playing with the idea of putting an LS1 into a first gen...
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: CS, TX
playing with the idea of putting an LS1 into a first gen... I know a lot of people have done this, can someone answer some of my questions/point me to some good websites with information and such?
Really, my main question is, if I do end up doing this, what am I getting myself into? I've never done a swap like this before, but I'm willing to try. I have an LS1 car (01 z28), so I know a fair amount about the motor itself, I'm just unsure of my ability to put one into another car.
If I ever do end up doing this, it will probably be a long way off, but I just like to be prepared =).
<small>[ November 18, 2002, 07:21 PM: Message edited by: AMan ]</small>
Really, my main question is, if I do end up doing this, what am I getting myself into? I've never done a swap like this before, but I'm willing to try. I have an LS1 car (01 z28), so I know a fair amount about the motor itself, I'm just unsure of my ability to put one into another car.
If I ever do end up doing this, it will probably be a long way off, but I just like to be prepared =).
<small>[ November 18, 2002, 07:21 PM: Message edited by: AMan ]</small>
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, Florida
Re: playing with the idea of putting an LS1 into a first gen... Where to start? How about cost. I believe the best thing, and by best I mean cheapest, route would be to get the entire wrecked car. Of course if you're upgrading/rebuilding/hotrodding/customizing/etc the other vehicle this could be a mute point.
How easy is easy and how hard is hard? It's hard to answer your question with out knowing for sure what vehicle it will be going in (custom motor mounts, fuel system, driveshaft, etc). What tools do you own or have available to you (cherry picker, welder, scanner) and what are your abilities (or how much can you do yourself, can you weld, read wiring diagrams, etc.)
I think everybody's swap who's posted on here was a little different. I am by all means NOT discouraging anybody from doing this, as I really enjoy it (doing it is half the fun right?). <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> And of course if it was easy everybody would have a LS1 for a powerplant. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
This is the best website available for these swaps. Someone probably already has done it and could set you up with some info/pix/etc and your swap will be easier than theirs was. Use search and look at old posts---there is a ton of info here (that's my problem--information overload). Good luck.
How easy is easy and how hard is hard? It's hard to answer your question with out knowing for sure what vehicle it will be going in (custom motor mounts, fuel system, driveshaft, etc). What tools do you own or have available to you (cherry picker, welder, scanner) and what are your abilities (or how much can you do yourself, can you weld, read wiring diagrams, etc.)
I think everybody's swap who's posted on here was a little different. I am by all means NOT discouraging anybody from doing this, as I really enjoy it (doing it is half the fun right?). <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> And of course if it was easy everybody would have a LS1 for a powerplant. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
This is the best website available for these swaps. Someone probably already has done it and could set you up with some info/pix/etc and your swap will be easier than theirs was. Use search and look at old posts---there is a ton of info here (that's my problem--information overload). Good luck.
9-Second Club
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 306
Likes: 2
From: Canada
Re: playing with the idea of putting an LS1 into a first gen... Check out the jan issue of Popular Hot Rodding, pgs 82-85 there is a good idea of whats involved in the swap! <img border="0" alt="[Burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Re: playing with the idea of putting an LS1 into a first gen... ITs all about the money and the time. Im a college kid, and Ive been working on my swap for about 2 years now, Simply because I have an annual income of about 10k and because I go to school. Obviously its not going to take this long if you have plenty of spare time and cash. Total cost of swap at this point: approx. $7,000, including engine and trans. Most expensive Items are engine and trans, wiring harness, PCM programming, (before there was LS1 edit, I should have waited) S&P brackets and headers. All of the little stuff adds up too. GOOD LUCK!!!
-Gordon <img border="0" alt="[Burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />
-Gordon <img border="0" alt="[Burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />
