My 97 LT1 engine swap into my 1997 camaro

[jeffp1167]

I purchased this 1997 Camaro brand new in late 1998 after ordering a 98 camaro and being mislead by the dealership that the 98 camaro would look identical to the 1997. After learning about what would be different I cancelled my order and the dealership did a dealer to dealer search and came up with this one.

It had the 3.8 v6 with automatic, Y87 performance package, chrome wheels, fully loaded except for leather and T-Tops (both of which I hate) It came with a medium grey interior, nicer AM/FM CD radio.

I drove this car 151K miles with no major issues, to date it is still in excellent shape. Only mods ever done to the car are 17x9.5 & 17x11 ZR1 replica rims.

Then over last 5 years I have wanted more power without the hassles of modifying the 3.8.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/82vette/97camaro001-1.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/82vette/97camaro001-1.jpg.html)

[Blackbird96WS6]

Looks great! There are some members here who have done the V6 to V8 swap (@meissen for one), they can tell you how much of a hassle it's going to be.

[jeffp1167]

About 4 weeks ago while looking on craigslist I found this 1997 Z28. Owner stated car overheats, won't pass smog, shop recommended to him needs new engine. Selling price was 1,000.00. But what can you expect for a grand right? But I figure it would give me the year correct stuff for california smog legal swap.

Car was about 75 miles away in a town called san juan capistrano. So my girlfriend and I drove my car to at least look at it. While the prior owner and I were talking and car was left idling for about 30 minutes (of which it never over heated just went up to between 1/2 way between 210 and 3rd mark on the temp gauge and fans came on and brought down temp.

I noticed the upper plastic radiator cover gone and then looked under car and air dam was gone.

The LT1 seemed to run really nice, no smoke or odd noises so I told the seller we have a deal. Drove the car 75 miles home of which it performed excellent and while yes it ran hot it never overheated nor did it smell like it was overheating.

But for a grand we got a 1/2 way decent looking z28 LOL

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130907_171052_zpsa6bed77e.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130907_171052_zpsa6bed77e.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130907_171122_zps42e3ecb1.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130907_171122_zps42e3ecb1.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130907_171705_zps3a62ea16.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130907_171705_zps3a62ea16.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130907_171715_zps1e0c5e29.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130907_171715_zps1e0c5e29.jpg.html)

[Blackbird96WS6]

Damn, you practically stole that car! Toss the air dam and radiator cover back on it and I bet you it'll run back in normal temp range. They get hot easily without the air dam on there. I'd almost say don't even bother with the swap and keep both cars, the Z28 for fun and to build up as you please, the V6 as a daily driver/gas saver.

[jeffp1167]

The original plan was to just strip the z28 and send it's shell to the junk yard but then my girlfriend took very quick interest in the looks of the Z28 (she has a 2003 ford taurus) So that is where the swap took a turn, I wanted a V8 and she wanted a camaro.

Prior to the swap I needed to make sure the LT1 was really ok, so we took airdam off my camaro and put it on the z28 temporarily cleared it's PCM codes and the z28 passed smog with ease (go figure) My camaro also passed smog so now both car are registerable even with swaps.

Well we sat down and came up with since I have a good running 3.8 and auto lets build the z28 for you. Dont let z28 pictures deceive you it has quite a few issues.

[jeffp1167]

Damn, you practically stole that car! Toss the air dam and radiator cover back on it and I bet you it'll run back in normal temp range. They get hot easily without the air dam on there. I'd almost say don't even bother with the swap and keep both cars, the Z28 for fun and to build up as you please, the V6 as a daily driver/gas saver.

Fuel mileage isn't a concern. I also have a 1997 firebird 3.8 with a 5 speed that does very good on gas.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20firebird/97camarotoday009_zpsfac2ed74.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20firebird/97camarotoday009_zpsfac2ed74.jpg.html)

[Blackbird96WS6]

Nice! Both cars look really clean, you must take good care of them.

[jeffp1167]

The white 97 firebird was bought for 1,000 with a bad engine. Found a recently rebuilt 3.8 out of a wrecked 96 firebird and put it in and car has been great.

