New Member:Looking for a shop to do an LS1 swap

[snatchss454]

Hola people,
I live in miami but come up to Tampa every other weekend. Im looking to do a swap from a 2000 v6 to LS1. I cant find any shops down here, so I just thought Id try my luck in the Tampa area.
ANY help would be great!! Also check out my cardomain page
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/468763/1
Ive added some chrome SS 10 spokes, I also have an SS hood that I am planning on adding with the scoop painted black to match the stripes. Updated pics coming soon!
Thanks,
Shane

[Mirroredshades]

The hardest part is gathering parts. What do you have so far? Do you have an organ donor car? There are so many nickle and dime parts that will kill your budget.

Back in the old days, you could drop a V8 into a 6cyl body in a wknd. Now there is alot more to it. Sensors, brackets, linkage, harnesses......

[snatchss454]

I dont have anything at the moment. Ive been undecided if I want to turbocharge my car or drop in an LS1. So after not being able to get my headers to seal I decided that was the last straw and am going the LS1 route.
I can get a complete engine with all belt driven accessories wiring harness and tranny for roughly $28-3500 depending on the mileage. I know Ill need a v8 K-member, gas pedal, V8 gauges, and I think the fuel lines need to be worked or switched. Other than that it should be a pretty straight forward swap.
Shane
P.S. Oh yeah you guys have any experience with rev xtreme?

[TraceZ]

I dont have anything at the moment. Ive been undecided if I want to turbocharge my car or drop in an LS1. So after not being able to get my headers to seal I decided that was the last straw and am going the LS1 route.
I can get a complete engine with all belt driven accessories wiring harness and tranny for roughly $28-3500 depending on the mileage. I know Ill need a v8 K-member, gas pedal, V8 gauges, and I think the fuel lines need to be worked or switched. Other than that it should be a pretty straight forward swap.
Shane
P.S. Oh yeah you guys have any experience with rev xtreme?

I really strongly suggest you sell your car and buy one with an LS1. You have no idea what you are getting yourself into. I've done it on a 86 Camaro and it was a nightmare. The money and frustration you spend doing it will make you regret it. The only way I would even consider it was if I had a complete donor car sitting in my garage to get all the parts from.

In addition to the parts you listed you'll also likely need:

radiator/hoses
front springs (V8 is heavier and requires bigger springs)
transmission crossmember
driveshaft
complete exhaust

I'm sure there are a bunch of other parts too that you wont even realize until you are up to your elbows in it, and possibly way over budget.

My .02

[snatchss454]

There is a big difference between an 86 and a 00 camaro. I dont need a radiator, the v6 and v8 share the same core, although I need a new tank. I already have an aluminum v8 driveshaft on my car as well as a v8 B&B triflow exhaust. I do need a tranny cross member, springs(optional), K-member, gas pedal, gauges(optional), and air lid, but I already have a couple of places that I can pick those up and am adding that into my budget.
Other than that there really shouldnt be anything I need, well besides the engine, tranny and PCM. Many v6 4th gens have done the swap and state there is really nothing to difficult about it. Thanks for your thoughts but Ive done my research and am going through with the project.
Thanks,
Shane

[TraceZ]

There is a big difference between an 86 and a 00 camaro. I dont need a radiator, the v6 and v8 share the same core, although I need a new tank. I already have an aluminum v8 driveshaft on my car as well as a v8 B&B triflow exhaust. I do need a tranny cross member, springs(optional), K-member, gas pedal, gauges(optional), and air lid, but I already have a couple of places that I can pick those up and am adding that into my budget.
Other than that there really shouldnt be anything I need, well besides the engine, tranny and PCM. Many v6 4th gens have done the swap and state there is really nothing to difficult about it. Thanks for your thoughts but Ive done my research and am going through with the project.
Thanks,
Shane

Cool. It sounds like you do have all your needs addressed. It should be a fun project. Typically when this question is asked here the person has no idea what will be involved, and I assumed you were in that situation. I was mistaken. I wish your project the best, and please post pictures of the swap for us to admire.

[snatchss454]

Thanks for the support! I will definately keep you posted.
Thanks,
Shane

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

Shane...

all I have to say is, don't drop in a basic, stock LS1. You are at a stage on this project that a lot of people would kill to be at. You can drop anything you want into that engine bay. Sure the LS1 is awesome... but with the motor out, you should take advantage of this and do things such as: stroker crank, rods, pistons, cam, and heads.

