Don Nguyen

iTrader: (2)

Hey guys, I've been trying to do searches on this forum and read up on this, but I just wanted to make a post and confirm some things before I went ahead and pulled the trigger.

Looking to swap this into a BMW. The donor car is a 1998 LS1 T56 Camaro that had hit a curb and then a pole. Apparently everything starts up just fine and runs. The seller is currently asking $2200 for the entire car.

My power goals is 500-600rwhp reliably, since this car will be heavily tracked. My budget is around $8-9k, with hopefully all/most of the labor work done by me.

I've read that the 1998 models have slightly different sensors/wires, however, I figure if everything is being swapped over into a different car (BMW), it won't matter so much?

Does this sound like a reasonable price, and a reasonable engine for me to use/build, based on my needs/budget, etc.

thanks.

-Don

Kmaroman

iTrader: (1)

yeah then turn around an part out what u can

Red Devil 99'

500-600 hp can easily be reached via forced induction. or serious motor work. either one could set you back in upwards of $5k+. and first things first would be updating the ECU to a 99'+ the 98 is from what I hear tough to tune. that leaves you with 2-3k left over for fabrication and paint.

Don Nguyen

iTrader: (2)

I am looking to try and stay NA ideally. I don't want to deal with the heat issues for track use.

I heard getting L92 heads, an LS6 intake manifold, cam, headers (which are gonna have to be custom made anyways), and tune should get me close to my goals.

The things I am worried about is like what Red Devil mentioned, about the 98 being a bit hard to tune. How hard would a ECU swap/conversion be?

V8Rumble

iTrader: (9)

The L92 heads are not going to work with an LS1 - they have rather large intake valves (2.16") & require a 4" cylinder bore. In addition, they have rectangular intake ports (like a BBC) rather than the LS1's cathedral ports, so the LS6 intake isn't compatible either. Sorry.

rao

iTrader: (18)

People will tell you that the 98 blocks are weaker (actually the 97 corvette blocks as well), but unless you are going to build something extreme, there is no reason not to use a 98 block, assuming that it is in good condition.

Don Nguyen

iTrader: (2)

I guess if you don't call 600rwhp extreme, then I should be fine.

I forgot to also mention the car has 130k miles on it.

subtlez28

iTrader: (15)

Not sure where you live, Don, but that sounds like a steal.

You could just pull the motor and sell it for more $.

If nothing else, buy it, part it out, and use the profits toward your swap.

Or send the deal along to me!

You may, though, want to consider an LS2, LS3 or L92 for the power levels you want.
No replacement for displacement.

Don Nguyen

iTrader: (2)

I live on the west coast.

I think I may pass on the car, since I spent a whole day researching on the topic. Apparently the 98s had bad flowing heads, hard to tune ECU, and a bad oiling system designed into the block. Not sure if it is just the oil pump or not there, when people mention the oiling system.

I want to be consistently pushing 500rwhp, for some road racing, so if I have to spend 1k to get a slightly better block to start out with I will. Unless if someone can tell me that I can easily upgrade the ECU and the oiling system, then I may pass on the car.