so this will be my first ever swap with any car. i have always dreamed of doing an ls1, but an lt1 seems much more straightfoward and within my budget. i need help as to what parts i need.

let me start off. i have a 305tbi t-5 1991 camaro rs. car is in great shape mechanically and physically but im looking for more power and better gas mileage, while retaining reliability.

i have been reading up on the swaps people have done on thirdgens but it seems that most of these swaps were done without a parts car.

well here is were my journey begins. i was lucky enough to get my hands on a 1997 z28 lt1/t-56 complete camaro. poor car was rear-ended.

well as stated i have a complete donor car, can someone help me compile a list as to what parts i will need from the donor car as well as what parts i need to keep in my thirdgen for the swap?

 

I have done the swap into a 2nd gen Formula, but the basics are the same.

Having a donor car isn't necessarily a benefit, although there are lots of other parts on the donor car which you might use.

For the LT1 swap, you'll need to remove the LT1, trans, engine harness and PCM. The challenge is getting the harness out of the donor intact. Once you have it removed, the harness will need to be modified for the swap. There are only a few wires that actually tie into the 3rd gen car to make the engine run. The remainder are for gauges and what-not. I sent my harness out for modification and it cost me around $250, but came back labelled exactly what to hook up where.

The engine should slide right in, although you will need to use different motor mounts. I believe that mounts from a SBC in a 2nd gen Camaro will work, you may have to drill new holes in the K-member.

If you plan to use A/C, the K-member will have to be notched to clear the low mounted compressor. An alternative is using the Corvette LT1 accessory setup which moves the compressor to the driver's side up high. Or if you choose to delete the A/C there is a pully you can get to take the place of the compressor.

I would suggest upgrading the fuel pump as the LT1 needs more fuel pressure than the stock engine. A Wahlbro 225 gph worked well for me. The LT1 has a fuel pressure regulator located at the rear of the injector rails. You can use it but will have to adapt the existing fuel lines to the regulator. As an alternative, you can have AN fittings welded onto the rails and use an aftermarket regulator. I did the latter so I could see how much fuel pressure I had.

You'll have to have a port put into the radiator for the steam tube on the LT1. I had a local radiator shop do it for $25.

The exhaust will have to be made to fit if you are running the stock exhaust, or have a custom exhaust made. I used 1 3/4" long tube headers and had to modify them to clear the steering shaft, but that was in a a 2nd gen car. I don't know about fitment into a 3rd gen, but it seems long tubes in a 3rd gen hang low. Shorties are an option as well as keeping the LT1 exhaust manifolds. If you go with headers, you will have to have bungs welded into the collectors for the o2 sensors, but that was another $25 job that I farmed out.

I used a 4L60E auto, so I can't comment on a manual tranny install. Perhaps some other members can shed some light on the subject.

All in all, figure your costs as best you can, then double it. You'll be surprised at all the little stuff that adds up. My swap cost about $2000 in addition to the cost of the engine/trans, but I used new everything, cleaned and painted everything and had to do some mods that a 3rd gen car won't require, like the electric fuel pump in the tank.

Hope that helps a little...I have a build thread on another site. PM me for the address. Best of luck!

 

The clamshell motor mounts from your 305 will bolt right up to the LT1, If you want to keep the low mount AC you'll have to modify the passenger side mount to fit and notch the kmember.

for the transmission, just get a convertion crossmember. the LT1 sits in the same spot as the SBC so there isn't any fooling around with lengths and angles. The drive shafts are exactly the same length so if the other one is aluminum and isn't jackes up you can use it.

I would recommend using the LT1 radiator and fans, it just needs to be scooted towards the passenger side.

for the exhaust, you just need headers that fit a SBC in the 3rd gen camaro. The exhaust will bolt right up, I think the smallest primaries you want is 1 5/8".

For fuel lines jegs makes quick disconnects to the fuel rails, and earls makes adapters to the fuel lines coming from the lines on the body. then you just need to bridge the gap.