New motor..what to get
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,043
From: Mooresville, NC
Originally posted by chefdan1
if you plan on going the lt1 route then plan on the engine to be about 1500-2000. thats the easy part. wiring and the whole swap are another story
if you plan on going the lt1 route then plan on the engine to be about 1500-2000. thats the easy part. wiring and the whole swap are another story
what all is involved w/ wiring and the swap? if i dont have ac, wont the motor just bolt right up?
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,978
From: MI
what's wrong with your car as it is now? do you really need this?
i really think your not ready to tackle this type of project mainly because you really don't know what you want. it is very expensive to do the job right. unless you plan on going "half-***" and skimping out on alot of things your not going to get this accomplished very well. sure you can go the easy and cheap route, but where will you be 6 months later?
plenty of people talk about doing dirt cheap swaps and things working out great but you very rarely see it in person. figure on 5,000 minimum to make it a half way decent setup and that's if you do most of the work yourself and you get a "steal" on the majority of used parts you will need. this type of project is not cheap and the budget your talking about isn't realistic.
it isn't that i'm against you or anyone else in your situation trying to attempt something like this, but i know from experience especially when your younger alot of people will tell you it's possible to get away with alot...........it just doesn't happen.
it costs alot to play......
i really think your not ready to tackle this type of project mainly because you really don't know what you want. it is very expensive to do the job right. unless you plan on going "half-***" and skimping out on alot of things your not going to get this accomplished very well. sure you can go the easy and cheap route, but where will you be 6 months later?
plenty of people talk about doing dirt cheap swaps and things working out great but you very rarely see it in person. figure on 5,000 minimum to make it a half way decent setup and that's if you do most of the work yourself and you get a "steal" on the majority of used parts you will need. this type of project is not cheap and the budget your talking about isn't realistic.
it isn't that i'm against you or anyone else in your situation trying to attempt something like this, but i know from experience especially when your younger alot of people will tell you it's possible to get away with alot...........it just doesn't happen.
it costs alot to play......
Eternal Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,064
From: Warren / Mi
Jeff is correct. Things cost alot to do them right. He has one of the niceest 3rd gens in the country. He did everything right and it shows. Now he just need to get to the track so he can post some new times.
I have spent years working on my car. It was just in a mag a few months back. If you want it to look and run good it is going to cost a arm and a leg.
Jeff we need to go to the track soon. I want to see us both with 11. second time slips if not better. You might make it into the 10. this year but I think I will only make the 11.
I have spent years working on my car. It was just in a mag a few months back. If you want it to look and run good it is going to cost a arm and a leg.
Jeff we need to go to the track soon. I want to see us both with 11. second time slips if not better. You might make it into the 10. this year but I think I will only make the 11.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 10,745
From: Buffalo, New York
Kind of a tough question. At first I thought "why an LT1". Who would volunteer for the Optispark hassles, the lack of heads, etc. But if you want FI, an LT1 would be a very logical choice. Far less expensive than a Gen I SBC with a complete aftermarket ECU/FI system. Still not cheap though!
A carb is a lot cheaper, but I would never go back to one. If you want a nice combo on a budget though, build a carbureted Gen I 350. Plenty of parts around at great prices, very easy to upgrade if you want to later, you can always add FI.
Rich Krause
A carb is a lot cheaper, but I would never go back to one. If you want a nice combo on a budget though, build a carbureted Gen I 350. Plenty of parts around at great prices, very easy to upgrade if you want to later, you can always add FI.
Rich Krause
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,043
From: Mooresville, NC
Originally posted by rskrause
If you want a nice combo on a budget though, build a carbureted Gen I 350. Plenty of parts around at great prices, very easy to upgrade if you want to later, you can always add FI.
Rich Krause
If you want a nice combo on a budget though, build a carbureted Gen I 350. Plenty of parts around at great prices, very easy to upgrade if you want to later, you can always add FI.
Rich Krause
Moderator
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 10,745
From: Buffalo, New York
Originally posted by Rippin92RS
aftermarket FI is insanely expensive. and i really gotta stress fuel mileage, my cars a daily driver, how many mpg could i really get out of a carb'd motor? im lookin for an LT1 as we speak and pretty sure im set on it.
aftermarket FI is insanely expensive. and i really gotta stress fuel mileage, my cars a daily driver, how many mpg could i really get out of a carb'd motor? im lookin for an LT1 as we speak and pretty sure im set on it.
Good luck.
Rich Krause
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