Dropped my car off today at Bruce Hawkins' place. (www.hawksthirdgenparts.com) Talked about everything that needs to be done, from bumper to bumper.

The first step is going to be to get the car cleaned up, the floorboard rust damage repaired, and get it painted from top to bottom.

Then the car will be put back together, with the brand new Moser 9" going on, all the chassis and suspension upgrades, and the 4th gen style braking system and wheels.

Then the new 402ci LS2 stroker and 6-speed trans will go in.

I am VERY excited about this. After well over a year of research, and the frustration of waiting for my swap to get STARTED (with no real progess being made by the guy I had hired to do it), I feel VERY comfortable and confident in the outcome of this project after hiring Bruce to take it over, and especially after meeting him and seeing his whole operation in person. We have a tentative target completion date of mid-June.

I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!

 

Very sweet, that car is going to be flyin...just wondering, about how much is all of this costing you if you dont mind me askin? Im just wondering because im at about 12k with me doin the swap on a used cam only motor.

 

What wheels are u gonna use?

Sounds like a hell of a project.. I cant wait to see what they will do with the exhaust

 

From my dealings with Bruce , you're in good hands.

 

92Camaro, I'm not sure what the TOTAL cost is going to be yet (still a lot to do), but I would say that $12k definitely sounds in the ballpark.

Dj92GTA, I'm using some American Racing wheels I picked up off this site. 17x11" in back and 17x9.5" in front.


Bruce called me last evening with an update, and an estimate on the bodywork and paint job (to which I gave the go-ahead). The car will stripped and ready for that by this weekend.

 

So are you sayin ballpark 12k for a H/C 402 LS2, 9" rear, suspension, brakes, trans, bolt ons and the whole works including install? If so I got ripped!! Talk about ultimate example of not being patient and doing research, boy is that depressing to think of what i could have. O well, good luck on your project, id like to see some pics when its done.

 

where's computer & harness coming from?

 

No, that would be just for parts. Let's compare my ORIGINAL swap I had planned, just to compare apples to apples.

Keep in mind it is 1:30 am, and this is off the top of my head with only one set of my notes within arms reach, so many of these are just ballpark figures. Anyway, here is how my swap expenses shape up:

$4400 2001 LS1/4L60E, 18k miles, COMPLETE motor including harness, PCM, etc - ready to "drop in" a car (planned on reselling the auto trans)
$1100 T56 trans with 21k miles
$600 McLeod Street Twin Clutch with less than 2k miles and only a few passes on it
$1600 Brand new Moser 9" with 35 spline axles and 4.10 gears (yes I got some excellent deals through patience)
$1000 or so for other chassis/suspension/brake upgrades
$ 800 17x11 rear and 17x9.5 wheels with new tires up front, 20% left on rear Nittos
$475 Ported Stage 1.5 heads
$730 Cam kit with TR224/224 112lsa, springs, retainers, pushrods
$125 Jantzer Ported Throttlebody
$375 Coated PaceSetter Longtube headers
$330 Custom Chromoly 3" driveshaft from APE
$950 3rd Gen Specific LS1 Swap parts (tubular k-member/a-arms, trans crossmember, speedo converter, vats box, etc)
$750 SpearTech Custom Wiring Harness
$400 Misc gaskets, bolts, etc
$300 4th Gen seats (mint condition, front and rear)
$100 4th Gen M6 center console

So, $12k BEFORE LABOR for just about everything you'd need is a pretty good figure. I got a lot of stuff I didn't really NEED (like the seats, for example), and I also went with top of the line on all the suspension stuff that most guys doing a stock-cubed head/cam LS1 wouldn't have to go so far on.

NOW, however, I've just spent about $6k for the forged LS2 stroker. I'll still use the same wiring harness and PCM, and the majority of the mods. I'm either going to sell the LS1 or keep it for a future project, so I'm just deducting the cost of the LS1 package and plugging in the cost of the LS2, as far as my "expense sheet" is concerned.

So, add in the $1300 I paid for the car, the $3k estimate for body restoration and paint, and then labor, and you've got roughly $25k total invested into one mean bad-*** 3rd gen with lots of mods. More expensive than a "stock" 4th gen car, but still far cheaper than what I've seen many similarly modded 4th gens sell for.

