frankensteinGTA

iTrader: (1)

I have a 89GTA with the original engine(think it's a L98) and want to replace it with a 1994 LT1 which came out of a police cruiser. Hope to install the typical items to make it breath easier i.e. K&N filter, some type of performance exhaust system, etc. Two questions: Is there anything a novice mechanic like myself needs to watch out for with this swap and what kind of HP can i expect to see with this new motor?
Thanks for any advice.

johnnyboy

iTrader: (3)

wiring

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

Wiring will be the biggest difficulty of the swap, but it doesn't look too horrible. I'm researching it right now because I'll be swapping from an L98 to an LT1 out of a 95 Camaro. Be sure to look for any Caprice-specific wiring harness information when researching the swap. The harnesses probably differ from the f-body harness enough to cause some additional headaches. The engine will mount using your current motor mounts and your tranny will bolt right up, so you're good there. Your current exhaust would also bolt right up.

Don't have too great of hopes with respect to an increase in power/performance if you don't do some upgrades before swapping it in. I have a stock L98 with headers and exhaust, and I beat bone stock LT1 4th gens pretty consistantly.The major benefits to the LT1 swap as I see them (and I'm still learning!) is they are easier to do tuning on and the stock aluminum heads are better in stock form than L98 heads and can be ported much easier/cheaper than L98 iron heads. The intake design also offers better balance giving it an advantage over the TPI setup at higher RPMs

I didn't plan to write this much, but I still just touched the surface. Read up in the LTx/LSx swap sub-forum, there is a ton of info there

frankensteinGTA

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the info. Others have said wiring can be the biggest headache. Good luck with your swap.