rebuild or swap
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Gainesville,FL/Riverdale, GA
rebuild or swap My LT1 has 135k. Called a speed shop to inquire about head/cam install and was told due mileage would advise not to due the swap. Would it best to rebuild or do a LS swap?
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A motor with 130k mi on it is on the "old" side to do a H/C install on. Yeah people do it but with the higher RPM's the motor will rev to make its max power with the new cam....that added stress can take its toll on high mileage bearings, rod bolts, etc so the motor can be short lived
Ideally you would want to "re-fresh" the bottom end by at least polishing crank, new rod, cam and main bearings with a cyl. hone and new rings.
The shop sounds like they don't want to do the H/C install and have you come back in short time with a spun bearing
Ideally you would want to "re-fresh" the bottom end by at least polishing crank, new rod, cam and main bearings with a cyl. hone and new rings.
The shop sounds like they don't want to do the H/C install and have you come back in short time with a spun bearing
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 848
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From: Gainesville,FL/Riverdale, GA
TECH Addict
Joined: Feb 2012
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If going LS you also also going with LS clutch hydraulics, LS clutch, LS Fbody K member and dealing with the wiring harness etc.
IMO the only time it is worth converting a LT car to LS is if it's a worthwhile motor. I would not swap a stock LS into a LT. I'd just sell the car and go buy an LS car lol
If you are going with a LS3 crate engine or something more interesting, well that's a different story.
Cheaper to have the motor freshened up with a LE2 HCI package.
IMO the only time it is worth converting a LT car to LS is if it's a worthwhile motor. I would not swap a stock LS into a LT. I'd just sell the car and go buy an LS car lol
If you are going with a LS3 crate engine or something more interesting, well that's a different story.
Cheaper to have the motor freshened up with a LE2 HCI package.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Houston
Like mentioned above, if you're choice is refreshing the bottom end or going LS1, I would go with a refreshened bottom end. The cost to convert to LS isnt worth it, especially for an LS1. If you are going LS3 or even an LS2, LQ4, LQ9, or hell, a turbo 5.3, I would say go for it, but definitely not for a standard LS1. Most of the LS1's are higher mileage now a days and they cant be bored safely much beyond .020 which is too thin when taking a risk on buying a used motor. If you are going to purchase a used engine, keep it in the front of your mind that you might have to rebuild it despite what the seller says, and with an LS1 there's a good chance that if the damage is bad, your gonna be chunking the block and eating the loss. If you do decide to go with an LS platform, I suggest you don't go with the LS1.
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I just had my LT1 rebuilt and am having a misfire issue now. With the amount of people having problems with new optis I would say do a ls swap. If you want to convert to something like torqhead it's going to cost you a descent amount.
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Staging Lane
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 91
Likes: 2
From: Rochester, NY
We still don't know much about your situation. What kind of car do you have? Do you have any mods right now or are you bone stock? Do you know what your budget is? What's your goal? How do you want to use this car? Can you do the work yourself (I'm guessing not if you're asking a shop about having everything installed)?
Here's how I feel about it: as someone stated before, there's so much that goes into an LS swap and cheaper LS1s typically have as many miles as your engine so it isn't really worth it. If I were you, I would rule that option out unless you have a love for this SPECIFIC car, plan on keeping it for a long time, and wouldn't mind all of the cost involved in getting an LQ4 or something similar in there.
The LT1 is a great platform that can make a ton of power. It's pretty easy to work on and your car is already set up for it. If your car is stock, try some bolt-on mods and see how you like the car then. If you already have bolt-on mods and want more, that's a bit tougher. But I think we need some more information to make the right suggestions.
Here's how I feel about it: as someone stated before, there's so much that goes into an LS swap and cheaper LS1s typically have as many miles as your engine so it isn't really worth it. If I were you, I would rule that option out unless you have a love for this SPECIFIC car, plan on keeping it for a long time, and wouldn't mind all of the cost involved in getting an LQ4 or something similar in there.
