So if you're going LS1/T56 shopping...
 

I searched damnit, and it's just not easy to find:

What exactly do you need from the donor car?

Sure, the motor/tranny is a given... Probably the ECU, right? What else do you absolutely want to get along with it?

This thread is mostly for the planning stages for those of us wanting to do the swap. Those of you who have already done it should be chiming in here with any experiences you have had, anything you would have done differently, etc, etc.

just get a complete pullout or change over, that is what a salvage yard will call it. Yards will unblot the motor mounts and send you everything that came out on a pallet. You also nee the wiring harness and ecu, but that should be included. I found a guy that has great prices on 2001+ ls1/t56 combos. Pm me if you want his info.

Search www.torquecentral.com and it'll tell you exactly what you need.

Off hand you need engine harness, ecu, clutch line, a/c lines, drier, and pressure switch, ps line, motor and tranny mounts, no fuse boxes or body harness.

-motor with accessories, sensors, harness and computer
-motor mounts/pads (bolted to each side of the motor, the hinson/granny mounts bolt to these)
-tranny (with mount/pad)
-flywheel and clutch setup
-clutchline (to modify - lengthen + change end fitting)
-driveshaft (to modify - shorten + change end joint/flange)
-clutch master if you can get it (modify to fit)
-headers (try to get the cats so you can at least take the flanges off even if you arent gonna use the cats)
-O2 sensors (the pass. side primary O2 is not in the header so make sure you get it!)
-radiator and fans (maybe even the hoses could be used)

good luck man!

I'm just glad you're in NY... I'm gonna make you drive out to RI to help LOL

One thing I have found out, if you're gonna run hptuners or EFI live, you're going to need the OBDII data connector from under the drivers side dash fo a camaro/transam.

sure, just buy a sheet pizza and I'm there!

You can get the OBDII connector from anywhere. You just have to make sure you wire it up right.

No problem!

Honestly, about how long does it take to do the conversion, and with how much money?

.............Seriously considering the conversion to either an FD or my base FC. :)

Depends on how often you work on the car and how much time you spend waiting on parts... I was able to go from a running Single turbo car to a running LS1 car in about 3 months working on the car for about 8hrs a week. Total cost for a nice setup is going to be around 8-10k depending largely on the price you get the Ls1 for. Then of corse you can sell the rotary drivetrain for some of the money.

i might be bringing back my v8 project but am going to start the money saving ordeal. i could get it done in less than a month during the summer. (no school / life) and only like a 30 hours work week.

Originally Posted by owen is fat
-motor with accessories, sensors, harness and computer
-motor mounts/pads (bolted to each side of the motor, the hinson/granny mounts bolt to these)
-tranny (with mount/pad)
-flywheel and clutch setup
-clutchline (to modify - lengthen + change end fitting)
-driveshaft (to modify - shorten + change end joint/flange)
-clutch master if you can get it (modify to fit)
-headers (try to get the cats so you can at least take the flanges off even if you arent gonna use the cats)
-O2 sensors (the pass. side primary O2 is not in the header so make sure you get it!)
-radiator and fans (maybe even the hoses could be used)

Would every single one of these parts be needed if you are actually having hinson build it? Meaning...is there anything on this provided list that hinson provides or would provide in their build up?

thanks

Joe

Your best bet is to ask Brian what's included with what. Several of those items he sells (i.e. the clutch master, the driveshaft, headers, etc.) Others would come with your engine pullout (the computer, o2 sensors, clutch/flywheel, etc.) One way or another, you'll have to "buy" all of that.

now that I have done one LS1FC swap myself and helped out on another one, I would have to say I could bust out an LS1FC in a 3 day weekend with one friend helping, as long as we had all of the parts in front of us at the start.

for a first timer, probably 40 to 100 hours depending on how fast you can see what needs to be done and get to it. I spent a lot of time looking at how to do stuff myself and going to the store for materials... radiator brackets and hoses/couplers, battery placement and wire routing, etc and it was a lot of time spent not actually wrenching but I needed months to afford the parts anyways.

these estimates are just to pull out the rotary and get an LS1 in the car and drivable. if you plan on doing brake work, wheel bearings, suspension, etc, that all adds up and can lead to the project taking a lot longer.