LT1 into a 86 vette
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
LT1 into a 86 vette
OK, I am new with this. I am having trouble finding info. on what all would be involved in swapping a LT1 motor complete into my 86 vette. I was interested in the LT1 intake conversion, but I decided to just swap the whole motor 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland OHIO
It would be way more cost effective to build the motor you have or to build another generation 1 s.b.c. This swap can and has been done before though. I persoanlly do not feel it is worth it however. If you want to do something ambitious a LSX engine swap would be worth the effort as the aftermarket supports them much better.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,655
Likes: 24
From: Charleston SC
I did it for my 84 and it was about 3k for the entire swap including rebuilding the motor and having the heads ported. Whats so expensive? I did the harness myself (Free), LT1's can be had for next to nothing, The stock MM, Exhaust and trany will all bolt up. The only real expense is the Assys and they are not that bad. If you not good with wiring Jim's performance will convert the LT1 harness to a three wire setup for a few hundred $$$$. Now if you don't really like to work on cars and want someone else to do all the work I agree it could get real expensive but so could just rebuilding the motor. Remember Built not Bought 
Here is a shot of the completed project
Here is a shot of the completed project
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland OHIO
I did it for my 84 and it was about 3k for the entire swap including rebuilding the motor and having the heads ported. Whats so expensive? I did the harness myself (Free), LT1's can be had for next to nothing, The stock MM, Exhaust and trany will all bolt up. The only real expense is the Assys and they are not that bad. If you not good with wiring Jim's performance will convert the LT1 harness to a three wire setup for a few hundred $$$$. Now if you don't really like to work on cars and want someone else to do all the work I agree it could get real expensive but so could just rebuilding the motor. Remember Built not Bought
Here is a shot of the completed project
Here is a shot of the completed project
Looks nice !!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
