Well, after the L98 giving up after 237,000 good miles, I started my LS1 swap. I hope to document the step by step in this thread if I don't get too lazy.

1st step, List the scope of the project.

I use the car on nice days, weekends for car shows or autocross, and 3-5 weekends a year for open track days on various road courses. I very occasionally will take it down the drag strip. Within a couple years I'd like to compete in the NASA time trials for Ohio/Indiana and a high speed road race like the Silver State Classic.

In phase 1 I intend on getting the LS1 in the car and running, without alot of extra power improvement stuff. Phase 2 will be the beginning of the modfest.

2nd step, the preparation.

I have a 2000 trans am LS1 with all accessories on the engine stand. I won't be doing any internal stuff just yet, that will be phase 2. So for now, I intend to clean up the engine, and remove all the pollution stuff that isn't required.

The car already has a t-56 from a 97 trans am, but as we all know LT1 T-56's do not work with LS1 motors. So my plan is to remove all the LT1 trans stuff (master/slave, bellhousing, clutch, input shaft, front cover) and converting the trans for use.

I wish to retain AC, which means either:
1) Notching the K member
2) Using the third gen compressor with an adaptor
3) Or getting a tubular K-member.

I don't have the means to easily notch the K-member, and I don't like how the third-gen compressor looks (mounted high) when I can have the compressor hidden low. So I made a call to Thunderracing.com and ordered a Spohn tubular K member with all the extra bracing for street and road race applications. Unfortunately, it looks like a 8 weeks lead time.

The only major power improvement on tap for phase 1 is Hawk's stainless LS1 conversion longtube headers. I debated about this (because of the expense) but I knew I wanted to do them in the future and didn't want to do the exhaust twice. Plus I found a used set online at LS1tech.com for a greatly reduced price.


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Big Day two. Over the last week I have been doing small stuff like pulling plugs and labeling wires, removing small stuff, and trying to organize the garage a little. My plan was to get a couple guys to come over on Friday night and put a big dent into the deconstruction phase of the project. I already had buyers for several of the old engine components, so they needed to be removed for delivery.

About 7:00 PM Friday, Speagle pulls in the driveway with Hodge and Mike M in the car. (Thanks guys!)
Heres how it looked when they arrived:
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=5498658

We proceed to the unbolting:

http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=5498670
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=5498669

and by 11:00pm both the motor and trans are sitting on the floor beside the now much lighter car.

http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=5498672 I think we left a loose nut under the car!
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=5498674
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=5498675 Man, the engine didn't look this dirty when it was in the car!
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=5498691 You think maybe I can beat my old best time of 14.011 @ 98 mph?

Sunday I got a chance to clean up the tools and straighten up the garage so here is where the swap is now:

http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=5498683

Next step is to strip out everything under the hood and prep it for a coat of the same paint as the rest of the car:

http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=5498689 Boy, I have a lot of cleaning to do!

 

Very cool. I'm looking forward to reading about how your project is going!

 

very cool. i just found a rod nock in my motor, and i am contemplating a LSX swap. Please keep us updated, and good luck!

 

Any updates?

 

Good luck with the project!

 

Have fun, it is a popular swap, i am hating my LT1 right now, if it dies in my 95 i might go LS1 to surprise some folks.

 

Good luck with the swap, hows it coming along?

 

DO IT

 

I'll be keeping an eye on this, we're getting ready to do an LS1 swap on my wife's 92 B4C. Getting ready to grab a wrecked 2000 TA LS1/T-56 and when my buddy's 2400sqft shop is built, the work will commence

 

Sorry for not updating this thread for a while. Life kinda got in the way, you know how it is. Plus Procrastinating is alot easier when it's 100 degrees outside and 72 inside.

Not much has happened since the last update. I have been accumulating parts and cleaning. My Spohn Tubular K-member arrived after my 2 month wait (it's sweet!). All I have left to get is the parts to switch my T56 from a LT1 to a LS1 style + have the wiring harness grafted.

I've powerwashed and cleaned the engine bay starting the prep for paint. I'll try to snap some pictures this weekend and post them up here Monday.

 

sharp camaro, love the color! good luck with the swap, hope to see more pics soon.

 

I haven't been able to get to the computer much, and almost less time in the garage. So I decided to spend more time doing than documenting. I am updating one message board thread instead of several.

Updates can be found here:

http://www.kyfbodies.org/vb/showthre...802#post195802