The LT1 is a great platform that can make a ton of power. It's pretty easy to work on and your car is already set up for it. If your car is stock, try some bolt-on mods and see how you like the car then. If you already have bolt-on mods and want more, that's a bit tougher. But I think we need some more information to make the right suggestions.
Have heads/cam installed as part of the freshening process.
Install the TorqHead Kit and LS1 ECM with the freshened engine.
At least...….it's what I'd do.
KW
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 848
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville,FL/Riverdale, GA
We still don't know much about your situation. What kind of car do you have? Do you have any mods right now or are you bone stock? Do you know what your budget is? What's your goal? How do you want to use this car? Can you do the work yourself (I'm guessing not if you're asking a shop about having everything installed)?
Here's how I feel about it: as someone stated before, there's so much that goes into an LS swap and cheaper LS1s typically have as many miles as your engine so it isn't really worth it. If I were you, I would rule that option out unless you have a love for this SPECIFIC car, plan on keeping it for a long time, and wouldn't mind all of the cost involved in getting an LQ4 or something similar in there.
The LT1 is a great platform that can make a ton of power. It's pretty easy to work on and your car is already set up for it. If your car is stock, try some bolt-on mods and see how you like the car then. If you already have bolt-on mods and want more, that's a bit tougher. But I think we need some more information to make the right suggestions.
Here's how I feel about it: as someone stated before, there's so much that goes into an LS swap and cheaper LS1s typically have as many miles as your engine so it isn't really worth it. If I were you, I would rule that option out unless you have a love for this SPECIFIC car, plan on keeping it for a long time, and wouldn't mind all of the cost involved in getting an LQ4 or something similar in there.
The LT1 is a great platform that can make a ton of power. It's pretty easy to work on and your car is already set up for it. If your car is stock, try some bolt-on mods and see how you like the car then. If you already have bolt-on mods and want more, that's a bit tougher. But I think we need some more information to make the right suggestions.
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Prob $1200 for TH 24x (can save money if you can fabricate and get resourceful finding parts like coils/wires), another $1800 or so for LE2 package with cam and ported intake. $2000 left for labor and parts for new bearings etc to freshen up the block.
Can have a fairly reliable LT1 with decent power for about $5k
Can have a fairly reliable LT1 with decent power for about $5k
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Houston
With a budget of 5k I would be all over a 5.3 turbo conversion or a built LQ4/9 with LS3 heads. 5K is a lot to play with if you are willing to be a craigslist junkie for a month or two. I'm kinda in the same predicament that you are but my car is running fine as it sits and I enjoy it. Out of a desire for more power only, I am willing to spend around 5k to go quicker but not sure if I want to go with a Golen engine to keep the car true to its roots, or go to an LS conversion. I have no connection to the engine, but I have a strong emotional connection to the car so buying an LS series vehicle to have an LS motor is not something I am willing to do. Good luck with your decision!
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 848
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville,FL/Riverdale, GA
With a budget of 5k I would be all over a 5.3 turbo conversion or a built LQ4/9 with LS3 heads. 5K is a lot to play with if you are willing to be a craigslist junkie for a month or two. I'm kinda in the same predicament that you are but my car is running fine as it sits and I enjoy it. Out of a desire for more power only, I am willing to spend around 5k to go quicker but not sure if I want to go with a Golen engine to keep the car true to its roots, or go to an LS conversion. I have no connection to the engine, but I have a strong emotional connection to the car so buying an LS series vehicle to have an LS motor is not something I am willing to do. Good luck with your decision!
TECH Veteran
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OP
No need to do LSx anything or 24x swap just to make some more power with your LT1. If you are paying a shop to do a H/C swap and bottom end refresh the $5k going to get eaten up quick. If you can pull the motor and send it out, no problem
Send heads to Lloyd Elliot and get a cam from him. Have machine shop refresh bottom end. Bearings, resize rods with ARP fasteners, hone cyl., re-ring pistons. You would have a fresh engine making 100+ HP more than it does now....
