89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
Engine: LSX
Transmission: T56
89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
Not sure how long its gonna take me but the swap is about to begin. I just purchased a 99 z28 ls1/t56 as a donor car. This is to go in my 89 iroc. Now to gather the swap parts.
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From: Bethlehem, CT
Car: 1983 Firebird SE
Engine: C5 LS1
Transmission: 6 speed
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
Nice car!
You will love the swap.
Do not be surprised if the swap leaves you up in the air a bit. The lighter weight can make a difference.
You will love the swap.
Do not be surprised if the swap leaves you up in the air a bit. The lighter weight can make a difference.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
Engine: LSX
Transmission: T56
Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
May post some more pics of both cars a little later. I'm no stranger to ls motors I have a low mileage built 98 ta..and love the power. The donor car is a bone stocker with 177k miles but drives (runs) very well. Planning on buying all conversion parts get her running...then get a t56 rebuild from tick performance....with monster clutch..n new hydraulics...then rebuild motor with a healthy cam n my ls6 intake (leftovers of T/A build) n drive the wheels off of her.
Last edited by 91z28 98ta; Dec 24, 2013 at 12:09 PM.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
Engine: LSX
Transmission: T56
Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
Would be more but phone won't let me for whatever reason....you can really tell the bolts have been in this thing for 25 years..ha
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
Engine: LSX
Transmission: T56
Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
Motor and tranny out. Now to clean up engine bay a little and sort through some wiring. Have yet to decide with notching kmember for AC or find some brackets that work with the thirdgen ac..
Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
The sheer number of wires makes the job seem intimidating. Its simple connect the dots in reality. Just connect them ALOT of times. If your TPI harness is in good shape, Id sell it and pick up a cheap 89 V6 or TBI harness to cut up. Easy couple bucks
The box is for cruise or VATS. The VATS module has "passkey" on the backside. You can dump the VATS module if its in your way. The only feature retained is the starter enable relay behind the drivers kick panel. It can be defeated by grounded the relay or bridging the two fat wires
The box is for cruise or VATS. The VATS module has "passkey" on the backside. You can dump the VATS module if its in your way. The only feature retained is the starter enable relay behind the drivers kick panel. It can be defeated by grounded the relay or bridging the two fat wires
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
Engine: LSX
Transmission: T56
Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
I may take a closer look at it but believe only thing on it is "AC". Was reading through cam's lsx build on here and haven't really decided if I want to use the whole engine harness with fuse box n relays from my donor or use my harness and integrate them.
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From: Oakland, CA
Car: 2000 Camaro SS/86 Iroc/89 Iroc(x2)
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 6 Speed
Axle/Gears: 4.10
Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
I like the Black Iroc you've got. Looking forward to seeing your progress. The wiring is intimidating, and it does suck, but Pocket's writeups will get you through it all pretty easily.
-Matt
-Matt
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
Engine: LSX
Transmission: T56
Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
Springs... Been hard to get motivated here lately when the temps don't get much over 5 degrees. Winter sucks. Got my thirdgen harness all stripped down to basics. Did this on kitchen table out of the cold(ole lady had a cow)..ha
Last edited by 91z28 98ta; Jan 24, 2014 at 06:47 PM.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
Engine: LSX
Transmission: T56
Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
Got hotchkins 1" front lowering springs in, didn't take pic hard to tell without motor in. Also installed 4th Gen overflow tank. Think I'm gonna go without the washer tank think it would be a cleaner look and I never used it anyway.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
Engine: LSX
Transmission: T56
trunion upgrade
Installed the comp cam trunion upgrade kit into my rockers..which I highly recommend if putting in stiffer springs and a can. I had a stock trunion come apart on my T/A and dumped small needle bearings into my engine. Was lucky enough my oil pick up didn't suck any up. Just my 2cents.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
Engine: LSX
Transmission: T56
Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
Some new parts and engine pics..got a stage 3 cam from Brian tooley racing with a platinum spring kit..new valve seals, high volume oil pump, new timing chain kit, all new gaskets through out engine, lifters with trays, cam retainer plate..dropped t56 off at shop to be rebuilt..think I'm going with all new hydraulics, a spec 3 clutch and a new stock flywheel.
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From: Bethlehem, CT
Car: 1983 Firebird SE
Engine: C5 LS1
Transmission: 6 speed
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
Some new parts and engine pics..got a stage 3 cam from Brian tooley racing with a platinum spring kit..new valve seals, high volume oil pump, new timing chain kit, all new gaskets through out engine, lifters with trays, cam retainer plate..dropped t56 off at shop to be rebuilt..think I'm going with all new hydraulics, a spec 3 clutch and a new stock flywheel.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
Engine: LSX
Transmission: T56
T56 pedals installed
I had to drill an additional hole in the top of the pedal bracket to get the hole under dash to line up, and cut the gas pedal off the 4th Gen setup and just used my original gas pedal. It seemed easier than getting the other pedal to work. I drilled a 1.5" hole in firewall and 2 small mounting holes for the master cylinder, and its in.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
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Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
Making some progress got engine all put back together, rearends out of both cars, gas tanks out of both cars, and modified the fuel sending unit from ls1 tank with the grand prix sending unit for the proper 90 ohm reading to my gauge.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
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Transmission: T56
Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
You really don't understand how much time and money goes in to these builds until you get into them. Then you realize when you find a ls swapped car for sale that's why normally people want so much for them.
