Hey everyone....i finally found another thirdgen that is fairly decent. i paid 2 grand for it...1989 Trans Am GTA...its pretty nice...its white with the camel color interior. 350 TPI automatic...it has no spoiler but thats fine too because things are going great....I recently came across a large sum of money....Which now comes a question...i seen on the other sponsor sites they have a 4th gen ram air hood and ws6 spoiler for thirdgens....thats a given....BUT HOW MUCH WILL IT COST ME TO BUY A 4th gen INTERIOR, LS1, TRANNY AND REAR....i want the look of a 3rd gen with the feel of a 4th gen....PLEASE TELL ME I CAN DO IT FOR LESS THAN 10 GRAND:lala:

 

The hood is I think is no more than 500, no idea on the spoiler, I would say that you could get a good interior out of an LS1 at the junkyard or you can try the sales, but I think the seats woul dcost about 600-800 alone, you can get a crate LS1 for 6K, just try your local junkyard for parts.

 

I you're planning to go that deep into the FourthGen realm, you might want to consider searching the yards for a late-model TA that was roller or front-ended. The interior might be intact, and the LS1, transmission, driveshaft, and PCM, and harness would be all there awaiting transplant. I'm guessing you could pick up a wrecked FourthGen for well within your budget.

 

Exactly what Vader said. Why get just the beans when you can have the whole burrito? That way also, if need anything else from the car, it's right there for the taking. It would probably be cheaper that way and when your done, you could sell parts off of it and make a buck back.

 

I agree with Vader.

This swap (as with any) would go much more smoothly with a donor car. If you attempt a swap without a donor car, you will probably become real good friends with the parts dept. at your local GM dealer. All those little parts that seem unimportant can be outrageously expensive through the dealer.

If I were you, I would build a killer small block...but spend some money on the interior. As much as I love LS1's, they just arent a cost effective engine for swaps. In other words, you can build a big hp smallblock that will outperform a LS1 for less money.

Then you can spend the other money on drivetrain/paint/etc.

-Doug

 

I don't know where you are, but there is one junkyard around cleveland that has a ton of ls1s. The guy there has sold 14 in the last six months. He buys them from everywhere around cleveland. He just got one in about 2 weeks ago from missouri. The last time I was there he had a trans am that had some front end damage, and an ss that had been rearended

 

i see what your saying about building a small block that can outperform any ls1...but im not trying to go all crazy fast....an LS1 is fast enough for me (at this moment) and gets good gas mileage...im just trying to get this car looking and running good...i recently drove a 4th gen last week...i was gonna buy it (00 Trans Am Ram Air WS6) but i like the look of the thirdgens....call me crazy but id rather have a thirdgen....im thinking that since i do have 10 grand to spend...give or take a hundred bucks....you think i would be able to find a 98 and up Trans Am for under 10 grand....ill be doing all the work myself anyway

 

If your GTA interior is in mint condition I would be interested in obtaining it. Which would give you a but more cash to work with. Just PM or email me if interested.

 

You're not crazy, I've seen people rather buy even V6 Third Gens over having to deal with the look of 4th's, Third Gens just look better and are really the best looking F-Body. Coolest too IMO.

You don't need to go with the LS1 though, if you have a local performance dude/engine builder, you'd be better off having a nice SBC 350 built for you, have the 700R4 professionally done for performance, and get a good axle. I'd stay away from using the 4th Gen's stuff altogether, I'd have a car that was stronger and faster then 1 if I was doing what you want and money was n/p. It would be an easier process and would probably cost alot less too.

 

Double Post.

 

i see what your saying....another question...how easy is a 4th gen interior swap into a thirdgen...will the dash and seats bolt right in or do i have to mess with the rails...no problem if i do just looking to see what the extent of a project its in....as for the LS1...i know a guy that has 396 Bone Stock out of a 69 Chevelle hes willing to let go for less than a grand....ill just rebuild that if i decide its better....

 

The seats will be easy to swap.

However, I can see the dash being a problem. It is much larger than a thirdgen dash (one of the biggest I've seen).

A 396 would be a great motor in a thirdgen, but you will run into some problems with exhaust. Its a tight fit.

IMO it would be better/cheaper to build a small block that will perform just as well as the 396.

Look into 377's. They can make extreme power, and still be fairly driveable. I have a few friends who have built 500hp+ 377's that dont have a problem idling around town.

-Doug

 

congrats on your new car!!

 

thanks about the seats...yeah i see the dash being a problem but i know it will fit ive seen it....but now ive been looking around and checked out a few motors from people around here....the choices are...LS1 60,000 miles 3500.....LT1...80,000 miles 2,500....396 45,000 miles bone stock less than a grand....and a 3.8 turbo V6 out of a 86 gran national 4,000.....the turbo six would be cool because the GTA looks like a TTA and has the camel color leather interior....i could have a TTA clone but i dont know...CHOICES CHOICES CHOICES

 

I think there is a tech article, or somewhere in the message boards, there is a guy who did the entire swap and made a page or tech article or something about swapping out the entire interior. I didnt look too far into it because at the time, I had my mind dead set on putting C-5 Vette seats in my car....only to find it would not be an easy fit, so I found out 4th Gen seats bolt right in. I stopped right there..
As for the LS1, There are some problems from what I have heard, but you can get them in thirdgens. They have some pretty powerful ls1's and they also have a lot of ls1's with holes out the sides of their cylinders....I am sure there are as many SBC's out there with holes in cylinders, but...Also I have seen more options for SBC's and even BBC's then I have seen for ls1's as far as heads, cams, rotating assembly, bottom end, etc. You can make a SBC to whatever specs you want in many different configurations.
Good luck!
Corry

 

If you sold the GTA you could straight up buy a 98 + trans am


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6427

Or a camaro

http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread...hreadid=216900