[jeffp1167]

So we started he stripping process, keep in mind all electrical and electronics are being swapped from each car

Z28

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130910_182107_zps237def5a.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130910_182107_zps237def5a.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130910_182113_zps28c8b186.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130910_182113_zps28c8b186.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130910_182121_zps3bbbeec3.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130910_182121_zps3bbbeec3.jpg.html)

My camaro

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20130913_140110_zpsc4a2e4ba.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20130913_140110_zpsc4a2e4ba.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20130912_171111_zps75399f0f.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20130912_171111_zps75399f0f.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20130913_140123_zps4979d993.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20130913_140123_zps4979d993.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

while I did this my girlfriend started cleaning all her carpet and seats.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130911_181738_zps5978a774.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130911_181738_zps5978a774.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130911_181754_zps9eda6718.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130911_181754_zps9eda6718.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

A few differences I found was

A/c evaporator cores, ABS module since the z28 had traction control, couple difference between underhood body harness, fuel pumps, rear ends.

[jeffp1167]

Rearend differences were here

z28 has 2 speed sensors

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130915_184031_zpseb224b23.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130915_184031_zpseb224b23.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130915_184014_zpsb23ab777.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130915_184014_zpsb23ab777.jpg.html)

where the harness is bolted here, my 3.8 rearend has a speed sensor. So both rears were swapped as well.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130915_184023_zps96d15701.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130915_184023_zps96d15701.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

My camaro dash wired up with z28 harness. Had to because z28 had the 6 speaker system with cd changer and amp.

Sorry some swapping wasn't pictured, did this because it is the same anyways.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20131001_120746_534_zpsbdb32c3f.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20131001_120746_534_zpsbdb32c3f.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

Because of evaporator core differences both evaporator cases were changed as well.

Z28 case out. The difference is the way the a/c lines attach

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130911_181710_zpsc7cfd308.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130911_181710_zpsc7cfd308.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130911_181638_zps6e706807.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130911_181638_zps6e706807.jpg.html)

My camaro case out

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20130913_142834_zps8418aaaf.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20130913_142834_zps8418aaaf.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20130913_142823_zps8522ab9e.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20130913_142823_zps8522ab9e.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

The engine drops start. This was a cradle drop so not much was removed and this is how the LT1 will be put back up under my camaro

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130921_110346_zpsc4caf6ef.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130921_110346_zpsc4caf6ef.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130921_110413_zpsadb45e10.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130921_110413_zpsadb45e10.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130921_120122_zps407ba7f2.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130921_120122_zps407ba7f2.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130921_120131_zps64fd1b88.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130921_120131_zps64fd1b88.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130921_121928_zps33481216.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130921_121928_zps33481216.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

fuel pumps being transferred

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20131010_132631_zps4f810cbb.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20131010_132631_zps4f810cbb.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20131010_140647_zps88ff98c7.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20131010_140647_zps88ff98c7.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

3.8 out of my camaro, sorry was a picture taken at 1am.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20130921_191709_zps523953a2.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20130921_191709_zps523953a2.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

rearend out of my camaro

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20130916_152111_927_zps2396c209.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20130916_152111_927_zps2396c209.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

My camaro prepped under hood for LT1 to go back in

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20130922_120830_zps569ebf3e.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20130922_120830_zps569ebf3e.jpg.html)

LT1 partially in

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20130922_141702_zps6a18bffe.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20130922_141702_zps6a18bffe.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20130925_112150_522_zpsd012aa81.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20130925_112150_522_zpsd012aa81.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20130928_090409_366_zps1d29a34e.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20130928_090409_366_zps1d29a34e.jpg.html)

[Green94Maro]

Progress is looking great! I did this two summers ago and I don't regret it at all. Keep up the good work

[jeffp1167]

Hit one large snag, while doing this I managed to hit the oil pan on the rack and pinion. Causing a very loud tappin noise. Luckily motor only had to be raised as far up as possible and cradle dropped a few inches to get the pan off.

