V6 to Z28 buildup

I am going to be building my 3.4 up to drop an LT1 383 in it this fall. I would like to know what parts I can start adding now to eventually help with the swap. Rear end, tranny, driveshaft, etc. Is the Z28 transmission different from the V6? It is an auto. Will the Z28 tranny work with the v6? Driveshaft? Rear-end? What suspension can I add that will help? I want everything to help immediate performance and eventually compliment the LT1. Could anyone help steer me in the right direction? Thanks.

Brian

Unless your trying to commit and federal crime by lying to the insurance company telling them you have a V6. It would be way smarter to get a LT1 Z28 (maybe like a 93) and add exhaust and some other bolt ons.

Changing out the engine is a federal Crime. I really dont know. But if it is, there is a hell of a lot of people commiting crimes. Wouldnt it be just as potent to ad a blower to a car. Is this a crime too?

Originally posted by 99blackSS
Unless your trying to commit and federal crime by lying to the insurance company telling them you have a V6.

He was talking about insurance fraud, not engine swapping, as the federal crime. :thumb:

they dont ask all the time. They didnt ask me if my car was a 6 or an 8, they only asked for the VIN number. So if i have a 572 ci, the block that GM just put out, and they happen to ask "Is your car a 6 cyl or and 8 cyl" i say 8 cyl cause it is. Is this a crime too. What if i have a blower on my 572. Now where taking serious power, even if i tell them its a 572 not telling them about the blower neglects quite a few horses.

So is it lying if they dont ask ?

Originally posted by fbird95
they dont ask all the time. They didnt ask me if my car was a 6 or an 8, they only asked for the VIN number. So if i have a 572 ci, the block that GM just put out, and they happen to ask "Is your car a 6 cyl or and 8 cyl" i say 8 cyl cause it is. Is this a crime too. What if i have a blower on my 572. Now where taking serious power, even if i tell them its a 572 not telling them about the blower neglects quite a few horses.

So is it lying if they dont ask ?

Thats exactly right :bow: If they don't ask, why tell em.

To settle any discrepancies, I plan on letting my insurance company know. Should I save up and get a totaled car, or can I go ahead and start piecing it together now? I am thinking of doing everything but engine now, then putting together a 383 this winter for some serious power. Do I have to tell insurance it's a 383? ;-) :D

I'd tell them. If you're going to be running more power you have more of a chance of totallying it. You don't want the insurance company dropping you and POSSIBLY pressing charges for fraud. I have State farm. They say ANY TIME YOU INCREASE POWER you MUST let them know immidiatly. Chnces are your premium won't go up that much anyways.

Insurance follows the VIN, It doesn't matter whats under the hood. A V6 with a transplanted V8 is no Z28 and cannot be insured as one. And it is not insurance fraud!

You're 100% right they follow the VIN. And a v6 with a V swap is not a z28. HOWEVER, the insurance company reserves the right to inspect your car at any time they wish. State farm does this a lot with imports to check for NOS.

Insurance will cover the car with a V8 in it, I checked. However, in the case of a complete loss, they will only refund the amount for the original car, they don't cover mods. But, I totaled another V6 and my stereo, rims, and engine mods were added into the check that I received. So, it just depends on the adjuster. But, I will be informing them of the swap....now back to the original question...;-):-)

Here is the only site u'll need to do a v6 firebird to LT1 swap.. it lists everything you need and things to watch out for

http://www.v6conversion.com/


and by the way, if you do the swap you'll continue to pay V6 rates, however if u happen 2 get into an accident and screw the engine ur insurance will only pay for a v6 engine

I've seen the v6conversion.com before. But, I was wondering if I could start adding the Z28 parts with the 3.4 in there. Things like the tranny, driveshaft, rear end, etc. Can I put these on while the 3.4 is still living under the hood, or are they LT1 specific? Thanks.

I heard from a clam’s adjuster that if you can prove that you just put the v8 into the car then they will have to cover the lt1. I just took pictures of before and after, plus kept all the receipts. My now v8 camaro is happy.

One thing that you should buy when you are doing the swap is cruse control and throttle cables. Ohh and make sure you get a new K frame. Adapting the v6 k frame to fit to your lt1 is crazy, thats something you don't want to screw up. The bell housing on the v6 trans is different then the lt1's bell housing, you are better off with buying a new trans when you do the swap, along with springs" cuz you want the lowered look anyways", heater hoses, aluminum water line bends, computer, motor mounts, rear end, drive shaft, gage cluster "trust me buy new ones... or your rpm's will be all wacked", radiator, electric fans, shroud, and fuel pump. I probably forgot some stuff, but thats all I did and my camaro works sweet... besides the fact that I can't get it running yet! Needs a little bit more work. It should be done by Thursday.

