Future_Z_Owner

I have no clue on this i dont know enough yet to really guess. So how much money do you all think it would cost to take my 1997 year LT1 with almost 107k mi and turn it into a brand new LT4? It dosent have any problems aside from a couple seals that leak oil a little. So yeah how much for parts? And how much for labor? Thanks guys

Joe B

If your talking about the LT4 heads, and the (discontinued)GM LT4 intake manifold, and GM performance parts "hot cam" kit which is commonly refered to as the "LT4 conversion".....you would most likely be in the range of aproximately $2500 with all the gaskets and stuff(not counting any labor for install)......but this isn't really the most bang for the buck thing to do "AT ALL" nowadays , and it dosn't give you an LT4 engine(just the top-end stuff)......the LT4 engines had slightly different cranks, different valve relief pistons, Ect.......For your current situation "if" your bottom end is still in alright internal condition with nice even cylinder pressure.... you would be MUCH better off (price wise, and power wise) going with a LE-1 or LE-2 Head & Cam package from Lloyd Elliott Portworks....www.eportworks.com .....look in the LT1 section for the LE-1 and LE-2 combos to see what you can expect from these packages.....MANY of us on here run these packages with GREAT results.......Labor to install these Heads & Cam packages (just like the LT4 conversion stuff) varies greatly, depending on the shop you go to, and finding a good "trustworthy" shop is a whole effort in itself sometimes .......I personally do everything myself, but Im sure someone will chime in about the labor costs that you could expect................Joe

Javier97Z28

The "LT4 conversion" is worthless. Thank god it's no longer available, maybe we can stop creating slow LT1's out of a snoozer of a "heads/cam" package.

zx1216

+3...

Critter

+4

for the money you would be way better off going with a le packege as stated by poster #2.

why are you asking do you want more power or do you want the engine to be new? also what is your budget?

Future_Z_Owner

Basically yes i want a fresh brand new powerplant that has more punch than my LT1. I have full bolt ons on it now but it just has too many miles and this Cahall race tranny is rough on the engine i dont know how much longer itll last. Its good right now though. I just wanna get it done before problems arise. I wouldent wanna spend more than $3000 on the new engine

Critter

rebuilt the engine you have and go with a le1 or 2 heads and cam package.

2000GTP

If you only have 3 grand to spend on your motor work, that will probably be enough to get all of your top end parts, but not enough to include a bottom end rebuild.

Javier97Z28

As noted above, $3k isn't enough for a shortblock and a fresh top end, unless you start scrounging up used parts here and there.

buzz12586

Yea for $3k you could either do the top end or the bottom end, but not both.

Critter

built 355 forged pistons reuse the rods and crank, but get it all machined. wouldn't this be ok? i'm sure he could do it for 2000 if he did it all himself.

Javier97Z28

$1k for valvetrain ain't enough. You'll go through $600 in pushrods/springs/rockers alone...

Future_Z_Owner

Well im in iraq. I shouldent have really put a $3,000 "limit" on that rebuild. Mainly i want to keep the price as low as possible. Right now either i will sell the car, or if i can rebuild it for cheap enough ill keep it. I wanna see low 12's high 11's on it easy.

bossz28

I thought edelbrock offers the exhaust manifold but I don't know where you would get the rest from. Not sure on pricing but why would you want an LT4 when it's probably the same amount to mod the LT1 like a LE2 or LE3 pacakage from Lloyd Elliot that would kick the crap out of the LT4.

Critter

i agree i was thinking that he could build the bottom end for around 2000 and then a le2 heads and cam with supporting mods for 2000