Here is what the LT1 looked like inside surprisingly Car had 121K so expected it to look worse

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20131005_175357_zps14911fe7.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20131005_175357_zps14911fe7.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20131005_175350_zpsd6043aa4.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20131005_175350_zpsd6043aa4.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20131005_175345_zps4e051b44.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20131005_175345_zps4e051b44.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20131005_175328_zps8253c0b5.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20131005_175328_zps8253c0b5.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

here you can see where the crank or rods were hitting the pan, hammered the pan and reinstalled and no more noise

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20131005_175906_zpse6641c1c.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20131005_175906_zpse6641c1c.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

all stuff hooked up on my camaro

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/001_zps9b4ef67b.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/001_zps9b4ef67b.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/002_zps00741deb.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/002_zps00741deb.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/003_zps4f338dbf.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/003_zps4f338dbf.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

Camaro Z28? Nope Camaro Z38 now!

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20130922_082317_zps14522356.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20130922_082317_zps14522356.jpg.html)

everything almost hooked up

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/IMG_20130926_155107_512_zps549feaf7.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/IMG_20130926_155107_512_zps549feaf7.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

Onto the interiors

Her z38 all back together

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20131011_090613_zpsd6ac6500.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20131011_090613_zpsd6ac6500.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20131011_090654_zps54ec633f.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20131011_090654_zps54ec633f.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20131011_090716_zpsdd3335cf.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20131011_090716_zpsdd3335cf.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20131011_131216_zps2d4e19ab.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20131011_131216_zps2d4e19ab.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20131011_131228_zps1a88ed5d.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/20131011_131228_zps1a88ed5d.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

My camaro all back together

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20131018_144953_zpsba86df44.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20131018_144953_zpsba86df44.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20131018_145010_zps888e4515.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20131018_145010_zps888e4515.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20131018_145016_zps1a6bf083.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20131018_145016_zps1a6bf083.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

My a/c evacuated and holding

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20131022_113757_731_zpsc6ab17db.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20131022_113757_731_zpsc6ab17db.jpg.html)

Charged and blowing at about 42 degrees

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20131022_140003_574_zps3d9b04f2.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20131022_140003_574_zps3d9b04f2.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

Her z38 evacuated and holding

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20131002_130955_054_zps5ae09262.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20131002_130955_054_zps5ae09262.jpg.html)

Charged and blowing a hair above 40 degrees

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20131022_122413_964_zps2b81d983.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/IMG_20131022_122413_964_zps2b81d983.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

Her in her z38 click pictures to play them, this was first time it moved under it's own power again

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/th_20131011_133054_zpsa4222c17.jpg (http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/20131011_133054_zpsa4222c17.mp4)

[jeffp1167]

Here is my camaro at road speed. Remember I said prior owner said motor overheats? This is where coolant temp stays around at all times at road spped

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20131018_155826_zpsb4710986.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20131018_155826_zpsb4710986.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

Yes, in case you all noticed. Every possible thing was change on both cars right down to the clusters (hence why my camaro now has 150mph cluster)

[jeffp1167]

My camaro now. No other mods are being thought about, car will remain badgeless (no z28 emblems) love the sleeper look and yes it has caught a few cars off guard!

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20131018_154341_zpsbe2369ec.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20131018_154341_zpsbe2369ec.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20131018_154324_zps258fbe4d.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20131018_154324_zps258fbe4d.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

I know many 3.8 guys say hey I gave a z28 one heck of a hard run! Well sorry to burst your bubble, when my camaro was a 3.8 it even had the 3.42 disc rear with y87 3800 series2 performance package.

There IS JUST no comparisson my camaro seems radically faster now, handling wise again no comparison. Fuel mileage wise the 3.8 provided marginally better economy though.

[jeffp1167]

While no outside appearance changes will be done or needed on my camaro hers is another story.

Remember it had black rims? Those have been stripped and repainted

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/IMG_20131024_135626_217_zpse79803d2.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/IMG_20131024_135626_217_zpse79803d2.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/IMG_20131024_153240_915_zps8913252a.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/IMG_20131024_153240_915_zps8913252a.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/IMG_20131025_165955_392_zpsbf316df6.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/IMG_20131025_165955_392_zpsbf316df6.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

We also changed the hatch and trunk lifts on her car. Got all it idiotic bubba'ed HID lights that were electrical taped into the stock light housing and then baling wired in place fixed.

