hey guys!
I was going to put in a 03 corvette block into my 90 rs auto but those plans fell through due to some money issues ie court took it all.
however i just bought a complete 98 z28 6speed. and i was wondering
what will I need that the car already doesn't come with?
I plan on keeping it stock and maybe even pass smog.
i know i will need engine/tranny/drive shaft/gas tank/computer with harness/
but what will i have to fab? or purchase? thank all of you for your time and information.
have a great day!

 

1st get this if your keeping the stock k member but you doo have to notch it to make some clearance. if not just get the tubular one off spohn. makes a ton of space. everything else is a breeze lol just search on the forum there are alot of threads here. just make sure to follow thru with the steps and dont half *** **** either

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LS1-L...Q5fAccessories

 

Those won't work if you keep the 4th gen AC compressor. They are also unnecessarily expensive if you aren't keeping the 4th gen AC compressor: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
If you are keeping the 4th gen AC compressor, you'll need to notch the K-member, or get a tubular K-member. If you don't/can't use those plates, you'll need swap engine mounts (available from Hawks & Spohn).

You'll need a swap transmission crossmember. I'd recommend the Hawks double-hump type to ease exhaust routing.

You'll need to fabricate exhaust from the LS1 exhaust manifolds to the 3rd gen exhaust. Since you're in LA and have to go through the "motor change" referee process, you'll need the cats.

You might also want to consider the 4th gen dash swap. It's about the easiest way to keep a functioning fuel gauge along with the required functioning EVAP system.

You'll either have to buy a swap harness (TGO member Pocket will modify yours for you), or graft the 4th gen harness to the 3rd gen chassis.

 

ok, i was thinking of using the all or most of the 4th gen's stuff since it is here anyways.
the car is complete and in working order.
i was hoping to use the 4th gen wiring and seeing how to adapt it to my 3rd gen: lights ect.
what ever i was going to need. i do plan on using the 4th gen a/c system since i cannot find adapter plates to keep my 3rd gen one in place since it actually works very well.
yes i do intend to keep cats and evap and use the newer gas tank.

-not sure on the rear end since i don't really like the idea of almost 2" wider on each side. for my wheels. maybe .... i think my 2.73's might give me better gas milage with this new motor/t56 set up don't you think?

-not sure on the whole dash swap but will be swapping in the gauge cluster at bare minimum.

-so besides the trans cross member, possibly motor k notch or tubular buy
and new exaust setup anything i may not even be thinking about and you guys have found out in mid process?

 

Lights aren't affected. The swap sticky has links to diagrams to work through the rest. It isn't as bad as it seems, you just need to be patient and approach it logically and methodically.

There is another option:



The 2.73's might be a bit low for the M6 overdrive, but there's no advantage to the 4th gen rear.

True. Forgot a member showed us that it can be done.

Having a complete donor car is a big plus. You might want to do something different with the air inlet. I'm doing elbows/straight sections/cone filter that mounts the MAF for about $150, flows a lot better than the factory 4th gen system.

 

Very true, a friend has a 93 Z28 T56 with 2.73's. He doesnt use 6th gear ever because at 70mph he's only taching 1700rpms in 5th

 

this is very interesting! where can i buy this set up/adapters? i would really like to keep my a/c set up. theres nothing wrong with it.

- i think then i might just keep my rear end. i don't really plan on racing it. and i like the idea of 1700 rpm-ish at 70mph that hints at good gas milage wich is more important to me as of now. unless... is there a way to use the 342's from the 98 in to my 90 rear end? i have no idea here.

-and yeah i like my 3rd gen dash better than 4th. i just got to figure out how to make it fit and look like it belongs there.

-"Having a complete donor car is a big plus. You might want to do something different with the air inlet. I'm doing elbows/straight sections/cone filter that mounts the MAF for about $150, flows a lot better than the factory 4th gen system."
hey do you have pics of this setup? this is sounding like a good looking idea aswell.

thanks alot guys! I'm going to order the parts from hawks since it seems they have it all and there isn't too much to order. any other suggestions? greatly appreciated!!!

 

http://www.kwikperf.com/lsx_ac.html
Good news is you don't have to notch the K-member. Bad news is it requires an aftermarket Sanden compressor and will have to have lines custom fabricated.

You can install the 4th gen carrier and gears in your 3rd gen housing.


I got the elbows, tubes, sleeves, and clamps from www.intakehoses.com (I chose rubber rather than silicone). The 90 degree is a 4" to 3.5" reducing. The rest are 3.5" (sleeve, 12" and 4" aluminum tubes, I believe I got one long piece and cut it to length, and the 45 degree elbow). The air filter is an AMSOIL piece, p/n EAAU3570. The T-bolt clamps are nice, since these parts are a little heavy.

 

I would recommend not keeping the 2.73s. I had them with my T-56 for a while before I got my 12-bolt and it was annoying because it made 1st gear seem way too tall. I absolutely hated it. And that 1700ish ("because at 70mph he's only taching 1700rpms in 5th") was in 5th gear, so even with a higher gear ratio you still have 6th to use (I think I'm at a bit less than 2000 at 75 with 3.73s, but I can't remember exactly).

 

ok guys I am ordering parts tonight....
here is what i think I will be needing as a bare minimum to order:

-trans cross member at $110 hawks double hump.
-k member will be notched or simply no a/c.
-motor mounts I bought the adapter plate that lets you place an ls motor on 3rd gen
stockers<-still buying new stockers.
anything else i need to order from hawks that is absolutely a must?
do I need a adjustable torque arm at $370?!?
please guys anything??
I don't want to place more than one order so I can have everything to start and not delay so much.

