lt1 swap questions

[FadeToBlak121]

would it be easier or a better idea to swap a lt1 into the v6 camaro i have right now? or is there too much that needs to be changed and would it be easier to just find a cheap z28 roller and drop a motor and trans into that?

i dont know what all needs to be changed from a v6 to v8 other than the obvious and plus the 3.8 is my dd so if i did the swap on that, itd have to be done in a weekend and idk how doable that is.

so, opinions?

[MP81]

If you have a '98, I'd get an LS1...

[97rs4life]

get a 98 ls1 and harness if you are looking v8. Easiest to swap the same year engine

[meissen]

Yup, what Travis said. Go with the engine and harness from the year of your car. You'll need the K-member, engine, transmission, engine harness, whatever accessories, drive shaft, radiator, gauge cluster, preferably a rear end but not 100% necessary.

[s.reef]

what everyone above said

[FadeToBlak121]

believe me, i would love to get a ls1 but they are very expensive. unless you guys know of anywhere good to look ive just tried forums like this, craigslist, and ebay and havent found anything decent.

do you think it would be cheaper to buy a complete ls1 or to buy a short block and the peices after that seperate because that seems easier to find? but price-wise, would it be much differnt?

[MP81]

believe me, i would love to get a ls1 but they are very expensive.

Not really...

[meissen]

Not really...

More expensive than an LT1. People are still crazy with LS1 prices. I saw a listing on Craigslist this morning in Detroit area for LS1 with T56 transmission and harness and computer for $6,000...

[MP81]

Well, yeah, the LT1 is cheaper. I've seen some good deals on LS1s here...

[meissen]

I've seen good deals on just the engine, but if you're needing the whole kit and caboodle it's going to be expensive. The best price I've ever seen for an LS1, transmission, wiring harness, and computer is 4500.

[00FlowCamaro]

There was one that my dad found with all the wiring and stuff LS1 w/ a 6-speed here for $3000 from a wrecked Camaro.

[meissen]

Stand corrected, but still considerably more expensive. An LT1, trans, wiring harness, and computer can be had for usually $1500, got mine for $1000.

[mister_grendel]

3800->LT1 conversion

There's a lot of piecemeal information laying around about {3.4,3.8} V6->LT1 conversions. I'm starting to very seriously think about it. The 3800 is a nice engine, but I got serious LT envy. Saw what looked like an early 4gen Camaro pull out of a car wash a few weeks ago, and the beautiful sound of that engine (not to mention the ground shaking) made me find religion.

Mine's a 96, so even if an LS was affordable (yeah, right), it wasn't original.

Meissen is doing a 3.4->LT1 swap, yes? I wonder how different the 3.8 would be. The goal here is to plan out every possible detail ahead of time, and shoot for spring or early summer.

So, swapping in a new gauge cluster is required as well?

[meissen]

Yeah, I'm doing the 3.4L to LT1 swap. I went that route because I understand it's easier to go from a 3.4L to an LT1 and a 3.8L to an LS1 than it is to cross the two groups.

From what I understood, a new gauge cluster might not be a must, but then I've read other things that say it definitely is. I'm going to try with my v6 gauge knowing that it simply would not account for anything over 115 or 120 or whatever, but then again who cares on that?