i want to know what you guys have spent on your LS1 conversions...and if you can get somebody to do it all for you and how much thanks!

 

too much

 

that dont help me..

 

I added up most of my receipts the other day, over 13k... but that was not going cheap on anything.

 

oh my god lol so much for that idea really...

 

Well it can be done for much less if you dont want a 12 bolt, spec3 clutch, cam, headers.... you get the idea

 

84z- 2200
ls1/6sd- 4000 + gas money charleston/miami
FI gas tank and fuel lines- free + gas money charleston/atlanta
6spd crossmember w/adj torque arm (spohn)- 200
91/92 dash harness- 50
91/92 tbi engine harness- 80
hawks conversion mounts- free
wiring- free + solder/shrink wrap/solder gun
walbro fuel pump- 100

i still need a 91/92 dash and gauge cluster. two small sections of fuel line to connect the engine to the fuel lines. then exhaust. im sure im missing a few more things.

also dont forget to factor in nickle and dime things like a coolant sensor for the 3rdgen gauges.

all in all depending on what year car, a bare bones swap could be done pretty cheap if you know the right people.

 

I talked to a shop in Houston to get an idea of the labor cost. If they are provided EVERYTHING necessary for the swap the install would be around $2500. Headers are expensive as they are a one source item. Just dive in and do it and never let your wife know how much it really cost.

 

"Just dive in and do it and never let your wife know how much it really costs"

Haha.. best piece of advice right there!

If my sig other asks me how much Ive spent... She is amazed when I say $7000.. which magically is the budget I set for myself.

In reality...after the domino effect happens ( while this is off, ill upgrade this, why not lower it, why not new brakes, etc) I probably have close to $10,000 in it. Now...I bought an entire parts car. So not only did I get a bunch of stuff that I could use ni my car, but Im making some dough back from parting out what I dont need. I feel that if you have the funds, getting a donor car is the best way to go. I remember how it came apart...if I realize I need something, I walk over, get it off the car.

 

I spent around 9k for just the engine swap, you still have to modify the suspension, brakes. It gets HIGH!!!

 

LS1 3k
Fuel Pressure Regulator 249
Fuel Pump 189
LT Headers 799
Trans X-Member & Trq Arm 395
K-member 449

Those are the basics from my swap. Of coarse you can stay with manifolds, and you can skip the k-member and notch yours and put on motor mounts.

But that is just a rough amount to hopefully help you out. On my car, I've put over 12k into it because I did head/cam/ headers, etc while it was out to make it faster.
If you want more info on my car and the parts / prices, check out My Garage

 

so far its:

$2000 Shortblock 98 ls1
$300 for intake, tb, fuel rail, injectors
$60 for stock exhaust to catback and water pump
$300 for built th350 w/ manual valve body
$80 mounts
$190 new stock ecm 1999

and i havnt tracked down a harness or fuelpump/regulator and it also needs a new flexplate to mate ls1 to th350

 

wow guys thanks for all your input..i know have a relative idea...and im only 16 too.and i want to go to school for this...any school recomendations??

 

I sure hope it's not just a junkyard engine? I've got about 1/4 of that into my 55K mi setup (LS1, all wiring/computer, T56, AL driveshaft, LS1 brakes/booster/pedals, fuel tank, etc.). With everything done, I would say around $9-10K.

Who needs a school? If your parents have cars, wrench on them; that's what got me started years ago. Do their oil, fluids, shocks, brakes, waterpumps, plugs, distributors, etc. Find a friendly auto mechanic in town (from church, parents friends, an older guy at a mechanic shop...) and get some basics down, then move on to bigger fish. On top of that, work on your own car. Don't pay the mechanic to do it. Use the money you'd spend on him to buy your own tools, smashed fingers, parts, and experience.

When I was a couple years older than you, I worked for an auto shop over the summer, doing brakes, shocks, heads, intakes, chasing electrcial gremelins, radiators, you name it... even one full motor swap. That was a good experience. You might also want to take a welding and metal fabrication class at your local college or highschool and get real good at MIG welding (you'll have to pass the arc welding test first). But if you really want to hit a school for this, then go to WyoTech. However, doing stuff on the side and working for an autoshop will give you some excellent experience, and it won't cost you anywhere near much as a tech school. Play with your car for a few years, do maintainence and upgrades to your 305, and finally one day do the LS1 swap.

 

thanks!! i had the idea of going to UTI but i dont know yet....and i dont really know where to start on upgrades for my 305....was thinkin exhaust...