well just recently my poor tpi 5.7L threw a rod, and while i plan to rebuild it later when i have more money and time, i need a new motor in my camaro asap, being as it's my DD. for the longest time i was really dying to get a LS1/T56 combo (even before my motor bit the dust) but as far as cost goes, i just can't afford it. the only money i have to spend is coming from an insurance settlement, and it's only just over $3000. now i've looked at this and what i'm wondering is whether or not i'd be able to afford that engine plus what would go into making it work with my car. i've never done anything like this before but at 20 years old i'm young and dumb and ambitious. so any and all advice would be much appreciated.

:edit:

well i'll be going with the LS1 route after all. i will still definitely need some tips from you seasoned veterans hahaha

 

if you need the car running now as a dependable DD, just replace the short block....

 

welp, i guess plans have changed. i "accidentally" won an auction for a 98 LS1 with a recently shift kitted 4L60E for $2900, so it's time to nut up and get down to business. definitely will need some help with this.

 

Start reading

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...third-gen.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...ltx-swaps.html

 

hahaha yeah i've been reading for quite awhile. from what i've looked at, i'm hoping i can squeeze by my monetary limitations by notching my k member and fabricating my own trans crossmember. thanks for the support guys. once i get things started i'll be posting pics and/or vids of everything.

 

the more you do yourself the cheaper the overall cost will be, but there is gonna be some things youll just have to pony up the cash for....

 

so far my plans are to notch my k member to save money, then i've got a wiring harness from a 2004 5.3L vortec that is supposedly completely uncut that i'm getting for $100. the hawks crossmember for the 4L60E will run me another $110. the corvette fuel filter with integrated regulator is another $34. then from doing some gear ratio calculations, i've decided that it would be worth it to go ahead and upgrade my rear gears from the stock 3.23 to 3.73 while i'm doing everything else.

 

If your good with wiring the truck harness will be ok but i believe there are differences in the fuel injector connectors so you will have to change those to the LS1 style. Im sure there are alot of other things to change as well. I believe some of the pins at the PCM connectors are in the wrong places for the LS1 PCM.

 

Read the wiring threads in the sticky. Same can be applied to truck harnesses using junkyard connectors to fill in the missing pieces

 

My advice to you is keep it simple & don't try to take on too much at once (just swap out the engine and mess with the gears later once you get it back on the road again). This is a costly swap, so it's probably going to take everything you have just to get the engine swap done. You can always upgrade later when you have the cash. If you use the Spohn engine mounts on your k-member you might not need to notch it. That's what I used on mine and I had enough room to stick my pinky finger in between the k-member & pan. How is your fuel pump?

 

Are you planning on dropping the engine out of the bottom or pulling it out the top?

 

i'll be pulling it out the top, since i don't have the means to significantly lift the car. my engine and trans will finally be getting here tomorrow. it's a month or so after the planning for this project started and i feel more lost now than i was when i started planning. i just ordered an adjustable torque arm with crossmember for the trans and the motor mounts from hawks. so i guess i'm just going to take this thing one step at a time. i still haven't even gotten my old junk out of the car yet, so i'm way behind. once i get it all out i'll be clearing out everything else under the hood as well to clean it up a bit and make it pretty. once i've done that i want to pretty much replace everything and keep an overall factory finish look. but as for right now, the first move is to pull the stuff that's going out and prep for the new. i'm hoping i'll have some help from a couple of local guys, and really crossing my fingers for some help from mw66nova here on the forums, since he just happens to live within the same 10 miles as myself and he's got a ton of experience in this area. also, sorry i disappeared for awhile. i pretty much lost track of myself working crappy hours at a crappy job and being for the most part unsatisfied with the way life's been going for me, especially seeing as how i can't take my z28 out for a spin when i need to blow off some steam and scare some sense into myself once in awhile.

 

If you have a cherry picker and some ramps you can drop it out of the bottom. Just hook the crane to the chassis and pick it up off the engine

 

I definitely recommend doing it that way. I've done it both ways and out the bottom was much easier in my opinion.

 

i go in and out through the top, just easier in my opinion. i have a lot less crap in the way then other people though. don't have to work about dismantling the brakes and suspension every time the motor comes out of the car too.

you know where i work. during the semester i only work fri-sun. come by and we can talk about it. bring a note pad too, lol.

 

You undo 6 K-member bolts, one nut on each strut and the front brake lines

Bleeding the brakes really isnt that difficult

 

Hey guys, I’m just not starting my LS1 swap into my 1992 camaro. I’ve got a 2004 corvette LS1/4L60E combo. I know I have to change my oil pan to a 4th gen camaro. My next question is.
1. Does anyone know how I need to notch my K member to allow for the oil pan and AC clearance?
2. Any advice on the easiest way to get my harness and all cables set up to work with my third gen?

 

With the ict billet setback plates I did not have to notch when I dropped the motor into an 87 GTA Vert. It cleared and didnt touch at all. As mentioned you will need to do some reading. There are threads on here about adapting the car to the LS harness. Become familiar with c207 and c100.

 

Excuse my inexperience, what is c207 & c100

 

C100 is on the driver side on the firewall. its a big plug for your engine and light harness. C207 is under the dash by the ecm

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...formation.html

this thread has just about everything you need to know summarized for c100, c207, and ls1 harness wiring and connections. i used this thread A LOT during my swap. it also has fuel system info and plumbing. very helpful.

 

Whatever became of the OPs upgrade, since it goes back to 2011?

 

Please help? Should I use my current harness that came with my motor, or just go with a harness from PSI conversion?

 

you can rework the harness that came with your motor or use a psi harness. your choice really. If you make the harness that came with it standalone then you will just need to reuse a few connections from your original engine harness. Psi is a standalone harness anyway so you would have to do that.

 

Does anyone know what the average cost to rework the LS1 harness with my third gen harness? PSI conversion harness would be around $600

 

Ive seen on ebay and the lsx parts pages reworks for 250-300. If you go that route try to get it from a reputable vendor.

 

OP here in dire straits and am in a toss-up of whether to sell my project as is or hunker down and wait out the hard times. This project has been near to my heart for a long time. My step dad helped me at the beginning of this project, and he's gone now so he was never able to see the end of it. I'm struggling to get back into a decent job right now. I was a top level Pac-Mac operator at the Perdue Farms plant near me for a few years (started at the bottom as a process tech assisting operators and hit top level around my second year) but most recently I was an electronics tech for Tyonek Manufacturing Group. I actually loved the work I was doing and was exceptionally good at it, earning the respect of my trainer, superiors, QA, and even the GM of the plant himself. I know it sounds kind of braggy but it took me until age 31 to find my niche and when I hit that home run I really fkn cracked it. Fast forward half a year and I got hit with a regular mass UA and the CBD gummies and honey sticks that I was using for chronic pain and anxiety relief pushed my THC level just over the testing threshold and because they work mostly in DoD contracting they're held to a zero tolerance standard, so even with my excuse I was terminated immediately and flagged ineligible for rehire. I was just getting settled in for a career commitment, planned for and had another child, though he was born after they canned me for being a regular dirtbag doper. Should I sell the old Z28 to survive or sit on it until I have to live in it?

 

You'll get more money now than any time in history. Good time to sell.
It's been 12 years. Seems like this hobby is maybe not the right hobby?
You've been doing the right thing putting family first above a car hobby.