About two months ago the number 8 rod bearing failed wiping the rest of the bearings out in my 89 350 Iroc so I'm now contemplating different engine replacement options. The engine is tired all over. My over the next year project will be either replacing the 350 with another 350 possibly supercharged or 383 supercharged or LS1 or 2.
I would like to view someones LS1 smog legal installation just to get a first hand view and report on the issues. I read the stickies but would like to check one out in person. I'm in Fresno. Anyone reasonably close that has one finished?
GWW
Jerry

 

None I ever looked at made me smile.....

And the performance left a lot to be desired....

89transam gta just ran a 12.12 @ 111 with a 355 tune port N/A

So.....why go anywhere else as the saying goes.

 

Because I would like to see what a complete install looks like visually with the problems solved. I.E wiper motor, Air conditioning etc. Stickies are fine but nothing beats looking one over and talking to someone who accomplished the task. Nothing against a 350 gen 1 but the LSX is the voice of the future for small blocks and I like to keep my options open.

 

Talk to too tpi terror he has an ls1 swap I saw it in person it looks nice, overall too expensive and too much work

 

Worth doing anyway!Keep it sensible.Forget about headwork,superchargers,cams,lifters,etc & the cost isnt too prohibitive.Ive seen a few in person & maybe one didnt "make me smile".Performance is better than TPI.

 

Worth doing anyway.....not!!!

When you consider the pain, expence and hassel, by the time you are done you could have dropped in a nice replacement for a lot less and still have plenty of power.

My combo:
355, cam, heads and modded intake.

12.60's in the 1/4 mi. passes smog super clean and gets 25 MPG on the road.
Also has very mild street manners. Oh, and it looks like it fits and belongs between the fenders.

What more could you ask for....unless you just want to say "I have an LSX combo".

Sorry, not my bag.
Hope I didn't ruffle any feathers Ha Ha.

 

Not your combo, but others may feel different.It isnt about saying Ive got a LS in my 3rd gen(not for me anyway, i wouldnt brag having either).The money/time/effort it takes to get a TPI to produce your #s.An LS can do the same stock with better mileage, cleaner emissions & weight saving.Not saying i would'nt put a TPI in my car, but Id still yank that TPI for a lingenfelter super ram.Also better heads,cam,roller rockers,etc.After all that you still dont have the mileage,lower emissions & lighter eng.An LS is a better starting point than a TPI.So to each their own, but things have improved since the days of TPI.Ive seen plenty TPI retrofit that looked like **** in 3rd gens.Nothing worthwhile is gonna be easy.Done right, still woth doing!

 

I'm sorry but you seem to be slightly misinformed.

You would have to show me an LS that gets better than 25 MPG

Has cleaner #'s than my combo (10 HC @15... 11 HC @25...99 & 101 NOX)

The only thing I see is the lighter weight

Until you have experienced the headaches of that swap, you really can't say it's a better starting point

There are many out there that got started and never finished (it's like opening a can of worms). Only for the selected few that are willing to embrace such a monumental task.

 

25 mpg city, highway, or both? I'm guessing highway.

 

If only I could win the lottery and afford to swap in this LS9 motor.

http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...&ProdID=248897

Here's a pic I took of TPI TERR's LS swap at the ROTW cruise a couple weeks ago

 

Thank you Jason that's not a bad install with the covers on it. I see a few issues. I would have to run up to the stock air cleaner. I wish to maintain the evap and crews in the stock location which is right where he has his aircleaner. It also looks like he removed the AC. I would want to keep that intact. The wiper motor is in so it looks like that's no problem.
Trust me Don I'm not against the first gen small block. By the way I left you a PM on such a subject. My camaro is strictly my toy. I thought entertaining an LS1 swap, done really nicely, would be cool. So I'm waiting for more pictures or an invite, thanks.
GWW

 

hey man check out my build thread along with my brothers Z28fast1..
definitely worth it.

ls engine are easy to work on as well as with tunes. and gas mileage is great.
a lot of 4th gen parts and interchangeable onto our 3rd gen
power is great
engines run cool
and reliable my car is a dd and through out the year ive only had experienced one breakdown. a bad alternator.

in my old tpi set up i had too many problems with control modules going out.
overheating. head gaskets. valve seals. timing tuning was hectic.

you can find a low mileage or under 100k for cheap now adays on graigslist.
my old tpi set up was torquie but if you have the time and skills to do a ls swap youll be impressed by the results.

im currently working on the ac set up were ill be using 4th gen ac components and modding the 3rd gen heater box with the front portion of a 4th gen one.
indeed time consuming but anything is possible.

 

I dont know of anyone up in Fresno, so you'd have to come down here.

If you want A/C, you will have a notch the frame, or put in an aftermarket K-member.

I just dont think its worth the hassle and cost, but if you have the money and want something different, then go for it.

 

Kevin, the last time we were at Famoso a couple of guys showed up from Nor Cal, and one of them had an Ls swapped into a vert. I don't remember his name or where he was from, but I think it may have been Sacramento area which is as far North of Fresno as LA is South.

One other thing to think about before doing an Lsx swap into a Third Gen in Cali, is that a tpi can be modded and you just need to get it past the smog tech doing the bi-annual test and pass the numbers. If the first place you take it to doesn't like something about the way your car looks, go someplace else. If you do an Lsx swap, in addition to all of the hassles of fitment, wiring, etc, you also need to get a California State referee to sign off on it. You might get lucky and get a referee that just looks for all of the smog stuff installed and working, you might also get a nit picker who will want to see an installation identical to a late 4th gen f-body right down to the Ls1 air cleaner assembly and air box installed like factory. If you get a "nit picker," he is god as far as your car is concerned. Look at him wrong, say the wrong thing, appear to have the wrong attitude, and your chances of taking your car anywhere but the local junk yard to sell it for scrap go way down. You also do not get any choice as to which referee looks at your car, and once a referee is assigned to your car, you are stuck with that referee each time he asks you to change something and bring it back until it is either signed off or you give up.

 

Russ, the convertible had a TBI. The LS1 was in a t-top.

Here's the video from Famoso: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwIBVs7eFDI