Here is my motor after cleaning it up quite a bit, looks good, huh.

 

Not bad. How many miles (do you know?). How hard is it gonna be to install? I've been thinking about trying to find one of those in a junkyard or maybe and LS1 to implant
Thanx
Wes 87 IROC-Z 305 TPI

 

Thanks,
Motor has 48K on it. Install is easy, bolts right in.
A little wiring and reprogramming of the PCM and I am good to go.
Probably going to swap the cam while the motor is out.
I should have the motor in the car in a couple of weeks, going to change a lot of the gaskets while the motor is on the stand.

 

Hehehehehe . It does bolt right in , then the easyness stops real fast

Derek

 

Well, it shouldn't be too much of a task for me.
I just recently complete an 86 carb to 90-92 TPI swap, wiring with that setup was a bitch. This should be cake.

 

The LT1 will bolt right in, the LS1, however, will not.

BTW, nice engine Zeph. Why isn't there a hot chick posing with it?

 

All the hot chicks are at the beach. It's kinda hard to run around with this motor and get chicks to pose with it.

I'll see about getting some to come over and model with it this week. How's that?

 

Works for me!

BTW, the trick isn't to bring the motor to them, its to get them to come to the motor!

 

I'll be making some phone calls today.

 

Zephyr: I'm not sure what year motor you have, from the cross over I know its post 93 but in any event these are notorious for having oil leaks at the rear of the intake manifold. I think in 97 GM installed a different style gasket that cured the problem. You may want to look into it. My LT1 has just over 52K but so far no leak. Just food for thought since you mentioned you would be changing gaskets anyway.

 

Nice.

That motor came out of a Caprice right? If so thats a cast iron block with aluminum heads, rated at 245 HP right.

 

Hey manny missed a spot!

It looks alot better in person though! When are you putting it in? I'll come over and lend a hand

 

Yes, it is from a 95 Caprice 9C1 Cop Car with 48K miles on it. It has iron block and heads and is rated at 260hp due to the mild cam it has.
LT4 Hotcam is going into it as soon as it arrives.

 

I'm sure you've verified that it's a 5.7.....but it is possible for someone to get duped into buying a 200 hp 4.3L V8 (identical to an LT1) from a 94-96 "B" body. Just for anyone looking to buy an LT1, make sure it IS a 5.7.

 

a 4.3 litre v-8??

i didnt know they made them..

I know my ZR2 Blazer has the 4.3 litre V-6..

learn something new everyday

what did these come in?


chris

 

They were options in "B" bodies from 94-96. Caprices and Roadmasters.....not sure about the Impala's though. It's a 4.3L V8 with a VIN code W, same as the 4.3L V6. Do a search and you'll dig up some info on them.

 

"They were options in "B" bodies from 94-96. Caprices and Roadmasters.....not sure about the Impala's though. It's a 4.3L V8 with a VIN code W, same as the 4.3L V6. Do a search and you'll dig up some info on them."

Wow thats wild I've never heard that before. I'll have to look into it. Is it just destroked or something?

BTW - Just looking at the motor from that picture, it just looks.... refreshingly simple! I dunno why, it just comes across as a pretty straightforward design. Maybe its cause I've seen so many pictures of TPI and Ford 5.0 Motors.

 

Ya, I made sure it was the 5.7 liter version.
The 4.3 Liter LT1 is commonly referred to as the "Baby LT1"
The one I have has the 5.7L cast on the back drivers side of the block.
Here is an article on rebuilding an LT1 with info on all the versions,
http://www.automotiverebuilder.com/ar/ar99928.htm

 

Check this for info on the L99 4.3:
http://www.naisso.net/naisso/resource/resource18.asp
http://207.224.118.65/Misc/ratmobile2.htm

 

Well dude , at least do yourself a huge favor and buy an aftermarket harness . I did my LT1 in my 90 with a stock GM 96 harness and it was HELL . There are so many wires you wont use that the aftermarket harness wont have . Also there are a few aspects of the LT1 computer that differ quite bit than the TPI/TBI computers . I wasnt trying to be a smart a$$ or anything , but I thought the same thing bout the wiring . I thought i would have it running in a week , and 2 months later it finally ran . And even at that the speedo didnt work yet and the fans were run off a toggle switch because we couldnt get the LT1 computer to see them . The car was wrecked b4 the bugs got worked out .

