About to take LS1 plung..need advice

[GothamCity]

Since you most of you have done the swap already. This will be a lm7 swap form 03 engine going into 72 cutlass I need some advice.
I have found a shop here in Houston that will do the swap fro $1500.00 which includes getting the exhaust connected,all wiring and completly running, theyll also pull exsisting olds350/th350. I will provide all major stuff lm7/460le,ls1 intake,f-body water pump,ls1 oil pan,f-body exhaust manis,f-body shifter, modified wiring harness,and flash ecm, my mounts, tranny, motor and converter bolts.and ...Good deal or is that high???

[LS1-IROC]

$1500 seems like a smoking deal if they do the job correctly. When I did my LS swap I spent countless hours getting everything done properly down to the nats ass.

Now, if they do a half-ass job then it's not worth it.

I say skip the risk and do it yourself.:yeah:

[Taylor1969]

thats 21 hours at $70... seems low to me actually. They are either working for $20 an hour or doing shoddy work.

Chris

[GothamCity]

@LS1 IROC...good to hear that, and if I thought I could handle this myself I'd save that $1500.00 I think I have to recognize my limitations. I have never pulled an engine let alone put one in, and then do the wiring and fuel system from tank..out of my realm of expertise...
@tayl0r1969..i have seen his work and dude is awesome...

[LS1-IROC]

@LS1 IROC...good to hear that, and if I thought I could handle this myself I'd save that $1500.00 I think I have to recognize my limitations. I have never pulled an engine let alone put one in, and then do the wiring and fuel system from tank..out of my realm of expertise...
@tayl0r1969..i have seen his work and dude is awesome...

I'll play devils advocate here...if you don't start somewhere, you will never know how to do it.:cheers:

I did my first engine swap when I was 18 years old and still wet behind the ears....it turned out okay...now all these years later, and many swaps....it's really pretty simple stuff.

[evostilo]

I took out my Inline 6 and droped a LS1/4l60e in my camaro engine not running yet still need a shop to do my wireing and fuel lines, but this was my first time and it was esay

[andrewb70]

I agree with what's been said. $1500 bucks seems pretty low for the work involved unless the guy just really want to do it for cheap. If he just works out of his house and has low overhead, then maybe that would be good. If his work is indeed "awesome" like you say, then it is worth it.

There is also a great deal of satisfaction from doing the work yourself. If you have any mechanical aptitude at all, you can do it. This website is a great resource, and there is a sticky on LS1tech.com specifically for a-body swaps. You can check out my build thread for a step-by-step of replacing a BBC with a LSx:

https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?40904-1970-GTO-Version-2.0

The other benefit to doing it yourself is that if anything goes wrong, you will not be lost. You would have the knowledge of what you did and that will help you diagnose any future problems.

Andrew

[Taylor1969]

yep... literally if you can put together a puzzle and/or Legos... you can do a swap. All it takes is $500 in tools (jack, mechanics set, a rented cherry picker), etc. and you are good to go.

It really does make give a huge amount of satisfaction to be able to say you did it yourself.

People are amazed when I open the hood and say "I did that"...

[Taylor1969]

oh... i forgot patience... and about twice the time you expect it to take.

[GothamCity]

Thanks guys, for the vote of confidence....still havent pulled the trigger just yet!!

[daytonayellaz]

I have to chime in here..... Im going to fully agree with all the above posts, You can do this! You have the best support group right here on this board to give you all the advice and coaching along the way. Its going to take you longer than some of us, your going to have some bruised knuckles, maybe a swear word or two..... but the reward is well worth it. Now get after it!! :cheers: One more thing...The extraction of the old will be pretty self explanatory, but ask if needed. More importantly.... on the install... if you run into a situation where you dont know 100% what to do, dont plow forward with out asking here first. Better to be safe than sorry. Ok, now get after it..LOL

[rp0029]

I WISH I could have paid $1500 right in the beginning to have someone do it for me. That said, it seems too good to be true. Here and LS1Tech "Conversions and Hybrids" section - awesome stuff if you want to do it yourself.

[Trevor @ Texas Speed]

I would ask for references of other customers that have had the same work done by them. $1,500 is VERY CHEAP for a shop to charge for a complete swap! I would want to speak to others that have had it done by them for that price. While the swap isn't overly difficult, you definitely need a shop that knows what they're doing. I would also ask for a written estimate so you have in writing what is specifically included for that price. We e-mail estimates to all of our customers before taking a vehicle in for any work so there is not any misunderstanding as to what we are quoting and what is included.

