skittlenips

The car has 200k miles and will probably go soon, once that happens I was thinking of maybe do an LS swap. How easy is it compared to other cars and how much do you guys think it will run me?

illenema

Well how about a C-5 ?

skittlenips

I already have the C4, replacing the engine with an ls1 would really be that much?

Rexracer77

100% depends what you want, how resourceful you are, and 10k other variables. if you do all the work yourself, and get junk yard parts, 2-3k. If you get a built motor, and have someone do all the work 10-20k. Need more infromation

c4cruiser

It's going to depend on a number of things. What are you going to expect in the way of performance numbers? Are you just wanting a stock LS1 or will it be modified and what mods will you want? Will it be a new/reman engine or a used one?

Who's going to do the install which will include the wiring and ECM? You? Shop? I think the motor mounts will be different, the various accessory components (alternator, PS pump, A/C compressor) and the exhaust, fuel lines, and other things will have to be dealt with and that will take time and money.

449er

I would say that unless you plan to do most of the labor yourself, probably not worth it looking at the current value of a typical C4. Do you plan to utilize a new LS crate engine or purchase a used one from some source?

drcook

Here is some reading to help understand the mechanism of doing a swap. Take note the 2nd has mentions of other articles you will need to chase down. The more you know, the better off you are.

http://tech.corvettecentral.com/2010...-c4-corvettes/

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-...-project-cars/

856SPEED

More than the cost of an early C5!

Lt4-396

Not if he is doing the labor.

1985 Corvette

Probably not worth it if you're going for anything less than an LS3.

skittlenips

How about replacing the engine with an LT1, not doing anything but stock, just looking to replace the engine once my current one stops running. I'm at 204k miles, how soon should I expect this thing to go?

Lt4-396

If it's not burning oil, has good compression and good oil pressure it can last forever.
I've seen a few lt1 caprice "cop cars" with over 300k.
If the rest of the motor is in good shape think about a refresh of the top end and run it until you have problems.

96GS#007

LS1/2/3/6/7/9? That's a spread of less than $2k in parts to over $20k with you doing all the work.

As you can see, "LS swap" is a pretty broad term.

skittlenips

Just an LS1 swap, to have a new engine. The car has 204k miles.

anesthes

The biggest problem is retaining dash functions. Once you lose the factory PCM and go with an LS1 pcm, you won't have communication with the BCM. Your fuel economy/trip/etc stuff won't work. You'll have to get creative with wiring the speedometer.

Actually installing the motor, mounts, transmission adapter (automatic) isn't a huge deal. A junkyard 6.0 is $1500, figure another $1,000 in conversion parts, headers, etc.

It's the wiring that is gonna get you.

-- Joe

drcook

If you read about 2/3 of the way down in the link I provided above from Corvette Central, they give you a source of wiring harnesses that will be plug and play. I did not go see what the cost would be, but there will be no rigging or splicing.

With that said, rebuilding the LT1 may or may not be as price competitive. You didn't say whether or not you have a manual or auto trans. In the following LT1 rebuild article done by Hot Rod mag, they discuss how auto trans load up and causes excessive wear of the thrust flange and bearing on the crank. It is mentioned that it is a common problem in high mileage engines. So, depending, if you were to rebuild your existing engine, you may or may not need a new crank shaft and all that goes along with it.

You just never know until you get the engine out of the car, disassembled and inspected.

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-...-engine-build/

Not too bad if you can do it yourself, but.

So, why not simply contact one of the more reputable Corvette salvage yards and get some quotes on a lower mileage LT1 engine ? Dropping in an engine with 50K miles gets you another 150K miles until you are back at this point again......

illenema

This makes me think about when I bought my current flood car 95.
I had to replace about what will be needed in a good swap.
if you love to work on the c4 Enjoy. ( I did everybit of work on this car and loved every minute )
In the end I could have bought a nice dry c-4 for less then I had to spend to get this thing up and running again and it would have more book value.
But thats another story. Yours has lots of miles why not drive a nice c-5. I think the c-4 is superior too but might be a time for a nice c-5 vette! Probably not....

anesthes

A 1985 is not a 1994. The '85 doesn't have a BCM.

I too had a pre-90 C4 and did an ECM swap to aftermarket, and like the link you provided:

I also lost only the MPG calc/trip/etc. The rest of the dash uses normal gauge senders. The speedo connects to the VSS buffer, and adapters like what is mentioned above will get the speedo working again.

A 1994 has a BCM. I don't know what the hell will happen when that thing stops talking to the PCM. I suppose you can still wire a VSS signal into it.

If I were to do an LSx swap on my '94, I'd probably use a Megasquirt to control the engine, and leave the factory PCM to control the e-trans.
$EE is quite configurable.

-- Joe

Lt4-396

Imo if your doing an ls swap you don't care about having an original car so why not just ditch the factory cluster and go with autometer gauges or something similar.

drcook

Vettaid http://vettaid.com/WireHarnesses.aspx also supplies wiring harnesses as well as replacement gauge packages.

the least expensive way to go for the OP is to simply source another low mileage LT1 engine and put it in.