seems like my computer is a bit out of mind today, so sorry, if u already saw this thread. but anyway i finally got enough money to start my project - rebuilding and swaping ls1, t56 and 4th gen rear end in my 88 2.8rs.i know it's been asked thousands of times, but stiil does anyone know reliable shop around la area to do that for me?id like to do it myself, but i dont have any place or, whats more important, experience to do it and this is my only car, so i dont want to risk it.although id love to help as much as i can and learn, u know. i've could wait for another semester at pierce and do my rebuilding there, but i want my car too badly back again..i've already sent pm to Don and still waiting for the answer..
any suggestions, linls, information?
thank you a lot

 

I think you could get an aluminum version of the World Products Motown crate motor discplacing 427 cubi inches for about the same price as a Ls1. It would be an easy bolt in, and could run the same fuel and electrical systems the Third Gen already has. To run the Ls1 you would need a complete 4th gen harness and ecm, and you will need to have the lower frame member on the passenger side notched and boxed to clear the alternator. The amount of work required to put the Ls1 in your car and make it work and be smog legal as well as doing the t-56 & 4th Gen rear will probably run more than $30k. You are probably looking at $40k unless you do all of the work yourself. If you have that much money saved, wait a year or so and trade your v6 for the new 5th Gen.

 

I don't know about that much Russ. The people on the LS1 swap board here on TGO pay anywhere from 6-8k on average doing it themselves, and in the 10k area if they find someone to do it for them. I've never seen an LSx swap cost nearly that much..

As for someone willing to do it for you, your best bet is to find someone from TGO that is in Cali that has done the swap. Don has too much on his plate for that consuming of a swap.

Good luck

 

The only other person in So Cal that I would trust to do that much work on a Third Gen is Paul (f1Ls1), and since he hasn't chimed in, it may be more work than he has time for. The last time I was over at his house, he had an Ls1 to put in a Vette that originally had a L98 if I remember correctly and he was having difficulty coming up with all of the parts he needed to do the swap. Also a professional mechanic may not want an amateur helping. sometimes it is easier to do the work yourself than to have a helper who may not do it right or has to be constantly watched to make sure it is done right. If you help and screw it up, he may be concerned with you blaming him for it. In any event, if you pay to have that much work done, even at cut rate labor prices, the number of hours required will push the price way up. If you are paying to have something like that job done professionally, woith the amount of fabrication and rewiring, expect your labor bill to be double your parts cost. If your engine and driveline cost you $6-$8k, you will be over $20k before you are done. On the other hand you can get a 427 World Products Motown crate motor in cast iron for about $10k I think, and it bolts right in. You would need to come up with a bigger fuel system, either large base and runners or a Superram to let it breathe, but it would cost a lot less to do it. Don has built a bunch of 350's that put out the power of an Ls1. Just because the magazines can't do it, doesn't mean it can't be done. Thye could do it if they knew what they were doing.

 

Russ, pretty much all i saw at lsx swap theme here were under 10 gran and thats the price Don told me it would cost approx.so ill see how it goes, since ive found a job, i would have some more money to spend on my car later one.
Gr89rs, that what i was trying to do, but so far no luck. so i guess id have to learn that the hard way
but anyway, guys for advises..i would still look for some machine shops, but if i wont be lucky, i guess, ill just wait for the autumn semester, so i could take engine rebuilding and do it there myself.and i almost switch my mind to 4l80e, since i would not need to cut firewall for the clutch pedal, but ill see.i kind of like the idea of driving a stick shift..
by the way, no one wants to have a story about his or her car in the russian magazine, called "Fast and Furious"?

 

Looks like this guy can help you. He's done the swap:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...-swap-ls1.html

 

thanks, Kevin)
i asked him, he did it himself..i guess i could have info from him, but my main problem is that i dont have a place to do it, unless ill get a permission from college shop and wait untill theyll have a free place for my car...but it looks like i would have to wait anyway - someone just broke into my mums car and took my glasses and the were pretty expensive...so i cant drive anything right now

 

Thanks Russ. I already sent him a PM about it. I would be happy to do it if he want's. But like you told him it's very expensive to do. It's a lot of hours and lots of modifications to do it right.The corvette I just finished took over 150hrs to complete and it still has to go to the smog ref.

 

hm, yeah i know, it wont be cheap, but i still gonna do it..and by the way, guys, im a girl...

 

for what its worth (down time and $$ envolved) you would be better off buying a nice LS1 4th gen. Everything is done for you by the factory and no smog ref BS each time you try to smog it.

Good luck what ever you do