I have decided to go ahead and pull the trigger on doing a lsx swap for my 91Z. I want to go lsx/t56.


It seems like the most economical way to do the swap is to buy a donor LS1/T56 4th gen. That way I will have most of the parts, especially for the T56 conversion. Then I will be able to part out the fourth gen, and get a good bit of my money back.

Say I had a running ls1/t56 donor car already beside my running TPI 91Z.

What parts would I then need to complete the swap that I don't have between the two cars? Basically just mounts and small misc parts, right?

So if I already have a running donor car, around how much should I budget on the parts needed to finish the swap?

Thanks for any input.

 

I agree, thats what i'm doing. If hawks sells LS1/T56 combos for $4500 and you have to buy all the other parts on top of that. Might as well buy a running 4th gen for the same price and sell the parts you don't need to fund the swap parts. And you have some time to get acquainted with your new drivetrain b4 you start your swap. If the LS1 runs and the T56 is smooth in the 4th gen, you know it will do the same in your 3rd gen.

 

Obviously engine, trans, harness, computer...

Not sure which motor mount adapters you are using but if you use hawks or the hawks style you need the factory engine mounts that are mounted on the motor. You will also need the T-56 swap cross member or fab your own. If you plan to keep the factory 4th gen a/c compressor you will need to notch the k member. I you are wanting to mount the 4th gen ecu in the factory third gen location you have to extend the pcm wires. If your donor car has cruise control without traction control you can use the cruise module and wire it in. Do a search and you can find instructions on that. I'm sure you can use the radiator and dual fans, I went aftermarket on mine. You can swap the whole gas tank, I chose to use the factory 3rd gen tank so I upgraded my fuel pump to the 255 in tank unit and c5 corvette inline regulator. Also most importantly (lol) you can swap the seats over...Check out my build thread in my sig. I used 2000 T/A seats with custom upholstery.

Other than that there really isn't much else you need unless you are wanting to get really custom. There are thread on swapping rear ends, brakes, dash, console, etc...

hope that helps a little bit.

 

If you want to go on the low buck and buy a complete running/driving 4th gen LS car? You can use everything and swap it all over. Manifolds et all. You will need to fab up some motor mount plates or make your own, y-pipe fab far out $ or make your own.

Most of what you need is there in a 4th gen set up.