LT1 Mods while out of car

[93formulalt1]

Okay, so many of you know about my future plan to swap out the 3.4 V6 and T5 Manual tranny in favor of an LT1 V8 and a 4L60E Automatic trans. I want to do some of the more invasive mods while the motor is in my Buick, simply because there is more room in there than there is in the Camaro. What should I start with? I don't really want to tear the motor down, just replace critical components for adding power. I am going to add an underdrive pulley kit, and A/C delete kit, and a new thermostat in addition to LT4 Heads and an intake if I find them cheap enough. The engine and trans have only about 150000 miles on them, and they have been on Grandpa duty in the Roadmaster for the last 11 years. I will be buying most of the stuff off of ebay to save money lol, so keep it simple, and please provide links!

[97rs4life]

Here is some stuff I can get you brand new.

BBK Underdrive Pulley Kit $74.99
K&N FIPK System $189.99
BBK 58mm TB $299.99
Hypertech 160* Thermostat $18.99

Let me know if you want some other items and prices.

[97rs4life]

also a place with great lt1 heads/cam package is http://www.eportworks.com/LT1LE2.htm and that link is for the LE2 package. Then just port match the intake to the throttlebody and heads to have a killer setup. This would be something you would do when you are doing the swap though

[93formulalt1]

Keep in mind that this is a bone stock LT1 from a 1995 Buick Roadmaster. Will the intake and heads from an LT4 increase performance that much?

[greenmachine]

Here is some stuff I can get you brand new.

BBK Underdrive Pulley Kit $74.99
K&N FIPK System $189.99
BBK 58mm TB $299.99
Hypertech 160* Thermostat $18.99

Let me know if you want some other items and prices.

sorry not trying to steall your post nick but..... how much for the pulley kit for a 95 3.4?

[93formulalt1]

I haven't found one for a 95 yet, but one for a 94 3.4 is like $35 on EBay, and I looked in an old Summit catalog for it, but they only have it for the V8. AutoZone doesn't even carry it. Sorry! I'll look more tomorrow.

[JoeliusZ28]

Keep in mind that this is a bone stock LT1 from a 1995 Buick Roadmaster. Will the intake and heads from an LT4 increase performance that much?

doing an LT4 hotcam kit would give you a lot more gain for the money than LT4 heads.

[1bad83ta]

nick the heads from the roadmaster should be cast iron and if the heads travis is talking about are aluminum there would be a significant increase in horsepower. Plus matched throttle body and stuff lets the air move undisturbed and therefore creating more hp!

[93formulalt1]

About how much of an increase over stock? I think stock for that motor is like 200-210hp. I'm hoping to hit at least 300 by the end of summer. . .

[DETROITMUSCLE]

I'd say the hotcam kit with supporting bolt-ons would get you well past the 300 mark, if you can find the kit it comes complete with everything and would probably be the best and easiest. Don't forget to do full exhaust that itself will show a great increase.

[93formulalt1]

I'm gonna have a custom true dual exhaust made for it with Flowmasters, it should be really nice. I am also putting headers on before the swap. How about some prices for the hotcam kit and everything?

[JoeliusZ28]

the hotcam kit will run you about $500, but thats a kit for keeping LT1 heads.

[DETROITMUSCLE]

I think complete with the heads and all valvetrain you can get it for around $2500 but look at getting most of it used for much cheaper.

[93formulalt1]

My budget for this project is much lower than that. . . Can the hotcam kit be installed after the engine is already in the car, or would I have to remove it again? I've never changed a cam before. . . Also, I have some 350 SBC parts lying around the garage, off of a 350 that had to be replaced or upgraded when we bored it to 355. Will any of those parts work? I'm hoping to get the basics for the swap, like mounts and other nickel & dime crap, a set of headers, and a full dual exhaust made for a little under $600, less than that if I can get away with it. Does anyone know where I can buy a decent set of headers for a reasonable price? i.e. less than $300. I don't mind buying used parts, it doesn't bother me any. I am also going to install an engine dress-up kit after I install the engine, too. That's a little off topic. . . How much should I expect to pay for the entire engine swap. (motor mounts, trans mounts for 4L60E, dual exhaust, headers, and any suspension parts I may need) I'll see what I can do about the go-fast part of it later. I don't want to dump more into the motor than I did in the initial purchase of the car! I only paid $1100 for the car, and the Buick cost me $900 about 5 years ago. I fugure that I can sell my 355 SBC in the garage to help finance this project, but it's not worth much, it sucked a valve a while ago, it's locked up and needs a rebuild. Let me know what I might ask for when I sell that. Thanks alot, and sorry for the long post!

[Orange Terror]

Nick, you can do the cam swap in the car, but you will have to pull the radiator as well as most or all of the accessories off the motor. I'd have a cam ready before the swap and change it while its on the stand. Be much easier.

I'd like more info on the 355.