I didn't see anywhere for an introductory post so I figured I would do it in the section that I'll be in the most.

My names Matt, I drive a 02 WS6 and I don't have a third gen yet but plan on picking one up here shortly to do a swap in. I have high hopes for the build but haven't set a budget or really priced everything out yet. So far the only thing that I have is a complete LQ9 out of a 05 Denali that I bought off a friend for $500 bucks. I figured for $500 bucks, even if I don't build a project car I can't go wrong with the motor. Worst case scenario I can build the motor up and throw it in my T/A when that blows. Anyway I'll be in the market for a third gen Camaro here within the next few weeks or month to start my build. Being in the mountainous area of Virginia I want to make it a good/great handling road car to drive through the mountains. Some plans I have are LQ9 with a cam and port the 317 heads, LS3 intake. I would like to do full suspension on the car and swap in a C4 IRS but depending on how that works out it may not be until way down the road.

As of right now everything except for the stock LQ9 is just some writing on paper. Hopefully all of this will come true. When will it come true? I have no idea but I do know that I have spent the past 5 days doing a CRAP load of research on everything (except pricing). I don't think I've done this much research in my life.

 

yeah, 500 for a lq9 is definitely a good starting point. i think the IRS swap was done once or twice, but the thread got to be a train wreck and i think the op pulled his pictures and stuff. but if you search hard enough its somewhere on the web i htink. looked sick when it was done, i htink there was a yellow one somewhere maybe? as long as you get the reading and research, things will go smoothly. you found this place, which was the most important step on my swap. good lock, and take lots of pics.

 

Thanks. I did find a 4th gen LT1 that they had done the C4 IRS swap and there was plenty of pictures but not too much detail. It looks like it was done by a shop on one of the workers cars. They did an AWESOME job on it and it looks like it came from the factory that way.

I'm on LS1tech and have been for a while and was trying to look some stuff up there on the third gen LS1 swap and was able to find bits of information here and there but haven't been able to come up with a really good write up on it. Seeing how there is an entire section in here about swapping to an LSx or LTx I think this is the place to be fore that hands down, which is pretty much why I signed up.

 

I believe you have the lower compression LQ4, and not the LQ9. We actually have a thread dedicated to swapping in a truck engine, and the changes that will be needed. Costs are also listed in one of the 'sticky' threads as well. Sounds like you are looking at rebuilding an entire car, which will not be as cheap as a simple swap. Good luck!

 

I'm pretty sure it's an LQ9 but I'll have to check the numbers off it when I get the chance. Even if it were an LQ4 there's no big difference other than compression ratio.

Eventually I want to get to rebuilding the entire car but the main thing I'm going to focus on is getting the engine in and everything running perfectly. Once I have that done then I'll be taking the entire thing apart and making it look pretty and handle like a beast.

 

welcome to the board and welcome to the LSx ranks. There's a ton of info in the stickies and anything else, well, pocket's posted it around here somewhere (search is your friend on this swap). good luck and pictures or it didn't happen

 

what part of VA are you in?

 

Woodstock

 

Damn that only an hour away, if you need help let me know. I might be able to swing out there and i've done my own swap so if you have questions i can probably answer it.