81 Trans Am LSx Swap? - Lateral-g Forums

TreySmith · #1 03-22-2009, 08:20 PM

Are you sure? I remember seeing entire salvage SS cars a while back for like $6k, so $5k for an engine and trans seems kinda steep.

Also I would probably go with auto even though I am sure it would hurt resale, but I guess it would just depend on what I could find. Would cost a little less as I could keep the stock pedals and stock console as it is in good shape.

BanditDave · #2 03-22-2009, 09:07 PM

Remember also you don't have to get the LS1, 2 or 3 motors...the truck 4.8, 5.4 and 6.0L are bitchn' motors and cost roughly a 1/3rd their more "glorious" counterparts.

I would say that all in all it was a very easy swap...wiring was the most annoying. I took some more pics today and will hopefully start a build thread soon. Had I not forgotten to get banjo bolts for the front brakes I might have been able to move her on her own power!

Oh well, hopefully by the end of this week I can back here out of the garage, run her up and down the driveway and rinse her off a bit.

SHE NEEDS A PAINT JOB!!!

andrewmp6 · #3 03-22-2009, 09:11 PM

Yeah you can use the truck engines and you can swap to the car intake easy.Only thing i can think of is do you want drive by wire or not?

T_Raven · #4 03-22-2009, 09:40 PM

When I said $5k I was talking about the higher end of prices. Plus you have to figure shipping. And they are cheaper with autos. You can probably find one pretty easily for $3k with an auto, plus shipping of course.

The truck engines can be had pretty cheap just remember that if you are going to use a car intake you can't use the truck accessories. So once you add in the cost of an intake and say F body accessories then the truck engine might not be so cheap after all. Just depends on the price you find.

BanditDave · #5 03-23-2009, 08:25 AM

One of the things I have noticed lately in my searches is that my LS engine source, which is right over the Delaware River from me, is that his prices on LS1s are steadily decreasing as the newer stuff (LS2s and LS3s) are becoming more available in wrecks. He even has some LS7 stuff. This makes sense so you can still find what you are looking for as long as you're patient.

Is there anything in particular you wanted to know with regards to the swap?

Thanks,
Dave

TreySmith · #6 03-23-2009, 08:53 AM

Mainly time related. How long did it take you? It would be summer before I did this so it wouldn't really matter anyways.

Also, did you run into any problems on the install? Like what would I need to look out for.

BanditDave · #7 03-23-2009, 09:06 AM

Hey Trey,

You bet...I'll clue you in to all the little weird stuff that went on with the build...what to look out for, etc...

If I had to really had to put a time down for it, if you could work on it at least one day solid out of the weekend and pick at it at night when you got home, less than a month to get everything done and sorted. It is WAY easier than it looks now that I know what I am doing. I'll list a lot of the "oh ****'s" I ran into while doing this.

Thanks,
Dave

BonzoHansen · #8 03-23-2009, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanditDave

One of the things I have noticed lately in my searches is that my LS engine source, which is right over the Delaware River from me, is that his prices on LS1s are steadily decreasing as the newer stuff (LS2s and LS3s) are becoming more available in wrecks. He even has some LS7 stuff. This makes sense so you can still find what you are looking for as long as you're patient.

Thanks,
Dave

Dave, you in Jersey? You talking about contemporary corvette in Bristol?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny Thomas

From what I can find, it appears that this conversion is very expensive. I have the engine and trans and computer but everything i have read says that it is a very intense conversion. A complete thread would be awesome. I love the conversion in my 67 Camaro and one in a TA would also be awesome.

I think cost is related to two things – what you have now and how fast you want to go (and maybe add how pretty you want it). My 67 has no drivetrain, I literally have nothing (ok, I have SBC parts lying around, but that’s core value at best). I need an entire exhaust, an entire fuel system, etc., anyway. So the incremental costs to me are not much higher than if I went SBC.

Shop carefully, 4th gen process are dropping like rocks to the point you can buy a nice running LS1/T56 car for $7k or less. Take what you want, part the rest.

Also, there are a lot of threads on this topic. Search here, ls1tech, Camaros.net, pro-touring, etc., and you will start to get a clear picture of what is needed.

BanditDave · #9 03-23-2009, 02:30 PM

Hansen,

Yes I am good sir! I am in Palmyra, very close to the Tacony Palmyra Bridge and you are also correct that Contemporary is my source. Some people think they are dycks over there, but I personally have had nothing but good experiences with them. I believe the GTO/Firebird guy over there is named Guy and he's been a pretty straight shooter with me from square one. You won't get anything free from them but what I have gotten from them has been in great shape!

Dave