Dstryr

Bought a 71 Camaro tonight. Was thinking about waiting till after summer to do a swap but I was wondering what the swap costs are for a 5.3l / t56 in a second gen camaro?

I've researched doing an ls1 swap but I think I'll never be able to afford to do it right so I'm looking into going with a 5.3l.

Thanks,
Dennis.

9540x

I have a 3rd gen firebird that I've been working on a 5.3/t56 swap for a few months now.
I got the motor with a 4l80e for 500 bucks from a local junkyard but it needed to be touched up. Put another 500 into and it runs fine now. So expect to pay between 800 and 1100 for a good running motor.
I sold the 4l80e for 500 bucks.
I work at a transmission shop so I was able to get a refurbished t56 for $1000. Refurb'd t56s usually go for 1000-1400. New ones are 2400+

I sunk another 4000 into chassis. Expect to pay similar amounts for 2nd gen stuff. i'd also allocate another 5,000 in misc stuff and the "while i'm in here" syndrome.

Total anticipated cost? I'd say it's doable with 8,000-11,000, not including price of the car and to make sure that everything is set up properly.

helmet10

iTrader: (2)

I'm working on a 70 with a 5.3 and 4L60e.

Dstryr

How did you sink 4k into the chassis?

9540x

Sorry, I suppose that was a little unclear. I meant chassis and suspension including a tubular K-member, trans crossmember, tubular A-arms. All bushings into polyurethane. Disc breaks front and rear. By no means do you need that, but IMO it's a good idea if you plan on driving it regularly.

bczee

iTrader: (12)

Going back to the original question.. And my taking on the question was not to include the Chassis and suspension upgrades.. but to take into account only the cost of putting in the 5.3L and coversion to a T56 on a budget.

IMO, I would think that the cost of doing a SWAP would be about the same for a LS1 as it would be for a 5.3L. (don't get excited here guys, let me finish), with the variable being only the cost of the Engine and Trans and doing a budget swap.. So with Wiring, PCM programing, fuel and cooling system will still costing the same to swap in a 5.3L as it would a 5.7L or 60L.

The Fuel, Cooling and exhaust systems, wiring and PCM Programming and the cost of a 5.3L ( with trans..) and doing as must labor yourself, you might be able to do it for under $3k if you a good shopper and/or don't mind not using the latest and greatest equipment (AN lines, SS hoses, etc). But it would be safer to say $5k. For adding a new clutch and other new replacement parts (so as not to use old parts).

Research some of the other Swaps on the forum for things you can do it yourself to cut the cost (build your own adapter plates from 1/4" steel, get your buddy to do the welding, do the wiring yourself, etc), hit the swaps and junk yards.

Good luck.

9540x

Right, definitely do your research and take your time. There are lots of good deals out there including the "unfinished project", the "my wife won't let me keep the car/engine" and "I came across a couple of engines...". For me, I just wanted to get my project going, so I didn't wheel and deal as well as I could have. So I think it's fair to say that for just the swap it's probably it cots between 3,000 and 6,000.

TA219

iTrader: (1)

I am working on a 5.3 / T-56 swap... bczee is correct, you are saving $$ on the engine but the rest of the swap is the same...

Bought engine for ~500
Needed to buy LS1 accessories & intake - i cant remember exact costs but i want to say i spent ~500

I was able to sell some of the truck accessories and re-coup some of the money spent on the LS1 stuff

I try to wheel and deal when i can, here is what i have spent on the things off of the top of my head
wiring harness - ~600
t-56- $1600 total (bought it cheap and had it rebuilt)
motor mount plates - ~40
mounts - went with rubber for less vibration ~ 15
trans crossmember - comp engineering universal kit ~ 60
clutch - havent purchased
hydrolics - havent purchased
fuel system - havent purchased
computer - havent purchased

So that gives you a rough idea, i have nothing but time so i am always hunting for a good deal on the forum or on e-bay... you can come across some good deals

shanekennedy

iTrader: (1)

5.3 intake is taller, you may need a fiberglass cowl hood to fit it in

5.3 alternator is higher, you may need to replace accessory brackets

Dstryr

Okay that sounds reasonable...About the same price of building a hi-performance 383 and getting a muncie 4 speed close ratio tranny. I'm going to start browsing the junk yards and stuff.

While I wait till summer passes, I'm going to need to do a lot of work on it that is not engine related. I wasn't sure if I could post the thread here or not (in the conversions section) so I put it in the camaro forum.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/chevrolet-camaro-1967-2002/714540-1971-camaro-questions.html

bczee

iTrader: (12)

Dstryr - I see your in Gilroy.. the Good Guys is in two weeks, there should be a few LS1 swap cars there. I will also be there with my Chevelle.
It would be a good time to check out and see what your getting into. If you can find me.. stop by and we can talk about your plans and if you have questions on your options.