Sorry to dig up an old thread but I had a few questions.

I'm aiming to swap out my 2000 3.8L Firebird with a LM7 this summer and I was wondering a few things.

First off, do I have to replace the drive shaft on my bird or should I be alright?

Secondly, a friend of mine with a third gen firebird was going to perform the same swap I'm doing, and aside from different parts for the specific years, it should generally be the exact same process as they're really similar cars, right?

Sorry if it's been asked a hundred times before, I'm just trying to get everything together so I know what I need/what to do, first big project I'm doing.

Thanks,
Chris

 

The drive shaft length shouldn't change. As for the third vs. fourth gen swaps, they are different processes. The fourth generation cars are best done by taking the engine through the bottom of the car and the third gens are easy to do either way. They have a larger engine bay. The wiring on the third generation cars is completely different. With a painless LSX harness it's a bit easier, but again the process isn't the same. I'm unsure about the V6's in a fourth gen, but you may have to change motor mounts. On a third gen, you'll have to notch the K-member and change the motor mounts.

 

So, question I had when doing this swap.. What radiator is used? Is it just any standard LS radiator? I have an '02 Firebird with the 3800 Series II in it and I'm swapping it for an L59 (LM7 w/ E85) out of a Yukon XL. I'm currently basing my "shopping list" off of this list: http://www.tacreationsusa.com/3_4_3_8_v6_to_ls1.htm
I have already found the LS K Member and I already have the engine. Thanks guys!

Also, I pulled the ECU and wiring harness with the L59 out of the Yukon XL, will I be able to re-use those or should I get an F-Body harness and ECU?

 

Ls radiator is what I used on mine, you have issues with guages and such in the car using a non fbody harness.i went stand alone on my swap so I don't have much experience there. Just about any OE harness can be made a stand alone though since you can disable most of the items that would.cause issue with HPtuners.

 

Thanks! I found the radiator with the trans hookup since I have a 4L60E in it currently. I've already got my eyes on new gauges, and will be picking up those with a new k-member to mount it on. I plan to take it to a professional tune shop to have it fully dyno'd and tuned, but should I still eventually invest in a HPTuner?

 

that all depends on the goals of the car personally, if you arent going to mod the setup at all once its finished, id be content letting it be done once as long as its done right. Which is the hard part is the done right part. Ive said it a lot lately that anyone with HPtuners calls themselves a tuner so you gotta be careful, if you find a good reputable place the above shouldnt be a problem though

 

hey was your car a traction control car? And did you have to change the dash harness?
nathanlw82@gmail.com

 

 

I'm about to do this same swap, but LT1 to a 5.3
My question is if I decided to keep the truck intake which is pretty tall, I have ws6 hood. Will it clear the intake?

 

This is my hood, will the truck intake clear?

 

QUOTE=LT1DG;20358345]Image snip..........
This is my hood, will the truck intake clear? [/QUOTE]

No. It will not. That hood has no more clearance than a stock hood. Sure, you've got the ram air scoop bulges, but in the centerline its got the same clearance as the stock hood. You might be able to get a shaved truck intake to fit, but not an unaltered one.

 

No. It will not. That hood has no more clearance than a stock hood. Sure, you've got the ram air scoop bulges, but in the centerline its got the same clearance as the stock hood. You might be able to get a shaved truck intake to fit, but not an unaltered one.[/QUOTE]

You might be right, but It's way more elevated then stock hood. i did a comparison when I swapped hood.

So might not need to shave that much


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Hi I need a little help im about to be doing this swap as well and while reading through I couldn't find anything about changing the motor mounts or adding a motor plate I have very limited help and information I already have the motor I just need to know what I would have to change to mount it if you could give me a list or any places to look that would be greatly appreciated and that bird looks amazing now.