I did read EVERYTHING on the swap that I could find. I was wondering if there were any little tips or suggestions that people who have done this swap all ready would like to share to make it go smoother. Im getting ready to start and I just want to get my **** right the first time.

 

NO, NO, NO. Thats the fun part of it all, finding out the hard way.

J/K... The biggest tip I have is to be patient and order everything you need before you start, which is hard to do because it would be next to impossible to think of everything before hand. Something will come up, trust me.

However, two things stand out in my mind. (1) Make sure you have an F-Body oil pan before the motor goes in, and dont try to replace an oil pan while the motor is in the car, dont ask. (2) when putting the tranny in, install the torque arm mount loosely before you raise the tranny up. If the tranny is bolted to the motor and you try to lower it down far enough to put the top bolt in, you will find that the oil pan hits the K-member and dosent allow the tranny to go low enough to slide the long top bolt in. Then you have to unbolt the tranny and start all over.

Oh, one more thing, make sure when you install the torque converter into the tranny that the pump is engaged right with the torque converter. Bad things happen if not.

I can probably change out a tranny in less than 2 hours now, its been a routine lately.

Hopefully some more people will add some things and maybe trigger some of my suppressed memory's on the swap. I have to say though, it is/was worth every bit of hard work and long hours underneath the car.

 

Best tip, have lots of cash you will need it.

 

I am picking up an LS1 w/ 4L60E and I belive it is all still attached together. I was hoping on just swinging the engine in with the tranny still connected. Will there be a problem with that? I havent decided on putting in a different torque converter so I would like to keep them together as they go in to minimize work. I wont have everything before hand, Im sure of that. I planned on getting the mounts and getting it in before picking up everything else. The wiring harness will be sent off for modification, AC is getting deleted, computer recalibrated with harness, fuel delivery will be in their somewhere too!

 

As far as the money issue I think I can get it done (by me) for a decent price. The engine and tranny are $2500 with 18,000 miles (helps to know people in wrecking yards) and parts appear to be in the 2 to 3k range for a nice clean finish.

 

No problem putting the motor and tranny in together, just put the torque arm mount on the tranny before you do.

If you know guys in the wrecking yard business, then that will help you out alot.

Good luck on the swap.