1997 camaro 5.3 LS engine install...pros and cons
 

OK, I want to install a LS based engine in my 97 camaro. Right now im thinking 5.3 because there easily had at a lower price then there LS1, LS2, LS6 brothers, and share the same reliability as its bigger brothers. The car as it sits now is a 3800 automatic with full bolt ons and is ok....but i miss the shear power of my 93 Z28. I though about turbocharging the 3800, though about going the M90 route. For ease of wiring im thinking about going the carbed route too, A MSD box should be sufficient for ignition/transmission control. Now, before you start flaming me, remember, i live in ohio, were true Z28 cars STILL yank 8000. and LT1 cars get 4000. so unless something changes, the donor car plan isint going to happen. second, E-check. i know this thing may or may not pass a echeck, but i can throw cats on her and try...if your tune is spot on then there shouldnt be a issue...as far as i know. any advice thats positive and constructive is welcome.

the 97 is the one year from the lt camaros that can be tuned for the ls1. you would need to change the k member and several other things but it can be done much easier than with the 93-96. not saying its easy or cheap

I know, id LOVE to keep it fuel injected, but for the amount of work being carbbed or Fuel injected really isint going to matter, Id love to go through painless and slap a LS6 intake on that beast and have a nice day BUT painless wants 2000 for their harness, but its a fix-all

Its not as hard as you think, you just need to repin your body harness to match the ls1 pcm. The 97 interior is the same as 98-02 so all of that should plug right in.

Wiring Harness Information

do you have a pinout of both cars?

so, one question im having is the LS1 interior harness plug and play with the rest of the car? i found a dash harness out of a 98 on ebay, and it seems that if i get a LS1 engine harness, LS1 dash harness and instrument cluster out of a ls1 car it should solve all my problems, Is this the case? Also SOCOM said repinning the 2 under the hood connectors were the engine harness plugs into the body harness, anybody have a pin map or diagram?

You would be better off finding a LS1 parts car if you are going to try this. The 5.3 lacks the punch of the LS1 unless you are planing to add boost.

With that being said i love seeing any LSX based swap but it is a lot of work as i am sure you have seen.

Like i said, LS based cars were i live still yank 7000. if i break down and buy a donor car, then its not coming apart for that price....As for the 5.3 lacking the punch, i plan on doing bolt ons and a cam with other supporting mods, that should take care of any performance gap.

update....i got a set of 3:73's from summits clearance sale for 40 bucks. I also found a source for finding my engine. craigslist seems to be the 1 stop shop place with these engines adveraging 400-500 bucks. still debating if im gonna go carbbed or not. if i do then it will be a edelbrock dual plane with a holley 750 performer carb. I really REALLY dont wanna cut the cowl OR change hoods, unless the inlet of the carb can fit in the hood scoop. Id love to keep it EFI. start out with a LS1 intake and get a engine, body harness.

Either do that or get a victor jr efi and put an elbow on it as an intake. I plan on going that route when the lt1 gives out and the 5.3 goes in.