Hey guys, im new to this forums, quick intro.
Was big into Audi, 2000-2002 S4 2.7TT. Owned 3 all modified beyond belief but the 2.7l im begining to realize is quite a joke and ready to move to a corvette, always liked these

So I'm the type of person who works on my cars and ive done numerous engine pulls etc etc. I was looking into getting a Lt4 corvette but im not liking the idea of the iron engine block. However i do like the idea of the LS1 or LS2. More modern

Ive been reading guides of doing a Ls2 and T56 into a c4 corvette. A 2005 GTO would be my donor car that i would later part out to recoop. and use the engine and trans in the LT1 corvette . The conversion does not seem overwhelming to me and seems do-able.
Has anybody done this before that is willing to chime in on their final product if the like results.

I would do the swap and keep facoty tune and internals etc for reliability at this point in time. Looking for a nice powerful car to whoop on during the weekends!

What do you think?

 

Yes we have
Here is the thread where we collaborate it has muncho info.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...x-swaps-8.html
Here is my thread.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...x-my-swap.html

Here is my car runing but not driving yet.

Slide show:




Scary's car on the dyno



Here is an E-rod LS3 in a c4 belonging to forum member
3D87C4

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...-erod-ls3.html

 

Look sweet!! Nice work!


How long have you been at the project? Also how much $$ you got into it?

I would be hoping to get it properly swapped in for <20k.

 

About 2 years give or take a year LOL.. read the thread it will will help you understand better what you are getting into. I have about 3K in it.
I did all the work and wiring and sold off my engine and other stuff. I also took my sweet time sourcing parts.

This was posted March 8th 2012 I havent spent much more maybe fluids and such but that would be needed swap or not.

so far
Engine, Ecu and wiring $1300
additional wiring and connectors $90
Transmission and converter $1750
Racetronix 255 Fuel pump kit $120
Speehound motor mounts $100
Advanced Adapters 4L60E to 700R4 tail shaft adapter $214
A/C compressor high mount adapter $150
Corvette power steering pump,bracket and pulley $140
Corvettte alternator $100
Powerbond balancer $145
98 Corvette Batwing oil pan and C5 manifolds $50
Oil pan gasket $50
Starter from fleabay $56
Balancer bolt $14 gm
Hoses, and fuse block $80.00
TB cable $50
Tuning $100
Two O2 sensors $120
wirring and terminals $60
Transmission cooler and lines $220
Fuel lines and fittings $145
Radom Tech Cat cons $200+100 fab work
I might need to get a couple of Dakota Digital boxes
A/C lines and Compressor
Spent $5354.00 and some of this stuff is optional.. for example you dont have to spend $550 on a converter
So far I have made $2945 to offset the cost from sales of my old stuff. I still have a few parts lying around.

 

2 years? wow. I would be working pretty heavily on this project alone, 5-6 hrs a day probably, hopefully it'd take a max of 3-4 months.

I would be buying a 84-91 LT1 Vette, which ones the best years? and a 05-06 GTO T56 in a collision to be a donor car. I have a feeling itd be a good idea to have all the extra parts for some retro fits needs

Hopefully i would be able to get a vette for 6-7k GTO for 6-7k. Have the engine and transmission from the vette to sell along with the rest of the GTO to part out on ebay.

Did you really drag it out, or is it very complicated? It looks pretty straight forward, swap the engine and trans, get all the wiring figured out to the dash, install GTO pedals along with other miscellaneous things that need to be figured out.

 

I dragged it out and I had to figure out the wiring. You really should read the threads I posted.
The early cars are easier only because of the gauges and wiring, no CCM. BTW what "guyde" is this you speak of?

 

I have been reading them, later tonight i plan on digging into them more. Good stuff thanks!

What do you mean guyde? haha im confused.

 

Where are you located? Double check your smog rules before you start harvesting parts from your donor vehicle, you may need more than you realise.

 

I mean this

 

Bahah im just confusing myself now. Kinda fixed the first statement now and fixed my attempt at adding things in after i had already typed them.


No emmission here
Ill prolly be running dual 3in exhaust with single magnaflow or flowmaster custom built by yours truly No cats yippie!!

 

There's a youtube video on a similar project and trust me, it's not the kind of job for a weekend tinkerer. I had a C4 and thought about it until I saw the YouTube vid.

 

LT1 corvettes are '92-'96, the earlier years are TPI or CFI SBC.

My "LS3"/T56 swap is here, although only about 10% of the work is documented online.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...p-started.html

Took me just over 2 years, but that was mostly because I bought a few parts each month and it took that long to pay for them.

 

So what years are the best to do it too?
Your right my mistake.

Im definitly not a weekend tinker. Im a mechanic for my job and have a full service shop at my disposal

I will be keeping all factory internals on the LS2, btw.

 

You can do either. If you do a later car with a CCM plan on piggibacking the original ECM. The early C4 84-87? have no CCM and make things a little simpler. One more thingt to keep in mind is the 91-96 have a little more clearance around the Wiper motor.

 

Yikes, the CCM sounds like a total PITA to deal with. I would rather not piggyback original ECM, sounds kinda hokey to me.

So the CCM is central control module i take it?
What in the world does it even do? Haha

Wiring is going to be my biggest concern so the 84-87 sound like the best options unless the CCM is easily solved?

Also does it matter if i get an auto or manual in the corvette? Cluster coding?

Sorry im a noob

 

Yes,think of the CCM as a body control module and your a Tech so you know what it does and more. It comunicates with everything on the bus..Dont **** it off. ... The auto is easier to do. Look at Mike's thread if you are doing a manual. To do the auto you either stick with the 700R4 (beefed up) or go with a 4L series and use an adapter for the tail shaft. I think you have to fab your own if you go manual.

 

Mike;

How was figuring out the CCM with the swap? Is it worth it to avoid it and get a earlier model?

 

The CCM is tightly integrated with the ECM, so if you're not into piggybacking, it's best to move on as suggested.

 

The shock towers and radiator configuration in my '87 have complicated the exhaust and intake routing and may be an issue for getting the AC to work.

Also, you can get adjustable springs for the later years which make it easier to compensate for the lighter engine. In the earlier models your only options are wedge removal or coil over conversion, and that can be problematic too from what I've read.

 

How do you go about piggybacking the original ECM? Does it cause problems and is it very complicated?

Or would it be a better idea to eliminate the entire stock harness and get an aftermarket one, or is that unnecessary because piggybacking is easier than it sounds?