Cascade Crew

[DBL_TKE]

This thread is going to be about my engine swap that I spontaneously decided to do. Here's a little background first. For the past couple months I had been struggling to pass DEQ. Replacing many parts and sensors and doing many tests on my LB9. I gave up once I figured out that the reason why I wasn't passing is due to a leaky injector. I started weighing my options at the time, then one day while I was at work (PIR) one of my friends and fellow racer told me about a great deal he just came across. He had picked up a complete LT1 dropout from a '95 Camaro with 94K on the clock including the wiring harness, sensors, and ECU. The kicker is that he scored it for only $400. He pulled the valve covers, intake, and oil pan to check everything out, he said that everything looked to be in amazing condition especially for having 90K miles on it. He had no plans to use the engine and only picked it up in order to pass along this great deal. He offered the setup to me for the same price or for anyone else for $500. So after thinking about it I decided that I wanted to do the swap, since it would be killing several birds with one stone.

The engine I will be swapping in is an LT1 from a '95 Chevy Camaro. The engine it is replacing is an '87 LB9 which is in my '85 Z28. A swap that was done prior to my possession of the car. So I take delivery of the engine tomorrow morning. I have been researching like crazy in order to find out every single obstacle that I could possibly run into.

- I took out my A/C components on my car and the person that's selling me the engine is including an A/C delete pulley so that avoids the A/C problem.

- He had already put AN fittings onto the intake in anticipation of using braided fuel lines. I'll most likely just follow the path he started and just use braided lines to connect to the hard lines on the frame.

- I'm going to be using my 700r4 transmission until I can get the funds for a T-5/T56 swap. So as I understand it I'll need a TB bracket from a '93, TV cable from a '93, a World Magnetics PSF101 vacuum switch. and a 4L60e vss and reluctor. I'll reuse my flex plate from the LB9. I'll be doing some JY searching to get some of those parts.

- For the power steering I should use either a 94-96 Impala or Caprice SS pressure lines and just use some generic PS hose for the return line.

- For the radiator hoses I'll use 87-93 Mustang 5.0 upper hose and install it in place of the lower hose and I'll use either a '95 Roadmaster or '95 Camaro upper hose.

- I trying to wrap my brain around the whole wiring harness but I just can't understand most of the stuff in the searches I've done and think it'll just make more sense as I see it in front of me. I'll take this one step at a time and try to figure out the wiring schematics.

I do have one question though. In my efforts to pass emissions I replaced a lot of sensors on my LB9 and would hate for them to go to waste. Are there any sensors from an '87 LB9 that would be compatible and swappable to a '95 LT1?

I think that covers everything. If I left out anything, even if it seems like it should be common sense knowledge, speak up. I hate working on something only to find out that there was something else I needed and no one said anything about it.

[iansane]

Motor swaps are fun. Is the ECM from an auto or stick car? I'd presume you'd need to run a program from a stick car if you retain your non-electronic trans? Isn't the '95 the obdII w/ obdI connector conglomoration?

[Al Hasse]

Great deal!!

If you come across another like that, let me know. I'm starting to search for motor/transmission combos for the 89, preferably with a T-56.

[lostinconformiti]

man thats a deal for that LT1, what are you going to do with the LB9?

[DBL_TKE]

'95 is the last year of OBD1 and it's the first year of the revised Optispark. The ECU is for a T56 car so I won't have to worry about reprogramming in order to run correctly with the 700r4. As for my plans with the LB9, I'll probably sell it, ran like a champ except for the leaky injectors.

[Twilightoptics]

If the ECU is for a T56 car, what about the TCC Lockup for the 700?

[Boostd1]

[chevymad]

He'll have to wire the tcc lockup the old fashioned way like Jake and I have.

[cameron7710]

sweet man, i cant wait to see how this goes cause when i get the funds i plan on doing the same swap

[redlava]

You don't have to use a lock up switch, just make sure the trans temp stay cool.

[aaron_sK]

[chevymad]

Without lockup 60% of the oil bypasses the trans cooler. Some screwed up thing gm did on their OD transmissions. Only when the convertor is locked does all the oil go through the cooler. So not only are you creating more heat because the convertor is unlocked, you have less of a chance to get rid of it.

[GREG DAVIDSON]

i'd almost kinda like to help with your swap just to see how it goes, let me know when you plan on getting started if your willing i may try to make it up there

[DBL_TKE]

[iansane]

Maybe talk to Jake.

http://cascadecrew.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=69691

[Twilightoptics]

Yep. Vacuum switch and some internal wiring.

[blue89]

www.shbox.com helped me when I did my 94 LT1 swap.

[DBL_TKE]

I've finally decided to move ahead with the swap after some financial issues. I have the intake off the LB9 and everything disconnected. I've decided to forget about using the 700r4 and will just use a T-5 for financial reasons or a T56 if I can find one for a T-5 price. The only thing holding me back now is that I have no engine lift! If anyone is willing to let me barrow one on two separate occasions please let me know.

[Quasi-Traction]

I have a hoist you can borrow if you need.

[blue89]

I have a ceiling mounted chain hoist, swing by anytime