LS swappers: how difficult is it to DIY ?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 291
From: dayton oh
LS swappers: how difficult is it to DIY ?
looking to swap an LS1/4L60E into an 80-82. Already know to use an Fbody motor for the oil pan/accessories. The part that scares me is modding the wiring harness and hooking up the dash gauges (planning on using autometers). also looking to do a cam swap B4 motor install..
I can remove/install a motor (with experienced buddies help) and have redone 2 complete interiors.
Can i tackle this ???
My main goal is to use the $$$$$$$ i'd have to pay someone else to swap for steering/suspension/brake upgrades instead, along with knowing i did it myself !
I can remove/install a motor (with experienced buddies help) and have redone 2 complete interiors.
Can i tackle this ???
My main goal is to use the $$$$$$$ i'd have to pay someone else to swap for steering/suspension/brake upgrades instead, along with knowing i did it myself !
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 427
Likes: 32
From: North Alabama
St. Jude Donor '24-'26
Gutsy
It can be done!
It depends upon your skill level, and be honest with yourself. I am under-going this swap at present and I'm glad I have an experienced friend/shop to help. This book "How to swap GM LS series engines into almost anything" will be a great help, especially with the wiring. Steering is also tricky to clear your oil pan and exhaust preference. Josh Powers at Custom Image Corvettes is a great source for parts/info in a C3 LS swap. Good luck!
It depends upon your skill level, and be honest with yourself. I am under-going this swap at present and I'm glad I have an experienced friend/shop to help. This book "How to swap GM LS series engines into almost anything" will be a great help, especially with the wiring. Steering is also tricky to clear your oil pan and exhaust preference. Josh Powers at Custom Image Corvettes is a great source for parts/info in a C3 LS swap. Good luck!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 24
From: Coastal Georgia
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
You can do it yourself. There are plenty of folks on here who have done it who are a great resource for those of us knee-deep in the swap.
As for the harness, I sold the one I got with my LS1 and T56, and I bought a pre-made harness from PSI Conversions. Their harness is a thing of beauty, and is pretty affordable. Everything is labelled, and it includes the relays for your fans and fuel pump. Check them out if you decide to dive in.
As for the harness, I sold the one I got with my LS1 and T56, and I bought a pre-made harness from PSI Conversions. Their harness is a thing of beauty, and is pretty affordable. Everything is labelled, and it includes the relays for your fans and fuel pump. Check them out if you decide to dive in.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 6
From: springfield ohio
To swap in a LS is not to big of a deal. The wiring is best to have sent out, by the time you add up the cost of the relays, fuses, fuse holder, and extra wire you aren't far from the cost of having some one do it for you, you safe time, it looks much nicer, and is money well spent.
As far as the gauges go, that's pretty easy as well.
These swaps are getting very easy to do, just in the last year, the amount of new reliable infomation that you can trust from the Net is very very helpful, and the aftermarket manufactures are starting to produce the needed parts to make these swaps even easier.
Do your home work and reseach as much as you car before spending any money, because it is to easy to start of with a motor or parts you shouldn't have bought and just adds unneeded cost to the project.
Riggs
As far as the gauges go, that's pretty easy as well.
These swaps are getting very easy to do, just in the last year, the amount of new reliable infomation that you can trust from the Net is very very helpful, and the aftermarket manufactures are starting to produce the needed parts to make these swaps even easier.
Do your home work and reseach as much as you car before spending any money, because it is to easy to start of with a motor or parts you shouldn't have bought and just adds unneeded cost to the project.
Riggs
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
with the above posters. The basic engine swap is no big deal. It gets expensive and time consuming when you start doing extra mods and really want a custom install. I have a PSI harness also. Nice harness. Of course I had to modify it slightly like everything else. It can be done. Easy, nothing is easy. Time patience and money are all it takes.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 599
Likes: 16
From: vista CA
Agree with other posters, you can do it all yourself and the amount of help out there is much better than when I did mine, in my driveway no less, a few years back. Be prepared to spend more than you expect though, even if you don't do a bunch of extra mods.
I did my swap with an eye towards keeping costs down (stock LS1 auto harness used with a T56, used 98 vette exhaust manifolds vice headers, prepped the body removing everything and sanding down to glass prior to painting, home made gauge consoles and electric fans housing using alum plates, homemade lizard skin heat reduction,...) but I did splurge and buy used C5 seats (fixing my beat up ones would have likely cost more), new carpet, and had to buy hp tuners because my used pcm was previously modified for a stroked engine with higher flow injectors.
Good luck!
I did my swap with an eye towards keeping costs down (stock LS1 auto harness used with a T56, used 98 vette exhaust manifolds vice headers, prepped the body removing everything and sanding down to glass prior to painting, home made gauge consoles and electric fans housing using alum plates, homemade lizard skin heat reduction,...) but I did splurge and buy used C5 seats (fixing my beat up ones would have likely cost more), new carpet, and had to buy hp tuners because my used pcm was previously modified for a stroked engine with higher flow injectors.
Good luck!
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 590
Likes: 2
From: Fairfield CT
I agree with all above
I agree on sending the wiring out. I had my ECM and harness done by Speartech since I didn't get either with my motor. Jody at VettAid has been working on some other custom wiring for me, including integrating his Autometer gauge kit into the stock dash harness and my ECM harness. Ditto on Josh at Custom Image Corvettes. He spent hours on the phone with me a couple years ago talking me through it when he was still Speedhound.
