Might be doing LS1 in thirdgen conversion, any tips or warnings?
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My bud is all amped up about puting an LS1 in his thirdgen. I will doing most of the work and was hoping for some info on how everyone else's experience went.
thanks
J
thanks
J
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Theres a ton of info on here about third gen ls1 swaps if you search in this forum. Another place to look for a lot of info on third gen ls1 swaps is thirdgen.org in the engine swap section. Definatly couldnt have done it myself without this site.
As for experience with the swap, it depends on how much you are doing besides just the engine swap. I did a lot more than the engine swap(brakes, suspension, chassis) so Ive had a lot more little problems which make it harder. But as engine swaps go I dont think this is the hardest seeing as I was able to do it with very little prior automotive knowledge, mainly because they make a ton of swap parts. The most annoying part I would say (assuming you get the wiring harness done by speartech) is getting all the little fittings adapted and all the little things hooked like power steering, AC if you keep it, and things like that. Actually physically putting the engine in isnt hard except that sometimes the swap parts dont fit up absolutly perfectly so some nudgeing may be required. Just definatly research it throughly, plan the problems ahead and try to get all the parts relativly at one time and it will make it a lot easier. I cant tell you how much time I wasted waiting for parts. Good luck.
As for experience with the swap, it depends on how much you are doing besides just the engine swap. I did a lot more than the engine swap(brakes, suspension, chassis) so Ive had a lot more little problems which make it harder. But as engine swaps go I dont think this is the hardest seeing as I was able to do it with very little prior automotive knowledge, mainly because they make a ton of swap parts. The most annoying part I would say (assuming you get the wiring harness done by speartech) is getting all the little fittings adapted and all the little things hooked like power steering, AC if you keep it, and things like that. Actually physically putting the engine in isnt hard except that sometimes the swap parts dont fit up absolutly perfectly so some nudgeing may be required. Just definatly research it throughly, plan the problems ahead and try to get all the parts relativly at one time and it will make it a lot easier. I cant tell you how much time I wasted waiting for parts. Good luck.
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I wish I only had 10gs into this thing! If I would have been told how much I was going to spend I would have just bought a vette. My best advice is to stick with a plan that you set. If you want to swap in a stroked LS1 then you might want to set aside a BIG stack of cash. Man this thinking about how much I have in my car is making me feel sick.
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I'm with ya on that one. I'm not even close to getting everything I need to finish it. You really gotta love your thirdgen to do this swap because you'll have enough in it to buy a 4th gen LS1 car.
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check out www.fbodymotorsports.com in NC I saw an article in gmhtp where they had done several and had a bunch of the custom fab pieces that they sell.
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I agree with the other guys, the money part can get out of hand quickly. I know when I was doing mine I said numerous times, "I should go ahead and replace this while the car is torn apart", and then all I heard was the cash register sound in my head, ch-ching.
If your just going to do the motor swap, then I dont see why someone couldnt do it for less than 5K. Keep in mind you need to start off with a good platform, something like a 91-92 Z28 would be optimum. This way you already have a good enough (for a stock LS1) rearend, possibly even the fuel system (for a stock LS1), and things like the speedo and other electronics will adapt with the LS1 eaiser. Also, I found my LS1 for 3K, that was with PCM, all Acc., wiring harness, 4L60E and torque converter. That leaves 2K for all of the misc. stuff which would probably more than enough.
In the end, no matter how much money is spent, you will quickly forget about the cost when you take it for the first test drive.
If your just going to do the motor swap, then I dont see why someone couldnt do it for less than 5K. Keep in mind you need to start off with a good platform, something like a 91-92 Z28 would be optimum. This way you already have a good enough (for a stock LS1) rearend, possibly even the fuel system (for a stock LS1), and things like the speedo and other electronics will adapt with the LS1 eaiser. Also, I found my LS1 for 3K, that was with PCM, all Acc., wiring harness, 4L60E and torque converter. That leaves 2K for all of the misc. stuff which would probably more than enough.
In the end, no matter how much money is spent, you will quickly forget about the cost when you take it for the first test drive.
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Yea, right now im in the process of buying my LS1 for $4,100 w/T56, all accessories, pedals, driveshaft, wiring harness, etc.
