ls1 into v6 car
ls1 into v6 car I am looking to put a ls1 into a v6 camaro, is there any info about the swap out there? I guess the main thing is the wiring for the engine harness and guages. Thanks for any info.
TECH Addict
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,660
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From: England
Honestly it will be much easier and cheaper to just buy a LS1 powered car.
In all reality everything apart from the interior and bodyshell will need something doing to it. Plus you'll also have a low re-sale value too.
I know other people put LS1's into other cars, but that's usually because you couldn't have had one as stock.
I'm not certain of the spec of the V6, but sensible things to check would include:
-wiring loom
-ECU/PCM
-cooling system
-fuel system
-transmission
-propshaft
-rear axel (which needs improving even on stock LS1's)
-diff
-drive shafts
-brakes
-hubs
-exhaust
-engine mounts and K-member
Plus a host of stupid things like battery location/washer bottle (As I say I don't know much about the V6, but these are all common things to be different).
Power steering and other ancilliaries.
All I can see it being is a LOT of work and cost with a high possibility that it will never be as good as it should and be worth almost nothing at the end of it.
I'm not trying to diswade you or be nasty, just add a little reality.
Engine swaps when done CORRECTLY can be very good. But there will always be issues to some extent.
I did a simple swap in my TR7. Ripped out the 2.0 litre and fitted a Rover 3.5 V8 this is all the TR8's and Rally TR7 V8's where in reality. And you can buy all the factory parts. Yet if you're doing the work you will also upgrade certain things also.
After several years and some 20,000+ miles later it is still not 100% finished. And the R&D continues.
In all reality everything apart from the interior and bodyshell will need something doing to it. Plus you'll also have a low re-sale value too.
I know other people put LS1's into other cars, but that's usually because you couldn't have had one as stock.
I'm not certain of the spec of the V6, but sensible things to check would include:
-wiring loom
-ECU/PCM
-cooling system
-fuel system
-transmission
-propshaft
-rear axel (which needs improving even on stock LS1's)
-diff
-drive shafts
-brakes
-hubs
-exhaust
-engine mounts and K-member
Plus a host of stupid things like battery location/washer bottle (As I say I don't know much about the V6, but these are all common things to be different).
Power steering and other ancilliaries.
All I can see it being is a LOT of work and cost with a high possibility that it will never be as good as it should and be worth almost nothing at the end of it.
I'm not trying to diswade you or be nasty, just add a little reality.
Engine swaps when done CORRECTLY can be very good. But there will always be issues to some extent.
I did a simple swap in my TR7. Ripped out the 2.0 litre and fitted a Rover 3.5 V8 this is all the TR8's and Rally TR7 V8's where in reality. And you can buy all the factory parts. Yet if you're doing the work you will also upgrade certain things also.
After several years and some 20,000+ miles later it is still not 100% finished. And the R&D continues.
a 93-97 V6 car can be had very cheap ($1000-3000) and if you are going to put a iron block with aftermarket heads on it and a aftermarket intake on it there is no reason to start with a LS1 car if you are just going to replace anything anyways. worst case senario with converting a 98+ V6 car is that you would have to get a complete motor and harness along with gauges and then transfer that over to a V6 car maybe having to replace the cross memeber, in reality it should be VERY easy. as for 97 and under cars.... i dont know about the cross memeber bolt holes, if they are the same, easiest way again would be to get a cross memeber for an LS1 car and just shove it up under there. i might be attempting a swap on a 96 V6 car later this year. it should be an easy swap because the only diffrences between a V6 car and a LS1 car are basicly the motors, suspensions etc are the same. wiring harness for an LS1 is completely independent of the wiring of the car too which makes it a ton easier
11 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: hesperia,ca
yup brakes and all suspention are the same. k-member needs to be swaped for a ls1 k-member (might as well swap in a tubular chromoly one). gauge cluster needs to be swaped. the gas tank needs to be swaped to the newer plastic one when working with the 93-97s. engine harness can be converted but its much easier to just get the ls1 harness. power steering rack is the same. radiator is needed (again a good chance for upgrading). if i think of all the mods done to my z28 swaping from a v6 car wouldnt have been that far off for example: rear end, lcas, panhard, ds, radiator, and k-member have all been changed anyway. plus if you already have the pink to your v6 then it could deff. be worth it. i will do this swap on a 01 camaro pretty soon if everything goes well. that 01 v6 is a hard top, crank windows, and manual door locks with no options. that all makes for lightness that you cant find in a v8 car, that is why i want to do it.