 

If you use the engine mount adapter plates, you can't use the 4th gen AC compressor, so there is no need to notch the K-member for AC. But, you'll probably still need to notch it for the oil pan.

You don't need an adjustable torque arm. It's a "nice-to-have".

 

from this week's install session - if you go with the standard plates (and not the 1" set back ones), you NEED to notch the back of the kmember to clear the fbody pan. They work, but for sanity reasons, if i did it again, i'd get the 1" back ones. check out this thread for a bit more info on what i ran into

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...-3-swap-2.html

 

kR@p! so either keep my stock a/c and get the adapter plates or get 1" set backs!
or ls swap motor mounts right?
wich is cheaper??? I think the ls motor mount/swaps right? about $87+shipping.
so no adjustable torque arm for me. anything else guys that I may not be aware of? thank you guys so much for your time and help!!!!

 

so it seems all that I need to order is the motor mouts:

and the trans cross member for a t56:

and everything else is pretty much on my donor car correct?
thanks!!! order will be placed tonigh.

 

I don't know of any current source for brackets to mount your stock AC compressor. The last known available were from an outfit that kept taking people's money but stopped sending what was ordered. If you aren't good at fabricating such things, this probably isn't the time to try to get better.

The 1" setback plates will throw off the transmission mount, driveshaft length, and torque arm mount. Between that and notching the K-member for the oil pan, I'll notch the K-member for the oil pan every time (just did that job tonight, as a matter of fact).

 

five7, if you look at my thread, pocket and i were able to determine that the plate mounts set the engine 1" forward compared to the spohn mounts, so technically the 1" setbacks position everything where the spohn ones do. unless maybe you're using different plates than I?

 

but if i order these motor mounts and use the 98 engineside clams I'm good to go then right and i don't have to worry about spacing? I'l just sell my plates.

 

Ok so motor mounts and trans crossmember it is I will post pics and updates as it comes along and please feel free to comment and aid in fixing the mistakes I'm sure to make! Lol! Ok thanks guys will post again soon.

 

You don't have to worry about the trans crossmember, driveshaft length, or torque arm length. You'll still have oil pan to K-member clearance issues. Some have done it by dropping the K-member, installing the engine on the K-member, then putting them back in the car - there's little to no clearance between the K-member and pan. Without the notching, you won't be dropping engine/trans in from the top.

 

ok thanks!, the order is placed already.
my intention was to drop the k member and place engine on top then dropping the car over, i had read about that. if it seems that for my situation it is way too tight of a fitting and will cause vibration or rubbing issues i will notch, but here's hoping for the best on my first swap!!!

 

Just an FYI make sure that if you are going to take it to the referee to have a smog legal swap you need to have ALL emission control devices/systems from the donor car. Air injection, Evap, Cats, HO2S, EGR, etc. So make sure you pull off that air pump while you're at it. PM me if you have any questions I can help you with the smog compliance end of the swap.

 

pull off the air pump???
you mean from the original engine?
I actually plan on swapping in as close to %100 as possible for that very issue.
I know i don't like or want to keep the air intake but besides that as much as possible would be nice since its here and would overall keep the car running as smooth as possible in it's eyes. but will deff. need your advise and help on passing the smog stuff.

 

You're going to want to pull the AIR pump off the donor camaro you're using it'll be behind the headlight on the driver's side of the car. And you'll be using all the hoses and check valves from the donor car as well.

 

ohh, ok, yeah I'm going to see how much i can transfer over including the windshield wiper reservoir.

any one here knows the steps to take to swap in the dash cluster only?
I like my dash better, its sleeker ,less bulky and over all leaves more room in the cabin.

 

does the 4th gen steering wheel/colum fit into 3rd gen? maybe i can just swap that too and keep the airbag, then maybe it'l be worth swapping in the whole dash.

 

n e one knows?

 

I believe I've heard the column bolts in, but I wouldn't swear to that.

The air bag has a lot more to it than the column, of course. I haven't messed with them to date, but from what I've heard, you're looking at sensors (that have to be properly mounted) and pyrotechics, so don't take it lightly.

1ADan, which plates were you dealing with? I bought a set of TransDapt plates, determined they couldn't be used with a 4th gen AC compressor, so sold them to V8Rumble. He notched the K-member just like I did, didn't have to go any deeper to get the engine mounted.

 

i bought em used off a tgo member, so no labels or brands anywhere. from everything i've compared to online, they appear to be the basic standard spacing ones. they look exactly like these ones:



I measured from the same spot pocket measured and came up with 4.5" vs. his 3.5" with the spohns. I *had* to notch my kmember to fit, so i think with the 1" set backs, you may be able to eliminate that need (even though a little breathing room there is not a bad idea anyway).

 

I've seen several versions of these adapter plates, and not a one of them says anything about changing the location of the engine. Except one that gives you a choice of mount bolt locations so you can move it if you so choose. Spohn doesn't say anything about changing the engine location, either.

At least with the Trans-Dapt plates, as I was saying, they put the engine in the same place as my Spohn mounts.

 

these here would be comparable to where the spohn's fit

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LS1-C...Q5fAccessories

 

still waiting on parts to start, they should be here tomorrow.... :-D

 

parts are here!!! will start on the swap tomorrow, w'ell how it goes.......... wish me luck!!