Ok I'm getting ready to do tbi 305 to lt1 swap on a 89 camaro rs. from reading the forums i've gotten a pretty good idea of what i need to complete the swap, but there are still somethings that i have questions on. ill get to those things later. first the things i know:

1. have everything i need before i start
2. get a wiring diagram
3.new fuel pump since my tbi pump is weak
4.getting a 4th gen radiator will help with hose issues but isn't a must have
5. ac can still be used
6. have to fabricate custom fuel lines

ok thats what i've gathered so far. and as far as swap experience goes, ive swapped engines in a 93 grand am, and a 88 cutlass. here are the things that me:

1. whats VATS stand for and what is it
2. do i need a custom exhaust
3. do i have to get special motor mounts or can the old ones be used.
4. is making my car manual when it was auto difficult
5. and do i need to do anything to the speedo, tach and such

thats all the questions i have for now. if anyone can answer these questions it would be much appreciated. i sure that i will be able to complete this project over the winter since ill be working on it in my auto tech class every weekday, and have the knowledge and help of everyone on the forums :hail: my auto tech teacher thinks this would be a great project and i do to, but neither one of us know much about it. so any help will be alot.

 

1. Vehicle Anti-Theft System. If you have a little chip in your key, you've got it. If not, don't worry about it.

2. No, any thirdgen exhaust will work fine.

3. No, I used the 4th gen driver side motor-side mount, and the thirdgen passenger side motor-side mount.

4. Not too difficult. Have to do a pedal swap and a new crossmember (?)

5. Splice in the oil and water temp wires. Tach hooks up to the ignition coil. Speedo hooks to speed sensor on the transmission. If you switch to a T-56, you will need a decoder box to allow the speedo to read correctly. If you use a T-5, no problems.

Anything else just ask.

 

i have another question before i buy my engine. is there any difference between the lt1 engine in 4th gen f-bodies and the one in caprice's and an impala ss? are the wiring harnesses different or are they the same? thanks for whoever answers.

 

I am starting this swap as well but with a Roadmaster LT1 and yes B-body (Caprice, Impala, Roadmaster, Fleetwood) all had Iron heads and different programming also some other minor differences, check out http://www.tenperf.com/resources/impalares.htm for Info, The iron heads flow better then the 92-95 Alum but the 96-97 alums are best(not including LT4)

 

ok. to simply things im guessing that getting a lt1 from a f-body would make things a little easier, with wiring at least. and can you buy the heads from the newer lt1's and put them on an older one?

 

i read on another forum about someone having traction problems after installing the lt1. will installing the 4th gen rear end help this as well as give me rear disc brakes? i hate drum, they don't stop well and there a pain to work on.

 

o yeah, i forgot to post this before. is this a good deal on an lt1 engine and t-56 tranny?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ory=33615&rd=1

 

It will help in the fact that it is posi and will have, most likely, 3.42 gears in it. But just it being a 4th gen rear has no effect at all. Disc brakes are great though, I put a 4th gen rear in this summer.



No, because think, you are also going to have to pay a lot for shipping on that. Probably end up around $3000 by the time everything was said and done. By now, with LS1's in the yards, you should be able to get an LT1/T56 combo for around $1500-2000. I would search around your area for something.



Oh, my bad, just saw the free shipping part. But that is a high price for an engine with 98k on the clock. Sure these engines can run a long time, but you never know how hard it has been run through those miles. I would try and find a lower mileage one.

 

i thought over 90 is quite a bit. good thing i asked first, thanx. ill call around and see what the local junkyards got laying around.

 

For what it's worth....there is a post for a '97 Lt1 on www.camaroz28.com 'For Sale' section for $500. Not a bad price at all.

 

allright i know the whole search deal but my computer is f@#$ed up! i can Only open my home page(Thirdgen.org!). Anyways i was planning this swap this summer but the guy who was going to help me turned out to be a flop. So now i have a grand am and my car sits, getting older and nastier. anyways one night the guy and i got into an argument because he told me the motor was a truck motor and wouldn't work. It is out of a 95' buick roadmaster with a 4l60E tranni and all accessories. the only thing i didn't get was a radiator and fans. The car said corvette 350 on the back but in all of this guys drunkeness he insisted it was a "low compression truck motor." thanks for the help

oh yeah, you said you used a 4th gen pass. mount and a third gen driver mount right? did the ac work or did you have to cut anything? i would still vety much like to swap this motor. thanks

 

Your "buddy" is an idiot, don't listen to him. If it came out of a roadmaster, the only difference is iron heads instead of aluminum and I think slightly lower compression.

And what do you mean when you said "the car said corvette 350 on the back"?

As far as a/c, I don't have any idea how the accessories are set up on the buicks, but for the F-body a/c you have to notch the crossmember to allow for compressor clearance. Oh, and its 4th gen driver's side, 3rd gen pass. side.

 

the back of the car had a decal that said Corvette LT1 on it. Anyways what are better, iron or alluminum heads? I know alluminum is better, but i thought i read that the iron could be ported for better flow. Are these heads workable, or should i try to find alluminum ones?
thanks again for all of the help
jared

P.S."Your buddy is an idiot"
i already knew that

 

That guy is a moron, cause I just started swapping a 96 Buick Roadmaster LT1 and my dad also has a 96 Roadmaster wagon with an LT1, only difference is cam and heads (weak and iron respectively) compression is the same, the use a thinner head gasket on the Iron head models to bring CR back to 10.5:1.

