I just purchased an LT-1 out of a wrecked police car It had 85K miles on it when the cop wrapped it around a light pole in a high speed chase. So i am assuming the engine was running good and should still. I also got a freshly rebuilt 4l60e to go behind it.

My questions are this:

1. Is there anything I should replace, swap, change, upgrade or look for while I have the motor out?

2. What is a good place to send my harness and computer too to get reprogrammed and harness converted and hacked and how much am I looking at spending on this?

 

well...while the motor is out of the car...you should check and replace the spark plugs and wires..seeing as how they are nearly impossible to get to while the motor is in the camaro...but not knowing what you are putting the motor in may determine the difference. Also check the optispark distributor...Gm goofed up when they created this..because it is a piece of crap...you can also just take the valve covers off and look and see if there is any gunk buildup of any sort...

As for you PCM...there are several places for a mail-in tune...PCMforless...madz28.com. they can do anything you want. well i hope i have helped a little....have fun with your LT

 

Was it a camaro? If so those motors r bad *** I have bin told they have like 380hp!! They tune them up for the cops. If that is true im not 100% sure...

 

More than likely a Caprice... I am wondering what Car he is planning on dropping that in, he said he wants to get the Harness converted..

 

This is false. The B4C package (police package) had a stronger/stiffer suspension, better brakes, a beefed up alternator, and no badges, and they were all automatics. Other than that, they were the same as all other Z28's.

As for things to check, the first guy to reply hit the nail on the head. Depending on how much money you want to spend, I would reccomend this as being a good time to swap the cam out, and change the heads to a nice aftermarket set, as well as have the intake ported. You also might as well check the rear main seal since it will be easily accesable, and the intake and oil pan gaskets.

 

I am puttining the engine in my 68 chevy short bed that I am currently restoring. I was thinking of going ahead and doing an LT-4 hot cam w/1.6 rockers and reseal the hole block.
Not looking to spend the money on swapping the heads as the weight saveings on an old truck like this are kinda pointless to me. I think maybe a port and polish job to go with the cam and a good mail in tune would probably bemney better spent. I figure with the cam and the tune it should put me around 350hp???

Also are their any good aftermarket Opti-Spark units that are better than the GM units, MSD, ACCEL, other?

Here are some in progress pics of the truck and the engine.

 

IMO all the aftermarket opti's aren't worth the $. I have seen guys last just as long with the stock ones. If you want the best one, I would lean towards the MSD one. It seems to be the highest quality and most durable, but it is about twice as much as you can get a stock opti for.

 

welcome to the LT1 swap! like they said, the main thing to check is the opti. after that, there is nothing that is really destined to go out, but there are probably sensors and such that might be bad. normal stuff like plugs and wires are a general replacement on any motor. i tuned my pcm myself using CATS tuner. somewhat complicated so depending on your electronic skills, you might just want to send it off. try to use the stock radiator and fans out of a camaro to be certain you wont have cooling issues. you didnt mention the year so i dont know if it is speed density or MAF, but either way you will have to make a custom intake, which isnt too hard. let me know if you need help or pictures of my setup, good luck!

 

Oww ok ill be sure to tell my friend that!!

 

Unless I missed it, he still hasn't said what kind of car this came out of..
Could be a 9C1 Caprice..

What did the Engine come from bro?

 

I was just responding to what was said about the police package Camaro's. I never claimed that the original poster had one.

 

I was just throwing that out there.. he hasn't said what kind of car it came from either..

 

Iron heads, it ain't out of a camaro

 

Yea..they are getting cheap to find, they are all over the place here. Mine will be for sale here soon, sooner if the price is right.

 

Sorry it came out of a 95 chevy caprice cop car.

 

I really don't understand why everyone thinks opti's are pieces of crap, they are actually a very advanced design, theyre only problem is their location, you should read up more on how they work and you'd be suprised

 

Yea, they are an excellent concept. Really nice when you don't have set Timing.

 

It is just that of their location that everyones grief comes from with them. If you read up more on the actual complaints people have with them, you would know we are not bashing the actual design but more their location in relation to the waterpump.

 

I fixed the problem..

 

Some people say when you buy a new opti to re seal it with silicone. Where do you re seal it? Should I do it with the gasket maker that I used for my intake? If some one has a walk through on this it would be great! My old opti went and i replaced it with a new ebay opti...
I know I should have saved up for the MSD. but I had to get the car back on the road at that time..