But you will also need:
PCM tune
30 -36 lb injectors
255 LPH fuel pump
160 T stat
You already have the headers and CAI. You could also get a larger TB...
So even if you pull the motor and install it yourself...you are at $5k easy but you would have a fresh motor and faster car :-)
Nothing wrong with a LSx but the transplant cost is gonna cost more
No need to do LSx anything or 24x swap just to make some more power with your LT1. If you are paying a shop to do a H/C swap and bottom end refresh the $5k going to get eaten up quick. If you can pull the motor and send it out, no problem
Send heads to Lloyd Elliot and get a cam from him. Have machine shop refresh bottom end. Bearings, resize rods with ARP fasteners, hone cyl., re-ring pistons. You would have a fresh engine making 100+ HP more than it does now....
But you will also need:
PCM tune
30 -36 lb injectors
255 LPH fuel pump
160 T stat
You already have the headers and CAI. You could also get a larger TB...
So even if you pull the motor and install it yourself...you are at $5k easy but you would have a fresh motor and faster car :-)
Nothing wrong with a LSx but the transplant cost is gonna cost more
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 848
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville,FL/Riverdale, GA
OP
No need to do LSx anything or 24x swap just to make some more power with your LT1. If you are paying a shop to do a H/C swap and bottom end refresh the $5k going to get eaten up quick. If you can pull the motor and send it out, no problem
Send heads to Lloyd Elliot and get a cam from him. Have machine shop refresh bottom end. Bearings, resize rods with ARP fasteners, hone cyl., re-ring pistons. You would have a fresh engine making 100+ HP more than it does now....
But you will also need:
PCM tune
30 -36 lb injectors
255 LPH fuel pump
160 T stat
You already have the headers and CAI. You could also get a larger TB...
So even if you pull the motor and install it yourself...you are at $5k easy but you would have a fresh motor and faster car :-)
Nothing wrong with a LSx but the transplant cost is gonna cost more
No need to do LSx anything or 24x swap just to make some more power with your LT1. If you are paying a shop to do a H/C swap and bottom end refresh the $5k going to get eaten up quick. If you can pull the motor and send it out, no problem
Send heads to Lloyd Elliot and get a cam from him. Have machine shop refresh bottom end. Bearings, resize rods with ARP fasteners, hone cyl., re-ring pistons. You would have a fresh engine making 100+ HP more than it does now....
But you will also need:
PCM tune
30 -36 lb injectors
255 LPH fuel pump
160 T stat
You already have the headers and CAI. You could also get a larger TB...
So even if you pull the motor and install it yourself...you are at $5k easy but you would have a fresh motor and faster car :-)
Nothing wrong with a LSx but the transplant cost is gonna cost more
TECH Apprentice
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 336
Likes: 47
98MNBZ28, I'm in the same boat as you, I just purchased a 97 TA WS6 for the purpose of building and spoke to a reputable performance shop that deals with both LT and LS motors, his advice to me was to build what I have as converting to an LS platform is just more expensive. I have some parts already for the LT motor so I thin its just easier to build it as is. I'm not wanting 500 to the wheels and was advised that I could build a nice 383 that would be stout enough for my needs. I would do exactly as mentioned, freshen the bottom end, do the heads/cam from LE and maybe port the intake as well. find a bigger TB on here, seen a few 58s for sale. Try to stick within your budget as best you can.
On The Tree
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 124
Likes: 3
From: "U aint frum round hur ar ya boy" Texas.
"you can get the block drilled or splayed" or have an idiot drill into the water jacket and/or drill too far in and crack it. Which would be the case for my immediate area.
or maybe everyones refering to 4 bolts only and im the only idiot whos still wondering how the guys are pushin that much on 2 bolt LT1s safely. But, thats the only issue im fightin myself with over just tearin it out and doing the 5.3 like every other person.