Insurance follows the VIN, It doesn't matter whats under the hood. A V6 with a transplanted V8 is no Z28 and cannot be insured as one. And it is not insurance fraud!

Its about time someone knows how it works.

nothing from the engine or tranny are interchangeable. you will need a new tranny as well as an engine. you will definately want a 1 piece drive shaft and it might be better to get a used Z28 rear end. i am saying this cause i would imagine you have 3.08 gear, non posi, with drum brakes. if that is the case- get a whole different rear end. then of coarse you will want to beef up your suspension just so driving will feel better.

Originally posted by CODY BEHNKE
Insurance follows the VIN, It doesn't matter whats under the hood. A V6 with a transplanted V8 is no Z28 and cannot be insured as one. And it is not insurance fraud!

That is dancing a pretty fine line. If you wreck the car, and the insurance company finds out that your car has a V8, they may try taking you to court for fraud or they might just deny your claim or even drop your coverage. Paying a V6 rate on a V8 car isn't exactly the best idea IMO. If you're comfortable trying to risk it, the best of luck to you.

Aside from anything else, I'm not sure that ANY engine swap is 100% legal on these cars any more just from all the stupid emissions laws. IIRC, any time you move the catalytic converters from their OEM location you risk getting in trouble from the emissions nazi's. So, going by the above logic of things being defined by the VIN only, a V8 catalytic converter location (even if using stock manifolds) would be illegal on an original V6 car.

Also, I think there are laws stating that you can't put an older engine into a newer car, so for it to be 100% legal (If the above statement is false, which it very well could be) it would have to be like a 97 year engine going into a 93-96 year car for example.

Just wanting to make sure you've got all your bases covered before taking on a big project like this. Best of luck to you.

Okay...to clear the waters....

I will be informing my insurance company of the swap both before and after it is accomplished. They cannot deny coverage based upon the engine in it, as I was told by my agent who is a close friend. I need to take pics and keep all receipts so the car will be covered. The insurance premiums will go up, since the value of the car will be raised. If the car is totaled, and the engine had been reported to insurance prior to the accident, it will be covered. So, if you mod your car, it is wise to keep all receipts and notify insurance, in case of an accident, theft, etc.

In Kansas we do not have any engine or emissions inspections. They do a simple VIN check if the car is from out of state, if it is from Kansas, they don't check. So, since I already have the car tagged, the state will never know about it, and they don't care about it.

I hope that clarified any questions people had about me, the swap, and insurance. I also plan to do a website on this when it is all over....to help everyone else out.

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So what you're saying is that I can swap in the driveshaft and rear end into my V6 for now, then do the tranny and engine at the same time? Sounds good to me. Will the LS1 rear end fit into this car? What gear ratios should I look for in what cars? What do I need to complete the swap of rear ends and driveshafts?

I assume all suspension parts will work with the V8 in there, except for springs. Should I put LT1 lowering springs on the car now, or wait 'til the engine is in it? How long does the swap take a garage mechanic to do? I have access to a lift and some knowledgeable hands, so I am in good shape.....

Thanks guys.

Brian

Originally posted by BrianCreed
So what you're saying is that I can swap in the driveshaft and rear end into my V6 for now, then do the tranny and engine at the same time? Sounds good to me. Will the LS1 rear end fit into this car? What gear ratios should I look for in what cars? What do I need to complete the swap of rear ends and driveshafts?

You can definitely swap the rear end and driveshaft now. The LS1 rear end with hook up easily, without any major problems since the 10-bolts on the V6 are the same as on the V8. If you don't have rear disc brakes right now, that will probably be the only thing different for the swap.

You should look for a complete rear-end out of a V8 car that has an M6 tranny. That way the rear end will have 3.42 gears, along with the limited slip differential and disc brakes. Be sure that if your car doesn't have TCS/ASR (Traction Control), since you've got a 3.4 I'll assume you dont', that the rear end you buy was from a car that did not have traction control. The ABS is different on the cars with traction control. You can save yourself a big headache later by getting the right rear end the first time.

ahh, see I think I'm going to run into problems with that one. I have a 95 3.4 camaro and I put in a 97 firebird lt1 and computer in there. I'm almost sure that the computer is configured for traction control but I am planning to use my stock rear end. My poor camaro doesn’t have traction control. I wonder if this is going to cause major problems. Any thoughts? Should I just go buy a whole new 97 rear end with disc breaks?:confused:

Originally posted by kennyrebbe
ahh, see I think I'm going to run into problems with that one. I have a 95 3.4 camaro and I put in a 97 firebird lt1 and computer in there. I'm almost sure that the computer is configured for traction control but I am planning to use my stock rear end. My poor camaro doesn’t have traction control. I wonder if this is going to cause major problems. Any thoughts? Should I just go buy a whole new 97 rear end with disc breaks?:confused:

I'm not really sure in your case. The only way to know for sure would be to take it to the chevy dealer for diagnosis. Maybe they can tell you if the original LT1 car had TCS/ASR.