We went to 2 junk yards and found every possible thing to put the lights (including driving lights) back to original including all factory light retainers.

spent about 160.00 on everything

high price yes but she complained as well about the painted flat black ugly mirrors. How to fix it? Well we lucked out and found to very nice gloss black mirrors on a 2000

Before

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/IMG_20131024_132501_644_zpsd8b00099.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/IMG_20131024_132501_644_zpsd8b00099.jpg.html)

after

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/IMG_20131024_132515_428_zps68e30f71.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/IMG_20131024_132515_428_zps68e30f71.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20z28/IMG_20131024_132531_628_zps38f36a8f.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20z28/IMG_20131024_132531_628_zps38f36a8f.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

Our next plan with the camaro's, take them both to Irwindale and race together for fun.

[jeffp1167]

Here is my camaro all cleaned up

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97%20CAMARO/20131101_174306_zpsd20dc12f.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97%20CAMARO/20131101_174306_zpsd20dc12f.jpg.html)

[popo8]

Wow man... great write up, amd make the swaps look so easy.

Great Job!!!

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[jeffp1167]

Wow man... great write up, amd make the swaps look so easy.

Great Job!!!

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

Was actually pretty easy, took me about 4 weeks to do everything. But much easier when you have a donor car, I just got lucky is all and found my donor car for a grand. We have finally done some spirited driving with the two cars, needless to say my old drivetrain in her car doesn't fair well against the LT1.

Handling has also improved considerably, every z28 suspension part was used in this swap as well.

Gas mileage wise it averages about 3-4 mpg less then the original 3.8 on day to day fill ups. I haven't had the opportunity to see what it does with freeway mpg though.

There is some I left out, and didn't take pictures of such as the complete abs pump swap, ASR changes etc. But everything possible works as it did in the z28 and you can not tell my camaro didn't come from the factory without a V8 except of course the VIN number.

Glad you all enjoyed the thread, BTW nothing had to be drilled, cut or anything for this swap. All necessary holes for what is relocated in a different spot for the LT1 was already there on my camaro.

[jeffp1167]

So doing some detail type work to my camaro. I bought a LT1 intake manifold to polish for it. I also bought a second 100% complete LT1 intake I will polish up.

Here is after 2 hours of sanding on it.

Has a nice smooth surface but still a lot of sanding to do.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/3800/lt1%20manifold/IMG_20131210_133437_295_zpsbd7f0c26.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/3800/lt1%20manifold/IMG_20131210_133437_295_zpsbd7f0c26.jpg.html)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/3800/lt1%20manifold/IMG_20131210_133409_863_zps766d6bd0.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/3800/lt1%20manifold/IMG_20131210_133409_863_zps766d6bd0.jpg.html)

[jeffp1167]

Fuel mileage isn't a concern. I also have a 1997 firebird 3.8 with a 5 speed that does very good on gas.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/97 firebird/97camarotoday009_zpsfac2ed74.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/97 firebird/97camarotoday009_zpsfac2ed74.jpg.html)

Also decided to start polishing a 3800 manifold for my firebird

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/jproz1167/3800/IMG_20131127_162200_262_zpsa5e0b946.jpg (http://s186.photobucket.com/user/jproz1167/media/3800/IMG_20131127_162200_262_zpsa5e0b946.jpg.html)

[TurtleTamer]

Wow, kind of neat to see this over here after you put some of these pics up in my thread over on TGO. Maybe I should move my swap thread over here.

[jeffp1167]

Wow, kind of neat to see this over here after you put some of these pics up in my thread over on TGO. Maybe I should move my swap thread over here.

hey whats up turtletamer. Yeah you will get far better ltx info here then on tgo. Mostly kids on tgo that know only about their mighty 305 haha.

[TurtleTamer]

Yeah, not much love over there for the LT1 I noticed. Since mines a ground-up build I thought it would be cool to chronicle there. Think I'll start one here though as it's getting good and thick.