I have a question for yall.
I have a question for yall. Dealing with your swaps and such, what was the hardest part, most time consuming, and the most frustrating?
I am thinking about selling my camaro and then buying a car to do an ls1 swap. Just wondering, since yall have the experiance.
I am thinking about selling my camaro and then buying a car to do an ls1 swap. Just wondering, since yall have the experiance.
Wiring for all three categories! If you have the cash buy a conversion harness. We did our own because money was tight. It took a while and did a lot of checking back and forth between the 88 and 98 service manuals to make sure we were doing it right.
I haven't bought anything from Speartech but he's been kind enough to answer a few questions for me and would be the one I would go to if buying a harness.
The fabrication work took a little while too (1/2 day) but overall wasn't too bad. Of course I was working in a nice garage with a lift, plasma cutter, several welders, etc. This could be the toughest part if you don't have access to the right tools.
I haven't bought anything from Speartech but he's been kind enough to answer a few questions for me and would be the one I would go to if buying a harness.
The fabrication work took a little while too (1/2 day) but overall wasn't too bad. Of course I was working in a nice garage with a lift, plasma cutter, several welders, etc. This could be the toughest part if you don't have access to the right tools.
My answer is based on "So Far" since I am not done and running yet. For me it has been the exahust and fuel systems. Becuase my frame rails are narrowed, and I have a conventional steering box, the driver's side exhaust has been a real challenge. Next is the fuel system. I have actually replaced the entire fuel system in my car from the tank forward. I wanted to use an in tank pump and my existing tank was not deep enough, so I chose to get a new one instead of modifying the old one. I Have not gotten to the electrical side yet, but I don't anticpate a lot of problems with that because I had a harness custom made by Speartech and the wiring in my car is in excellent shape.
There was a real good thread on this, but I ccould not find it in a search, I wonder if some of the older threads have been deleted?
Pat
There was a real good thread on this, but I ccould not find it in a search, I wonder if some of the older threads have been deleted?
Pat
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Pacifica, CA
Originally Posted by ls1_chevelle
Most frustrating..... Knowing that your 15g budget ran up a year ago and your still not done.
-Matt
-Matt
When asked about my restoration/conversion I usually tell people I feel like the proverbial frog being boiled. (you can boil a frog without him really noticing if you just keep raising the temp slowly ...).
Every time I set my "absolute budget" for the project something else comes up, I toss and turn a bit, then say "oh, it couldn't hurt to add just this thing". Next thing you know you're at 6 times your original budget!
mine was all pretty simple. Once I understood the factory harness is a stand alone harness in itself, simply hook up the battery, ignition, fuel, serial port, and it fired right up. I was amazed and expecting some problems... but none. People just get overwhelmed with all the wires in the harness. theres only 3 terminals coming off it that you use under the hood and only a few wires in each one you use. then 2 to go through the firewall, and you only need one i think, just for the serial port, and your check engine light.
Its all pretty much plug and play. If you can read a schematic, and have the patience....then its pretty simple.
Its all pretty much plug and play. If you can read a schematic, and have the patience....then its pretty simple.
