your really need to spend the funds on.

ten5nova

Do you even need to question this option? LS1 6-speed all the way man!! Probably 20 miles to the gallon, plus 11's in the 1/4!! What more could you ask for?