Cascade Crew

cameron7710 · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:29 pm Post subject: lt1 swap

well my old 305 has so many miles on it i think that its retirement is coming soon so iv been thinking about a lt1 swap would be my best choice for a good daily driver that can get down the track real quick. as of now im just trying to figure what all i need for the swap and saving up the cash for the swap (if i can ever find a dam job Mad

) any way first off what im trying to do is just get it in later ill start the mods

so far i know that i have to do something for the fuel lines and power steering lines also need a better fuel pump and i know that i cant run AC but thats know big deal my bigest problem im seeing is wiring the harness up cause well i have no idea how to do that Rolling Eyes

i ust dont get wireing at all so if some one could explan the basics of what i would need to do that would be great

blue89 · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 5:48 pm Post subject:

Wiring is the biggest hurdle. AC delete pulley from the dealer, custom fab a radiator mount or figure out how to deal with the factory lines, you can only use 2 of the 3 engine mount holes on the passenger side. It's a pretty straight forward swap aside from the wiring.

Quasi-Traction · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 12:04 am Post subject:

not to be the destructor of dreams, but for someone in your position a good well built Gen 1 SBC will scoot as well as a stock LT1 for nearly the same price.

I am satisfied with my vortec headed Gen I 350. it made comparable dyno numbers to a stock LT1 with only a basic tune. Scoots the car along fine, and has power on reserve when I want it.

not to be the killer of dreams, but I have not seen an LT1 that has outdone an G1 SBC with the same amount into into it.

cameron7710 · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 12:47 am Post subject:

izcain · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:55 am Post subject:

It all depends on the tune and what kind of fueling you have on the motor. You can do everything (and in my opinion more) with a gen 1 engine. No one says you have to run a gen 1 with a carb. It's whatever your make of it.

Alphius · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:03 am Post subject:

91RSVert · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:49 am Post subject:

The 2 biggest downfalls of the LT1 that I have seen...
1. Weird ECM for almost every year.
2. The opti-spark. And replacing the opti-spark with a decent setup is not cheap.

Otherwise, it really is basically a standard SBC. If you understand wiring, it wont be that hard of setup. I have wired up a camaro motor into an s10. And, I am basically running a truck wireharness in my camaro.

But be warned, none of this is cheap. No heart transplant is cheap.

blue89 · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:58 am Post subject:

Even in stock form with the crap manifolds the LT1 still put down 275hp right? And the Opti-spark is only a problem after high miles. Other than that it's a great distributor with far greater accuracy than a standard unit.

x2 on the weird year PCM's. The 94 is the one to get if you can find one.

93 is a 730 ecm just like a 3rd gen
94 is an obd0 like the 3rd gen but you can reflash the PCM through the ALDL port
95 is OBDII or 1.5 or whatever.

I thought mine was fairly easy to swap into a 3rd gen and a lot of fun to drive (see my sig). Add a cam and you're at 350hp easy. I say go for it as long as you can find the right year.

Alphius · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:08 am Post subject:

blue89 · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:15 am Post subject:

Alphius · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:22 am Post subject:

cameron7710 · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:33 pm Post subject:

thanks for all the info guys and yes i know it wont be easy and im up for a learning experience and i will need to learn how to tune fuel injection cause as far as i know i cant have a carb and pass emissions other wise i would probley just try building a 383 stroker, but then again i doubt id be able to pay for the gas Laughing

. but ya im pretty set on the lt1 cause it just seams like i can make a good amount of power easy and pass emissions and at least keep the mpg im geting now.plus i just think that a well dressed lt1 would look sexxy under the hood lol and it seams like the swap will be pretty straight forward, with all the reseach iv done on tgo the only thing that im pretty much completely lost on is the wireing Rolling Eyes

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

For the work involved why not go with the LS route. Your car is already and automatic, find a 5.3 take out with automatic tranny and wiring. You would be alot farther ahead with the LS platform than GM's bastard child LT1.

Just a thought.

Dewey316 · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:51 pm Post subject:

cameron7710 · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:14 pm Post subject:

ya i never really thought about the ls motors cause iv never been able to find any plus i figured that they would cost a good chunk of change when an lt1 i can find pretty easily for a couple hundred bucks

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

cameron7710 · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:49 pm Post subject:

chevymad · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:55 pm Post subject:

Letter of the law says you can't change the motor for any motor that is older then your car either. Even if its exactly the same or even better. In actuality if it looks pretty stock, and passes the sniffer you'll get away with it.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject:

Quasi-Traction · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 11:49 pm Post subject: