Thinking about about doing an engine swap...

[firebirdat]

So i have been thinking about throwing an LS1 or an LQ4 into my 84 Trans Am. I want to hook up it up to a six speed manual. Now what other work would be required to do this engine swap. Any suggestions on what else would have to be replaced or reinforced with this swap. Any helpful information would be good, thanks in advance

[maroman88]

deff check out thirdgen.org and ls1tech.com theyll both have tons of info on LSx swaps

[Saitin]

there is a guy on here user thirdgenLs1 or something like that I'd hit him up and see what he has to say.

[crainholio]

I did mine back in 2004, and it's definitely worth the trouble. 28mpg on the highway, more power than my TPI engine across the board.

The process is well documented on thirdgen.org's Engine Swap forum so go have a look and see if it suits you. The only tough parts I hit were:

1.) engine mounts, getting my old ones out was a pain.

2.) I did the wiring myself, spent a whole weekend staring at diagrams mapping the '82 chassis and '01 engine harnesses. And then another weekend fabricating a mini-harness to connect the '01 to the '82.

3.) fuel system was a pain, had to swap in a GSS340 pump to make 58psi and then add a regulator under the hood.

Pics are at:

http://www.warpten.com/carpics/ls1/

http://www.warpten.com/carpics/ls1_0214/

Good luck!

[firebirdat]

Thanks for the info, that came out looking pretty good

[BigAls87Z28]

Im also looking to do an LS1 swap. Hopefully we can get the few guys that have doen it here help out the few that are trying to do it.

[firebirdat]

Yea that would be nice. Idk im still leaning more towards the LQ4 Swap though because they seem a little cheaper, and more readily available.

[Saitin]

Originally Posted by firebirdat

Yea that would be nice. Idk im still leaning more towards the LQ4 Swap though because they seem a little cheaper, and more readily available.

LS1 is the same block as the LQ4 and LQ9 except the Q blocks are 6.0l and iron IIRC.

[BigAls87Z28]

Yes, but 6.0 blocks are a lot easier to find since there are a few thousand more trucks then any LS1 ever.
I thought about an LQ9 too...and then finding a set of L92 heads...etc etc...damn it.

[emolineaux]

if your leaving the motor stock and just throwing it in there for now like i did dont get an lq4 go with the lq9. comperssion is a little higher and the cam produces more torque. i love mine. the power gain over the ls1 feels good. i got my low milage complete engine along with wayyy more goodies for $2300 shipped from cali.

[crainholio]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Yes, but 6.0 blocks are a lot easier to find since there are a few thousand more trucks then any LS1 ever.
I thought about an LQ9 too...and then finding a set of L92 heads...etc etc...damn it.

And from what I've seen, the blocks are better than the basic LS1. GM seems to have incorporated the LS6 crankcase windows and other improvements into the 6.0 blocks, won't get those with an LS1.

[BigAls87Z28]

yeah...problem is finding a LQ9 for cheap. If I did that I would want to do L92 heads...and that makes everything different.