All you naysayers, have ANY of you guys actually done this before? For anyone needing a kit to do it, you shouldn't be allowed to work on your car at all. I had next to no mechanical experience before I did mine, and it is NOT hard to do. There are actually very few parts you need, and 99% can be had at the dealer if not a junkyard. Your big parts are transmission, bellhousing, pedals, clutch/flywheel, and crossmember. I got a hell of a deal on a trans on mine (400), but I still had to get everything else. Most likely you will want to use a new clutch, so no big deal there. Usually when you buy a trans the bellhousing comes with it, so that's covered. Not 100% positive on the hydraulics, but they can't be much more than the LT1 crap, and the dealer has em for less than $100. Crossmember is $30. Junkyards have pedals for about $50. Check with car-part.com and you can either find a junkyard that has everything you need for a deal, or they will have a conversion "kit", with everything.
As far as the ecu goes, maybe the LS1 is different, but I didn't have a lick of trouble running mine with the A4 computer. Hell, I didn't flash it to a M6 ecu for over a year. Wiring - you only HAVE to jumper 2 wires for clutch switch so it will start. You might get a TCC code, but big deal. Also, whoever said that it's too hard to do in the driveway, do you plan on doing a clutch ever? If you can do that, you can do this. I'm 6'3" 350lbs and I did the pedals on mine, its not that hard.
For what its worth - I had to buy bolts for pretty much everything for mine from the dealer, and I still got out for less than $1000. Beats the hell out of the $1800 I spent on rebuilding that pos 4L60E.

 

Who are you to tell anyone they should or should not be allowed to work on thier cars?

Have you done the conversion to a LS1?

Are you seriously suggesting it's better to buy a A4 car and convert it to M6 then buying a M6 in the first place?

 

If you feel that its too hard without having all the parts come in a nice little box, that's a problem. The "kits" for the LT1 are nothing more than all the parts you need, taken from a donor car. Most junkyards want to sell everything together instead of being stuck with the leftover stuff, so finding an LS1 swap "kit" shouldn't be that hard, I'm only saying that it really isn't that difficult to pick up a phone and push 10 digits to get any parts you might not have.

A lot of times its not cost effective to find a six speed thats reasonably priced, or sell your auto car and buy a stick. What if the auto goes out, and you're upside down on a loan? Then you either have to fix the A4 to trade it in, or lose a LOT more trading it in. It would be FAR cheaper to do a swap.

While I haven't done it to an LS1, I would rather have, as the LT1 had fewer M6 models to my knowledge, making parts sources more difficult and the hydraulics on an LT1 stink compared to the LS1.

 

True the tranny could go out on an auto but what about those m6 cars that go to the track and have the rear go boom. Those aint so cheap either.

 

Here are my points. First of all you shouldn't tell ANYONE what they can or can not do to thier own cars. Changing a transmission along with wiring, center console and all the other little stuff involved is not as easy as say swapping out a starter or alternator. It needs two people (I hear the transmission is very heavy), some experience would be very helpful, the right tools and all the required parts.

Second point. While you can find all the parts at a junkyard there is no guarantee they will be at the first one you call. Think about it. Your looking for a totaled 98 LS1 in a junkyard where the transmissions and other required parts are all working and usable. While this certainly is not mission impossible it may require a few more then ten digits being pushed to find it.

Third point. What is wrong with all the parts coming in one box anyway? That sounds good to me. So does that make every LT1 owner that bought the $1800 dollar conversion kit a loser? Perhaps all of those people who bought the LT1 kits should be told they had no business working on thier cars? I think not. If you have something that neat and easy available to you then it's certainly not a bad idea to take advantage of it.

Fourth point. It is VERY cost effective to buy a M6 LS1 vs. a A4 and converting it when you don't have a car yet. You know like the guy who started this thread looking for advice. If you have an A4 car all ready and owe more then it's worth for a trade-in/sale then by all means consider the swap. It'll cost over 2K and take some parts hunting and possibly help to install but would be worth it if your sure you wouldn't be happy with a Torque Converter. But for someone who does not yet have a LS1 car yet, it makes no sense to look for an A4 just to swap it out later. Get the M6 in the first place and you save yourself all the hassle and expense of a conversion.

Fifth point. Since you havn't done the conversion on a LS1 then you don't know if it's harder, easier or the same as a LT1 swap. I myself havn't done it either but I talked to people who have and the LS1 conversion is a little more difficult from what I'm told by people who did it. Not impossible mind you. It certainly can and has been done within 15 hours with the right tools and knowledge. But again why go through all that if you don't have a car yet?
It's not likely he's gonna find two cars of the same year, condidtion and mileage with 3k+ difference in price to justify buying the A4 and swapping it. Possible? sure. Likely? No. And remember if he's looking at dealerships he can finance all the M6 cars cost. If he buys an A4 then better get the checkbook out because the swap will cost you cash. That too is something to consider if you don't have a big savings account or access to a low interest loan.

