Well I decided not to waste my time with that 4.8L so I dropped my 91 WS6 off with Bruce Hawkins today for my LS1 and 6-speed swap. I just want to say his shop is the most awesome thing I've ever seen, wow, f-body heaven! And he's a cool guy to talk to and do business with. Can't wait to see the finished product. I had a good trip down there from Tennessee other than a flat tire then a blowout on the mountain outside of Asheville today, then driving 22 miles with a blown trailer tire to Wal-mart only to be told I'll have to take the tire off myself and then charge me $130.00 for a little 15" trailer tire. Oh well, had a good time sight seeing at Bruce's shop, I'll post pics of the finished product once it's done. Looking forward to it. I'll also review his stainless exhaust set-up as thats what I'm going with. Looked top notch on a car he had it installed on, sounds sick too. Awesome stuff!

 

and the most expensive LS1 swap award goes to........

 

From what I can see from their site, they do good work. They did work on a black Formula 350 that's just amazing. They have tons of pictures of it on the site.

 

This

 

Go check out their yellow 91-92 formula with the maggy on it. Thats what you're in for

Not worth it IMHO

 

Really though - doing it all right the first time may in some cases be LESS expensive than some of our swaps. Plus you never get the frustration these things can bring More power to ya'!

 

It's hard to put a price on 28 months between driving the car.

 

That's a good point. To some people the convenience and confidence of having someone else do the work is worth almost any price. I'm not one of them but that's just the cheapskate in me.

 

I prefer to do it all myself. if something ever messes up i'll know how to fix it.

 

yep..you're not a true thirdgener till you sacrifice a drop of blood or a finger... ... lol...

 

dont mind me asking but whats this gonna cost you? can you give me a ballpark? just curious what people are charging to do this..

 

my guess is with a ls1 swap, interior, paint, full suspension, brakes, and other **** that nickels and dimes you to death, it'd have to be 20k+ with labor.

 

Well I've always done work on my own cars but this time I wanted it done right, plus I don't really have time to tackle a project like that right now. I'm looking between $10,000.00 and $11,000.00 maybe. Just getting the drivetrain done and I'll do the paint, bodywork and interior myself. I don't think the price is that bad, add up all the swap parts prices along with the engine, trans, headers plus stainless exhaust and you'll be close to that number anyway. The thing that motivates me is looking at the price of a good low miles 4th gen LS1 car, they still go for over $10,000.00 and I'll have a cool thirdgen WS6 with the same driveability and performance.

 

You should have seen that red IROC they had pulled out when I dropped my car off, by far the cleanest and baddest thirdgen I have ever seen in my life. Bruce knows what he's doing for sure...

 

True but my car isn't a daily driver so I can wait for the finished product, by next year I'll have a fully built and restored 91 WS6 that can lay a spanking on almost anything on the road.

 

I've never thought of it that way. For 11k that's actually a pretty fair price, considering that's labor included?

 

i hope it is

 

That's for everything as I understood it from Bruce, we'll see. Hope it's not more than that! lol, I'll post pics as I get them to show the progress.

 

Not a bad price at all for a turn key and go deal. I'd love to just get in mine, turn the key and blow the doors off some Mustang turd right about now.. Good call man. I can't wait to see it done.

 

I'm going to be in Easley, SC next weekend to see some family. Maybe I'll have to go check Hawks out.

BTW: Where in TN are you from? There's a WAY cooler way to get from Asheville to Knoxville if you're interested.

 

Yeah man it's worth it no doubt, he has tons of cool stuff down there. I live in Jefferson City off of 11E. It took me about three hours driving down there but I'm always up for a better route! lol, just used my GPS and went the way it took me. Pretty country down there in South Carolina.

 

I'm the same way, just excited to get it done and show it off. Feel like a kid waiting for Christmas, lol. I'll keep everyone posted on here

 

I'm assuming that's for a bone stock LS1 block with mileage on it from a wrecked car? I have $12,500 in my swap and that's with a brand new rebuilt 6.0 with forged internals and a huge cam, and lots of goodies like tubular k-member and PCV system catch can...I don't know, I mean it took me from July-December to finish my car, which I don't think was that long, and I got a lot more "bang" for my buck.

I guess if you're happy with what you're getting than more power to ya.

 

can't wait to see progress pics. I love wrenching but these days have very little time to spare so i don't blame you. If you have the funds, I'm sure you'll be happy w/Hawks work.

