I found some sweet deals on LT1's lately and I'm getting tempted. Before I get in too deep, I am wondering how much it will cost in the end. Besides the engine and wiring harness, how much will the swap nickel and dime me going from 91 tpi to 96 Lt1?

 

Wish I could give you a good estimate, I can roughly tell you how much mine will cost trying to break it down.

95 LT1 Engine and t-56 (got it off ebay, sweet deal w/ warranty ):

$2150

Headers and Y-Pipe (im going with the heddmans, I know their not the greatest but im on a budget ti'll I can get some decent ones):

$200

New exhaust:

this one will probably run me about $200-300 for a 3" setup, I get some good deals since I know some folks around here.

16" rims + tires:

$400

SLP take off posi-traction unit:

$99

Motor mounts:

$20

Fuel lines:

$30-40

I found a way to mount my accessories in the stock position, so I have no need to notch the crossmember, I will post more details when I start the swap.

All in all, its actually kinda cheap swap, I just want some better traction, I don't need the new tires and rims but want them. Also, add $50-$70 to that if your replacing your fuel pump, I won't heard the stock will do fine for a while until I can afford a better one.

 

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LT4 definatley. Not sure what the ratings are for a stock lt4 that came in the 97 z28's but the lt1 to lt4 conversion adds a whole lot of hp, supposedly 425 to the flywheel, its just a hot cam, 1.6 roller rockers, high flow heads, 52 or 58mm (don't remember ) throttle body, and a lt4 intake (which doesn't add anything, just has the bolt patterns for the new heads.)

 

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all of the accesories mount different, as the water pump is driven by the camshaft, not the belts.

 

The LT4 set-up was found in 1996 vettes and a handfull of special f-bodies (104 I think). It made 330hp and was pretty much on par power wise with a stock LS1. The LT4 conversion kit comes with the hot cam and the above metioned items. The reason for the intake is because the raised runners on the LT4 heads will not clear that LT1 intake. The LT4 heads are nice but they really shine when they are ported. You will spend a boat load on them to get the ported but the $$ is worth it. You are better off porting the stock heads. The LT4 conversion kit is a nice kit but you can make a way better heads and cam combo for a little bit less that that, It also would make more power as well. The thing that that kit has going for it is its simplicity. It comes with everything. I would use different springs thouhg. I heat the springs with the hot cam are not the best and are sorta maxed out with that cam. Check out the LT1 section on www.camaroz28.com

 

The cost question comes up every once in a while on here and there is never a good answer. There can't be. Just about everyone on here finds something they will do different that wouldn't pertain to the next guy. I believe in one of the most important things in an Lt1 or any used engine swap is changing ALL sensors, coil, opti, etc. A lot of people don't do this. For them the cost is far less. You can figure a ball park yourself when you decide exactly what you are and aren't going to change. Then add a few bucks to the cost to cover those things you didn't think of in the beginning.

 

Good answer.


All of us that have done the swap could throw out numbers but in the end it really wouldn't be all that helpful because pretty much everyone has done things different that have added or subtracted from the final cost. Mine ran about $3000 initially, but I've probably spent closer to $6K on it by now.

 

TexasLT1...thats about what I've got into mine. I even have every reciept for everything I purchased along the way. Another problem is that there are a few things I've done one way, and have since decided to do a different way resulting in more overall cost.

 

Exactly. I don't know how many times I've rerouted the coolant and heater hoses or moved the computer or little stuff like that, but it all adds up. I'm like you, I've tried to keep every receipt but I think I've just got the ones for the major things.

 

Yeah, it seems like there is a variation in price for this swap. I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't get in over my head if I decide to swap. I was curious how much extra to save for accessories, fuel and PS lines, that sort. So say how much more money would I have to spend if I got a complete engine with the wiring harness.