Last edited by 91z28 98ta; Apr 8, 2014 at 06:01 PM.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
Engine: LSX
Transmission: T56
Hawks Headers
I ordered and received the hawks headers and y pipe for my ls swap and am some what dissapointed in them...really just one complaint the passenger side flange is so bent and warped I fear it may not seal. I called hawks and they said they have never had an issue with this and assured me with gaskets and torqued to spec it would seal fine..Ill post some pics when I get time here in next day or two
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From: Danville, IN
Car: 1991 Camaro Z28
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: Strange 12 Bolt, 3.42
Re: Hawks Headers
I ordered and received the hawks headers and y pipe for my ls swap and am some what dissapointed in them...really just one complaint the passenger side flange is so bent and warped I fear it may not seal. I called hawks and they said they have never had an issue with this and assured me with gaskets and torqued to spec it would seal fine..Ill post some pics when I get time here in next day or two
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
Engine: LSX
Transmission: T56
Hawks Headers
Yeh I called and Bruce is one that actually answered...I told him I didn't see it sealing and would like to just trade my NEW passenger side header for another. Seemed to me it was gonna be a big hassle for me, he wanted pics and told
me to try them and if they leak they'll do something bout it. Yeh for the money I believe the straightness off the flange should have been checked before shipping.
me to try them and if they leak they'll do something bout it. Yeh for the money I believe the straightness off the flange should have been checked before shipping.
Last edited by 91z28 98ta; Apr 8, 2014 at 08:07 PM.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
Engine: LSX
Transmission: T56
headers
So I bolted my new headers up to my engine on the stand with a multilayer metal gasket and torqued them down from center out in two stages until about 20ft/lb spec is 18 I think. Well the passenger side header on bottom had a gap between the gasket and the header of about .050" (I put feeler gauge in it). So I called hawks again and they politely decided to rush me a new header and have the warped one picked up. So hopefully the next one will be nice and straight.
Last edited by 91z28 98ta; Apr 9, 2014 at 10:13 AM.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
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Transmission: T56
Gas tankk
I got the gas tank installed from my donor car was pretty straight forward went right in. I cut about 2 inches off the filler tube. J
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
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Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
Been a little busy here lately...got rear end out of 99z in, changed pinion seal and cover seal and put in some mobile 1 fluids with additive. Got the motor set in the roc and put headers on. Damn it looks good in there. Here is a few pics.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
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Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
I've gotten a lot done here lately but been slacking on posting.
The car is officially a ls1 6 speed now..the tranny and clutch is all in cut the whole for shifter..put on my 4 ft bleeder line which is awesome..I had the clutch bled in no time..i ran all stainless fuel line from nitrous express...routed fuel line in stock location except when I got towards the front of the car I ran it through the frame to keep away from the headers.
The car is officially a ls1 6 speed now..the tranny and clutch is all in cut the whole for shifter..put on my 4 ft bleeder line which is awesome..I had the clutch bled in no time..i ran all stainless fuel line from nitrous express...routed fuel line in stock location except when I got towards the front of the car I ran it through the frame to keep away from the headers.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
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Transmission: T56
Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
Used 4th Gen tee and a prefabbed and crimped 10 ft 6an line for supply and a 2ft prefabbed and crimped 6an line for the return out off the tee..Hardline in pic is brake line.
Last edited by 91z28 98ta; May 12, 2014 at 10:57 PM.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
Engine: LSX
Transmission: T56
Re: 89 iroc ls1/t56 swap
Started on my wiring got my ls harness all depinned of what I didn't need or want. I wasn't gutsy enough to depin both red and blue connectors because I just know I'll put atleast one pin back in the wrong spot. Put harness on car and got every thing where it needs to be. Gonna add my 3rdgen harness to it hear and tape it together then pull it of loom it and lengthen it to stock location going through the inside of passenger side fender.
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Car: 89 iroc 98 T/A
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Transmission: T56
misc
Ill have to get some more pics but I got both lower and upper 4th gen radiator hoses to work. The lower I flipped then put a little heat on the small end of the hose so it would go on water pump end and it slid right on and looks perfect. Thinking I'm goin to use stock tpi air box as well..it may be a little restrictive but I like the look.






