92Birdofprey

Hey guys, how difficult is it to swap a LS1 into my 92 bird 3.1? I was on the sight youngsfbody.com (photo gallery ----> customer project cars) and saw a few conversions from v6 to LS1, do you guys know how difficult it is for a professional to install this engine?

zs&tas

professional what?? if you have the right technical understanding of stuff its all easy. its not down to what needs to be done to get it to work its down to the individual and what YOU call difficult. just research the swap lots before you do it and youl be fine. good luck.

enswrob

should be in the engine swap forums not v6 imo..

grimmcs

iTrader: (1)

LINK
I was thinking about this swap a while back. If you have the money and the time to do the swap, it would be worth it. I had the time...not the money. There is a lot more info over in the Engine Swap forum.

KBcobra

v6 to LS1 would be the easier compared V8 to LS1, people used the V6 springs to get the ride right close to stock.

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

I don't think it is easier to swap it into a v6 compared to a v8. It definitely is pricey. I think i may have to do one in a few years or so though.

KBcobra

Please explain how it is easier to have a v8 to swap in a LS1?

Bullydawg

iTrader: (7)

Wiring would be easier, dropping it in would be easier. A V8 car is built for a V8. They are a better foundation. Only good things about a v6 is they get good gas mileage and chances are they haven't been beaten on.

grimmcs

iTrader: (1)

There are a few V8 things that can be reused/altered. ECM , gauges, and some suspension are things that come to my mind. If you are going through this HUGE process...springs are not really going to be a huge selling point. There are a lot of custom parts and a lot of rewireing that would make changing the springs look easy.
I would agree that a v8 (TPI) to a LS1 would be a little easier...but not much.

KBcobra

All of us would agree no thirdgen is really the best for a LS1 since they came out 5 years laters. The V6s did have good gears. (3.23s and 3.42s), front springs. Isn't power steering in the same spot as the LS1? Plus if your looking for a car to stick a LS1 in you would want to go find a V6 since they are cheap. V8s have the right fuel pump. Depends on the engine, dual fans. Z28 and Trans am/Formual came the Posi rear ends and rear disc. 700r4 can bolt up to the LS1. I dont understand why the harness in a v8 should matter your going to replace the whole the thing with the LS1's . Note im comparing TPI to LS1 vs V6 MPFI to LS1. Im also assuming its going into a 1990+ car.
Heres a member who did this swap (v6 to LS1)
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...ice-lists.html

bl85c

iTrader: (2)

Well if you wanted to go the custom route and modify the existing harness/ecm to run the LS1 I suppose the v8 harness might be a little easier... but with the amount of hacking to be done I don't think it really matters which harness you have.

2_point8_boy

This belongs in the engine swap forum, so I'm moving it there...

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

First, there is SO much info on LS1 swaps at this point, there really shouldnt be any "how hard is it..." type questions. Just read through the information, and determine for yourself how hard it sounds. Its all in what you are comfortable working on.

The answer you'll get from me is...easy. But you might not get that from someone else.

Depending on what you are doing with the car, there really isnt much difference between v6 and v8... The spring thing is kinda sketchy. Because I used a set of eibach springs for a WS6, and my ride height is dead perfect. I havent really read much about the spring debate with factual info on v6 vs v8 springs.

Gauges... if you are going aftermarket, its cake. If you are keeping your stockers, you just need to use the right senders in the LS1. Oil pressure, Water temp and of course volts will keep their same senders. If you keep the thirdgen tank, fuel level is fine. Tach and speedo are alittle more complicated...but not too bad. There are conversion boxes floating around to help get those gauges to work properly.

What else would be different between v6 and v8??? You wont be keeping the ECM. In fact...Im not sure why anyone would want to keep the wiring from the thirdgen at all. The ls1 harness is just about standalone. And if you either use LS1 fuse blocks, or make your own...youre almost home. I yanked my TPI harness out completely. And if I was starting with a V6 car, Ide most definetly do the same.

Lots and lots of info on this board, and on ls1tech. Definetly do some reading. You will learn a ton, and find most of the answers to your questions. There are even published books out now that detail swapping LS motors. So the information is there for the taking...

J.

V8Rumble

iTrader: (2)

+1 to what ghettocruiser said above about reading & researching. You might also want to research what companies you (try to) order from, maybe even on the "Aftermarket Vendor Review" board... (just a hint!)

Good luck w/ the swap, if you decide to give it a go...