i've got a '94 LT1 out of a 9C1 Caprice, and i'd like to swap it into my '92 C1500. i'm going to work on integrating the LT1 harness with the existing engine harness. i'd like to upgrade from the stock ECM setup, to something that can be tuned with a laptop, to avoid chip burning and such. what are my options here?

being a 94 u should be able to program the PCM, only 93 lt1s had to have the chips burned, or so i recall.

what kind of program and hardware will i need to achieve this?

tunercats would be a good program to use, or lt1 edit. u will need a cable to go form the laptop to the PCM, and as usual i cant find the link for the cables lol

Program: Most of us use Tunercat. Go to TunerCat. You'll have to buy the def file for $20. If you buy the program you get free updates.

Cable: I bought the kit from aldlcables and built it myself for $45 but i have heard there are cheaper ways. May also need a usb-to-serial converter, the one made by Belkin is recommended.

Scanning programs(not needed for programming just scanning like for codes, etc.): Freescan(Free), Datamaster(Free trial), Scanmaster(not free). I like datamaster.

AKM sells nice cables too, about $75 IIRC. I've also heard of many people using LT1 Edit as their software, but it's a bit spendy

i meant akmcables.com. oops

Still learning also but if you have odb1, maybe odbii but not sure, then use tunercat. Most say lt1 edit is not worth the price and at the much higher cost you can only do one PCM unless you serve large for each PCM you want to tune. The guys at camaroz28.com seem to think tunercat is the best choice. I am sending mine off for the first tune. Also just read that pcmforless locks the PCM so you can not store the files and if tweaking does not produce a desirable result you have nothing to restore. Listen to others first though as I am not even close to novice......yet. I do lots of reading before I dive into dark waters.

Found this in the LT1 swap stickies... back from the past!!!

Since then TunerPro V5 RT can handle all LT1 for chip tuning.from 92 to 95 Free to try and cheap to buy compared to TunerCat. Way more options in the XDF for bin changes as well
http://tunerpro.net/

1992 is $DA2.xdf
1993 is $DA3.xdf
92 and 93 use $DA2.adx for datalogging. Those files and some bins are at:
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Inj...mation-DA2-DA3
These are chip burned ECMs

Early 1994 may be called Rev b and is mask $EEB.xdf

The 1994 and 1995 are mask $EE There are $EE_Auto.xdf and $EE_Man.xdf for the bin changes.

There's also a $EE_Auto.adx and $EE_Man.adx for data recording. I have all these, wiring diagrams and about 30 LT1 bins at:
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Inj...rmation-EE-EEB

These PCM need to be flashed which TP can't do so you will need WinFlash from TunerCat, pretty cheap at $20. With this and a cable you can read and flash the 94-95 LT1 PCM.
http://www.tunercat.com/winflash_des...lash_desc.html

NEW TunerPro ADX and XDF V3
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Inj...ull=1#post3131

HTH!