Guys im gonna be looking into the ls1 swap in the next couple of months and had a few noob questions. First, Do you absolutely have to have a aftermarket(hawks,spohn,etc) K-Member to install the ls1. I will defenitely need long tubes as im gonna go with a 402 from Texas Speed and Performance shop, but would like to keep the stock member for reliability daily driving reasons. Second, will this affect my air conditioning as i will need A/C? Third, My car is currently an automatic but I would like to put in a T-56. Was wondering if this will jsut be a hack job because if it is ill sell my car and start with a t-5 manual car and continue the swap. Thanks for the help guys.

 

Well, you will have to swap the pedals for a set of manual ones cut a hole in the firewall for the clutch master cylinder to come through, cut a hole in the floor for the shifter to come through after removing the brackets for the auto shifter. You will have to notch the k-member for the A/C compressor to fit as it will hit the k-member, one reason alot go with the tubular k-member. Find a place to put the PCM unless you have the LS1 harness extended (think I saw a figure of about 600 bucks to do this) fab up P/S lines, fuel lines, probably change the fuel pump out , then have to decide if you have to keep the emissions or not depending on where you live, then splice in the wiring and you will be set.

 

Klrotho, You do not have to do any fab work for the PS lines, the 4th gen pressure hose fits without modifiying and the return hose is just a piece of hose. And you dont HAVE to notch the k-member, someone out there, i forget who, has made a bracket so that you can bolt on the stock third gen compressor without any fab work.

jdrafke, I have a set of manual 5-speed pedals and the f-body motorsports mounts(engine and trans mounts) forsale out of my car that i am parting out. PM me if interested i will sell them cheap!


Clint

 

the a/c and long tubes are reason enough to convert. i've had my pa for a few years and it's great on my car. i'm sure the others work well too. the room you save, ease of install and service is well worth the effort. i put one on my 92 as well as i'm getting one for my vert.

 

Ok so the k-member is a pretty big must. What you guys think for a daily driver??? I dont want something were i hit a pot hole and my whole suspension is ****. Its either but the ls1 in the thirdgen or buy a late model rx-7 and drop it in. I like the extra 400 pds you save but it does no good if i cant hook up. I would like to stick with the maro but i need a good every day driver that handles well but wont be to fragile. Thanks for the imput.

 

Yeah, you are going to want the tubular k-member in my opinion. I know it just made things so much easier for my swap.

As to daily driving, I've got Hawks, and it looks pretty solidly built. My car isn't on the road yet, but it's going to be a daily driver, and Bruce told me that it should handle it. Bruce's Teal Formula that he did the Magnacharged LS1 on has a tubular K, and it's still fine.