Well Houston crew, I've had enough of my Trans Am sitting in the my dad's shop. The car failed inspection last year (emissions) and has 170k miles on the clock (stock 87 L98 with 88+ serpentine setup). I'm looking into an engine rebuild and have some figures: Engine rebuild at Precision: $999 + tax http://www.precisionengine.com/ Hooker 2055 Headers to replace my rusty manifolds: $800 at Summit New 22 pound Ford Motorsport Injectors: $305 ...That's a pretty minor rebuild for $2200+. I'm sure I've left several hundred in extras off. This high cost has me wondering if the money would be better spent towards an LSX swap. I've been doing my price hunting and it's definitely going to surpass $2200+ - but I just can't pin down by how much. I think ultimately this is the better route. I was thinking an iron 5.3 with an ls1 intake. So - do you rebuild an L98 and get a pretty-much new engine out of it, or go with the newer technology/still-used engine? Anybody have any good connections to bring any of these prices down? Any and all advice appreciated.

LSX without hesitation. Doing the LT1 swap was the best thing I've ever done to my car, and LSx swap is only oging to be better.

Ive looked at precision for a future stock replacement on my 4.3L truck, but I wouldnt go that route for performance reasons. If you have the time and $$$, LSX is superior in many ways. On a budget, I would build the L98. I plan on doing this with mine someday. (hopefully soon)

Well - I'm still leaning towards LSX and have an opportunity to pick parts up this weekend. Any recommendations on where to get a 5.3/4l60e pullout in the Houston area? 4th gen tank?

Before I make a recomendation, I would like to know what you want to get our of the car. What are your goals?

Is passing emissions the most important thing?
More power? If so how much do you want?

How much of the work do you want to do yourself?

I think that the kind of power that a 5.3 will make can be easily achieved with an L98 and still pass the emsissions test.

BTW, do you know why you failed in the first place?

Thanks. I'll try and answer. Goals:

• Reliable
• Increase in power without feeling like wasted money
• New car in that classic GTA body

Passing emissions is an important thing, but not a deal-ender. My parents live in a non-emissions county and the car is currently stored there. Legally getting an inspection sticker could be attained by going that route if for some reason I gave up the fight.

I definitely want more power than what the L98 provides as is. What bothers me most is my wife's new Hyundai with 265 hp. That thing will really move on the highway. I'm not itching for 400+, but really would like a car closer to the 300 mark.

I'm a Systems Admin by day, so working with complex systems isn't new. However, I don't have alot of experience working on the car. My father (who is looking forward to working on the car with me) has some pretty good experience changing engines and transmissions out, and has a recently cleaned and powered shop with a cherry picker and an engine stand. I'm hoping this will be a learning experience as I don't like not being familiar with something I enjoy so much.

I don't have the sheet handy for why I failed the emissions test to determine which gas it was. For years my car has run rich enough to make you smell when get out of the car. Before the car was totalled in '03 (literally minutes before), I had an engine code show up for stuck EGR valve. It's never reappeared. I later found out (after the car was 'repaired') that the AIR pump had not been reconnected. I think these two items and an old cat probably contributed directly to the car failing emissions. With ~170k on the odometer and money I'd been setting aside just for this occasion, I'm going to some kind of engine work.

I think the L98 can make great power when built up. There are countless examples on these boards. The thing that always gets me though is the price for hop-up parts to get the car to the 300hp mark and the sacrafice in gas mileage that results. The LSX looks to be a way to get to the same power levels without having an incredibly modified engine. And if I feel like more hp is needed further down the road, 6 liter block etc. is attainable without respending a huge amount on LSX swap parts. I think when it comes down to it, I'd like the newer engine - even if it means spending more than I would on the budget L98 rebuild. That by no means equates to me wanting to go nuts spending on the LSX swap, hence the need to find a good place for the engine/transmission pullout and 4th gen tank. Heck, I'd go for a 6 liter if the price was right and find other ways of passing emissions

In terms of your power goals, I don't think you would have any trouble meeting them in an L98. Since reliability is also one of your higher priorities, that narrows your options a little, but not a lot.

If you decide to go with the L98, I would recommend getting a 3.75" stroke cast crank kit with pistons and 5.7" rods. Something like this;
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...0&autoview=sku

You may save a little money using your own rods and use that money to upgrade to forged pistons. But forged pistons are not real important unless you are going to run N2O or Forced induction.

My guess is that spending the $800.00 to get a 383 will give you more power than the headers and if you should ever to decide to add headers in the future (a relatively easy mod compared to adding a stroked crank) you will get even more out of them.

I would also add a mild/medium cam during the rebuild...you'll have to ask someone else what grind as I have never done the research myself.

I expect that the 383 and cam will get you to the same HP as a LSx 5.3, maybe more.

Now that still doesn't take in to account replacing other worn out components...you would have to take a good look at the rest of your systems.

My impression of going the LSx route is that you will be looking at about $5,000 if you do it yourself and twice that if you have some one do it for you. so it would be 2 to 4 times as expensive as rebuilding the L98.

One final thing...which ever way you go, if you are running and auto you need a high stall torque converter. Since you are running a trans with lock up converter there is no reason to with less than a 3000 stall. You will be surprised by the difference it will make.

Well, personally, i have a GEN I in my 89 RS due to price...and i still make tons of power.



I gairontee i wont pass emmissions without a cat...i dont have.

With a cat it might heat up and burn off all excess fuel, so i might be ok.

But, if you wanted to do a 383 and a mild cam with ported heads and a better intake, you will have no issues i believe.


A LSx swap is allot of work, you need to modify the K member or buy a tubular unit to use the stock AC compressor, this can be a pain or verry expensive. I have never done the swap with a LSx so i can only go so far.


My 95 Z is optimal for the swap due to being able to use a 98+ k member and cross member.


Hope you get what your looking for.

I have a 4thgen LS-1 plastic gas tank, complete assembly,pump,sending unit, lines,purge canister, wiring........complete! $100.00

pic...

I know I'm a little off topic...but has anyone here ever put the 4th gen tank in a 3rd gen? What is involved?

Good Q, i wonder how "direct" it might be...

Direct bolt-in. You need a rubber hose to connect filler neck (like a 4thgen uses). Then connect fuel lines to the hard lines. The sending unit is different, so gas guage will be off unless you use correct guage or change sending unit. There's posts about how to do it.....

No rust..... priceless!

1bad91 - we're going junk yarding tomorrow looking for the 5.3 (or 6.0... ). You working all day or could we pick up the tank? I'll PM ya.

Sent you PM...

Well - I'm now the owner of an LS1 and an 01 tank. Anybody in the Houston area have a 4l60e for sale? I've looked into using the 700r4 that I have (freshly rebuilt too...) and I'd rather have the 4l60e for the LS1. So - any for sale or trade?

how much did you pick the Ls1 up for?

I have access to a BRAND NEW 4l60E with convertor...... I'll call you tomorrow afternoon with details.

Got the LS1 for right at 2200. It looks to have from 60-70k miles on it and is missing the harness. 2001 engine. All in all I'm happy about it. Hunting the rest of the parts is going to eat me alive though 91z - give me a call whenever. The sooner the better...there's a couple deals on ebay right now I'm trying to resist.

I haven't looked at the engine since the day I bought it - it's sitting in my dad's shop and I live a couple hours away. Luckily I took some pictures to hold me over.

Welcome to the LSx club

You will love it

Looking forward to it. The weather is just too nice to have this car in storage...

Good luck with that Jon!!