Same thing with Buicks you have to get an AC delete pulley or notch the frame.

The heads for LT1/LT4 go in rank wise from worst to best

92-95 LT1 Aluminum (Y/F-Body)
94-96 LT1 Iron (B-Body Caprice Impala Roadmaster Fleetwood)
96-97 LT1 Aluminum (Y/F-Body)
96-97 LT4 aluminum

You can port the Iron's pretty good to.

Good place for info is the link I posted above. Impala guys are good for documenting things too

 

sweet
thanks for the info
do you have any more details about your swap. Mine is a 95 and I have everything but the radiator and fans.

 

I have everything but the computer radiator and fans, so similar to yours, lost the rad cause it was front end hit and the owners before converted to clutch style fan???? very odd but probably a reliability issue.

course for me I get to see how reliable my T-5 non WC really is


least until I find a T-56

 

I am running a 91 RS L03 - I wanna buy a lt1 of my buddy...can I still rock the A/T or will I need a new one?

 

Stock 700r4 will be fine until you start getting more power. Only thing you have to do is no matter what year LT1 it is, you will need the '93 throttle body.

 

Well that's good to know...any particular reason y we need a '93 TB? Also, how much power would a rebuilt 700R4 w/shift kit take behind an LT1?

 

didn't think my thread would bring up some many interesting questions. your all helping me learn quite a bit. thanx. i probably post an update on my project as soon as i find a engine. not that many junk yards in my area.

 

im starting to have second thoughts about the lt1. the tpi 350 cost and can make about the same hp. i want to hit the low 11's high 12's. im not sure which engine would be the best for that. though i wouldn't mind being able to tell people i have a camaro lt1 . if you got any thought about this post it up.

 

I wouldn't want to push a 700 r4 over about 350-400 hp.
Scoty

 

the 700r4 would have no problem taking that much power so long as it is built right. as for wanting to get into the 11's-12's range you could do it with yer little 305 if you really wanted to, now is it worth it... nope, by the way, that engine/tranny on ebay is a killer deal, not sure but i think the rest of you missed it but in big bold letters says "FREE SHIPPING" now a complete LT1 with computer and wiring, and a tranny with pedals and all for $2,700 is a great deal. As for the TPI 350 yes you can get it to run 11's or 12's. Things to think about. LT1 is supposed to be more reliable being a newer engine, looks better in my opinion. also comes stock with aluminum heads. the L98(350) for the TPI will not. regardless you will prolly end up swappin the heads on the LT1 anyway, but its just food for thought.

 

well if the lt1 is more reliable, then ill stick to that. the guy on ebay said he'll have another engine package like the last one sooner or later, and your gonna have to tell me what a 700r4 is.

 

the 700R4 is the automatic tranny in our thirdgens, the T5 is the five speed manual and the T56 is a six speed manual in the 4th gens, but yer i would just all over that ebay deal man

 

This a dead post now ?

 

no its not dead yet, i just didn't have a chance to reply yet. thanks for explaining the transmission thing. im not gonna use my 700r4. i want to switch my car to manual t5 or t56 (perably t56), driving auto isn't for me. i would've bought that engine deal from that guy when i first saw it but i was told it was a bad deal earlier in the post so i spent some of the money on something else. so i'll have to wait a bit to get that.

 

ah that sucks, well if you find deals like that jump on it if you can, dont belive everything people tell you though, do some research yerself, compare prices and you'll be able to judge what a good deal is on yer own.

 

After driving my friends '95 Z28 this weekend, definitely get the T56 if you can. I've got a T5 in mine, and let me tell you, the 6 speed feels so much nicer, smoother, and crisper. The clutch has a much better feel to it, less travel, the shifter seems to be more accurate and easier to hit the gears, I had no problem slamming from second to third, one of the shifts I definitely have a problem with shifting fast on the T5. Thats just my personal experience, but I like the 6 speed alot more than the 5.

 

i didnt see any response to your question about why you need a 93 LT1 throttle body

you need the 93 one since that was the only year the f-body LT1 came with the 700R4(4L60) and it is the only one with the TV cable stud on it


not sure if the vette 92/93 had it also


my LT1 is a 93, so i will have no prob

 

if anybody is still interest i still have my engine swap package and my dad wants to get rid of it. Email me at smtmth2004@hotmail.com Speeding ticket(s), yes ticket(S), have delayed the process of getting my maro running. (Apparently 17 year olds arent supposed to drive that much over the speed limit) anyways thanks for the advice and good lick to all swappers!

jared (84'fxrupr)

 

Yes, why do you need a 93 TB in any model LT1 going into a Thirdgen? I've never heard of the TB needing to be swapped.

 

if you are going to use a auto,

you need the 93 one since that was the only year the f-body LT1 came with the 700R4(4L60) and it is the only one with the TV cable stud on it


the vette 92/93 had it also

you also need the 92/93 throttle cable bracket


my LT1 is a 93, so i will have no prob

 

Ah, well, I got a T-56, no prob here as well.....(I hope)