Need an Idea on work/cash...

[97camarors]

Ok so my 97' Camaro 3.8L just blew a head gasket. I have been looking into doing the mods and dropping a LS1 into my 97' camaro. I am hoping some of you guys out here might have an idea of any problems i may come across in this build and any major bodifications i will have to make. Also if anyone knows what i am looking at cost wise for a LS1 engine and trans with 50k or less miles and if anyone has any guess as to how much money i am goin to need hook the engine up. Any help would be great. Thanks guys....

[thursday12889]

You should try to find one with the kmember, like all in there ready to go

[WMCCjames]

Plan on spending 5-6K to do the swap.

You can buy LS1's w/auto's on ebay all day long....T56 will cost you more obviously. If you are willing to take a motor/trans that has more miles on it, you can get by dong the swap alot cheaper.....but that really doesn't make sense. I've seen ls1/4l60E's with 90-100Kmiles sell for $1200. If you decide to do the swap.....buy a complete drop-out from a totaled car.....one that has the PCM, wire harness, front end acc. drive.... That will save you money and time in the long run.

[97camarors]

The biggest problem i am running into is time and money, i really gotta keep the bugget at $2500 to make it driviable on the road, cosmetic i don't care as long as its driable and done by march. think its possible?... i got a guarge with all the tools i could ever need...

[97rs4life]

might be cheaper for you to go lt1 instead of ls1 into your 97.

[97camarors]

Yeah i have thought about that and i can pick a LT1 up for $600 from a place i know of, but LS1 makes a little more power stock and it would be cool to say i have a LS1 in my 97' Camaro...

[WMCCjames]

The biggest problem i am running into is time and money, i really gotta keep the bugget at $2500 to make it driviable on the road, cosmetic i don't care as long as its driable and done by march. think its possible?... i got a guarge with all the tools i could ever need...

You will never be able to do it for $2500 unless you were to buy a complete totaled car and part the rest of it out...then maybe you could.

[97camarors]

yeah i am leaning twards the LT1 now, i am looking at it and its a lot easyer, still a pain but easyer, and i have an idea were i can get a whole totaled car side impact would probably be great. If anyone knows of any big mod or anything i will have a big problem with let me know. And if you know of a place i can get aLT1 camaro at let me know...

[archemedes]

Plan on spending 5-6K to do the swap.

You can buy LS1's w/auto's on ebay all day long....T56 will cost you more obviously. If you are willing to take a motor/trans that has more miles on it, you can get by dong the swap alot cheaper.....but that really doesn't make sense. I've seen ls1/4l60E's with 90-100Kmiles sell for $1200. If you decide to do the swap.....buy a complete drop-out from a totaled car.....one that has the PCM, wire harness, front end acc. drive.... That will save you money and time in the long run.

I have bought the t56 for less than the auto (of course most salvage yards won't warranty them as the failure rate is up there with the toyota auto trans)

[archemedes]

Plan on spending 5-6K to do the swap.

You can buy LS1's w/auto's on ebay all day long....T56 will cost you more obviously. If you are willing to take a motor/trans that has more miles on it, you can get by dong the swap alot cheaper.....but that really doesn't make sense. I've seen ls1/4l60E's with 90-100Kmiles sell for $1200. If you decide to do the swap.....buy a complete drop-out from a totaled car.....one that has the PCM, wire harness, front end acc. drive.... That will save you money and time in the long run.

I have bought the t56 for less than the auto (of course most salvage yards won't warranty them as the failure rate is up there with the toyota auto trans) stay away from ebay unless you like getting gouged for shipping, and no warranty (not to mention the prices tend to get high) try www.car-parts.com many yards (everyone on there is a salvage yard) sell the whole changeout assembly and if shipping plan about $300 to a business or so

[CHMLEON]

Anytime you do an engine swat (unless you go carberated and remove the computer stuff) it is best to buy up a wreaked f-body as a doner car.

Otherwise you will run into problems with components not working togeather.

Like old guage cluster not working with the new computer. (V6 cluster goes up to 120mph and the v8 cluster goes up to 150 I think.)

[WMCCjames]

Steve,

Wow, if you can buy T56's cheaper than auto's, do it and go into business. EVERY instance I have seen, including salvage yards sell the T56 for more money. 4l60e's are literally a dime a dozen. You can buy a used 4l60e for around $300-400. I haven't been able to find a T56 for less than $800, which is what I just paid for one and felt that it was a extremely good deal. Yes LT1 T56's are a bit cheaper, but still more money than any auto I have seen. I bought an LT1 T56 a few years ago for 1500 and sold it a couple months ago for $1500....after putting 10K miles on it. It has nothing to do with the actual material cost of the trans, it has to do with demand...people just want the T56's