I'm going to swap my 6 for an LT1. I'm buying the engine in the early fall, and taking the whole winter to rebuild it. While I'm at it, I'm putting a turbo on it as well. 7psi, nothing too big.

I'm looking for resources on the V6 to V8 swap. Links, and experience from people who have actually done it.

I know some of you will tell me to trade my 6 for an 8, but here in Canada Z28's in decent shape don't go for less than 10k. My V6 has 103000 miles on it and it's a 95, so it's a good starting point. I have the place and time to rebuild it and do it right over the winter, so next spring I can be ready to swap.

I have a few questions:
1. Do I need to swap the tranny, or will my T5 Borg-Warner bolt-on to the LT1?
2. If I need a new tranny, what should I get? The turbo 350?
3. Will a rear-end from a late 80's or early 90's Z28 or Trans AM fit on the 4th gen?

I know I need to change the rear-end for a Z28 or trans AM rear end. I know I need a wiring harness & PCM, I know I need motor mounts and re-enforced springs in the front to handle the extra weight. I also know I need a new exhaust.

Any advice would be helpful.

 

I'm just curious if you are going through all that to swap to a V8, why not go to an LS1/T56 or LS2? Far superior to the LT1.

 

$500.00 for an LT1 engine with 105000 miles vs. an LS1 with 150000 miles for $3000.00. LS1's are also harder to find up here in NS Canada.

 

I see your situation now. Maybe try to get your hands on a good T56 to go behind that LT1. unless you want to go automatic in that case a 4L60E which is pretty close to the 700R4's in the third gens

 

The price of the motor will be a very small part of all the parts you are going to need. You will need a doner car. The reason everyone will tell you not to do the swap is because of the amount of work involved and technical level of that work. Just switching the computers from the V6 to V8 can be a hug task because the computer talks to all the other moduals. I can not post post threads to other websites but they are out there if you search. 99% of the time once someone truely undestands the work involved the projects ends. In many cases junk yards are called to haul all the parts away.

http://www.tacreationsusa.com/3_4_3_8_v6_to_lt1.htm

Note: This assumes the LT1 is from a camaro. Forget using a LT1 from anything else. Do not over look the lower box that notes the year of the doner car vs the years of your car. Unless they are the same there are other things to change. Keep a close eye on the "W" Dash wiring harness and all relays that one will be a bear.


Using parts from 80's camaros is not a good idea because most of those can not handle the power of a LT1. The bell housing for your t5 will not bolt to a LT1 but the Bell housing from a T5 3rd gen camaro would work. GM did not think the T5 could hande the torque of the 350 in 1988 a LT1 will rip a t5 apart in no time. Buget and turbo? Are you thinking of putting a turbo of a stock Lt1 with 105 K on it?

 

Thanks Gorn! I know the amount of parts the I need for the swap. Wiring, relays, BCM, etc... etc... A donor car might be a good idea, but if I can't find one I will order the PCM for a Z28 as well as any other parts I need. The tranny is not going automatic, so the T56 is going to be the one I get.

The reason for the LT1 instead is because the engine is cheaper. And no, it won't be stock either. I'm rebuilding that LT1 so it'll be like new. New cam, valves, pistons, rods, and changing the main engine bearing. It's also alot cheaper to rebuild an LT1 than an LS1. I've priced out the parts! Once I'm done rebuilding, then yes I'm putting a turbo on it. With a rebuild and new gaskets it'll hold the turbo because it'll be built for it. Budget of course is a factor, and that's why I'm rebuilding an LT1 instead of an LS1. And after I'm done, it'll be a fster engine with a turbo than a stiock LT1!

 

When you are all done that will seem cheap. All the wiring and moduals you will need new? I'll bet just that would be 3 grand from GM. Why not find a LS1 car with a blown head gasket or a blown motor. Converted cars have almost no valve. They are worth more parted out then as a whole. I have seen guys do the convertion and have 5-8K in their Lt1's only to have a life change and need to sell it. Then it took 4 month to find someone that would give then $2500 for it. They could have sold their V6 for $2000. Here in the US a LT1 with a blown head gasket goes for about $1200 surely there has to be something you can pick up that needs a rebuild. It is much easier to repair these cars then it is to convert them.

 

After doing some research I realized that I won't ever get back what I put into it. It would be a fun project, but realistically getting an accidented LT1 would be a cheaper and easier bet. So, I'm going to get headers, a dual exhaust, and a dyno-tune on the Camaro and that should help my High-flow cat, stage-II clutch, and CAI. I think she'll be pretty fast with that. It's pretty fast now! Thanks for the advice guys!

 

like mrfreez i am wanting to put an lt1 into a v6 camaro, but mine is a 2000. I have been looking for information on doing the swap. I have visited the links above but still had questions. Is there anyone out there that has done this swap before that i can ask questions to or has pictures of the swap? If not i guess that i will be winging it and making a swap manual as i go.

 

The reason the site does not cover this is because it would be so difficult to do. All the different modules in your 2000 talk to each other it is basically a computer network. If you trying to introduce any older parts to those systems they will not see them. To do the swap right you would end up replacing just about every wire and module in your 2000.

It would be way cheaper to buy a wrecked LS1 car the same year as yours if you really want to do the swap. I can not remember anyone doing this swap over three different Camaro websites I watch.