computer installation
 

quick question how hard is it to install a new computer into a lt1 car
can you just pull one and throw it in or does it need special tuning or what exactly??

In general terms you need a ECM that matches the car, they can't be swapped between any year, say a 94 ECM won't work in a 96. Also the auto./manual trans I think are different. Also if from the same year you need to check the gearing or the speed-o will be off. (that can be fixed with tuning.) The LT1 cars changed almost every year, I think only 96-97 are the same.

What are you trying to do? It's rare for them to go bad.

a buddy of mine jsut bought a car about 4 months back and it has been misfiring and backfiring he swapped out 3 new opti's/plugs and wires and finally took it to a mechanic who plugged in the computer and said some one had tried to do a custom tune job on it the mechanic quoted him 900.00 for new computer and distributor.

try a mail order tune?

900 for a new ecu and opti, both installed seems about right