Hello everyone, I'm new here and need a little advice. I have owned a 87 GTA L98 (stock) for around 6 years. It used to be my daily driver till I parked it 4 years ago to spend time rebuilding and driving some of my other cars. I have just recently started it up (rough) and was planning on making it my daily ride again, but this time I would like it to have some ***** (350 - 400 hp with mid to low 12's would be sweet). I am debating whether or not to:

a) rebuild the stock engine - bore and stroke it, cam, different heads, aftermarket intake and, throttle body, injectors, and a chip.

b) buy another low milage L98 engine and throw a bunch of money at it.

c) try something interesting like swap out a different engine like an LT1, LS2, a stroker 383 (if possible). I don't know which swap would be easiest with all the new technologies that are out.

It must be reliable and not a pain in the *** to maintain. The top of my budget is roughly about 7 - 8 thousand. If I could get out cheaper - even better.

Possible? What do you think? Any help would be appreciated greatly!

 

With the prices on the LSx stuff these days, it's getting hard to beat them. Your average LSx swap wouldn't cost much more than a full rebuild plus some high performance parts on your current platform. You could easily drop in a LS1 on your budget, exceed your power expectations, get better fuel mileage, drop some weight, and remain emissions legal in the process. Personally, I'd find an LS1 dropout with trans and put a small cam in it - like the famed 224 cam.

 

I did this just recently. I bought a Scoggin Dickey Vortec crate TPI engine. It has a claimed 360hp. I added a few mods so I'd have around 400. I have about 300 miles on it now. The engine cost $4000.

If I had to do it all over I would buy a crate GMPP ZZ4 350 and have a few mods to make 400hp. Carb. is so much easier and cleaner under the hood. That should reach mid 12's. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the input. I'm really glad to hear that an LS1 swap is possible. Judging by what I see them being sold for on EBAY, it seems like a real possibility. Will it hook up to the 700R4? I apologize for my ignorance in Chevy's. Is there someone who has done this swap? My only other alternative is stroking some cubes out of the L98 and thowing a bunch of money at it.

I really appreciate the advice. I'm trying not to be one of those pain in the *** newbies asking the same redundant questions you guys have seen a hundred times already, but I am quite serious about doing something serious to the car. I really want to stick with fuel injection over a carb though. Thanks to everyone who's given this some thought.

-Pete

 

personally i would go for the LT1 swap with the t56, you get best of both worlds the great gas mileage and the power ..

the swap is easy and doesnt take much time. personally thats what i would do over the ls1 engine. just not a big fan of that motor. but they are both possible, either that or GM has some nice 383 fastburn engines for fairly cheap aswell, that puts out 445hp and i thinkg 385 torque...


btw im in the process of the lt1 swap right now with a t56

 

LS1 would be great if you can afford to go that route


or what about a stock type rebuild with a blower

 

I think an LS1/t56 combo with a little(224, maybe smaller) cam would be the best if you wanted it to be your DD.

Don't go carb for a DD. I love my carb and while it would be very easy to DD, it gets decent milage and runs great, I just prefer injection for that purpose. I'd probably DD a carb car if I had a much shorter commute though, like <10-15mi.

 

You mentioned being able to afford the LS1. How much do you think it would cost all together? Not including the engine that is. The thing that has me totally confused is the electronic stuff such as the computer and harness. The LT1 is totally not out of the question. I drove an ex-highway Caprice for a little while and that thing boogied! I remember the distributor being on the bottom?

I would just like to surprise the **** out of anyone at the stoplight - that's all. (plus I have a few friends with Mustangs that could use some discipline)

BTW - I agree with not going with a carb on a DD. My other DD is an old Mopar with a carb that currently needs attention.

 

Yo!!! I just got an opportunity to pick up an entire brand new Accel Super Ram setup for $2200. It includes intake manifold, runners, fuel rail, injectors, billet 58mm throttle body, fittings, gasket, everything. Whadayathink?

 

Pass on the SuperRam. TPIS MiniRam and Holleys StealthRam will make just as much power and nearly as much torque. They cost hundred less, and don't have installation problems like the SuperRam (wiper motor clearance, impossible manifold bolts, easily stripped bolts, vacuum leaks).

 

I'd pass on the superram for 2200.

I'd tally up the ACTUAL cost of an LSX swap. All parts required to make it fit...Mounts, headers, etc. All electrical parts that are needed. Get all the prices and tasks in line and after all that, find an engine to suit the budget if you'll be strict with it. Left over money could be enough for a used LS2, 6.0, 5.7 or even a 5.3 which I hear are dirt cheap. If a 5.3 doesn't make good power, supporting mods might bring you close. If it's a total dog(which is won't be), you could sell that and step it up to a 5.7 or larger without much money lost.

 

Good advice. Thank you, guys!

 

If you to a T56 swap and your car was once Automatic, you will have to cut about a 6x4 inch hole in your floor to get the shifter boot and shifter itself through.

Third Gen T56 swaps are almost getting common these days and have been done by a lot of folks. I remember a very good article on a LS1 and T56 swap in a 3rd gen done by Hot Rod or something like that.

Nick

 

That's one thing I would like to avoid - cutting holes or bigger ones in the car. It's just in case I decided to return it to stock one day. I would like to use the same tranny 700R4 if possible. Would an LT1 slip right in. I found one for $1200.00. LS1's and LS2's were alot more in comparison. I'm still hunting around. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

LT1s are almost a drop in engine swap. You will need to get creative with the power steering line, and the A/C would be difficult to keep.
If you goto Thirdgen.org they have ALOT of good info about LT1 and LS1 swaps.