LT1 to LSX or finish the project???

[T/A Johnson]

I'll try to keep this short. I've got the LE2 heads and cam, needs a few finishing touches. Like cusom exhaust, good tune, beefed up trans, and I'm considering having somong else like a professonal shop re-install the nitrous. I'm expecting to spend around 7k finishing the project. This also includes cage and stereo, fixing the A/C and a few other things. My issue with doing this is that the gas millage now sucks. Maybe the bad gas millage is due to the tune. I was getting 12 mile to the gallon. Even on race gas. Because of that its not a daily driver any more. I see that lsx engines are coming down in price. I'm guessing to have the completed project with an lsx swap would be 11k plus. I would really like to have a lsx engine because I here the gas millage is in the 20's. I would love to drive this car again daily but by not bying a lsx I would keep the cash in my pocket ,only to be used for the gas. So my question is, Has any body here done this swap and how much did it cost. Were you happy with it? What are your numbers? Who did the work? I need some experience in this subject to help me pull the cash out and do one or the other. And if I go lsx i will be looking to unload a lt1 4 bolt main, le2, hi volume oil pump, canton race pan, 1.6 roller rockers crappy exhaust, chiped leaing timing cover, cheesy distributor and an ailling t56. No on wants lt1 engine with 60,000 hard miles.Thanks in advance for any advice.

[s.reef]

Well if you want mileage lsx will definitely be more efficient. i forgot his name but a member on here converted from lt1 to ls1...he was selling the car if you go through the for sale section you could probably find it and pm him specific questions. A tune would probably help gas milage as well. and if you want to unload you could definitely sell a t56 and a 4 bolt main lt1 with le2 heads.

[meissen]

I'm sure some people would buy the parts you have off of you.

Likewise, if you're going to do the swap, my only advice that I can give is to buy the engine now. With the way the economy is and everyone dying for cash, now is a great time to purchase used parts.

[WMCCjames]

I have just shy of $10K into my complete swap from an old school injected SBC to a crate motor LS1/T56 (this is in a 3rd gen). Worth every penny if you ask me. I went from 17mpg highway to 30mpg....and it's way funner to drive now

[BLKHAWK]

I'm sure some people would buy the parts you have off of you.

Likewise, if you're going to do the swap, my only advice that I can give is to buy the engine now. With the way the economy is and everyone dying for cash, now is a great time to purchase used parts.

X2 I'm swapping an lt1 car as we speek to an l92 headed 6.0, the conversion is well worth it. I got an engine delivered to my house for 575.00, I sold the 317 casted heads that were on it for 200.00. the l92 heads are 350.00 and flow 330 cfm out of the box! you can find lsx parts cheep on ls1 tech and there are a bunch of them! you have to disable the vats system in the pcm before you start the engine. good thing I know a good tuner

[meissen]

http://detroit.craigslist.org/pts/973045069.html - whole LS1 swap for $4k.

[T/A Johnson]

decision made

I made the decision today to go with finishing the project. I based my decision the on the fact that for a few extra dollars more than the swap would cost I could buy a used GTO or T/A. I've seen a couple of 98 to 02 T/A's already modified the way I want. I also saw one GTO with heads and cam on ebay for...... I think around 13k. I ordered the timing cover, msd opti today. Thanks

[meissen]

Sounds like a good plan to me - I love seeing modified LT1s than people going to the LS1 just because "it's been touched by the hand of god."

[Camaroe3]

If you have the money and time it is worth the swap. but it is a lot more to swaping in a motor then bolting in every thing up. I am doing a turbo lt1 right now. if you want to go to lsx let me give your heads a good home.

The lsx stuff is a better set up ( hands down)but you ever look at the price to up grade the parts on that motor? omg!

I would do it if i had 12k laying around and my lt1 kit would bolt up

[Clutch_Z28]

I am also thinking about going LS1 but my goal for the car is 500hp or close to it. So for me is it worth the money to do the swap when the LT1 is plenty capable of getting there and costing less to do it.

[s.reef]

You will need to sink a lot of money in to get 500hp

[c0ncEpT]

You will need to sink a lot of money in to get 500hp

A 100 shot will get a cam only LS1 there :]

[DETROITMUSCLE]

Maybe this had been brought up a few times but why do people say there is such a price difference between LT1 and LS1 mods? I have never seen that difference.