Help me on my time line
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Teching In
Joined: Jun 2015
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Help me on my time line I have always loved the Gbody (my true love is the 87mcss) and am finally at a point where I'm ready to pull the trigger. I've done a lot of research and feel pretty comfortable that I'll be doing a 5.3 into a Monte. The thing is, I'm going to be graduating w/ my BA in December, and will probably take a semester off before going for my MA. That leaves me with 8 months or so to get this done. When I told my buddy, he laughed at this supposed impossible task. Here I thought I'd have plenty of time, but now I'm second guessing myself.
To give some more perspective, I'm 32 and have a full time job. I also have four kids that, considering my wife's schedule, I have all by myself every other weekend. My mechanical experience is limited to oil changes and brake jobs, so this will be the most intense task I've taken on.
I have friends with a lot more experience that I can call on for help, but I'd like to do as much as possible on my own. So here's my rough schedule.
Jan-May
Buy engine/trans
Possibly rebuilt both depending on condition/mileage
Build up engine to respectable numbers (325-350)
June-Aug
Buy vehicle and fix necessary components
Prep and install engine/trans
Thoughts? It seems more than resonable to me, but anyone with experience can feel free to correct me.
To give some more perspective, I'm 32 and have a full time job. I also have four kids that, considering my wife's schedule, I have all by myself every other weekend. My mechanical experience is limited to oil changes and brake jobs, so this will be the most intense task I've taken on.
I have friends with a lot more experience that I can call on for help, but I'd like to do as much as possible on my own. So here's my rough schedule.
Jan-May
Buy engine/trans
Possibly rebuilt both depending on condition/mileage
Build up engine to respectable numbers (325-350)
June-Aug
Buy vehicle and fix necessary components
Prep and install engine/trans
Thoughts? It seems more than resonable to me, but anyone with experience can feel free to correct me.
If you have all the parts on hand, a couple of guys that know what they are doing can do a swap in a weekend.
A lot will depend on what sort of engine you get, how much work you have to do to it, etc...Also, however much you think it will cost, double it, and you will be close.
Do yourself a favor, buy the lowest mileage engine you can afford and leave it alone. At most just do a mild cam and valve springs, and don't mess with it. I paid $2000 for a LH8 (Gen IV aluminum block 5.3L) that had 386 miles on it. Some would say I overpaid, but to me it was totally worth it.
For g-body swaps, go with the Holley mounting system. Also consider the Holley HP if you get an engine that does not have a harness and ECU.
I did my Cougar swap in less than a year. Bought the engine last summer, then started collecting parts over winter. By the time it warmed up enough to work on the car, I had most parts on hand. I am still tinkering with it, but it is a running, driving car, and that's a swap that doesn't have any swap kits available. Then again, I have been tinkering with cars for almost 30 years, and have done 4 LS swaps.
Andrew
A lot will depend on what sort of engine you get, how much work you have to do to it, etc...Also, however much you think it will cost, double it, and you will be close.
Do yourself a favor, buy the lowest mileage engine you can afford and leave it alone. At most just do a mild cam and valve springs, and don't mess with it. I paid $2000 for a LH8 (Gen IV aluminum block 5.3L) that had 386 miles on it. Some would say I overpaid, but to me it was totally worth it.
For g-body swaps, go with the Holley mounting system. Also consider the Holley HP if you get an engine that does not have a harness and ECU.
I did my Cougar swap in less than a year. Bought the engine last summer, then started collecting parts over winter. By the time it warmed up enough to work on the car, I had most parts on hand. I am still tinkering with it, but it is a running, driving car, and that's a swap that doesn't have any swap kits available. Then again, I have been tinkering with cars for almost 30 years, and have done 4 LS swaps.
Andrew
I would agree that also in my experience, plan and expect things to cost more than anticipated. Just make sure you have the funds available so that when something goes wrong you will be able to keep progressing forward to stay on your timeline rather than have a lingering and festering build.
Other than that, for simplicities sake, keep the 200r4 that comes with the 87's of turn it right in as a core for a rebuilt one. You'll save quite a bit of time, money and tinkering not having to figure out drive line angles and trans mount locations or driveshaft lengths. When I had my '87 mcss I went for a rebuilt trans thar was built for a gn. On the other hand a 4l60 shouldn't be too much trouble.
But limiting the physical size of the trans mating to your swapped engine will help out tremendously and save you some head aches.
Wish I still had mine... Good luck!
Other than that, for simplicities sake, keep the 200r4 that comes with the 87's of turn it right in as a core for a rebuilt one. You'll save quite a bit of time, money and tinkering not having to figure out drive line angles and trans mount locations or driveshaft lengths. When I had my '87 mcss I went for a rebuilt trans thar was built for a gn. On the other hand a 4l60 shouldn't be too much trouble.
But limiting the physical size of the trans mating to your swapped engine will help out tremendously and save you some head aches.
Wish I still had mine... Good luck!
