I've recently been considering dropping a ls-1 block and t-56 tranny into my 92 v-6 RS convertible. What i was hoping you guys (and gals) could help me with is this:
1. Will the ls1 block fit under a stock hood
2. If i actually doing this should i wait until i can find a ls-6 corvette block
and 3. if i go from a auto v6 to a manual v8 am i going to need to change the gears out back?

I'm trying to do this rebuild in stages, so if you think new gears are a good idea, but not absolutely necessary at first please mention it, cause i'm trying to work out a budget/time frame for the build.

 

1. Yes it'll fit under a stock hood and a Edelbrock Strut Tower Brace for TPI cars... if you do it right.
2. LS6 = big $$ the LS1 moves the **** out of our cars.
3. 3.73 works sweet for that combo.

My brother did the LS1 swap in his 87 IROC about 3.5 years ago and I can tell you this, there are some stumbling blocks with this conversion. First, get F-body parts, not Corvette parts. The Vette parts are much more because they are for a Vette and you have to use the F-body oil pan and transmission anyway, so you can get it all from 1 donor car. Using the F-body asscesories require a modification toi be made to your cross member for a/c pump clearance. Since you are replacing a V-6, motor mounts may bea a bigger issue that they were for my brother. Other that that, it is pretty straight forward.
As for your rear, since it's a V-6 car, I'll assume it is a one-wheel wonder, a.k.a. non-posi, so that will definetly need to be changed. Find a disc rear out of a 89 or later (you get the 11 inch rear rotors) GTA (maybe IROC) with the 3.42's and posi. With the 3.42 rear you can put off new gears for a while, and still have some pretty good fun until you can find/buy 3.73's.I know that I'm leaving out quite a few points, but I'm at work and they get upset if I write a conversion manual while on the clock.

 

thanks a lot, i know that the ls6 would require more work, and a bunch of new parts.... but there's just something about it that keeps shouting at me to say ahhh f@#k it and buy it anyway

anybody else have an opinion on this?

 

I was looking for a good LS1/T56 donor car for about 9 months and only found 3 cars in the U.S. (still ran, good motor/tranny). They all sold for over $4k. A LS6 vette would be closer to $8k, and the chances of finding one still running are pretty slim.

 

LS6 is more money than its worth. Grab an LS1 and do the heads and get a cam. Stock, the LS6 is cool. Modded? Same deal. But for the money you'll be paying..... for one that's likely beat or damaged from a rare wreck..... you're better off going another route.

However, if you become serious about it... I can get the GM LS6 longblocks with GM warranty for a decent price cut. I can also get the GM replacement LS6 combos if there are any left in stock. Those are the full LS6 longblock plus injectors, fuel rails, sensors, clutch, etc.... but they are NOT cheap at roughly $8000. The base LS6 longblock I think goes for about $6000 or so? I'm not sure though and will have to check. E-mail me if you're interested and I'll look it up.

 

You'll have to fabricate motor mounts for the LS1, it won't just bolt in place of the stock motor. I hear this is a major pain in the ***, but do-able and very much worth the hassle if you are a hardcore LS1 fanatic. I am kinda spiteful towards the LS1 because of the cocky 4th gen owners in my car club. Some of them think the LS1 is ***'s own design for a V8, and I am dead set on proving them otherwise with my 350 or a 396 if I can get enough time to actually motor swap...

 

The LS1 is a great engine. It's pretty dang quick for an N/A American V8 and gets great gas mileage at the same time. Not that that's something that even crosses your mind when buying a muscle car. People who blindly think otherwise need to look closer.

I'm not accusing you of being someone like that BTW. Personally, I think it'd be great to put a big bad engine in a 3rd Gen and show some of the 4th Gen ****** what you can do. I'm sorry you deal with jerks that own LS1s. We're not all like that.

 

I agree that the LS6 is way too much money, for the small cost of a couple parts you can turn your LS1 into an LS6.

As for mounts, as I understand it, Speartech is making them. Check the sticky for the link.

 

word, the LS1 is a great engine, and I've met some guys with LS1s who are fans of every gen camaro. The cocky ones are the 18 year old high school kids who's parents bought them a new Ram Air T/A. They think they are unstoppable and the only bad thing about it is they are for the most part, until someone with an old school big block makes them bow down. hehe, I sometimes root for the Supra or whatever they run against, even though I know it will lose. I'm not against the LS1, but I don't like people who think they have the greatest car ever. It's not restricted to LS1 owners alone either, in fact ricers are much worse. but they always lose lol

 

From what I understand the 2000-2002 LS1's already came with the LS6 intake. Put in the LS6 cam, work the LS1 heads over and voila mega power in a thirdgen package