cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

Whats up everyone,

I have been planning and waiting for this for a long time, and im finally going to get it going. A few months ago I bought an LT1 from a parted out 97 Trans Am with 93,000 miles on the clock. My car is origianally a 305 tbi with a tired T-5, Which will be replaced by a t56. I will be posting alot of pics/updates so people can follow my progress and so i can get quicker help when I need it. Ive been working on my own cars since i was young, but this will be my first motor swap. Im ordering more parts next week, and moving the car to our shop, then going to get going. Im really stoked and cant wait to get started.

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

1ADan

iTrader: (4)

congrats on the upgrade and good luck!

chevyowner02

iTrader: (3)

Nice looking car!

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

thanks guys!

im looking at head bolts on summit, and summit just says for "small block" I think they should work but i just need a second opinion

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AR...3601/?rtype=10

chevyowner02

iTrader: (3)

Yea those will work.

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

ok excellent.

today was pretty productive, got my heads off and ready to be machined. Oly downer is i cracked my intake in the process(missed a bolt and pryed too hard. oh well, live and learn.





Head gaskets were in good shape, so thats a good sign. Now im off to buy some parts.

-Cooper

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Ive got a pair of LT1 intakes for cheap if you need one

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

thanks pocket, but i just picked one up

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

picked up my manifold today, and got my block off plates in the mail. heads are getting resurfaced and tanked, plus a 3-angle valve job. Should get those on friday

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

So im pretty much at a stand still until i get my head gaskets, so i just did a few small things for now.



got my intake fully assembled, and installed my egr block off plates from TPiS.



And cleaned the crap out of my pistons. they look pretty much brand new.

Next is getting my 305/T5 out of my car and get the bay painted before it gets too cold out. Getting my heads later this week and hopefully head gaskets come from Summit soon. I also got plugs, wires, headbolts and a walbro 255 in-tank pump.

I can reuse my alternator off my 305 right? i bought it like a month prior to the swap so its brand new.

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

just alittle update:

Im workin on getting the motor out now, hopin to have it out by the end of this week, but ive been workin so much it might be early next week. Other than that im just waitin on my head gaskets to come in from Summit so I can get my motor reassembled

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

Well progress has pretty much been at a holt since work has been so crazy. But the motor and trans are almost out except for one plug where the harness goes to the firewall right by the brake booster. I've unclipped it but it still won't budge. After that it should be out tonight

Falconiroc

Good to see you making progress, I'm probably going to be starting my LT1/T56 Swap here in the next couple months (yep, looks like I'll be doing LT not LS for now) Anyway, it is looking great, keep it up, and post more pics!

quickkris2006

iTrader: (2)

thats the c100 there are 3 lil bolts in there the one in the middles a lil tricky to get see between all the wires.. but once u get that out it will slide right out into ur hands.. ill be doing the same here after thanks giving

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

Finally got the motor pulled today, everything went smooth as can be, but i did spill alot of tranny fluid(yeah i know, i should have drained it)and next week im going to get everything all cleaned up and painted up. one question, do i need to reuse my charcoal box( by driverside headlight) or can i block it off?

thanks again

scrubbin627

Nice

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

The middle bolt is the one you want. The outer two hold the dash side C100 to the firewall

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

yeah i didnt see that at first, felt pretty foolish when i fould it

im glad everything went smooth after that, came out easy as pie.


ive heard about people doing paint strippers instead of sandpaper. that should be fine right?

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

Just an update:
Got the bay cleaned and painted the bay, next step is painting the pay and swapping the fuel pump. I've decided just to paint around the brake booster rather then take it out because its such a PITA. And I've decided just to replace all the pushrods to save problems in the future.

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

just another update:

Ive been working on cleaning the engine bay to get it painted, and installing my 4th gen seats from a v6 camaro. when i installed the drivers side seat it wouldnt slide back and forth, turns out theres a wire that goes across the rails that is just gone? no idea, they worked then i got them, so i dont know. but other than that im finishing up putting the motor together before i snuggle her in her new home=].

anyone else have this problem with your seats?

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._3362252_a.jpg

Well I got the engine bay all painted.up today, and started working on installing my 4th gen resevoirs.
One thing I'm wondering, do I have to rum an oil cooler on the 97? Or can it be blocked off?

New2Chevy

iTrader: (11)

So far so good!

Did you try to bolt up the third gen alternator? I think the LT1 alternator is different because it seems bigger and also because of how it mounts to the brackets on the LT1, but I could be wrong. I never compared the two...I sold my entire 305 before I got the LT1 engine. I think the amp rating is the same or close between the tpi and LT1 alts.

You don't have to run an oil cooler. The LT1 in my 97 didn't have an oil cooler setup at all. I've seen guys run them, though. I think it's more of a pain in the butt than anything else. I've only ever seen oil cooler setups on forced induction cars, which makes sense, but on a N/A engine, I don't see the need for one. I'm not sure why the LT1 ever had an oil cooler and am also not sure why my 97 Camaro did not have one. Lots of guys take the oil coolers off their 4th gens and have no issues, except a small increase in oil pressure, which should be a good thing.

I'd ditch the oil cooler.

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

IMG00078-20110101-1505.jpg

Well in that case I'm not going to bother with the oil cooler.

