dmyruski

I have a perfectly fine running 305 TPI with about 120xxx. I just got a killer offer on a 95 LT1 with a police ECM. Is there that much of a noticeable power gain to justify spending the money and time swapping it? Or should i just stick with the 305? And is there any major modification needed if I decide to swap it.

ex-x-fire

I'd read up on the swaps that have been done.
I'd rather put a stroked sbc chevy in, direct bolt in & fairly cheap to build nowadays.

dmyruski

I have looked through a bunch of swap threads but they all seem to be going from a 305 TBI or carbureted engine to a 350. So do i have to swap the harness or just re-pin the PCM plug is what im really trying to find out?

Seafarer12

Well you pretty much have to swap everything out. There will be a big jump in hp and to some people it is worth the effort. Is it a toy or a dd? I wouldn't do it if it was your dd. It wouldnt be a weekend project like swapping out a 305 for a 350.

thewizard

iTrader: (43)

As he ^ stated it would be a fairly serious project, but it would be a great learning experience as well.

In my opinion the power of even a stock LT1 would be much more fun than an LB9.

Tonygxp

if anyone is currently swapping a TPI engine for an LT1 they should get a slap in the back of their head.

Go LS engine or don't waste your money.. just remember, you'd be doing it for yourself, you're going to barely get another $1k or $1.5k for the car when it's done (and it's gonna cost you at least 3x as much by the time all is said and done) thing is, if your engine went, it would cost half the "swap" money to replace (with new/rebuilt) anyway.. you can get an iron block 5.3 LS pretty cheap. the aluminum ones are big bucks (like LS1, 6.0 truck or LS2, etc). I am doing this to my '89 GTA with 67k miles on it because i want it to look third gen and fly like hell. but i will enjoy this L98 (not really but whatever lol) for a couple years. i love this car!!!

PS, the reason i knock the lT1 swap is my friend owns a performance shop (in Toms river, NJ called Tune Time Performance) and i've watched what swaps his place has done and the LS swap cars run way better, easier to tune to your specs, etc etc, parts are more readily available.. Turbo B body impala's with LS twin turbo's... i seen (and driven) in many.. go LS if you're doing it.. again if money's an issue go 5.3 iron or 6.0 iron block (same weight as what's in there now anyway)

vetteoz

iTrader: (13)

Cost is everything
For those on a budget a LT1 is a bolt in swap , no custom adapters/ headers / etc needed.
Reuse all the SBC parts he already has.
All he needs is a LT1 harness and ECM which he needs for LSX swap as well as the extras
You could even put a reg dist in a LT1 intake and use the TPI wiring and computer
He could even put a carb on a LT1 is make swap even easier
300 Hp LT1 vs ???? Hp 305

Either way he is up for a rework of the wiring and fuel lines

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

If it includes accessories and you dont need AC (just because this tends to monkey wrench engine swaps, I dont know specifically) and you are sure it works no problem, it's a great way to roller 350 block with a much better EFI system than most gen I blocks can get. The miniram (Gen I Lt1 intake equivalent) is something like $2k.

The other complication beyond wiring in the ECM is that you will need headers, LB9 manifolds wont work. D-port headers preferably. Beyond that you will have to figure out what you want to do about the trans. The LT1 has an electronically shifted trans, or a T56. Theres no TV cable. Im not sure how easy it is or isnt to retrofit an LB9/L98 TV cable setup to an LT1 intake. May be pretty damn easy, though.

But just remember, the LS1 engines are amazing feats of technology, great engines. Because of that no one wants LT1's all that much. The LT1 also has that god forsaken optispark. The LT1 is just ar aelly high compression roller 350 block with a good intake. You can actually do a cam swap to something like an LT4 Hotcam cheap and those LT1's are good to go deep into the 12's. They use factory style roller cams and they run very high compression, so you can very easily put a big honkin roller cam in those and make them absolutely SCREAM on stock heads. You might even embarass a bunch of bolt-on LS1 cars.

Tony GXP - For the price I've seen LT1's go for, they rival the Gen III truck blocks for money, and they bolt up to factory transmissions, engine mounts, and exhaust parts. No need to get expensive oil pans and intakes to make them fit into the F-body's frame. I've seen some sell, running, for $400ish. For the cost of a cam and valve springs and perhaps a tune, you can make nearly 400hp with an LT1 for less than 1/4 the cost of an LS1 swap with FAR fewer conversion hassles.

gmstrong

I owned a 95 9c1 with the LT1 for about 4 months ran threw all kinds of weather conditions and never had a problem with the optispark the 95+ have the vented optis which are way better.To bad the car was so heavy would have been ALOT funnier in a 3,000lbs car with 373's.Even with the car weighing about 4500+lbs with 308's car got up pretty good.

vetteoz

iTrader: (13)

92(Vette) and 93 LT1 's used same 4l60 /T700 with the TV cable so that bracket has provision for it
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LT1-Intake-C...item43ad932dcc

TB is near identical position at front of engine so original TPI TV cable works fine

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

In my opinion, an LT1 is a great swap if you're on a tight budget, and you don't have any big plans to mod it (beyond the general bolt-ons). If you think you're going to want to mod the motor, the LT1 immediately stops being a bargain. The aftermarket support for the Gen I and Gen III/IV is way bigger.

SKELITOR117

iTrader: (3)

Yup. As far as if its worth it or not, a stock LB9 puts out like What? 220hp? A stock LT1 puts out 275, and with a chip and exhaust your looking at 300+HP easy.

gmstrong

260hp for bbody.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

You're kidding, right?

dmyruski, for your reading enjoyment, we happen to have a sticky for both the LT1 swap and the LS1 swap in the top section of this forum. They will give you a very good idea of what is involved in either swap.

vetteoz

iTrader: (13)

Identical alum head LT1 engine in the Vette was rated 300Hp.
Only difference is the exhaust


Cast iron heads