L92 vs LS3, L92 controller?

[Samckitt]

I will soon be working on an L92 swap into the Monte. So until the motor shows up I have been doing some research & wondering some things. First off there isn't alot of options for a PCM controller for the L92 other than stock. A new harness from Speartech is up near $1000. A controller kit from Pace/GM Performance parts contains a harness, PCM, MAF, O2 sensors & is for $900, BUT it is for an LS3. A controller kit from Mast contains a new harness, M-90 computer, Corvette pedal, air filter, & IAT sensor for near $2000. So I am sortof leaning towards taking off the VVT. If I do that is it basically the same as an LS3, other than the intake, which I think I will have to change too.

[Ron.in.SoCal]

LS3 also has the soda filled valves and I think a diff cam?

[Camaro Zach]

First why the l92 gen IV? Any particular reason? You can pick up the l92/ls3 heads/intake and put them on a genIII lq4 or ls2 and have many more wiring options.


If you are set on the l92 would def. remove the vvt and get an aftermarket cam. A buddy of mine modifies stock harnesses and makes them into a stand alone that is easy to wire into your car. I would try and get the harness, ecm and tcm out of the vehicle the motor comes out of.

[Samckitt]

Why? Because it has tons of power from the factory without touching it. Initially I was thinking I would drop it in as-is without changing much. And because it is what is available at a good price. How much does your buddy charge to modify a stock harness?

[Bow Tie 67]

I converted the L92 with a used LS3 intake, upgraded the valve springs and push rods, ditched the VVT which requires LS2 front timing cover, and correct timing chain and sprockets and used the GMPP LS3 wiring kit ( includes, maf with mount, o2 sensors, pcm, wiring harness, and gas pedal. ) Andrew Boudine did the same conversion with a slightly different intake. He has a thread which has information on this conversion.

[Samckitt]

I converted the L92 with a used LS3 intake, upgraded the valve springs and push rods, ditched the VVT which requires LS2 front timing cover, and correct timing chain and sprockets and used the GMPP LS3 wiring kit ( includes, maf with mount, o2 sensors, pcm, wiring harness, and gas pedal. ) Andrew Boudine did the same conversion with a slightly different intake. He has a thread which has information on this conversion.

I am leaning towards that too. Not sure if I am keeping the VVT, what did parts cost to switch from VVT to standard setup? $2000 for a VVT equipped harness, computer, pedal, O2 sensors, etc seems nuts to me.

[pedro]

I got a L92 w/LS3 intake, custom cam, etc from Frank and just had it tuned at VA Speed (443RWHP) so I don't know the individual prices of the components. But after doing a quick search I think you will be close to or exceed the 2K for the L92 stuff especally after you factor in a tune. I guess it depends on what you have now and what your future plans are for the engine.

Pete

[Bow Tie 67]

I am leaning towards that too. Not sure if I am keeping the VVT, what did parts cost to switch from VVT to standard setup? $2000 for a VVT equipped harness, computer, pedal, O2 sensors, etc seems nuts to me.

I bought the parts used and a new GMPP harness so around 1200 - 1300 with harness.

[Camaro Zach]

Fair enough. The parts to delete the vvt are cheap - less than 200bucks plus cam.

My buddy charges 250 to modify an original harness and 250 for a tune

[Nick]

I did the same in my 68 Camaro. L92 engine, LS3used intake and TB from an LS3 Vette, ditched the VVT using used parts and used the LS3 GMPP controller kit.

[steinepstein]

I guess I'd like to know exactly how much the net cost is to remove the VVT. If the VVT delete is $200 but the additionally harness work is $250, I'm all for VVT. I have a hard time believing VVT is not beneficial in terms of low end torque.

[DRTHVDR]

Does anyone know how to run VVT in a swap yet? Do you HAVE to go with MAST and their ECU + harness?
I can't get my car to fire the injectors. I have a L92 stock with a LS3 Throttle body and intake.