I've gotten great help from several folks both on and off this forum. If you have the mechanical skills you say it will be a piece of cake. I had a lot less and have been doing it almost all by myself. It's a retirement project.
Check my blog below for my LS project;
I've gotten great help from several folks both on and off this forum. If you have the mechanical skills you say it will be a piece of cake. I had a lot less and have been doing it almost all by myself. It's a retirement project.
Check my blog below for my LS project;
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
I did my swap about 6 years ago. It was still kind of an experiment at that time. I think you can find a source for almost any combo now.
As for the harness, I sent my first one out to be modified along with the ecu tune.
On the second I used LT1swap and the electrical diagrams. It wasn't too hard if you just lay it out, remove about a mile of electrical tape, and start by removing the stuff you dont need.
As for the harness, I sent my first one out to be modified along with the ecu tune.
On the second I used LT1swap and the electrical diagrams. It wasn't too hard if you just lay it out, remove about a mile of electrical tape, and start by removing the stuff you dont need.
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 582
Likes: 1
From: Massapequa Park New York
i did mine all my own work if u have any questions feel free to ask, fyi if you use the batwing oil pan from a vette everything clears no modifications necessary
But unfortunatly this happend last summer at Super Chevy
and now i have this
But unfortunatly this happend last summer at Super Chevy
and now i have this
Last edited by Vettekid1992; Mar 4, 2012 at 09:24 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
What the heck you ever do to get a cylinder to look like that, as looks likes there's also debris in the others as well. I've owned a couple late model LS Vette's, and road track them pretty hard. Admittedly bone stock, or Predator tune, but seemed like they'd run forever.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 582
Likes: 1
From: Massapequa Park New York
What the heck you ever do to get a cylinder to look like that, as looks likes there's also debris in the others as well. I've owned a couple late model LS Vette's, and road track them pretty hard. Admittedly bone stock, or Predator tune, but seemed like they'd run forever.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,231
Likes: 7
From: Fort Pierce Florida
The hardest part is probably the fuel system, but everything else is pretty simple. I'd also send your harness off to be labeled and put on a diet so it's just a matter of plugging in and attaching a few wires.
LS1tech.com helps also.
LS1tech.com helps also.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 582
Likes: 1
From: Massapequa Park New York
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 291
From: dayton oh
Is it cheaper to just buy a reconfigured harness or have an existing one modified ?
What about the PCM ?
there's an LS1 outta an 02 Z28 with 23k miles 4 sale locally.....no harness/pcm
What about the PCM ?
there's an LS1 outta an 02 Z28 with 23k miles 4 sale locally.....no harness/pcm
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
It's cheapest to re-do the harness yourself.
LT1swap did my ecu for $75. I think he also reworks harnesses.
Wait4me will rework your harness and reprogram your ecu for a good price, check out the website.
Buying a custom harness is generally the most expensive option.
LT1swap did my ecu for $75. I think he also reworks harnesses.
Wait4me will rework your harness and reprogram your ecu for a good price, check out the website.
Buying a custom harness is generally the most expensive option.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,971
Likes: 7
From: Longwood Florida
However many people like to keep the Fuel injection, harness, computer, high pressure fuel system and high pressure fuel pump.
The Carbs make more POWER!
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Its cheaper and easier to go with a CARB, carbed intake, MSD5al, and holley blue pump. True Plug and play. It will fire right up.
However many people like to keep the Fuel injection, harness, computer, high pressure fuel system and high pressure fuel pump.
The Carbs make more POWER!
However many people like to keep the Fuel injection, harness, computer, high pressure fuel system and high pressure fuel pump.
The Carbs make more POWER!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
Actually, if you get a harness, ecu, etc, the Efi is cheaper.
You'll need an electric pump either way, so for efi a $90 walbro 255 and $35 regulator is about the same as a holley or mallory electric.
For lines, big secret, yoou can buy the OEM lines and fittings used on every car today for about $100. I think most people would change the 40 year old lines either way.
The carb manifold ~$250, ignition box $300, and carb (if you need a new one) can be more expensive than ecu program ($75) and harness rework (free, I did it myself) and associated tubing, air filter (~$100).
The key is to get everything with the takeout, ecu, harness, accessories, TAC, pedal, etc. I even got the fuel pump with one LS takeout.
There's no question the carb manifold makes more top end hp, but for a daily driver, you cant beat the advantages of fuel injection. My 68 with the 6.0 LS, 6 speed, Vintage Air is as simple as a new corvette to drive, has 400hp, and gets 26mpg. It's a matter of what you want.
You'll need an electric pump either way, so for efi a $90 walbro 255 and $35 regulator is about the same as a holley or mallory electric.
For lines, big secret, yoou can buy the OEM lines and fittings used on every car today for about $100. I think most people would change the 40 year old lines either way.
The carb manifold ~$250, ignition box $300, and carb (if you need a new one) can be more expensive than ecu program ($75) and harness rework (free, I did it myself) and associated tubing, air filter (~$100).
The key is to get everything with the takeout, ecu, harness, accessories, TAC, pedal, etc. I even got the fuel pump with one LS takeout.
There's no question the carb manifold makes more top end hp, but for a daily driver, you cant beat the advantages of fuel injection. My 68 with the 6.0 LS, 6 speed, Vintage Air is as simple as a new corvette to drive, has 400hp, and gets 26mpg. It's a matter of what you want.