I have an 89 IROC with an LO3 and a 5 speed manual transmission. I am curious what everybody thinks the best swap would be. I obviously want something more powerful, but need a tranny that can handle it. I was thinking an LS1 and T56 combo, or possibly something different me and a friend would build. Or possibly a crate. Let me know what you guys think. Prices would be good too!!!
Thanks,
Tony

 

personally i'm going carb'd 383 + t56. i think the ls1 is worth it only if you got a load of money. cause chances are your gonna wanna mod the ls1 which will add up on top of the already steep ls1 price

 

The best swap for a new guy / young guy and his friend is a 350 or 400 small block with a built bottom end. Forged pistons, good crank and rods, etc. You can put the other stuff on after the engine is in the car and driving. t56 from a junker is a good tranny swap, but I'm having TKO Performance build a bulletproof T5 for me.

 

I've swapped in a T56 and I love it. I've got 3.73s and I'm just over 2000 rpms at 80 mph in 6th.
I think Kris is right, ls1 is too expensive and most 350s will give you plenty of power. I have 383 with a lot of aftermarket stuff but I think an LT1 would be a good route, the problem is intake manifolds, chances are a carb is gonna screw up your smog tests and your mileage, TBI isn't worth mentioning, TPI is good but lacks top end power without a lot of custom work. You can buy a standard SBC and put the Lt1 manifold on it but it's easier to just buy the LT1 complete. I like Kris's idea of a stout bottom end, problem is a bottom end like that costs some good money and a lot of time. Good luck. It's worth it once you get it.

Ben

 

Anybody else have a good combo to drop in?

 

My 305 and T-5 combo!!!!!
YEAH!!
Naw im kidding, T-56 and 383. Dont settle, you'll regret it.

 

TBI Isnt worth mentioning? WTF is that about? lol. I am working on pushing 450 RWHP with TBI. Considering its basicaly a computer controlled carb that wont screw up your gas milage and can push up to 800CFM of air its worth mentioning. People usualy just dont want to deal with it when a carb is so much easier then tunning a TBI. I am not attacking you just gotta stand up for us TBI guys.

 

define best.

if best is the based on performance, economy, fun and such for a daily driven street car, AND roughly 6,000 can be spent on the drivetrain, then the LS1/T56 is hard to beat.

im knocking down 19MPG city and high 20MPG mostly hwy.. with a lead foot (probly hit 30s on roadtrips, but havent tried yet... plus im messing with a lean cruise mode now... i think 35s are possible)

i put down 315 at the rear wheels, stock..

the tires spin in 1st....2nd.... 3rd if you're trying.... and its too scary to try 4th..lol
40mph or faster? just stick her in 6th... need to pass? merge on the hwy? you dont HAVE to downshift... it'll pull 6th great... (i do have 3.73s..3.42s, you might want to goto 5th.)
of course, if you want to go from on-ramp speed to faster then traffic flow, you can punch it in 3rd when someones on your bumper, and they'll never even get past your door...

honestly, i dont think theres a single person on here whos done the LS1 swap and regretted it..

 

crrllmich - See post named '305 Tbi - 350'. TBI has some fuel delivery issues we can discuss there.

I have a 383/T56 combo. I get around 15 mpg on the street and over 25 mpg on the freeway. I drive a lot more agressively on the street obviously.

 

454/th400? i dont think ya could beat it.

 

Sure I could....to the gas station.

 

i strongly have to agree with this. while my horsepower dropped as i went from a fully race prepped 388 down to a factory ls6 spec a4 setup i can not complain at all. the gas mileage is great, the true price was actually half or more then what the traditional sbc cost and it is dependable.

when i first did a drivetrain build up several years ago i wanted to do the ls1. at the time it was barely known and costs ranged an easy 7-10g's depending on how extensive you went. for the power at the time i didn't seem to care but now that gas is $3 a gallon i care. it's nice to actually pass gas stations rather then visiting them all.

if you are financially stable with a good second vehicle and just looking for a hot street car i think a well built standard sbc setup can be alot of fun. however when all prices are considered change just a few small things on the lsx setups or add a power adder for the same power, but better gas mileage and driveability.

i can't say enough good things about the lsx swap. it's more then paying for itself at the pump every week.

 

I am getting ready to do the LS1 swap myself. I bought another camaro and am building it from the frame up and that is the engine that I am putting in simply for the gas milage and the power you get. Plus there is a better aftermarket in my opion for superchargers and turbos also when you are ready for more power.

Bill

 

Yeah, that's what I'm runnin and it is awesome. Easy power

 

I agree. Although you want to do three things for sure if you are going to jump into an LSx swap:

1. PLAN out everything you are going to do before you start, so you don't waste money on parts you don't need.
2. Don't let anyone talk you into changing your mind on ANYTHING once you begin, or you'll be back to #1
3. Do as much of the work yourself as you can. The minute you hire someone else to do it, you are opening yourself up to get screwed $$$ wise.

 

I like the 95 f-body LT1. Cheap and easy to program its computer, decent power, decent gas mileage, alumimum heads, biggest stock cam out of all the LT1's, and it wasn't too hard to swap in. If you get an LT1, try to get a 95 from a camaro/firebird.