If your ECU was meant for a car with Traction Control, I don't know what all you will have to do to fix it. The technicians at the dealership may have some idea how to fix it, see if they can flash new data into the ECU. That would be one way to fix it.

A program like LT1 Edit might be able to help you as well.

I'd hold off on putting a new rear end in your car until you know for sure which type you need.

Is it uncommon for a z28 to not have tc? Should I just go to a boneyard here around KC, or should I check the for sale section here on the website? How long does the install take? Is it a driveway deal or do I need a shop to do it? I don't have tc or disc brakes, what extra parts do I need? Longer e-brake lines? Thanks in advance.

Brian

Hey buddy! I'm doing the same thing! From what I researched and have done to put on the car to be ready for the v8 are as follows :
rear Z28 sway bar ( not entirely needed)
rear axle from a 97 Z with 3.42/posi
1 piece driveshaft

I don't think anything else that will be needed for the swap can be stuck on now :(

Z28 springs in the front are too big for v6's, will make your front be too high lol...

Damn...so all I can do is put the sway bar on and the rear end...

I was thinking...should I go ahead and mod the suspension now..other than the springs of course...or save it for later? I want to do quite a bit with the aftermarket on the suspension.

Also, is it possible to do power seats on both of the front seats? I have manual seats on both sides not, but power on both sides would be nice if at all possible.

Any advice from someone who has done the swap before before I go into it head first? This will be my first engine swap, but I am doing it with a guy who has done several, but no LT1's.

How fast can it be with bolt ons? (CAI, Exhaust, Headers, any others?) What should be done to the tranny to help it last longer? I plan on making this LT1 pretty potent in the future...
:bow: 383 :bow: or SC.... :D :D

Well...I am going to wait until later in the summer or beginning of fall to start the motor swap, so I will have funds saved up to do what I want to the motor. However, I am going to spray the motor for now. Can I swap fuel pumps and injectors now and will the fuel pump work with the LT1? Are they the same? I was thinking of getting something high-flow, since it is going to be needed in the future. The CAI for the LT1 will also swap between my motor and the 350, won't it? What dry kit should I get? Anybody have any experience?

i have been thinking about your situation for a while now and.... remember i too am doing a swap myself.....it would be cheaper for you to buy a Lt1 Z28.
i'll tell you why:
you are going to need to buy the engine/tranny/all the accesories/and a rear end. then to install all of that is not hard, but timely. and time is money.
the engine and tranny are a given you need an LT1 tranny. now the rear end is not necesarily a given, but no way expect your peg leg drum brakes to hold the power of an LT1. espesially since you are thinking stroker/nitrous/or whatever.
i would guess you are looking at about $4,000 - $5,000 easily.
but you havent covered all corners yet. you still have no suspension and dont think your exhaust will do for an LT1. on the cheap end that will cost you another $1,000.
now lets say you buy the LT1. how many miles are on that bad boy? close to 100,000 for sure. do you think you might want to change some gaskets out for new. how about spark plugs for an 8. do you know how much those cost? then you have to refill all your fluids. did you get a gauge cluster? cause if you didnt, your speedo will be off and that can be fixed with yet more money. should i continue?
i aint dogging ya, i was just thinking of my own situation-similar but yet different.

Well, I can not sell the V6 and I will tell you why. First of all, it has a salvage title and 130,000 miles....I bought it for 3,000. I bought it strictly to put a 383 in it. If I bought the Z28, the only thing I would be leaving in would be the driveshaft and the rear end. I will be going through the tranny, so it would have to be dropped. The LT1 would have had to be pulled out, since I am stroking it. Therefore, it was cheaper just to go this route in the first place. I am spending the same amount of time on this car as I would on a Z...only I get 25 mpg until I swap. So, the swap is the best deal for me. Different strokes for different folks.

Brian

Here, do yourself a favor and get a whole parts car. Saves a LOT of $$$!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2415169756&category=6161

Originally posted by mcmb
Here, do yourself a favor and get a whole parts car. Saves a LOT of $$$!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2415169756&category=6161

Hell, after looking again I might try to snag it myself. 38K on a 96 Z28 for $2500!!!