ok guys sorry if some of this is redundant but i was reading the posts and i didnt see the exact ansewers i was looking for, but i have a 1987 GTA with a 305 TPI and im debating about a motor swap and im debating between the lt1 and ls1 and i am wondering which one would be easier to install, and i am wondering how difficult the wiring procoess of this is, like does it go as far as ripping things out of the dash and rewiring things that deep or just from the harness to the new computer, and i am wondering what i am actually looking at for the total project as far as how things are going to fit what is going to have to be moved what i can and cant use, how the senors will match up to what is allready in the car being that the car has the digital dash in it, and if there is any modifications i am going to have to do with the wireing on that, and i am wondering if it would just be easier to beef up the 305 that is in there now, i mean i am looking for around 325 horse or so and 350 pounds of torque if this is possible, and if anybody has ideas for beefing that motor up i would like some suggestions on that as well being if i decide to go that route if the motor swap just becomes to tedious and a pain, now for the 305 i was thinking about some trick flow heads, bigger cams, new pistons, bigger throttle body 52mm?? the holly steath ram intake system, i dont know im sorta new to this rebuilding stuff so if non of these things are a good combonation please let me know, and if you have any ideas on good parts or things that "mesh" better together were i can get the power and performance i am loooking for that would be awesome, i mean i realiize that rebuilding this motor the way i am talking is probably going to cost about the same as a used lt1 with tranny but if it is less pains taking then it is denifilty worth it.. but i guess if anybody could point me in the right direction as far as deciding the best route to go that would be awesome, and could give me some parts ideas that would be awesome to..

thanks guys for the help and sorry if some of this is redundant!



steve

 

I sure as hell wouldn't beef up a 305 over a lt1/ls1. Dunno, don't think there TOO TOO hard, but idk much on it so. But the LT1/LS1 would be cheaper than the 305 buildup. Maybe more work for LS1, but I'm sure for 325 horse in a 305, it needs a power adder or a rebuild.

 

In my opinion, go with the LT1, its the easier swap between the LS1 and the LT1. It fits in perfect without AC, if you get a corvette LT1, you can keep the AC since the accessory brackets are different.

Wiring is only in the engine bay and you only need to fiddle with 8 wires, all of them are for your gauges, oh and you also have to mess with vats, you can either disable it through the PCM or bypass it which I am unsure of how to do at the moment.

You can keep your T-5 or 700r4 or whatever the auto tranny is called, but it won't last long in stock form if you gun the engine, however it will hold up if you go easy on it, plenty of people on here have done just that.

You said you had an 87, if you change your tranny I believe you will have to convert to VSS since your's uses a mechanical setup, however I believe the birds game VSS 87 and up, so you may not need to do that.

Thats all I can think of off the top of my head.