So i'm new to this forum but i have searched through the stickies and read up on some stuff. I plan on swapping a 02 ls1 into my 90 camaro. When i get the swap all squared away with the referee i would like to do some mods. My goal is a 11 second ride through a 4l60e and 3.42's. I was thinking 450 rwhp will get me there. It seems like afr 205, a lsx 90mm intake and 90mm tb, and 1 3/4 shorties will get me there. I will finish it off with a mufflex 3.5 exhaust. What cam should i be looking for? Will these mods get me there? And, i need to stay smog legal.

 

anyone?

 

Questions:
Is swapping in a '02 LS1 into a '90 F-body smog legal...?
Why shorties instead on long tubes...?

 

it's smog legal as long as you retain all smog equipment. Also, any mods you do to the engine must have a carb eo #. Long tubes are not smog legal.

 

definately don't do shorties. Your 450 mark should be easy to hit with the combo you suggested.

 

why not?

 

Where is your cat located...?
Will your cat move backward with long tubes...?
If it doesn't, then the long tubes should be legal, from what I understand.

Correct me if I'm all messed up.

 

Is there an EO for an engine swap...?
Which year smog rules apply to a swap...?

That will be a very cool swap to do.

 

no. long tubes are never legal. even on 4th gen cars.

 

no carb # for a swap. You take it a referee and they certify to be smogged as a 2002 camaro z28.

 

so why no long tubes? Are the fast intakes smog legal(i can probably find this one)? And does anyone have a cam suggestion. I can probably go pretty big as it's not like anyone is going to spec the cam to see if it's stock. With a good tune, i should be able to pass the sniffer.

 

Shorty and mid length headers flow about the same as stock 01-02 manifolds. Long tubes will give you much more power especially with heads and cam. For the cam you will want something kinda hefty to hit the 450 mark. 230ish or above duration, over 600 lift, at least 112lsa. Do a search or call some of our sponsors and see what they say. They all have nice "off the shelf" cams that have proven themselves time over, but a custom grind is always best.

 

that's probably the best bet cam wise. I was going to have a guy i know build me a set of headers that i know would pass smog and outflow the stockers. Is the fast intake smog legal? I hope the a4 won't hold me back for my goal of 450.

 

ET's>Peak Power

 

leave the stock manifolds and cats for it on, once you drive away from the ref, LT, ls6 intake/fast, and a big good matched cam will get you your goal. showing up to a smog place with LT's in california is like al sharpton showing up to a klan convention. I seriously doubt you'll get away with it. happily mod away once you leave the place with approval in hand.
my 2 cents.

olly

 

I believe Stainless Works makes headers for 3rd gens equipped with LS1's which are sold through a dealer. 450 rwhp through an A4 is tough, but you can still hit the 11's with a big converter. I'm pretty sure the FAST intake has a CARB certification, but I would call FAST/Comp Cam since they are sponsors here. >>>>>

 

I'd say take Olly's advice. Do the conversion 100% stock. Don't change a *thing*. Use stock cat pipes. Get it smogged by the ref, *then* do what you want. The refs will go over it with a fine tooth comb and they will likely catch your cam too, so don't do it before the ref.

I don't think the FAST intake is smog legal, but I don't know about that. In any case, I'd still go with the above advice - don't change a thing until you get past the ref.

I've talked to the refs on the phone because of my 78 t/a conversion and they are completely inflexible. I asked them if I could shift the position of the cats about 1" for better clearance. They said no. They went so far as to tell me not to even try the conversion because it would be too hard to make everything pass smog. To me that's ludicrous - the LS1 is at least 10 times more smog efficient and 2-3 times as fuel efficient. Yet they're telling me not to do it. That's your government in action.

Now the gas station smog guys ... that's a different story. You could get a lot more past these guys. But something to consider there ... I've heard a rumor (unsubstantiated) that they're starting to make more people go to the "test only" stations, which tend to be a lot more strict than the average gas station locations. The rumor continues to say that the older your car gets, the more likely you'll be sent to a test-only station.

And don't forget, if you do go the mod-after-the-ref route - if you get caught you'll not only be fined, but you'll be sent to the smog ref who, again, will go over it with a fine tooth comb. So you'd have to put everything back to 100% stock.

I'm not trying to discourage you ... lots of people do the mods and get away with it. But you should at least think about it a bit ....

Gotta love CA.

 

Move !!!! I dont worry about anything down here in south carolina That is just gay with all the smog rules and what you can do and not to to your own private property!!!!

 

Just register your car in another state

But anyways yes it will not pass smog with any kid of LT, but you are right stainless does sell a LT for the third gen through HawksThirdGenPerformance.

You have two choices.

A. Just keep it all stock once you pass smog say screw it and mod the heck out of it and find someone who will pass you with LT's the next time.

B. The Thunder Racing Cheater cam and AFR's with a fast 90/90, etc. will put down some really nice power through stock manifolds and cats. Not 450 to the wheels but you will break at least 415 prolly. Talk to Patrick G on this board about it, and give thunder a call.

C. Call up some sponsers on here and tell them what you got and want and see what they come up for ya.

But you guys are right the smog control in cali makes no sense

 

Yeah i was definetely going to wait on mods until after it's squared away with the ref. I will make sure that any mod i do will be smog legal. One thing i've experienced is you can make anything pass the sniffer with a good tune. I want to run 11's and get great gas mileage. I was going to run a 2800 stall and 3.42's. If i can't get into the 11's, i'll go forced induction or nos.