www.hpsalvage.com has all the swap tips you need, along with part #'s you need to make this conversion easier. He also has everything you need to help you with your conversion, and he is a very nice guy. Good luck
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Verdad Gallardo Well I know the parts it is going to take to get the motor in the car and hooked up right...I am mainly asking about what it is going to take wiring wise. I have a ls1 motor, with the 6 spd, crossover, driveshaft, clutch, master clyinder, slave, ect.
Originally Posted by Humming Bird
no not the whole cars (options can add hundreds so 200# difference cannot be the last word on that) just the engine and trans weight difference.
Originally Posted by black98ws6ta
Well I know the parts it is going to take to get the motor in the car and hooked up right...I am mainly asking about what it is going to take wiring wise. I have a ls1 motor, with the 6 spd, crossover, driveshaft, clutch, master clyinder, slave, ect.
Originally Posted by Cop Car
im talking about exactly the same option cars. so 200 lbs
just use stock LS1 harness, and if you can get the steering column with the VATS key and you wont even have to modify the computer. like i said, motor harness and body harness are completely seperate
just use stock LS1 harness, and if you can get the steering column with the VATS key and you wont even have to modify the computer. like i said, motor harness and body harness are completely seperate
11 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 178
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From: hesperia,ca
Originally Posted by black98ws6ta
What about guages and gas tank as mentioned before?Thanks guys
on the earlier f-bodys the gas tank is metal and needs to be swaped to the plastic tank of the later model (also a pretty good chance to upgrade the pump)
BTW, when you start your swap will you take pictures of EVERYTHING and post them in your own thread?? when do you plan to start??
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
The 98 z28 doner car for my swap had a metal gas tank in it. While I was dissassembling my doner car, I was thinking how easy it would be to swap all the parts to a cheaper v-6 car.
I think that if you could buy a complete doner car, get the factory repair manual set for that year car, and find a good v-6 car the same year as the donar car, it would not be as hard as most of the other swaps in this fourm.
Also, no one has talked about the biggest advantage of this swap. The insurance! The vin number would be a v-6, That was my biggest reason to make a ls1 powered old car, I can't afford to pay insurance on a 4th gen ls1 f-body with a perfect driving record, married and being an old fart too!
I think that if you could buy a complete doner car, get the factory repair manual set for that year car, and find a good v-6 car the same year as the donar car, it would not be as hard as most of the other swaps in this fourm.
Also, no one has talked about the biggest advantage of this swap. The insurance! The vin number would be a v-6, That was my biggest reason to make a ls1 powered old car, I can't afford to pay insurance on a 4th gen ls1 f-body with a perfect driving record, married and being an old fart too!
Banned
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 96
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From: DETROIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Originally Posted by elesquan
The 98 z28 doner car for my swap had a metal gas tank in it. While I was dissassembling my doner car, I was thinking how easy it would be to swap all the parts to a cheaper v-6 car.
I think that if you could buy a complete doner car, get the factory repair manual set for that year car, and find a good v-6 car the same year as the donar car, it would not be as hard as most of the other swaps in this fourm.
Also, no one has talked about the biggest advantage of this swap. The insurance! The vin number would be a v-6, That was my biggest reason to make a ls1 powered old car, I can't afford to pay insurance on a 4th gen ls1 f-body with a perfect driving record, married and being an old fart too!
I think that if you could buy a complete doner car, get the factory repair manual set for that year car, and find a good v-6 car the same year as the donar car, it would not be as hard as most of the other swaps in this fourm.
Also, no one has talked about the biggest advantage of this swap. The insurance! The vin number would be a v-6, That was my biggest reason to make a ls1 powered old car, I can't afford to pay insurance on a 4th gen ls1 f-body with a perfect driving record, married and being an old fart too!
for the record ive done this i had a 1998 v6 i purchased really cheap
then i purchased a donor car totaled ls1 1998 and swaped every thing over in 3 days 4 hour a day it wasnt that hard i could do it again
11 Second Club
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: hesperia,ca
Originally Posted by V6Owner
ummmm why not go Force induction and save yourself the headache?