So i'm sitting here in Iraq pondering weather or not to get back into another camaro. i sold my 420rwhp h/c 2000 Z28 running low 12's to my brother before i left for Iraq(big mistake!!!). i was thinking about getting an iroc and doing the lsx swap. so i was wondering for you guys that have done the swap is it worth it or should i just buy another 4th gen? i'm liking the idea of a 3rd gen with the lsx power. just wondering how your lsx swaps turned out. thanks for any input.

 

What does an lsx engine have to do with old school? Old school would be yanking out a modern electronic engine and stuffing something simple and mechanical under the hood.

 

that was a pointless comment and in no way useful. i was talking about going old school with the body not the drivetrain....all i was looking for was to hear about some of people's experience with doing the swap and if they were happy with it. as i'm here in lovely baghdad, iraq and don't have much to do on my off time so i spend as much time online looking for another project. the 3rd gen lsx swap sounded like fun. i loved the power of the ls1 in my 2000 z28 and thought it would be cool to have that same power in an iroc-z.

 

stangnightmare, first, welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

Now, I would agree with Stephen - from the thread title, I expected to see something about going with an open loop carb system, so, I disagree with your "pointless" statement. After all, we don't want to think of our cars as being "old", even though some of our cars (mine, for instance) are now 26 years old.

The advantages of a 3rd gen LSx, in my view, are: 1) lighter vehicle; 2) better looking vehicle.

The disadvantages are: 1) the work and expense involved; 2) limited 3rd gen-specific aftermarket support for the LSx (such as headers); 3) a more rattle-prone platform.

 

sorry, didn't really mean to call the 3rd gen's old, but even the last model year 3rd gen's are now 16 yrs old. i've own my own '89 305 tpi iroc-z and my '00 z28 and i've always favored the look of the iroc. the ls1 performed very well for me w/o a lot of money invested, so i just figured combining the two would be perfect. with the response i've had with thirdgen.org, i think i'll just stick with ls1tech for any info i need on this subject.

 

hey five7kid! I think of mine as old and to tell you the truth I think i like people calling my car old because if something diffrent then those people that change there car more than there oil. I myself can't wait to put an antique license tag on my car to show how old it is.

 

Certainly there was no intent to insult or chase off. It takes a little getting used to how things are perceived with any particular group.

I agree the LSx in 3rd gen is a good way to go. Obviously, I'm doing it.

There is a lot of good swap info in the LTx/LSx subforum, which I realize after reading, is where this should be (just haven't had time to move it).

Personally, I don't like the attitudes (and non-work/family friendly environment) of ls1tech. So, I prefer to get my info here.
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Already have Colorado "collector" plates on both mine. Have to be 25 years old to get them.

 

Though you are referring to doing your swap with an LSx, and i've had a little bit of experience with LSx's, mainly ripping a few out of 4th gens, my only swaps have been LT1's. However much of the benefits are the same. I've also owned 2 LT1 4th gens as well as my mother and sister both driving V6 4th gens that I do the work on.

The 4th gen absolutely sucks to work on compared to a thirdgen, even with a TPI engine being in the thirdgen, doing an LTx or LSx swap only makes the car even easier to work on. Thirdgen weighs less than a 4th gen, there is far more engine bay space, its a no brainer if you like the looks of thirdgens, which probably most on this board would agree thirdgens look much better than 4th.

Having done the LT1 swap several times, every time it was well worth it, the updated drivetrain makes the car drive so much nicer than a properly maintained thirdgen drivetrain, and the added power is very nice. Going with the LSx swap adds to the cost initially, and if you have the $ to do it properly will be very well worth it, just make sure its done right the first time.

 

Mine is 20 years old. That makes it a classic. I think antique is 30 years. Pretty bad when an early 70's car can now be considered nostalgia.

 

pwned. Geez poor guy I was with him on the thread title all the way fwiw.

As for the swap? I love mine but it is a lot of work to do a nice job of it. I drove mine for the entire season last year and pounded it good and hard at the track. Aside from a blown posi I had no issues at all a very reliable and fun combination. I have a pretty quiet exhaust so i caught literally everybody by surprise in this car which made it even more fun. No one expects a quiet stock sounding Iroc to blast off low 12's with authority.

This swap can be done cost effective if your careful but it can get out of hand in a hurry. Did you see this?

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...want-swap.html

Good luck!

 

Hey man welcome on board how the big sand box on the other side nowadays, i was there in 02-03 USMC. Well the swap it up to you, we did it in my bros car, not hard at all, you can see it in the the link below. He had a 92z back in high school so he bought another one and was just going to leave it alone but the speed bug bit again, so it was on. I can say it's alot easyer to work on then any of the 4th gens we have but it was about 30k for the car and all. Personally we have done it and i wont to do it again to my 91z. So it just up to you and which car you like more.

And the title who care, the guys asking a question answer it or shut up.

 

That's just about my "mission statement" with my swap!! When I first got my exhaust done, I told the shop that I wanted the quietest 3" performance muffler that they had - I saw no need to grab unnecessary attention from "Johnny Law", & it's a LOT more fun to catch people by surprise with a sedate-looking & -sounding car than one that has a 4" cowl & open exhaust...

I think I'm going to print out your statement above (in large print!), & put it up on the wall of my garage so that when I'm frustrated with how the swap is going, I'll see it & keep at it...

 

Haha yeah it can get frustrating but its worth it I am very pleased. Its like a whole new car its such a different animal to drive now. I was 2 yrs on my swap it was hard for me to find enough time to buckle down and get it done. 91GTA posted vids of his when he finished it and that really got me fired up and motivated. Maybe these will help

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...ta-videos.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...-gta-11-a.html

Sure got me drooling. Good luck