Western Members - LS1 Swap in SoCal

I just bought an LS1 and T56 to swap into my G35 and am now second guessing myself on the install. Anyone have any recommendations on shops in So Cal, IE preferred, that can do this for me if I decide to go that route? Or anyone familiar with this want to volunteer your time? :thumb:

tpiterror can put an ls1 in anything but for the right $$$

I'm on my 3rd LS engine swap. One of them was an emissions legal swap that got certified/ approved. My first question to you is are you making this an emissions legal swap?

Swapping the engine itself isn't that hard. It adds cost and complication if you want to make it emissions legal. The other problem is, if you want it legal, you need the same year, or newer engine in your car. Legally, you can't swap in an older one.

I would call around to sponsors that are in socal. CMS is in the IE but I don't know if they would do it.

The motor is out of an 04 and going into an 03 but I don't plan on making it pass emissions. I bought newer just incase I needed to later down the road but don't think it will ever happen. I am going to buy the swap kit from Sikky or Fueled Racing so the motor and trans will just drop in, I am just concerned with the wiring and plumbing.

Hit up RMS, thats the best shop around here. They do all kind of modifications and the price is right.

You have any contact info? Searched for them RMS but couldn't find anything.

where in the IE are you? i am sure he means CMS

Call Brian @ Rebs in Reseda. He did my Vortec 4.8 swap into a 77 Camaro a few years back and the work looked factory when he was done, and he didn't charge an arm and a leg.

I am in Fontana. Thanks I'll check them out as well

Hit up RMS, thats the best shop around here. They do all kind of modifications and the price is right.

Lol, I dunno last time he didn't like having to run wires on that ws6 of his lol... Just kidding mr RMS

where in the IE are you? i am sure he means CMS

No RMS, it's a shop in San Fernando lol.

I would help you out but you would be doing some leg work and I can't do too much since I work over 40 hours a week. Are you looking to pay someone to do it? Or are you wanting someone to advise you?

Well if its getting done at a shop I obviously expect to pay them and have them do it all; whereas, if its done by someone at their home/my home then I would also pay them for their time and labor while offering as much assistance as possible along the way.

My problem is this is my DD so I need the least amount of downtime as possible

My problem is this is my DD so I need the least amount of downtime as possible

For the least amount of downtime you should definitely take it to a shop that is going to have the time to do the whole thing without juggling other cars in the shop. Lots of shops usually have multiple projects there working on so it is hard to find a shop that can devote 100% of there time to the swap.

We have finished almost 90 complete LSx based conversions and can handle doing a complete turnkey swap into any type of vehicle.

Feel free to call with any questions or if you are in the area feel free to come by and check out any of the projects being built in the shop right now (About 10 LSx conversions in the shop right now)

We have finished almost 90 complete LSx based conversions and can handle doing a complete turnkey swap into any type of vehicle.

Feel free to call with any questions or if you are in the area feel free to come by and check out any of the projects being built in the shop right now (About 10 LSx conversions in the shop right now)

Jim,
I almost suggested your shop, too, but I figured the distance might be a bit much.

To the OP, I've been to the CalSpeed shop, and they've got every swap under the sun going on. Workmanship is top-notch, too. Jim is very thorough, and I recommend that, whether you get the swap done by him or not, definitely take the car to him for a tune. He pulled 39 RWHP out of the Camaro in my sig just by nailing the tune. And this is on an unopened 160k mile stock motor.

If you can make the drive to Bakersfield, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks for the help guys. Bakersfield may be a little far to travel for work on the car for me though. Adding the drive there and back twice would take up almost 2 days of potential work on the car. I'll definitely keep it as an option though.

You can give Gene a call, his shop is in La Habra (714-650-0042). Tell him James sent ya. Getting an LS1 into my Camaro AND Bronco (Technically LQ4, shhh dont tell the Ford guys). Also someone mentioned TPI TError, I would second that recommendation. While Ive never had him do any work on my cars (didnt have the cash at the time) hes been a wealth of information and always responded to my PM's with all of my questions answered professionally and will probably need to hit him up when it comes time to put the 4th gen dash in my Camaro.

The time has finally come to do this..all parts are here. I looked for some of the places mentioned without contact info in this thread and couldn't find the shops. So far the only place I've spoken with needs the car for 3-4 weeks which is too much down time for me. Anyone else have suggestions?

Tpiterror?

Did you talk to Gene? Ill be heading over there tomorrow. He's got an LS3 he's building right now for another Camaro swap. Told him to get on here and get a hold of you. At the very least he can point you in the right directions.

I tried calling Gene but no answer at the number you posted. If you can get him on here to contact me I would definitely appreciate it.

I also PMed tpi terror so just waiting to hear back.

I appreciate the help guys.

Corvette mikes will do it!
They put an ls into anything and build kit cars. They were going to do it for my 95z28 but I decided to give it a shot.

http://corvettemike.com/mobile/used-corvettes-for-sale/corvette-classifieds.php?range=1997-2004

Thank you. I will also contact Corvette Mikes shop.

I tried calling Gene but no answer at the number you posted. If you can get him on here to contact me I would definitely appreciate it.

I also PMed tpi terror so just waiting to hear back.

I appreciate the help guys.

hit up my buddies shop Jr competition in escondido... i tune for them, they do a lot of LS swaps in classics and have an awesome fabricater on premises just case something custom needs to be made (you never know this isnt a exact science), plus him and i work hand in hand with the tuning so the car will be covered in both arena's... i recently tuned a certain skateboarding celebrities 69 camaro that they swapped an ls into...
http://jrcompetition.com/

I will contact him after the weekend. Thanks

I just bought an LS1 and T56 to swap into my G35 and am now second guessing myself on the install. Anyone have any recommendations on shops in So Cal, IE preferred, that can do this for me if I decide to go that route? Or anyone familiar with this want to volunteer your time? :thumb:

Did you end up going with anyone in So Cal? I was also looking around for a fab shop in OC if anyone else has other shops they would recommend

Did you end up going with anyone in So Cal? I was also looking around for a fab shop in OC if anyone else has other shops they would recommend

+1, I'm interested in who the OP ended up going to for the LS swap.