If you run into any problems , feel free to email me . I spent 2.5 months doing this to my old Iroc .

Derek

 

Hows the search for another Third Gen Camaro going 90??

 

I'll shoot you an email or two when I get to the wiring stages.
Did you make any wiring diagrams or schematics?
I can't afford an aftermarket harness, if I could afford one, I'd get the Accel EFI setup for the LT1, it's only $995 I think.

 

Very nice, looks alot better than before, good luck on the install!

Joel

 

And the point of swapping your SD TPI motor for a rusted out 260 HP LT1 is...... what exactly ? A big pain the *** for 15 HP ? Wow. I love it how some people just HAVE to bend over backwards to be different. With the money you probably spent on that motor you could have built a nice Gen I 350 that would outrun that LT1 ANY day.

 

umm..sure..a 48k iron head'ed LT1 that lookz nassssssssty..sure is pretty.. :lala: :lala: btw id have to agree with blackended..a fool and his money....

 

I'm usually the first one to constructively criticize Zepher for what I feel is a waste of time and money trying to convert his interior from third gen to fourth gen. I don't see any value in that. Styling is what made us buy the car in the first place. But..... if you have the opportunity to increase your car's performance. DO IT. How many of us bought a $200 air intake to gain maybe 8 - 10 horse. Me personally I would have gotten a Zblock and been done with it, however, he probably got that 48K mile engine for a song. Odds are you are not gonna find a 48K mile tpi motor anymore and a new Zblock isn't exactly cheap. As the owner of an LT1 and past owner of LB9's and L98's I will say the LT1 has it all over either of those two engines. It will rev cleanly to 6K has plenty of low end grunt and bolt ons are readily available. Also, GM severely underated these motors from the factory.

 

My Speed Density 305 died, so I bought this complete LT1 with everything for $1,000. I am trading my SLP Intake for an LT4 Hot Cam Kit so I should have plenty of HP, more than my brothers 96 Trans Am which is putting down 290hp at the wheels. We will have the same mods, but I will have the LT4 Hot Cam, you do the math.
I sold my TPI and other motor parts for almost $1,000.
Have you ever driven a modded LT1? lots of power all the way to 6K, it's neck breaking.

I've always wanted the LT1, but couldn't find a complete one with harness and PCM for a decent price. Now that I have one, I will be a very happy camper when it is in and I am cruising around tearing people up with it.

 

when you could have spent that money ona carbed 350..and woulda whooped up on LT1 *** anytiem you wanted too..btw..i like your car

 

I wanted to get away from carbs, I like EFI.

I like the 4th gen interior, and the 4th gen driveline.
I like the 3rd gen exterior, with certain 4th accents, like the hood, nose, and wheels.

Here is old and new,

 

Zepher,

Looking good, Will look 10x better as soon as you get that intake to me

Your car is Def. 1 of a Kind and I like it.

 

My buddies 95 Trans Am LT1 is pretty damn quick for stock.... Its an automatic transmission with no mods and squawks into 2 and 3rd at WOT.... The car pics up great... All he has for mods is a K&N cold air induction and we blew away a mildly modded 96 Stang GT by about 12 car lengths by the time we hit 140k... This guy thought his car was the ****, we thought it was the **** too because he had a nice sounding echaust, sounded like a really mean car and than we just blew his ****in doors right off... Those LT1's are sweet... I would drop my 355 for one anyday...

 

I have never riden in an LT-1 equipped car, but I could see why someone would want to put one in. The same reason I wanted a carbed motor in mine. Its what I wanted. Personally I wouldn't go to an LT-1 unless it had the LT-4 heads, Hot Cam, and a carb intake. Its just personal preference.

