Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum. I want to swap my V6 in my 1989 RS with an LT1. Where can I find a decent LT1? Thanks

 

There are a million choices to finding a LT1. First off, if you don't mind spending money, get a short block (383) , grab the LT4 conversion package from Pace Performance and build deranged power. If you have a budget, which most of us do, check out ebay, www.thirdgenresource.com or just go to google and do a search. Only thing with all those is you have to pay some form of shipping which becomes a pain. Nothing else, go to a local junk yard and see if they have any from an old Impala or Camaro. Better yet, if you dont' feel like all the hassel of the LT1, get yourself a TPI engine and just drop a LT1 intake on it. The novice car guy will never know the difference (unless he sees the distributor) and the imports will be burned just as bad. Good luck on finding one......
Lc

 

Thanks for the advice! I will start looking.:yourock:

 

sorry to hi jack your thread but what is a better deal a $225 bare block LT1 or a $1100 complete LT1

If your going to take along time i would ad some subframe connecters and steering brace just to have the body strong enough to handle the extra weight power etc

 

) I'd say the $1100 complete LT1 would be a far better deal. Provided that is that you are getting the ENTIRE wiring harness, which runs about 500-600 if it's crap, the brain box, all the opti-spark stuff, which is also about 500(?) not completely sure though. Not to mention you have heads, intake, fuel rails, and I am assuming all the accessaries, flywheel, starter, MAF, and so on and so forth. The bare block may seem better, but I am sure that getting a complete one and doing all the machine work on it would come out to be cheaper. However, you could build up a bare block to your own specs (i.e. LT4 conversion!:hail: ) if time and money really aren't that much of an issue. My position, I'd take the complete engine....so it just depends on what you are doing with the engine.
Lc

 

Just to let you know....Ebay has a LT1 long block for ....300-400. That includes short block, plus the heads (cast iron I think). So there is another possibility.....
Lc

 

where do i find the LT4 conversion and how much is it and how much gain is there of them?

 

Well again...billions of places to find all the parts for the LT4 conversion....all it is is cam, heads, intake, and tuning with the computer. Um, pace performance has the "ENTIRE" conversion listed for $2300. You get intake, heads, 1.6 roller rockers, the HOT CAM, and all the hardware and gaskets. But you don't get fuel rails or throttle body with it....I think you can use the old TB, but I don't think the old fuel rails work with the intake. "This kit is a proven 425+ horsepower!" says the catalog....but maybe 320-370 at the rear wheels hope for ( I would guess). The LT4 vette made....330 hp, but emissions legal. This kit IS NOT, so if you live in a place that that is a huge issue...good luck.

Also, you can get the LT4 components seperately. Go to ebay, find the heads and I hear of people everywhere selling the HOT CAM, even on the classifieds part of this site! So just do a search for it.....the specs are adv duration 279i/287e, @.050" 218i/228e and with 1.5 rr you get .525/.525 lift with 112 lobe seperation. (if you didn't already know) And pick up the intake almost anywhere; again, just do a search.

I know that www.SDPC2000.com has the LT4 head fully cnc ported....but uh,.....you get the heafty tag of $1100 each,,,,,,yes EACH. But the regular head comes in at $630 and you get 2.00" intake and 1.55" exhuast valves with a 54.4cc combustion chamber. My thoughts would be that getting a used set and having them machined would be more cost effective.

Add to this the cost of getting your computer redone and you'll find yourself spending a good bit of money. I am not sure exactly how much of a gain you get from LT1 to LT4 but whether or not it is worth it depends on your setup and your happiness with the power you have...

Lc

 

isnt a Lt4 just a vett LT1?? Couldnt i just go to a junkyard and pick this stuff up for less ?

 

If only life were so easy.....

To answer your question....yes, but no. Yes the LT4 is a vette engine, but it is not the vette LT1. The LT4 came only in 1996 vettes and I believe it was a special engine option....don't recall if it was standard equipment. All vettes prior to this year came only with the LT1, which of course was tuned over the years. It came with a different block too. Four bolt mains as opposed to the two bolt that was used with the LT1. The LT1 intake has a different bolt pattern than the LT4, so getting LT4 heads and attempting to bolt up the LT1 intake wouldn't work. Sure you could go to a junkyard and pull the stuff off an old vette. The likelihood of you finding a vette with a LT4 intact, or any vette with the motor still in it, is highly unlikely. Unless of course you live near a vette boneyard, then you might have some luck. If you feel lucky, by all means look. LOL, looking costs nothing (usually) And if you are lucky, grad it and run...and if you find two....please inform me!
Lc