I know the LS1 is gonna be a big power boost over the V6... but you are alwyas going to want more power. Take advantage of this, and drop in something wicked

[snatchss454]

Jay,
I completely understand what your saying, but my plans are to have a solid full bolt on daily driver(for now). By bolt on I mean, headers, lid, maf, TB, etc etc etc, and do a nice tune. Hopefully somewhere around 350hp, then later down the road I want to throw on a supercharger.
I wouldnt mind doing a mild cam right now but I havent found anything that suits me and is emissions friendly(not sure if Ill be in Fl 5yrs from now) with not alot of lope. I like the sound of this one http://www.ls2.com/forums/showthread...68#post1292268
but Im not sure what else was done to the car to put out those kind of numbers.
Thanks,
Shane

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

350 at the wheels or at the engine?

You will have 350 at the engine as soon as the engine goes in to the car.

I have 345 horsepower at the rear wheels. My mods are lid, airfilter, plugs, wires, PPC long-tube headers, off-road y-pipe, Corsa cat-back, and LS1edit tuning by Speed, Inc.

If you plan to do a supercahrger later, this is all the more reason to do some supporting engine mods now... i.e. forged botom end, and lower compression pistons.

I have been learing this recently... too many people think of a supercharger and an engine as two seperate things. They consider a supercharger something they can "throw on" an engine. What you should really consider it as, is a "supercharged engine" rather than "an engine with a supercharger."

I would talk with some tuners, and find a heads/cam setup that will optimize the supercahrger as well. i.e. higher LSA numbers on the cam, and better flowing heads.

But that's gonna put out serious horsepower. We are talking over 550 to the rear wheels. If you are shooting for 350 to the wheels, it is as simple as I stated above. But I can tell you from experience, as fast as that is, you are gonna want more

[DanB.]

I've done quite a few LS1 conversions, the next one being my 87 Olds Cutlass 442. Its a fun job if you have the proper tools!

[hotwhip9]

Don't the brakes needed to be upgraded then, for a v8 swap? just something else to consider in. I know my bud who did an lt1 sway had to replace his entire brake system. Master cylinder, lines, calipers, pads, rotors, brackets. Since his was rear drum, made it into discs.

[snatchss454]

Don't the brakes needed to be upgraded then, for a v8 swap? just something else to consider in. I know my bud who did an lt1 sway had to replace his entire brake system. Master cylinder, lines, calipers, pads, rotors, brackets. Since his was rear drum, made it into discs.

Nope, I think in 98 or 99 they swapped them all to 4 wheel disc brakes. If you run my VIN it comes back as a Z28 for some reason. Where did your friend have his swap done? Any way Im not planning an all out dragster here so I think 350 at the wheels will tide me over until I save up enough for whatever future mods I plan.
I think you guys fail to realize that I had my car dynoed with just a muffler and got 175 at the wheels , now if I throw in an engine with 350hp Ill be 175 above my base dyno, I think I should be able to live with that for a few months. I need to become familiar with that amount of power and how the car handles then also. Maybe I will be satisfied with that amount of power(doubtful) and want to focus on other things like handling, cosmetics or sound system. Besides thats enough power to pretty much take on 90% of the cars on the streets and Im not a drag racer or anything I just like the feel of the power when you slam the gas.
I would do a streetable cam but I dont think I would do ported heads, maybe rockers and springs to compliment the cam but thats all. I just dont want to take it that far. I think if I ran 5-7psi of boost on a super or turbo with a good tune I should be fine on stock internals. Which would also make for a killer street car pushing out somewhere in the neighborhood of 420-450rwhp. When you get to that amount of HP I need to start beefing up other things besides just the motor .
Thanks for the input and conversation guys and gals.
Shane

[hotwhip9]

my bud was lucky, his dad owned a shop, he had a v6 to start with, bought a totalled ws6 with motor and tranny. there are some shops here, in nc that more than likely would do the swap and are reputable. One is steve ashworth performance, in fuquay varina, or something like that town. They are in the back of a lot of the f-body magazines, such as gm high tech performance. I've been to the shop, seen a lot of their work and talked to their customers. Another shop, the one that rebuilt my ls1 is automotive performance in fayetteville nc. Let me know if you want me to find the phone numbers for them, if you want them.

[snatchss454]

Thanks for the Info man. If I dont have any other options Ill let you know. By the way are you still in the army? I just got out last november.
Shane