Hello Third Gen owners,

I own a 1987 camaro with a 6 cylinder.
Can someone please give me a price on how much an LS1 swap is going to cost all together including the motor. I want to see if it would be a good deal, i love the LS1's.

Thank you

 

what's a good deal?

the cheapest i've personally known someone to do it was $1,500. the most i've seen is around $12,000 and this is of course a factory ls1 with nothing crazy added to it. it all depends as there is no right answer. from my experience if you can fit somewhere around $5,000-$7,000 your in pretty decent shape.

 

Just dont forget about the little things. I probably spent nearly as much at autozone on little parts as I did for the complete motor and trans.

I think Kandied is right with 5-7k. I really depends on how far you go. If you just do a plain motor and trans swap with no suspension, brake, or drivetrain upgrades it can be done within 5k. If you do everything like I said it will put you up there...Im at around 13k or so and my motor is pretty stock and my drivetrain is nothing better than a stock 4th gen, used parts mind you. Most of the money was in the suspension/chassis.

 

I know the guy who runs Tennessee Auto in Cleveland Tn which parts out 4th gen cars and his LS1/4L60 setups with all accessories, PCM and wiring go for around 4-5k depending on the condition of the motor, ones with a 6-speed, add about a grand to that.

Now I have about 3500 in my LT1 swap compared to what the cost of the LS1 swap costs.

 

I'm pushing close to 10k on my swap

LS1, T-56, harness - 3k
K-member, Tq Arm/Transmission Xmember, fuel pump, fuel regulator and lines.

Plus I also did a cam and head swap while I was at it, so should be a pretty fun little motor once its done

 

mine ran right around 7k give or take 500. Just dont do what i did and only give you 2 months to do the swap(had to drive the car to MI). Waiting for parts takes the longest, i didnt get my k-member till 2 1/2 weeks before i needed to be driving the car, lets just say i never left the garage.

Justin

 

i did mine in just under 3 weeks. the harness and mounts held me up. i spent a few hundred in gas though with frequent drives to the parts store.

make a list at the beginning and try to get it all. then make updated lists at the end of the day. i don't know how many times a fitting or hose would slow me down. had i made a thorough list or knew what was needed it would have been done in a couple days. well worth the effort in every way.

 

Mine has taken way too long to complete, because of parts and money.

You get so far and then find out your missing some stupid part that you have to get from a stealership, sucks.

But it will be done, and it will rock the house

 

i have at least 3000 in my lt1 and im not even close to being done. that 3k is just the engine no tranny. it will be around 4500 after the tranny. i made the mistake of not doing the tranny i wanted with the swap, i tried to save and use the 700r4. if i had it to do again i would have waited to get all the parts. but i can say from experiance the wait sucks. my car sat for over a year before i even stated the swap, i think that was the main problem. i parked the car to save miles and that was were i went wrong, it took another 6 months to get it right. that had to do with the little time i had to work on the car and the 12 to 13 hr shifts i was doing at work, and the 3 months i spent in the sandbox. but enough on my headaches, good luck on your ls1 swap. i wish i would have had the money to do that swap. i did what i could afford at the time. go figure lol. i do not regret the swap i have learned so mush about fuel injection and a lot from this site and i thank all of you that have helped out.