 

Still im at the same price you are with the original project, except i have stock heads, higer mileage engine, a little less valve train parts, no seats, no wheels or tires yet, no longtubes only shorties(what are you going to do with that anyways, those longtubes i wouldnt think would work?), no 9" rear end only stock ls1 4th gen rear end, stock 4l60e, no ported throttle body, stock ls1 driveshaft not custom...the only things I have you dont are rack an pinion steering which i kinda had to get ($1200), and a nitrous kit ($450). The rest is about the same....where did my money go i am wondering . But still 25 k for a forged 402 ls2 beefed up drivetrain clean third gen is not bad at all in my mind.

By the way here is a complete list of parts except i havent bought the tires yet.
http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...page_id=785754

 

I also forgot to add in $400 for the 4th gen fuel tank and fuel line system.

I didn't see the justification for R&P steering for that price, when my Formula handled great already. (Gotta love the WS6 package on 3rd gen Formulas).

If that's all you got for $12k, then you DID get ripped!!

I'm hoping we can make the pacesetter headers fit with the Hawks tubular k-member and Spohn tubular a-arms. If not, I'll just get the long tubes that Bruce is developing - he should have them just in time to finish up my swap.

 

I heard that the LS1 computer won't work on the LS2 because of something with the knock sensors not sending the right signal. I'll be curious to find out how the installer gets around all of the changes and actually makes it work. I don't think anyone has done it yet.

 

INCORRECT. The LS1 computer works just fine on an LS2 (proven!) The only "issues" are that the cam position sensor wires have to be extended, and you have to re-tap the LS2 knock sensor hole and put an LS1 knock sensor in. All it takes is using the <SEARCH> button to find these simple answers. YES, someone HAS already done it.

 

89 Formula,
Bruce is the best. Take all his advice on mods. You will be very happy. I now have about 6000 miles on theLS1/T56 swap , cam and 373 posi he did for me . No problems at all !!

 

Hi Guys: I was looking at an 85 Z28 for 500 bucks with a good body and no motor, trans and exhaust system. I am contemplating doing this swap also. I am looking to do the swap as cheap as possible but still do a good job. I was planning on using a 5.3 truck motor and just changing the cam and putting on an ls1 intake and injectors. This way I could use an Fbody computer and harness. Has anyone used the hawks motor mounts? I would like to use a 200R4 trans from a turbo buick. Has anyone used this trans before in a 3rd gen? I know i would need a different mount and Crossmember? IF i use the cats, exhaust manifolds and Y pipe from a 2001-02 Camaro will they bolt up to the catback exhaust. I know I would have to change the gas tank and sender also because it was a carb car originally. Any suggestions welcome.

 

Bruce has my car too,1996 240sx LS1.he is going to program the computer.

 

Yup, you know you're reading BS when it starts with "I heard..."

 

You'll want to get acquainted w/ the search button, but here's a swipe at your questions:

Price out a 6.0L truck engine while you're shopping for 5.3s, the price really isn't usually that different. Check the locator on www.car-part.com

Piecing together a truck engine and F-car harness may wipe out some or all of your savings, shop hard before you make the call.

Several happy users of Hawks engine mounts, may actually be made by Spohn looking at their appearance. I got mine directly from Spohn.

The 200R4 trans was used in the GTA 3.8L turbo cars, so some variant of it will fit. No clue on mods needed to get it to fit the chassis, what crossmember, how the torque arm mounts to it, etc.

Even if you could get the LS1 cats to bolt up (they smack the floorpan) they won't directly bolt to any known 3rd gen cat-back exhausts. Some cutting & welding is involved in every case we've seen.

 

Hi: Thanks for the info Crain. I figured the exhaust was the biggest pain to doing this swap. I may wait and see for the long tube headers to comeout. Maybe they will have a catted Y=pipe and off road pipe available soon also. I may look at the 6.0 motors also if the price is right.

 

Teamspank,

Yeah, I saw you car the other day when I was there. That little thing with an LS1 should HAUL!! Definitely gonna be something of a sleeper.

 

the car not changing gears,he drove the car he said it felt like his blower car.the car takes off in drive and stayes in drive.he going to fix it for me.I got the motor trans from bruce.i wired the car but it does not change,and dont know why.so took it to him