[srh3trinity]

If anybody is doing this swap, I have a car intake that I am going to have to sell. I bought it initially and I picked up another one that is fully dressed for a steal, so this new bare intake is going to be up for grabs. I am freshening up an LQ4 and going with the LS3 heads. Before that, I had put a lot of thought into going with an LY6 or L92. The VVT is intriguing, but I was a little bothered by the lack of aftermarket support when I got ready to buy an engine and scored a cheap LQ4.

[Chad-1stGen]

Does anyone know how to run VVT in a swap yet? Do you HAVE to go with MAST and their ECU + harness?
I can't get my car to fire the injectors. I have a L92 stock with a LS3 Throttle body and intake.

Look for user name problemchild on camaros.net or LS1tech.com He had this exact problem though I'm not sure he posted the fix. You could PM him. Assuming you had the VATs disabled the other popular issue seems to be a missing starter circuit signal if you fail to hook up the signal wire to the starter. Some part of the ECM check before it will fire the fuel injectors.

[DRTHVDR]

Chad-1stGen, thank you for the advice.

I Found a solution: I had to send my L92 ECU to Speartech and he was able to FULLY remove VATS. I think he uses Tech II or some GM only software that gets up to date coding and security updates.

I had TWO people that used HP Tuners and both said that VATS was turned off. But it was not fully turned off. Perhaps it has something to do with it being a Cadillac ecu. There was more security functions that needed to be disabled than say a GTO LS2 ECU. I spoke with a GM aftermarket Tuner and harness guy that told me he has had difficulty in cracking modern Cadillac ECU's, namly a CTS V-6.

Anyway...All my efforts have paid off and resulted in the following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGeXQwu5SnU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOQPFYWi3Ck

[scherp69]

For those that were asking about costs associated to deleting the VVT, I just bought some of the stuff to delete mine. The cam, springs, retainers and pushrods cost me just under $900. For an extra $130 I got a LS2 timing cover with sensor and a 3 bolt timing gear. I was told since my motor is new, I didn't need to get a new timing chain and just needed the 3 bolt timing gear with the existing chain. The cam I ordered is a hydraulic roller, but again since the motor is new, I can use the existing roller lifters. I then ordered a Speartech harness. The harness was $1295 (it says $1395 on his site so I guess his prices have come down a bit) and that included the custom length to put the ECU in my glove box and to lengthen the coils wires as they are being relocated. John also tunes it if you know the specs of your cam. I've heard though that you will still want to get it tuned again. If you didn't want to spend the money on a Speartech harness, you could get the GM LS376/480hp ECU for around $800 on Ebay.

[DRTHVDR]

That seems VERY steep to convert an L92 to non-VVT.
Take that money and cam a LS3 and your power/cost will be greater/lower.
Plus you'll get the nicer looking car harness in lieu of the truck style.

[scherp69]

That seems VERY steep to convert an L92 to non-VVT.
Take that money and cam a LS3 and your power/cost will be greater/lower.
Plus you'll get the nicer looking car harness in lieu of the truck style.

I agree it is quite high...but I also went with some parts that cost me more. I think the swap could be done for a lot cheaper if you wanted to get an ECU/harness from a wrecker or like I said, even the GM harness new. I wanted the Speartech as I've heard so much good about them. I could've went with a more stock cam and used the stock springs and pushrods. Since I'm putting a cam in, it was recommended that I get double springs and chromemoly pushrods, so I did. If someone was able to get a pull out L92 and already had the ECU, they would be able to do the delete for $127 and the price of a cam. My pricing was having a new crate motor with nothing else and having to start from scratch. Was just giving guys an idea of what I paid.

The cost I had for deleting the VVT was regarding the intake. I sold the truck intake with TB and injectors. I can't remember what I got for it but I think it was around $300 or $350. For LS3 intake/TB and injectors I paid $360 plus shipped for everything so I'm not really out much there.