Hey guys, my GF has a gorgeous red 93 TA, it is a hardtop car with a WS6 hood (might be factory, has the correct airbox and everything!) It is an LT1 A4 car with 62K miles on it, and has never seen a winter. Anyways, even due to its great condition it has seen better days on some aspects. It is on opti #3, and it leaks oil from the pan, timing cover, intake gasket, transmission, and differential. The window regulators/motors are messed up and they are slow and do not go up all the way. It also has an aftermarket cam and whatnot in it, and it doesn't run quite right due to the tune. Being a 93, there is no one around here who can tune it and no I do not want a mail order tune. My GF loves the car, it is her first car and it means alot to her. However, the issues need to be fixed and she wants alot more power out of it. She also wants a 6 speed, but does not want a new one because she hates T-Tops and wants to stick with her car, a hardtop.

Later this afternoon I am going to purchase a 2000 Z28 with a 6 speed. From what I can tell the thing is mechanically sound, with a few minor cosmetic flaws. Anyways, am I retarded to swap EVERYTHING over from the LS1 car to the LT1 car? Fuel system, engine, transmission, rear end, wiring harness, AC system, suspension, etc? I would then have lots of leftover parts from the 93 and the 00, and I do not think I would attempt to put the 93 powertrain in the 00, I would just part the rest of the 00 out and sell the LT1 powertrain. The LT1 engine itself is in great shape with low miles, it makes ridiculous oil pressure, and recently had the whole top end went through by Livernois (spring 07, before I knew GF) so I know I could easily get $700-$800 for it. Plus there are mods to both cars which could be combined, and the leftovers sold. I KNOW SELLING IT AND BUYING A NEW ONE MAKES ALOT MORE SENSE BUT IT ISN'T THE SAME!

What do you think? What potential problems could I run into? Keep in mind I have a totally intact complete donor car with EVERY part.

 

Sean at cars tunes LT1's - one of the few who can. I don't know if I would sacrifice an LS1 car just to bring back an LT1.

I would just find someone selling an LS1 motor and trans, or even get a crate motor. Change the k-member to an LS1, and it will drop in pretty easily. Then you will have two LS1 cars!

-Geoff

 

theoretically you shouldn't have any issues since you have a complete donor car.

however its those little gremlins that pop up that can wreak havoc.

someone on here did a v6-to-ls1 swap out of his wrecked car. and it never ran properly again. seems like he even had Futral do the swap...or try to fix the problems...

don't think he ever got it running right.

i'm drawing a total blank as to his name...but seems like he was in the florida area.

something as simple as ONE BAD GROUND wire can *** your world up.



i can understand the desire to keep the old car. i think i would spend the money on building up the LT1. maybe do an old school SBC swap.

can't say i've looked into it, but perhaps swap in the LS1 and use a stand alone wire harness and ECM...that way you have significantly less wiring hassles.
basically wire it up like you were swapping it into some old car...60s or 70s era.
run aftermarket guages...etc...

 

as for the wiring and gauges i think since you have the donor car you can swap out the whole dash and use the stock gauges from the new car. i think it would be bad *** to do it. you would have the older better looking body IMO and a ls1 with updated interior. but i think it is gonna be alot of work and take alot of time. so make sure she is ready to have her car down for however long

 

you should look up CORMARO's ...gm put LS1s in 20 of the 97 lt1 cars and called them Cormaro's...maby you can find out more on that? to help you in your search?