Ive been a fourth gen owner since I got my license, and the more I look at my car, the more I realize that I would love to have a real camaro...the ones that make memories.

On that note, Ive been thinking and weighing out my options very carefully to see if what Im about to say makes any sense.

I have an lt1/t56 converted 95 RS camaro. I have a lot of mods on it, and Im thinking....and please, correct me if im wrong....would it be feasible to purchase an early model camaro (im looking for a split bumper) and swapping everything out?

im sure lt1s have been dropped into those cars a hundred times, but is it actually worth it???

If I were to do it, it would be a real retro fit. Im talking about the following, assuming it fits:

lt1/t56
rear end
front brakes
possible interior (seats yes. as for dash: assuming it fits)

so on and so forth...Im just brainstorming guys, so please be gentle.

thanks.

 

I don't think it's worth swapping the LT1. The only thing improved about LT1s are the heads, and you can readily get much better flowing heads for a traditional SBC and not have to hassle with the reverse cooling heads and the mickey mouse work to get that to work in an earlier application. The 4th gen diff is much weaker than what came in 1st and 2nd gens.

The T56 would be good to swap for sure, as would be the interior pieces you could get to work.

 

It can all be done. I think there was actually an issue in Hot Rod Mag about it being done. Dash and everything. I think it's a great idea and would fit nicely. You would have plenty of engine bay room to work. Only thing is I would keep the rear end that is in the project car, it's a lot better than the 4th Gen rear. The only real problem I see is the wiring and how much you want ot keep or get rid of.

 

Wouldnt be a bad swap but for the hassle the ls1 is better...

 

Put a ford 9" under it or a 12 bolt. GM rears suck

 

split bumper cars were interestiong in that the car may have either an 8.2 inch or 8.5 inch 10 bolt. 8.2s are garbage. I have seen an 8.5 hold up to a 9 second pass on the bottle. i think the chevy 8.5 is very underestimated.

 

It might be, but he's already got everything for the LT-1 swap. If better to you is just in terms of horsepower, that difference can be easily made up.

 

but thing is both are sbc, so the engines can swap, now that lt1 you need an electric pump, so swap the gas tank out of the 4th gen, you need the computer, the wiring the sensors... now when you look at all that, you'll get the best fuel economy that first gen ever will see, but your power for the time, just put a good set of heads and a new cam in that old sbc....

however, you have to measure the rear axles, the new is a few inches different so look at how you'll have to adjust backspacing on the rims to make it up, the old is just better to begin with, so use the old, the transmission, definitely,

the dash, somebody did it into a third gen and it looks awesome, i think it was IHI but dont qoute me,

the seats, yea, they'll fit in there, i dont know how comfortably.. though

you'll want the steering components out of that 4th gen just cuz, and put 4 wheel discs if you've got em, then do the suspension work to make it feel and handle like your 4th gen does, that'll be where the sweetness of the swap comes in,

honestly if you want your 4th gen power, dont do it, just build the old motor much easier, if you want it to be cool, i wouldnt worry so much about the driveline, i'd use the old, and retrofit the interior components (speakers, seats, dashpanel, steering components be careful with the airbag) and do up the suspension like your 4th gen has. make it feel like the 4th gen,

but with the driveline... the only real benefit is the close ratio gears with an overdrive, and the mileage... so it'd be a lot of hassle, and cool to look at, but you'd probably wanna beef the motor up just so it pulls the heavier body like your 4th gen body

 

I say do the motor and trans drop first. Drive it and be happy. Then do the rest later on. Def. get a beater though.....

 

Find the first back-issue of Hot-Rod(forget what year -1996?) with the T56 conversion into an early camaro, the project was concieved and done at our shop and that camaro is the red 1969 that flowmaster uses in their ads.

 

If thats what you want to do the go for it! Just make sure the 2nd gen is a good solid car to begin with, unless you can and want to do body work. Might want to upgrade the braking system while you're doing all the other.

I ditched my 70 SS for my 00 SS and haven't looked back, but it was rotting away and I needed a good daily driver w/the same juevos that I was accustomed to. Plus the power w/total drivability of a modded LS1 is phenominal.