thats kinda of what im trying to do here, get a idea of the total on the price of this engine swap to see if it IS worth it, if after selling my motor, trans, etc., i end up spending 4 grand with a carbeurated crate motor under the hood of my f-body, (which would definetly be something different than what everyone else has) being that this crate motor has 470hp than obviosly it is worth it. so if anyone has anyone got a idea if this can be done??? (by the way i know stroking my lt1 is gonna go well over 4 grand with labor and that is all i have to spend without any cash for selling the lt1.)

 

When you say someone is going to do the swap for $400 (or is it $600?), what is he going to do:

Is he going to fab up new motor mounts to fit the Gen 1 SBC into the LT1 K-member, or is he going to buy a new tubular K-member from BMR ($500), set up for the Gen 1 SBC?

Is he going to do all the fabrication work on the cowl to allow the really tall distributor to fit under it, including gutting the windshield wipers, or would he be swapping out the distributor that comes with that engine for a pancake type ($300)?

Will he be cobbling up some hoses to allow the Gen 1 SBC conventional flow cooling to work with the LT1 reverse flow radiator connections, or will he be putting in a new radiator ($300-500)?

What trans do you have now? I know the T56 will not bolt to the Gen 1 SBC without an adaptor bell housing. Not sure about the 4L60.

You will lose you speedometer. How do you plan to run it without the stock PCM?

You will need a new, low pressure fuel system to support the carb... figure about $500.... or does the $400 install include some sort of rework of the stock high pressure intank pump? Of course you will need to at least rewire it because the stock PCM will not work without the Opti.

That engine has a high rise intake manifold and a huge carb. You will need a cowl hood ($500) and of course it will need to be painted ($300).

Does the $400 install include replacements of the sensors for the dash gauges?

 

I told him over at LS1 that the install would be well over 400$.. and that if someone quoted him that much then that person has no idea what they are getting into....... and I could only think of about half the stuff you brought up..... He swears though that his mechanic wouldnt charge over 600 for sure.... Damn,I want to meet that guy, his labor rates must be like 10$ per hour

 

You seem to be forgetting that if you sell your transmission, you will need a new one Bottom line answer to your question about a gen I transplant for $4K is a resounding no.

Rich Krause

 

THANK YOU, this is exactly what i was looking for a parts list of prices for total cost, and price that out, without the price of the hood it comes to $2800 (assuming $500 for radiator, and $600 for install), plus a th400 trans and torque converter from tci comes to a grand so... $3800, so it sounds very realistic to do this swap for under 4 grand being that as much as you guys disagree with this, i am going to come within $500 of breaking even on the motor, trans, ecu and wiring harness which i am sure i can get atleast $3200 for being that i've seen many sell for well over that on ebay with around the same miles as mine (59k), yea i agree its probably ripping someone off but if someone is dumb enough to pay that, than more power to them. (oh and when i said 400-600 dollar install i ment 400-600 dollar for labor, not any parts that go with the install)

 

My list of parts is hardly complete.... that's just the things I can think of off the top of my head, never actually having done the swap (very few people have - think about why not). I do know what it took to put the Gen 1 SBC in a 30th SS, and that car is not street driven.

If you think you can do all this for $4,000 you are wrong. If you think you can get a TH400 complete with convertor for $1,000 you are wrong. If you think you can sell a used LT1 engine/trans for $3,200 you are wrong.

Just as a guideline, multiply all your costs by 1.5 to 2.0, and divide what you can get for the engine ay the same numbers. JMHO

But if you can pull it off - go for it.

 

dont forget to add some type of pully system to it all the supporting hardware from your old engine (ac alternator etc etc). dont forget you'll want to run some kind of headers with it. and dont forget a full treatment of autometer gauges since you wont have a pcm you'll probably have to go the old school route. and cutting the cowl and welding in a recess for the distributor... thats a nightmare all on its own. you're really overlooking a lot and calling hard things easy. from a guy who's backhalved several cars and run bbc's in ones that didnt have them as an option, i would not attempt this swap.

 

That TH400 aint a direct bolt in either. IF you have an auto, at a minimum, you're gonna to need a longer driveshaft, M-6 crossmember, and a torque arm that doesnt bolt to the side of the tranny (not sure what all M-6 to TH400 requires, but its not a bolt in either ). You'll prolly want a Lokar (sp?) dipstick and tube too. Unless you want to find one elsewhere that you can bend to fit. I'd recommend a new shifter too. It's been a while since I did the swap to TH400, so there may be a full or partial kits available now - but I'm sure they're not free

I agree with the others - you're severly underestimating the cost involved - it's all those little $100 things along the way that will kill you, even after you have a realistic buget.

 

wow, that is a lot of crap that i wasnt factoring in, anyone got an idea of how much is would cost to rebuild a lt1 to a 383 stroker and push around 475-500hp at the crank including labor at a performance shop?