I scored an LT-1 from a local place last night here in the DF-W area.

70,000 miles out of a wrecked Firebird. 1995 model :cool: with the trannsmission and all the wiring harnesses.

The unit is still in the vehicle, is there anything I MUST have out of the vehicle other than the wiring harness?

Any tips?

Woo Hoo!!!!

One thing that crosses my mind is...ECU unit. Just as soon as when you get the engine/wiring harness, pull out the ECU unit as well.

Make sure you get Alternator, pully's, ps pump etc etc. Also get all the smog junk too if you plan on running it street. Like the canister, orig air cleaner etc. If you're going manny tranny, see if they have a flywheel and bell for it. Good luck on the bell...

Originally posted by LOPPY
Make sure you get Alternator, pully's, ps pump etc etc. Also get all the smog junk too if you plan on running it street. Like the canister, orig air cleaner etc. If you're going manny tranny, see if they have a flywheel and bell for it. Good luck on the bell...

Nah, going with the slush box....I am looking forward to learning how to drive off road again ;)

Good God!

Look out - now that Nolen has headed down the path of TRIPLING his HP and torque, who knows what he'll break!
:flipoff2:

Have fun....

Oh yeah - you need the 'screaming eagle', so get the hood :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Jim

Get the ECU and wiring harness if you can. Otherwise you can get a harness from someplace like. www.painlesswiring.com

One thing about LT-1's in 4X rigs..............the Opti-spark unit (distributor) is located down by the crank and is susceptible to waterproofing issues............might find an LT-1 board and ask some questions. www.thirdgen.org is a good third generation Camaro/TA site that should be able to point you to the LT1 experts.

Good score - great motor.

Fuel Tank...
:beer: :smokin:

Originally posted by BlazzinOR
..............the Opti-spark unit (distributor) is located down by the crank and is susceptible to waterproofing issues............might find an LT-1 board and ask some questions. www.thirdgen.org is a good third generation Camaro/TA site that should be able to point you to the LT1 experts.

Good score - great motor.

The opti-spark can not be waterproofed! The LT1 boards will get you some info on how to waterproof it by avoiding puddles in a street car, also a leaking waterpump will take out the opti-crap as well so it would be a good idea to get a new pump.

Get rid of that stock waterpump and run one of the CSI or Meziere electric pumps.... nuthin takes out an Optispark faster than antifreeze.

I was told it was in a better place on the 95 models??

For the items you will want:

Harness, computer, VATS (under dash), mass air sensor, intake elbow, exhaust manifolds, all accessories on front, fuel lines, O2 sensor on drivers side exhaust tube, you can get the fuel pump but it doesn't work very well as a retrofit. I use a '95 Vette pump, much easier to adapt. Make sure no sensors are removed and no wires are cut.

I've been fighting problems on mine for 4 years.

They are difficult to keep cool unless you shell out the money for a large aluminum radiator from the beginning. Don't waste your time on the copper brass.

The powersteering pump is small and is set up for a rack and pinion. Extremely difficult to retrofit another style due to the cam driven water pump unless you use the March? setup.

Optis#@$#@ - nothing good to say about this at all. Small coolant leak will ruin it. Drips right on it. Also the '95 has a vacuum tube on the air intake that sucks air through the opti, when you get in water it actually pulls water in. I'm fiddling with running pressurized air to it but my air system has oil and water in it and I can't get it dry enough to blow through the opti.

I ran mine under water last year in a big mud hole and actually slipped a head gasket due to the aluminum/iron expansion rate difference (I surmise).

One nice thing is they come with 125 or 140 amp alternators and the AC compressor is easy to modify for an air compressor.

Nolen,
You might wanna give Jim @ www.jimsperformance.com a call.
I called him on the wiring harness for my Scout... he answered all my questions... seemed very knowledgeable. Not only that, the prices are good, and he seemed to be an all around nice guy. Got my new wiring harness - emissions crap, etc. coming... along with a custom-burned PROM that sets the idle lower, etc. for $450 including shipping. Only other thing I had to get was a computer. It will of course be a little bit different with the LT1... but you might try him out!

Matt "Taz" Green

You might want to check out the starter. There was a guy at the 4runner Jambo last weekend with an LT1, and he burnt up his starter before 10am. I didn't hear any details though.

It was in an 85 4runner, and I don't know what starter he was using, so I'm probably no help:rolleyes:

well i hope you have better luck than me lately. my crew cab started running like shit when i hit the texas line the other day. when i was pulling that 24 ft goose with the isuzu on back. finally got around to checking out the problem. burnt valve on #4 so there goes a bunch of time that i don't have. damn i hat working on stuff that is not toys. mike

One note on the starter and Optispark.

The Optis are in the same place on the '95 as the '93 and '94, just with the vacuum line venting and a different drive mechanism.

The starter is one of those compact starters. Not common with the standard GM truck starter of old. There isn't much room under the exhaust manifold to swap in another starter unless it's one of those gear reduction units.

