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LTX and LSXPutting LT1s, LS1s, and their variants into Third Gens is becoming more popular. This board is for those who are doing and have done the swaps so they can discuss all of their technical aspects including repairs, swap info, and performance upgrades.
Alright I’m selling all of my 383 build parts and going ls. My plan is to go to the pull apart salvage on Veterans Day to get 40% off. I’m going to pull and engine transmission, wireing harness. I’m looking for a 5.3 or 4.8 from a 99 and up truck/suv. I’ve done some research so I plan to use lt1swap.com for the pcm flash and use his guide to re wire everything. I want to shave the truck intake or use a ls(1,2,3) intake. Im putting this in my 1983 trans am that originally had the cross fire injection and 700r4. I’m here for advice/suggestions. The most Im going to do to the engine is maybe a cam and piston rings and bearings if it’s in good enough condition. I may wait for the cam and turbo it later. I mainly want to get this car on the road. I have more time than money. I know I’ll need motor mounts and a transmission cross member. But if I can modify or make my own I will. And on the exhaust I was just going to use some stock ls1 or ls2 manifolds. So tell me what you guys think.
Update: I pulled a 5.3 DBW from a 2000 Tahoe (rare) and 4160e. I dropped of the pcm off yesterday to convert it to DBC and remove the vats and change tire size, shift points, rear end ratio and so on. I just pulled off a DBC throttle body and swapped it and the plugs over to my engine before leaving the savage. I walked out of the salvage with engine and all accessories, transmission , wire harness, fuse box, exhaust manifolds, for $550
I’ll get my pcm back tomorrow and HOPEFULLY fire it up on the stand. Then next step I’ll start re working the harness.
Alright so the next step was not to re work the harness, I’m waiting until it’s in the car to re work it so I can route it the right way. So far I got it started and tore down for the machine shop, Got it back and now working on getting all the little things ready. Powdercoating and polishing what I can.
So now I have the whole front end apart I’m trying to figure out what parts I want to buy and bushings. I plan to paint to engine bay this weekend. I’m going to powder coat whatever suspension parts that I can. (Control arms, spindles, springs)
mans advice on front end parts I will gladly except. Just not sure what brands to go with. I’m going to get new rotors, pads, tie rods, control arm bushings, sway bar links, sway bar bushings, and struts $$$$$
For your front A-arms (control arms), you can go with fresh rubber for lots of compliance, or to the Del-Alum bushings from Global West suspension if you're looking to add some stiffness to the front suspension. Depends if you're just using the car on the street, or if you plan on auto crossing/ track days. Your swap is looking good so far, the red valve covers with the Trans Am logo look great.
Thanks for the advice, I’ll just be keeping it on the street. And the custom logo was last minute I just polished the spot and used my circuit to make the vinyl and powdercoated the valve covers and took the vinyl of.
A lil update. I powdercoated my springs. Control arms, spindles and all the bolts. I used a forum on here and bought the compressor from Oreillys and used a 3.5 inch piece of pipe and it worked better than any other way I tried. I just painted the Monroe struts that we’re on the car for now. Not sure what I’ll upgrade to if I don’t like them. I put some drilled and slotted rotors and new bearings on. I put poly bushings on the control arms and moog ball joints. I’m in the process and powdercoating the calipers. So May 11 would have been my brothers 32nd birthday (this was his first car) I got all the front end built and motor and trans put in on his birthday. And here are the pics.
