V6 to V8 Swap

Hey guys, my buddy has a 97 RS and he is just finishing up a 98-02 front end conversion on the car.

We are looking at making this a V8 car tho.. so what is needed to get this going.

Do i pretty much need to find a wrecked LS1 or LT1 car to make this happen?

If anyone knows where we could pick up a wrecked LT1 Car feel free to post up the info.

[meissen]

That'd be the easiest way to do it, in all honesty.

I would recommend buying an LT1 from a 97 - unfortunately it narrows your search down quite a bit but in the long run it will be MUCH easier. There's wiring changes in every single year so when I put the 95 LT1 in my 94 there were quite a few changes we had to make to the wiring harnesses. It's not horrible, but for most people it seems like wiring changes are impossible.

This is just a quick run down ... I know I'm missing others...

• LT1 k-member
• LT1 radiator
• LT1 radiator fans (dual fans, most v6 only have 1)
• heater core hoses from an LT1
• radiator hoses
• wiring harness for the engine
• LT1
• LT1 4L60e (the v6 is different)
• LT1 driveshaft
• LT1 gauge cluster

I will tell you - it's not for the feint of heart. While a ton of people will say it's not worth it, I will partially disagree with them on it. In most cases, you'll spend tons more than you would have if you just sold the car and bought an LT1 car. BUT - where it DOES NOT pay off to do that is if you've heavily customized the car already. In my case, I would have had to buy an LT1 car first, then swap all of my customized parts onto it, put the stock parts on the v6, and then sell the v6, and even then it would've cost me a shit-ton. IMHO, for me it was worth it.

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

But Bri, you didn't tell him how much $$$ he should budget to make this happen...

[Darren]

But Bri, you didn't tell him how much $$$ he should budget to make this happen...

Left that information out on purpose?

[bigjon88]

if your gonna do it just the motor swipe with rebuild should run no more than 6g's

[meissen]

But Bri, you didn't tell him how much $$$ he should budget to make this happen...

Ah, forgot about that.

If I would have left the LT1 completely stock, it would have cost me $1500.

The main thing is to have a RUNNING v6 engine and transmission. You can then sell that and make some cash back. I sold my 3.4L v6 for $300 and the 4L60e for $300. Made out really decently.

[Clutch_Z28]

Ah, forgot about that.

If I would have left the LT1 completely stock, it would have cost me $1500.

The main thing is to have a RUNNING v6 engine and transmission. You can then sell that and make some cash back. I sold my 3.4L v6 for $300 and the 4L60e for $300. Made out really decently.

Thats **** ALL compared to what i thought itd be.

[meissen]

Thats **** ALL compared to what i thought itd be.

Keep in mind I basically bought the engine, the transmission, the engine wiring harness, and the PCM for $200.

NORMALLY - You could easily spend $6,000 on an engine swap. I only spent $200 on the above parts but I was still 10 GRAND (YES, 10,000) into my engine swap project when it was all done - suspension upgrades, cam and upgrades, etc... gets expensive REALLY fast.

[Clutch_Z28]

Keep in mind I basically bought the engine, the transmission, the engine wiring harness, and the PCM for $200.

You sir are a thief! lol thats a amazing steal...

[sman]

Been there, done that. Dont mean to sound like an ls1tech guy, but theres a forum specifically for this, and the "SEARCH" is a wonderful thing. Not sure Id do it again, id just sell it and buy an lsx car.

[meissen]

You sir are a thief! lol thats a amazing steal...

I honestly felt bad taking it all home - but the $200 price tag is not the full story. I bought the engine, transmission, engine wiring harness, PCM - as well as the engine bay harness, the entire interior wiring harness from the firewall to the taillights, all four rims and tires, the spare tire, both the driver's side door and the passenger side door, the rear hatch, rear bumper, and rear taillight panel for $1000. I sold my v6 for $300, my v6 4l60e for $300, the rims for $100, and then the rest of the misc parts for another $100. I still have the whole wiring harness for the engine bay and the interior wiring harness as well as the passenger side door. So... really I bought the engine, transmission, PCM, the entire car's wiring harness, and the passenger door for $200.

Been there, done that. Dont mean to sound like an ls1tech guy, but theres a forum specifically for this, and the "SEARCH" is a wonderful thing. Not sure Id do it again, id just sell it and buy an lsx car.

Yeah, you now officially sound like an LS1Tech guy. (and that's not a compliment )

[98blackbeauty]

Let me say a v6 to v8 conversion is a project that escalates real easy real fast. You start thinking new shocks, then might as well get lowering spring. then the rear end, then might as well build the engine then the trans etc, etc. then at the end you run into costly little things accelerator cable different, cruise control cable different,

[Clutch_Z28]

Im talking of just an LT1 Swap.. no mods no nothing.

From an auto V6 to a 6 speed LT1

He just wants to be able to keep up with the Zeds and SS's and lay some beatings on some big ego mustang owners... lol

If the 8 swap doesnt end up taking place is what are some things that can be done to the V6?

besides the basic headers, cat-back and CAI

How do they react to nitrous? maybe even Boost

[Clutch_Z28]

guess i could just look at the stickys... lo0ll

[bigjon88]

or talk to steddyy