I still need to get:
1.) Modified Wiring Harness
2.) Tranny Crossmember
3.) Motor Mounts
4.) High Output Fuel Pump and new fuel lines
5.) Fuel Pressure Regulator
Does anyone else that has done the swap know if there is anything else needed besides the obvious? For the exhaust system, i know that the stock LS1 manifolds should be kept, but what did you guys use for the y-pipe? custom bent pipes??Anykind of driveshaft or rear modifications that have/should be done? Is the modified wiring harness needed, or should i just do it myself?
Thanks for the help.
~Sevada
I still need to get:
1.) Modified Wiring Harness
2.) Tranny Crossmember
3.) Motor Mounts
4.) High Output Fuel Pump and new fuel lines
5.) Fuel Pressure Regulator
Does anyone else that has done the swap know if there is anything else needed besides the obvious? For the exhaust system, i know that the stock LS1 manifolds should be kept, but what did you guys use for the y-pipe? custom bent pipes??Anykind of driveshaft or rear modifications that have/should be done? Is the modified wiring harness needed, or should i just do it myself?
Thanks for the help.
~Sevada
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Originally Posted by Zstyle28
Does anyone else that has done the swap know if there is anything else needed besides the obvious?
Originally Posted by Zstyle28
For the exhaust system, i know that the stock LS1 manifolds should be kept, but what did you guys use for the y-pipe?
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Originally Posted by Zstyle28
Anykind of driveshaft or rear modifications that have/should be done?
Originally Posted by Zstyle28
Is the modified wiring harness needed, or should i just do it myself?
Last edited by 92CamaroReallySlow; 03-03-2005 at 12:24 PM.
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Yea, the floorboard has to be cut-out 2 inches back to allow room for the parking brake. I checked out speartech's prices...a bit high for a modified harness, the lowest i found so far is $650. Everything else on my car is set, full sespension upgrade except for the k-member. I just can't wait to get this project started.
Thanks for the help!
Thanks for the help!
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Originally Posted by Zstyle28
Yea, the floorboard has to be cut-out 2 inches back to allow room for the parking brake. I checked out speartech's prices...a bit high for a modified harness, the lowest i found so far is $650. Everything else on my car is set, full sespension upgrade except for the k-member. I just can't wait to get this project started.
Thanks for the help!
Thanks for the help!
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sounds good man, i'll definatley give him a call. How long was the turn-around time on gettin the harness modified?
Another thing....i know that a notch has to be taken out of the k-member for the A/C, but is there anyway to relocate the A/C, and not have to do the fab on the k-member??
Thanks
Another thing....i know that a notch has to be taken out of the k-member for the A/C, but is there anyway to relocate the A/C, and not have to do the fab on the k-member??
Thanks
Last edited by Zstyle28; 03-03-2005 at 01:54 PM.
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Originally Posted by Zstyle28
Yea, right now im in the process of buying my LS1 for $4,100 w/T56, all accessories, pedals, driveshaft, wiring harness, etc.
~Sevada
~Sevada
http://www.speartech.com/track.html
Lifting pics is
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Originally Posted by crainholio
Gee, your avatar pic looks exactly like Speartech's pic at the bottom of this page...
http://www.speartech.com/track.html
Lifting pics is![Barf](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_barf.gif)
http://www.speartech.com/track.html
Lifting pics is
![Barf](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_barf.gif)
![1poke](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies2/1poke.gif)
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Being wrong is
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now back to the topic.
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Originally Posted by Zstyle28
sounds good man, i'll definatley give him a call. How long was the turn-around time on gettin the harness modified?
Another thing....i know that a notch has to be taken out of the k-member for the A/C, but is there anyway to relocate the A/C, and not have to do the fab on the k-member??
Thanks
Another thing....i know that a notch has to be taken out of the k-member for the A/C, but is there anyway to relocate the A/C, and not have to do the fab on the k-member??
Thanks
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Originally Posted by 92CamaroReallySlow
As for turn around time, I think it depends on his work load at the time but i want to say for me it was around 3 weeks or so. For the AC I know that Hawksthirdgenparts.com and Fbodymotorsports.com both sell brackets that allow you to use the stock third gen AC compressor in its stock location, I think it solves the problem of the AC hitting the kmember plus I think you can use the stock AC lines. Correct me if im wrong on any of this guys.