ls1 into 3rd gen
ls1 into 3rd gen I just started playing with this idea, how much fabrication is actually needed, Ive done a couple of engine swaps but never anything that wasnt made to be in there, can this be done in my garage is the basic question? I havent done any fabricating of anykind before.
I'm not to much further along than you are. I have gathered most of the parts and we're getting ready to do the pull out of the L98. Read the stickys a lot of good info there and reference to other links. Scan/search the posts in this section, seems to be a lot of good 3rd Gen info.
As to what I've learned so far there doesn't appear to be much fabrication work at all. You need new motor mount plates and a modified transmission support which you can either do yourself or purchase. Some minor notching may be needed on K member too. If you've done other engine swaps with the tools you've got I don't see any reason you couldn't do this one. Just my opinion but looks like with enough time, patience and money, not neccessarily in that order it shouldn't be that hard.
As to what I've learned so far there doesn't appear to be much fabrication work at all. You need new motor mount plates and a modified transmission support which you can either do yourself or purchase. Some minor notching may be needed on K member too. If you've done other engine swaps with the tools you've got I don't see any reason you couldn't do this one. Just my opinion but looks like with enough time, patience and money, not neccessarily in that order it shouldn't be that hard.
Im doing the a swap and it has all been pretty easy Except you can buy a K- member from BMR and it makes it pretty easy.The motor is just plug and play, and I cut up my own wiring harness. I put a sump on my stock tank and i'm running a a1000 with -10 to the motor and -6 for the return. all i need is a 01 cpu and im ready. good luck!!! you will like it once its in the car
Originally Posted by TAdriven98
I just started playing with this idea, how much fabrication is actually needed, Ive done a couple of engine swaps but never anything that wasnt made to be in there, can this be done in my garage is the basic question? I havent done any fabricating of anykind before.
yes, it can be done in any garage... a parking lot if you had to.
you can buy the motor mounts and crossmember for the stock Kmember... you cannot run the LS1 AC compressor this way, without modding (fabricating) a notch in there.. but you can have a functional LS1 setup this way... you could also reuse the 3rdgen compressor with brackets ( $$$) or making them (again fabbing)
OR
you can buy a Kmember with the motor mounts and a trans crossmember... keep the LS1 AC location... it all bolts on.
that mounts the motor... the wiring isnt really fabrication.. its just connecting wires. i donno you so i cant tell you if its hard or not.. i think its easy, but its not the first time i had to solder two wires together.
the cooling system is easy. hardest part is mounting the throttle body coolent return. you need to screw a brass fitting into the radiator, OR swap to a 4thgen radiator, or get a aftermarket one.
the fuel system is as easy or hard as you make it.
you can buy a bolt in solution. you can roll your own and have a shop make hoses.. or you can do it all yourself.. any way you go, its not hard.
air intake is easy to make at home... or you can buy it.
exhaust will have to be fabbed to keep the stock manifolds... if you get Hawks longtubes, his Ypipe meets with the stock I pipe... so its once more your choice.
if you choose to fab nothing, and make it all a bolt in, no thinking, no learning kind of deal, it costs alot more then if you make your little parts... but its as easy or hard as you want to make it.
