please forgive the possible complete newbie questions here as I am by no means a mechanical guy. I know just enough to get myself into trouble if i start messing with stuff.

I've been reading a ton about different upgrades people are doing to their vettes and had some questions for you as I am going to be purchasing my vette(havent found it yet) this year. Im going to get a 69 conv and wanted to get an idea of what would be the cost to get some things done if you were actually taking it in to someone to have it done for you. Below is my list... all feedback is appreciated.

1. lt1 vs ls1... From what I have read it seems like I would want a ls1 but I don't know what the price differences would be between the two. Money isn't my primary concern but I dont want to pay through the nose either!

2. My plan is to get a automatic I would like to upgrade the trans to something with more gears like a 700r4.

3. Fuel injection

I plan on using the care to drive around town in I do not plan on racing it at all.

Of course Id rather just buy a car like this in the first place but in looking I havent found anything like this for sale(if you know of some options let me know).

Sorry if this seems like bonehead questions to some of you but I would love to get the answers anyway!

 

The lt1 engine was listed for the 69 but wasn't available till 70.

 

First we must know if you are considering putting a modern engine into your 69 corvette (ie, LS1 or LT1 where the LT1 was the standard vette engine from 1992 until 1996 - both are currently available as crate engines but not easy to install in a 69 vette) or the smallblock high performance option LT1 (can't remember which is LT1 or LT-1) available 1970-72.

 

I'm guessing he meant the fuel-injected LT-1 from the 1990's?

Based on your description, figure $20k for the car itself (either already done, or the car plus the amount it would cost to make it right), and then another $20k for the powertrain conversion done right, parts and labor.

The real trick would be to find someone you could trust to do this work right, and finding a good car to start with. You might have to spend an extra $20k along the line to get those in a reasonable length of time.

Your best bet is to find someone who has already done this conversion right (check the thread stickied in the Tech forum), and make him an offer he can't refuse.

 

Late LT1s are getting pretty cheap. You can find a complete wrecked LT1 Camaro or Firebird to use as a donor for around $1500. They're also a more "standard" small block and will bolt directly to the stock engine mounts. The LS swap is a bit more work and does cost a bit more, but the LS/LQ family of engines have more power making portential. Personally, I like the way the LT1 looks more, but that's just me Since you'll have the computer anyway, you'll want to use the donor's 4L60-E computer controlled automatic(it's the electronic version of the 700R-4). It's much easier to adjust the shift points, lock up, etc in the tune than it is to mess around with changing springs and weights in the governer of a 700R-4.

 

If your looking to do both engine and tranny, the amount of work for LT1 vs LS1 would be similar from your starting point with a 69. The little things will also add up similar for both like new exhaust, air intake set-up, hoses, fuel delivery system, driveshaft, tranny crossmember, mechanical speedo and VSS set-up.

So then its the cost of the motor-trans, PCM and PCM tuning, & wiring harness differences.

The LS1 has probably been done more than the LT1, so you probably will have a greater support base.

LSx motors also dont have an opti-spark set-up.

Lots of reasons to save your lunch money-pocket change and go the LS route IMHO.

 

Also check out Nasty Z28

Both swaps are popular in Camaros and should be similar in a Corvette

(besides my 2 Vette's I have a '73 Z28 with TPI)

 

oh heck...just go with a good used LS6...

 

I like my LT1 that I am putting in my 72 Chevy Truck. I purchased it about 6 years ago when the LS1's were pretty pricey. If I was to purchase a motor today I would buy the LS3

 

You certainly know how to put together an awesome looking motor. The motor in your Vette-avatar looks great too.

 

Im doing an ls swap in my car. Its actually the 5.3 truck motor got a complete thing for 500 converting the accesorrys ( crank pully, water pump, alt brackets) came out to another 500. I picked up a z06 cam from a forum member for 100 so in total ive spent 1100 on my engine. pulse i got a bunch of parts i can sell off to make back some of the money. Im a newbie at engine swaps and ill tell you, pulling is the easiest part, puting the engine in...thats a lot more complicated. a local shop said they'd do the the pull and install for 600 more. so i mean for 2k you could probably get it done if you price out parts and stuff. plus im using my old th400 trans and later when i save up more ill go 4l80e.
if you have any question pm me ill break down the price more from what ive spent so far

oh and the lt1 are nice engines and you can probably pick them up for dirt cheap but for a couple hundred more you can get the ls with more power. IMO