One other thing. Is this an OBDI or OBDII computer? The OBDI can be reprogrammed fairly easily with LT1 Edit. The OBDII's are much harder. I don't know what year they switched could have been late '95 or early '96.

i have to ask, how much $$$$$

Nolen...do you have a 1 week or 2 week time limet from the end of a project to the start of another...Is the transmission lower then your 465? Your really going to be doing wheel stands with the new LT under the hood, since you practically do it already with a freakin 2F :rasta:
Gonna Be Killer
:smokin:

Joseph A.
(Proud owner of a 1F :rolleyes:)

I scored an BLT-1 from a local place last night.:flipoff2:

Bacon
Lettuce
Tomatoe

congrats I was trying to get one of those to swap into my 89 camaro for awhile but never found anything good, all the ones I found were from some shady guy on ebay

HAHAHA, good luck man, you are in for some serious "figuring out" with this one.. I hope i never have to get a v-8. I prolly will, though... what tranny did you decide to go with, is it a 4L60-E?? Also, keep us informed on any probs, or successes, as i would consider an LT-1 for my cruiser as well...

Good Luck!!

Originally posted by lt1yj
One note on the starter and Optispark.

The Optis are in the same place on the '95 as the '93 and '94, just with the vacuum line venting and a different drive mechanism.

The starter is one of those compact starters. Not common with the standard GM truck starter of old. There isn't much room under the exhaust manifold to swap in another starter unless it's one of those gear reduction units.

One other thing. Is this an OBDI or OBDII computer? The OBDI can be reprogrammed fairly easily with LT1 Edit. The OBDII's are much harder. I don't know what year they switched could have been late '95 or early '96.

OBD-1...1996 was the OBD-II switch.

The cap on this model with the vent helps with wated contamenating it. Supposedly 1994-1995 are the best models to choose from for 4x4 LT-1 swaps.

Can you tell me where the VATS is under the dash and what it looks like??

Originally posted by elf_cruiser
HAHAHA, good luck man, you are in for some serious "figuring out" with this one.. I hope i never have to get a v-8. I prolly will, though... what tranny did you decide to go with, is it a 4L60-E?? Also, keep us informed on any probs, or successes, as i would consider an LT-1 for my cruiser as well...

Good Luck!!

The only figuring I have to do is how to pay Sunray to install it.

They have a guy there that does nothing but LT-1 swaps. He has done over 50 of them. I bet he can do it in his sleep.

When he is finished it looks factory.

Cost a chunk of change, but it is smog legal and fully functional when finished.

I am considering selling my kindey......


As for the tranny...yeah, I am going to do the 4L60E to a 3.8 Atlas

Originally posted by wngrog


OBD-1...1996 was the OBD-II switch.

The cap on this model with the vent helps with wated contamenating it. Supposedly 1994-1995 are the best models to choose from for 4x4 LT-1 swaps.

Can you tell me where the VATS is under the dash and what it looks like??

The opti will actually pull in moisture because of the vent not repel it as you would think. The opti is under vacuum at all times and when it gets a lot of water around it from splashing in puddles and/or mud it will suck in the moisture and then over time will draw air through to remove the moisture. That's why I am looking at modifying my air compressor with a filter/dryer/regulator to pressurize the opti with around 1-2 psi rather than run vacuum through it. If the incoming air is dry it will prevent water from gettting in in the first place.

I can't tell you what the VATS (Vehicle Anti Theft Sytem) looks like or where it's located. I had it removed from my computer program rather than retain it. I know it's in the harness under the dash but without pulling the service manuals I'd be guessing. If you are getting a custom program you can probably get it removed at no charge.

I would get the whole car if there is any way you can swing it. Then junk what's left once your swap is done. There will be something you will forget and have to spend $$ on.

As for doing the swap yourself, it's not really different than a standard Chevy 350 swap except the wiring/computer, the motormounts bolt pattern is different on the motor, and the radiator needs another coolant port. Otherwise it's pretty standard.

It took me about a three days to get the motor in and running and another 3 or 4 days to get everything buttoned up and routed nicely.

If you are reasonably mechanically inclined you should be capable of doing the sway yourself.

I have a strange feeling that the turning over problem may be coming back soon.:D

Originally posted by Sloan
I have a strange feeling that the turning over problem may be coming back soon.:D

:flipoff2: Bastard.

Originally posted by lt1yj
the radiator needs another coolant port

What the hell does that mean? Another coolant port?

One other thing. Is this an OBDI or OBDII computer? The OBDI can be reprogrammed fairly easily with LT1 Edit. The OBDII's are much harder. I don't know what year they switched could have been late '95 or early '96.
OBDII started in 96.. Sorry
Get the fuel tank and pump..
I cut the Camaro sending unit (and pump) out of the Camaro tank and welded into the Jeep tank.

http://home.att.net/~tjsjeeps/tank.gif

http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/4212d170/bc/My+Photos/10th+Jambo++@++Hammerz/2LS1.jpg?bcYDQE9AXfH85NG1

http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/4212d170/bc/My+Photos/10th+Jambo++@++Hammerz/4LS1.jpg?bcYDQE9AjDdcbAP2