As for the alternator, I was pretty sure it was a direct swap but that the belt pattern might be diffrent.
But I haven't bolted it to the lt1 yet, so I couldn't tell you for sure. Tomorrow I'm hoping to finish installing 4th gen resevoirs and 4th gen master cylinder. I think the stock ones look kindof ugly.
Then hoping to get the tank pulled and installing Walbro 255 pump. Debating on weather I should replace the sender too.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Grab the oil filter adapter and bolts from any SBC. That'll ditch the cooler

Bolt pattern is different for 3rd gen and LT1 alts. Wiring is similar, but not plug and play

New2Chevy

iTrader: (11)

The 4th gen reservoirs hide nicely in our engine bays. Did you see how I placed the windshield wiper reservoir in my swap? It fits nicely (and very snug-like) in the nose of our cars

I also did the coolant reservoir in the stock battery location

If the sender was working before, I wouldn't mess with it, but then again it may be worthwhile to put a new one in, since you'll have the tank out.

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

Yeah I've been following your swap for awhile now, and got a lot of info off itzm one thing I did diffrent was notch alittle bit off my hood latch brace so it didn't sit so low in there.

New2Chevy

iTrader: (11)

Cool. I thought the washer fluid reservoir sat at a good height, without chopping anything up, but to each his own. That's what's cool about doing swaps...we can do whatever we want...within reason of course.

Yeah I'm just waiting to get the heads, block, and intake done for my engine. Lack of funds is slowing me down, as usual. It'll get done soon enough I suppose.

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

Well today I finished up my wiper resevoir, and installed new master cylinder. Also got started on my coolant resevoir.
FYI: when installing 4th gen coolant resevoir, there is a bar connecting the inside of your bumper to your engine bay, if you unbolt the fender side and relocate it to the free screw hole about 3 inches twards the front of the car. Just bend the up 90 degrees or cut about an inch off, and drill a new hole and that's it. Mine wouldn't sit flush and now its great!

One more question: I relocated my wiper fluid hose into a hole in the firewall next to my throttle cable behind the booster. I can't remember if anything mounts there, simple question but I'm drawing a blank.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Washer pump hose goes through there to feed the sprayers

Odd place for GM to put a hole in the firewall for a simple hose

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

True, but at the same time its very convenient.

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

heres a few pics of the bay painted.

quickkris2006

iTrader: (2)

looking good man.. i remember when i did my engine bay.. what a pita did u sand and prep or just clean and spray?

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

thanks kris, your swaps comin along good aswell.
it was mostly clean and paint. i used a drill and a wire brush for the k member, and sanded a few spots. i was nervous the paint wouldnt stick because of the cold weather but it turned out very well.

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

it snowed today so I had some time to work on the car. I decided to finish up the motor, I installed the push rods, valve cover, intake and water pump. When I was installing the steel line off the intake that runs to the back of the heads, I realized the threads were on the front..(Smakes face.). Can't believe I didn't notice that. There's 2 theaded plugs that can be removed and ithey line up and I can bolt it there, and just plug the 2 up front. Or can I just block it off at the intake?

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

Here's a pic of the finished product.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Take the filler neck off. It just looks goofy

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

I will eventually, it was there when I got the motor

quickkris2006

iTrader: (2)

yea i did the same with the wire brush on the kmember but i took my k member out of the car and striped it down and painted it.. i sanded most of my engine bay but i didnt do the best job.. im ganna put my motor on to the kmember and lower the car down onto the kmember i dont have an engine lift so this is ganna be a lil easyier for me.. me and my buddy are ganna strong arm it down onto the k member and bolt it up.. thats how we got it onto the stand.. im ganna be doing gaskets and all soon hoping i can get the block clean enough to be able to paint it and im ganna try and polish what ever else i can on the motor...do u have a date that ur trying to meet for ur start date? mines feb 16th

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

My start goal is a little later then that. I still have to get a trans and send my wiring to pocket and fuel pump and lines. I'd like to get the car driving during the summer, that's my ultimate goal.

Good luck with lowering your car on the k-member, after pulling mine from the top it made me wonder if it would be easier to lower it. Best of luck to you! Hopefully by the time you start your car my motor will be in.

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

I had the day off work today so I messed around with the motor a little bit. Decided to paint the fuel rails black to blend in with the intake better, I'm really happy with how it turned out. Also decided to throw on the power steering bracket. after the pilot bushing, mounts and tie up a few things and she will be ready to drop in!

keithcrow01

very nice car cprmn14. whats need to do an LS1 swap in a 91 RS?

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Looks good. Id paint the balancer too since everything else is shiny

keithcrow, read the LS1 swap sticky at the top of the page

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

Good call pocket, ill have to do that. One question, can I block that steel line off at the intake or do I have to use it?

Other than that, I plan on getting the fuel pump out of the way this week, and removing the old fuel lines.then probably just steel fuel lines from napa.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

When line on the intake are you referring to?

quickkris2006

iTrader: (2)

Looking good man I would have repainted the intake red again to make it shiny lol I'm kinda at a stand still on my swap I need parts now =(

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

The one that runs to the back of the cylinder heads, I think the line is actually off the throttle body.

quickkris2006

iTrader: (2)

I think that's he's. Talking about the steam tube.

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

Oh that's what that is, I'm pretty sure that means its a coolant passage and I can't block it off.

quickkris2006

iTrader: (2)

Yea its because the lt1 cooling system goes threw the heads first..