The only way I can see this being a good idea for someone who is still car shopping is if he finds a A4 for such a whopping low price that he can't pass it up. Like maybe he finds a 2000 SS for 13K in good shape with 35K miles. That car for that price would be unpassable and the conversion is certainly in order. But if no exceptionally great deals can be found (I didn't find any when I was LS1 shopping) then get what you want the first time. Then take the 2.5K your not spending in a conversion and use it for headers, new shifter, airlid, catback, well you get the idea.

 

Geez Toolio, you don't give up when something was too hard for you, do you.


First point - 2 people required for swap? Yeah, same as what it would be if you put a clutch in your M6 equipped car in the first place. Wiring - its ONE wire to make the car run. It makes the car think its in neutral so it will crank. It will run then. You don't HAVE to swap computers, as I said, you might get a code, but not necessary.

Second Point - Damn the bad luck and have to call more than 1 junkyard. Hell, he might have to call more than 1 dealer to find a car. Also, if you only found the transmission at a junkyard, you can call one place to get the rest of the stuff - the dealer; and it won't be that much more expensive.

Third Point - Everything in a kit? Yeah, its nice, but not necessary. God forbid you should have to do some shopping. Then again, you must run across deal after deal of M6 cars where you are at.

Fourth Point - While I haven't done it on an LS1 car, I HAVE done it on an LT1 car. YOU have done NEITHER. Your research and conclusions are flawed in the sense that you listened to people like you about doing it. So you pussed out, don't talk someone else into thinking its a nightmare to do, cause its not.

Last - He said he doesn't think he could drive an auto again. Maybe he could, but doesn't know it yet. He might love the auto once he goes back. I agree though, look for the M6 first. But if the market is like it is here, very few and they all think they are worth their weight in gold (LT1s average 8500), then that might not be a viable option.

Looks like your points aren't points at all.

 

or you can come to IL where the M6 is a dime a dozen. there were 3 M6's and one A4 at the dealership i got the ws6 from (which is an M6)

spend the money no mods not a tranny swap

3k to get something you don't want and make it what you wantor 0k to get what you want from the factory...... choice is up to you

arguement OVER

 

It really is a nobrainer if you dont already have a f-body. Find a M6 and save yourself the money & hassle of a swap.

So can we end this pi$$ing match, its getting old.

 

AMEN

 

Rebuttal one. Two people may be needed because I was told the 4L60E weighs 150 pounds or something like that. Not an easy thing to pull off by yourself when your under the car and on your back. The guys who replied to my threads that actually did the swap claimed to have had to swap wiring harness and computers. Again it might be diffferent from LT1 to LS1 even though you don't want to believe it.

Rebuttal two. At least now you admit it may take more then dialing 10 digits to get all the parts. Since that was all my point was I will consider that point accepted on your part.

Rebuttal three. Actually there are quite a few M6's around here. I would say at least a dozen could be looked between Carmax (they have a great deliver to you from other state policy)and the local dealerships whithin a 50 mile radius of my house. Since you did admit it is "nice" to have a kit then I can consider the other part of that point taken on your part as well.

Rebuttal four. You assume that because it's easy on a LT1 (or at least by your perception) that it's the same on a LS1. We all know what assume spells out so I'll spare you the diagram. Now you admit you never did the swap on a ls1 and I freely admited I never did it on either. But my research was not flawed. So many cool people added pretty much the same input so I wanted to pass my research results onto another. Certainly nothing wrong with that. I never said it was a nightmare. It was told to me several times that it wasn't that hard for people who know what they are doing. I also heard it could be done over one weekend. Not a nightmare but it's not like replaceing a starter so don't understate it either. Actually all the great info made me decide I wanted my auto. Since Torque Converters allow us to consistantly beat the otherwise equally modded M6's at the track I decided to go that route instead. I decided for my own needs it would be better to be a "P**sy" showing a M6 my taillights then a "real sports car driver" reading a stalled A4's license plate.

Rebuttal five. Not much of a rebuttal on that one. We actually agree on that believe it or not. Look for the M6 first. If you can't find one then get an A4 and stall it. Then if you don't like it do the swap. At least a stalled 4L60E might draw some interest from a M6 guy out there wanting to go to an A4.

I probably won't check this forum again tonight but if you insult me some more then I'll be back tomarow for more rebuttals (Lol).

Peace