 

Zepher,
Are you taking pics of the whole process? Are you taking notes? If so, I would like to get your help. I am thinking about trying to convince my wife about putting an LT1 in my 86 IROC.

Mark

 

want to trade.. my 240 km LG4 awaits you... :hail:

 

Hey Mark, I will be taking pictures and notes of the entire process so that if something doesn't work, I can check out what I did and where the problem might be. Also would be good for everyone here that wants to do the swap as well.

I really wanted to put an LT5 in my car, but man, those are expensive, $13,000 for a new one.

 

zepher
your old 305 that just died. did you not put a ton of work into it not long ago? New cam and a bunch of other things too? about the same time your video was out on the board?

 

Hey Zeph, don't listen to the nay-sayers! Your car is hella tight! Everything you've done isn't necessarily what I would have done, but I like checking out your results. I would drop an LT1 in my car in an instant! Keep modding!!!

 

Well, I did put the TPI on top of it and swapped the heads and installed a cam. That is about it. I was planning on putting all these parts on a 350 when the 305 died, but I didn't expect the 305 to die so soon. I was hoping 6 months or longer, give me some time to build a 350, but **** happens and you gotta go with the flow. I was definatly not going to put any money into fixing the 305, and that is the reason I got the LT1 as soon as I did. Car was on the road for 6 weeks approximately.

 

When you get very serious the LT1/4 is by far and wide cheaper than gen 1 .

LT1/4 intake - proven good to 155 mph in the 1/4 ( George B , WikidTA )
Comparable Gen1 EFI intake set up - at least $1000 investment

LT1 computer - LT1 Edit . This is DFI for $200 . I use this and know several 9 sec cars that use this with the STOCK computer that run all the way to 7K rpm .

Gen1 pcm options - $2000 F.A.S.T. ( speed pro ) or $1000 very UN-user friendly ( and only in DOS at that ) Accel DFI

Take just those 2 aspects alone and Im already minimum $2K ahead of the game over a gen1 . I havent even got into how much better the heads are yet .

SORRY to turn this into a debate ....kinda the wrong forum for that , but I hate it when people say this swap is pointless . If your a EFI gearhead , its the only way to go , IMO .

 

Thanks 90 Z28SS,
I felt kinda outnumbered there for a second.

 

zeph, you plan on getting chrome valve covers and udpulleys for that bad boy. alos your getting headers?

If anybody gots headers that will fit a 89 305TPI give me a hollar!

 

I don't know about chrome valve covers, the black ones look pretty cool. I have an underdrive crank pulley that I am putting on and I already have headers and full exhaust on the car and they seem to line up good with the LT1.

 

You posted "old" and "new" pics...the new pic of what I assume is supposed to be a Pewter paint job?? to tell you the truth it looks like a bad photo shop job. Just saying I hope I'm right and that's not a paint job...

 

You are right, it is a quick Photoshop paint job.

 

is it still a multicolored ride with the red hatch, etc?

 

There is a guy on here who lives around the DFW area with a 91 or 92 RS convertible with an LT1/6 speed and that thing is absolutely awesome! I met him at the local car night a while back and he took one of his buddies for a ride in it and man, I have never seen a thirdgen get squirrely through 3rd gear like that...

 

I just wanted to give kudos to Zepher for both his hard work and dedication to his project, but more importantly, he deserves credit for not responding in kind to comments like this;

Isn't this the guy who made LED taillights rather than just replacing the bulb? Seems like that is bending over backward to be different.


and this;

 

HEHE, yeah alot of multi-colors...

 

didn't you JUST get done with a 305 4bbl to a 305 TPI swap? not enough power?

 

Ya, I recently finished that project but my 305 died. Here is a shot of my 305 block,


My car is still multi-colored, here is a recent pic,


I also think that I am getting more than 15hp with the LT1 vs my 305 TPI, especially with the LT4 Hot Cam that I am putting into it.
I am expecting 300+hp and 330+tq at the wheels with this motor and my other mods.