 

Actually the motor doesn't have that much mileage on it, and this is for a bolt on swap. The main reason I'm paying them to do this is because I'm selling my house since we moved an hour from Knoxville and are now renting a town house. So I don't have a garage until we buy another house. Much easier just to have them do it then I can mod it myself once it's done. I'm going to throw in a cam, allready have a Harris Speed Works nitrous set-up. 400 to the wheels is plenty of power for me and is easily attainable.

 

Congrats and good luck to you! I would also expect to pay a good bit more than 11k in the end if you want things done right. There are lots of unique problems to tackle on each car, and if you want working gauges and a clean harness - that alone will cost you several grand.

I had my swap done by a shady shop called ARD and they messed up everything they touched. Not to mention a swap that was supposed to take 30 days, ended up taking nearly a bit more than a year. Even then I had no working gauge cluster and a busted trans.

For these things to be done right, you definitely must either do it yourself, or pay really good money for some one with a reputation to do the work.

 

here are some pics of the car....

http://www.fquick.com/garages/viewga...wimg&id=318643


http://www.fquick.com/garages/viewga...wimg&id=318641


and the 4.8L, though it's for sale and Hawks is installing a LS1....

http://www.fquick.com/garages/viewga...wimg&id=318640

 

And the engine bay, cleaned it and painted it Arctic White... There is no overspray now, all that is cleaned up and the strut plates were replaced with new one's.





http://www.fquick.com/garages/viewga...wimg&id=318642

 

Notched K-member.....


http://www.fquick.com/garages/viewga...wimg&id=318644

 

wow, it was that easy to notch? Maybe I should do that instead of buying a tubular...

 

It really wasn't hard at all. I just made some measurements off the motor and marked them on the K-member. Then I took a cutoff wheel on an air grinder and trimmed it out. The piece I cut out I flipped over and re-welded back in place with a Mig welder. Ground it down smooth and it looks factory. I'll post a pic up of the K-member welded up and installed. I was just scared of the tubular K-members, don't see how that little of material would make it strong enough for daily driving and abuse. Looks like the factory piece would be tougher? Not for sure though....

 

I agree, and there is at least a bit of material to protect the oil pan, I might have to try that with my stock one. Certianly saves a good $500 on something that may not survive DD duty.

 

It will be nice when its done, and not a bad price to get it done.

 

Thats cool that you are real close. Im up here in Johnson City. I may have to take a drive down and see the work after you get it back, if thats cool. And Ive considered taking mine to Hawks, when Im ready and if I can get the moeny. Its one thing to do it yourself. Its another to have a completely dependable 20 yr old car, with 400 rwhp. Sometimes its worth the extra money, just to avoid the hassle.

And if its turn key for $10k, thats not bad, IMHO.

 

I don't mind at all, yeah I thought about building a 350 to stick under the factory TPI but it wouldn't make near the power a LS1 makes especially with the fuel mileage. I'll post up as soon as the car is done with pics and everything. Should be around the end of the summer when I get it back, can't wait!

 

I can vouch for the kind of quality work Bruce at Hawks can do.
He did a total restoration on my car last year. top notch work...no amateur hour BS. They are 3rd gen pro's. Check out next months issue of gmht perf. thanks to them my car has a 5 page spread in it.

UTfan if you afford the coin have Bruce get it painted for you. My paint is a 10 all the way. its perfect...not one fish eye, orange peel or swirl, smooth as glass. I have done several car shows this year and my black paint is always the best one there.

 

Cool

I drove by Hawk's on Saturday; Tried to call before I came by, but no one answered - I figured if it was a shop and looked like someone was there, I'd stop in... Must be Bruce's house with a shop behind it; there were a ton of 4thgens outside! I didn't want to bother him at his house so I didn't stop.

 

Kevin,
I just got the issue of GMHTP in the mail yesterday. Your car looks outstanding.

 

I spoke with bruce to get a idea of what the ls1 swap would cost and for what he said you spent it better be perfect.

 

hawks in about 25 mins from me i drove up there the other day. what a cool place, wish i wasnt so broke. did you see the red ls1 swapped iroc? thing was clean

 

Yeah instead of spending the money on a brand new gt500, srt, vette or camaro
I spent the money on my first ever one owner car. Besides the above mentioned cars are all over the road. Seen one, you seen em all. And yes, it's perfect. A real BAMF.



thanks jim85iroc, I was happy with the article. They didn't make me sound like a tool.

 

You mind me asking how much of your cost at Hawks was for the paint job?

 

Confession, I live about 20 minutes from Hawk's and I haven't been there! Need to make a trip!

 

Hawks does good work, i have seen a few of his jobs in person, infact a freind and fellow member had him do so work, and ill say its top notch

cant wait to see the pics