Black LS1 T/A

Any good articles or sites for removing and replacing an LS1 motor from a Trans Am (or Camaro, too, should be fine)?

Any good tips?

Thanks.

SSINFUL

GMHTP (GM High-Tech Performance) mag has had numerous articles in the last couple of years about camming & stroking & pulling LS1's...

Along w/ articles from Super Chevy, & Chevy High Performance, I'd definitely invest in a set of Helm manuals before I tackled *that* job! Too many wires <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" /> ...

Black LS1 T/A

Cool!

I've got the Helms manuals.

I'd like an overview from somewhere that's not overly technical. You know... the kind of stuff that says, "If I had know better I would have...". <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Thanks... I will hav to see if I get get some back issues. I have the last year of GMHTP. I'll look thru those first.

2bseen

Take it out the bottom if you can get a lift and tools you can have it out in 3 hrs easy.

1dirtyZ

iTrader: (1)

i did itfrom the top not too long ago and it was no biggie. just remove the intake manifold, valve covers, and radiator ( you don't have to remove the condenser, i didn't) and you'll be surprised of all the space that frees up!

i know raughammer's website had some pics , he actually pulled the motor and the tranny together. his website is
http://xs-fx.com/raughammer/
just go to the motor replacement page.

did you already get your new motor???
good luck!!

Black LS1 T/A

Thanks for the link to the "Pepper"!

GWP says they will ship my motor out this week.

Once they say it's on it's way, I'll start taking mine out. I gotta be ready before the month is out our I'll miss this summer's opening fun! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Black LS1 T/A

I realize my post may be too broad or somewhat vague... I know some of you guys have done this.

Let me see if I can be specific without shutting myself out of info I haven't thought of. I'm looking for:

1. Best way to remove the motor... out the top or from the bottom.
(I won't have a lift, just two pair of jack stands.)
(If from the bottom: how many guys does it take, what you did, to move the car back from over the motor.)
2. What you removed/disconnected, and in what order.
3. Remove and install tips you'd give, and what the "snag" issues were... what was troublesome.
4. Special tools beyond what the home mechanic may have (extra-long extensions, wierd socket lengths or sizes, etc.)
5. How long it took to remove.
6. How long it took to re-install.

Anything else I haven't thought of, I'd be appreciative.

Thanks!

cablebandit

iTrader: (37)

Since you don't have a lift I can't say. 2bseen did most of the work the first time on my car. The 2nd time I basically did it by myself. It took 2 hours to have the motor/tranny and subframe sitting on the ground. I then removed heads...reinstalled heads...then reinstalled motor/tranny and drove that night with a/c

Black LS1 T/A

1DirtyZ, I found your advice about doing it from the top (did that come out right <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> ) from a few months ago when I was considering getting this motor instead of just doing a heads/cam:

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
don't worry about the taking the engine out the top, it's a little time consuming but very doable.
first off raise the *** end of the car about 10 inches or so, then raise the front with a jack. begin with disconnecting the harness then the fule line ( you'll need a fule line disconecting tool for that , available in any auto store) then you'll be ready to remove the intake manifold.
after that remove all the accesories ( coils, covers, alt, radiator) infront of the engine. for the power steering just move it to the side and hold it with wire, same thing for the a/c compressor ( i tied it to the sway bar) , you don't have to discharge the a/c system , just keep the condenser in place but remove the radiator). you'll have to disconnect the headers to reach the starter ( unbolt that too). you don't have to remove the balancer of the front of the engine but you will have to remove the ati pully ( i didn't do this but it think you could get away with keeping the alternator , blower bracket, and water pump on the engine ) you don't have to remove the Y for the blower piping since it's out of the way.

now would be a good time to unbolt the tranny ( i've seen people pull it out with the motor, so it's up to you) just remeber to drain the fluid to prevent a mess) .

when you start pulling the motor out i'd suggest having someone else there to help you with the hoist ( have an old tire for the engine to sit on).

finally , i highly recommend getting little baggies and post it notes to mark where each set of bolts came from.

hope this helps , tell it us how it goes.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If taking it from the bottom is quicker, I want to try that, but I can't get any details from anyone that's done it from the bottom without a lift. I recall someone saying getting the car backed off the motor was a scary experience, and I'd like to hear more.

Thanks!

1dirtyZ

iTrader: (1)

i guess pulling the motor from the bottom would be faster , if you have a lift of some sort. backing the car out/ motor from the other would be a bit to adventurous for me.

someone with a lowered blue T/A and (i think) a vortech had some pics and a write up on his site about removing the engine from the bottom using jack stands to hold the body up. sorry i can't remeber the name <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> .