My $.02 :)

Trevor
Texas Speed & Performance

[sevillaz28]

I agree with all of the above. You can come here and get all of the help you need. $1,500 is way to cheap to do a clean LS Swap. Its a fairly easy job to do and really won't take much time. Just make sure you have every thing you need " Shopping list can be provided" to do the swap. Since your going with an auto is even easier. I have done this a few times "15" and stock most of the little things " fittings, fuel filter/regulator, harness and other things" needed in my garage. There is some detail work on these swaps so if your going to have a shop do it, have them give you the break down on what exactly they are going to to for $1,500. Good luck with your project.

[GothamCity]

Getting fairly close to finishing up the shopping list:
I need to purchase the bolts that mount my tranny to the engine block. Transmission 4l60E engine LM7 5.3 flexplate still attached to block. Who has them and how much am I looking to spend.

[GothamCity]

Getting fairly close to finishing up the shopping list:
I need to purchase the bolts that mount my tranny to the engine block. Transmission 4l60E engine LM7 5.3 flexplate still attached to block. Who has them and how much am I looking to spend.

since I have an 03 lm7 can I go with an external tank/pump setup..I have converted to the ls1 style intake will this work
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fuel-Filter-Kit-LS1-LS6-LS2-LS3-LS7-Engine-Corvette-/400219847299?_trksid=p4340.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC.NPJS%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUA%26o tn%3D5%26pmod%3D190527105684%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D4 063652111640200761

[Drew2672]

That is just the filter so you have a return line. You would still need a pump. I haven't done a swap yet so there are some others on here that may direct you to a good pump source. Also as stated above, I suggest checking out LS1tech for the amount of swaps that are on there. I think you could possibly piece that filter kit together yourself for less money. Just look on there.

[GothamCity]

Update: Still getting parts, just got new speedo(electrical)LS6 springs(they are blue now)purchasing headers on mONDAY...got my b-body tank,and fuel pump, now I need a used Z06/LS6 cam....Does anyone know someone who's selling one???? I am ready...paypal allday or if it's local in Houston I can meet

[GeoffP]

Summit has the LS6 cams for sale on eBay for $300 and some change. It's the best deal I've found for one except for used (which I haven't seen one listed lately).

[GothamCity]

Summit has the LS6 cams for sale on eBay for $300 and some change. It's the best deal I've found for one except for used (which I haven't seen one listed lately).

thx for the info....

[garys 68]

On the fuel system. Go with the 96 Caprice tank ($100), Racetronix pump upgrade ($125), 02 corvette fuel filter/regulator ($35) and save yourself a lot of money by using OEM plastic line/fittings.

[GothamCity]

Thanks guys for information. The swap is coming along nicely, they guy got the olds350 out he ended removing the stock a/c to put the engine in. We are using trans adapt motor mounts and it looks great sitting in there. He had to pull it to get it lined up correctly, at this point my p/s pulley isn't hitting the stock p/s pump. I ended up putting in LS6 springs and zo6 cam and going with ls1 intake. So I am wanting to run my stock p/s gearbox. So any ideas on budget hoses and fittings. I live in Houston so if you know of any local places that would be great. Also will be getting the car repainted satin black as well, with ZO6 fender stripes. I did go with the Caprice tank as mentioned above. Hopefully I will get her back the second week in May

[garys 68]

Driving with the stock steering box really felt like an old school bus. Consider the 95 Jeep grand cherokee box, Dorman 31011 rag joint, 85 Monte Carlo hose.
If you keep the old box, you can use the LM7 hose, cut off the steering box end, put the Olds end on it, 45 degree double flare it. I did that before going to the Jeep box.

[trex1270]

I have a comp cam... I will get you the specs tomorrow. Have to go to Nacogdoches in the morning. When i get back I'll send you the specs....100 bucks

[GothamCity]

Update she lives the Punisher breathes if only for a brief moment. My buddy has completed the tank, mounted the engine wired it up and now will finishing up loose ends, then comes the repaint. Satin black. I tried to load the video but couldnt get it upload. She's dirty and needs to be powerwashed and the firewall needs to be smoothed out..but she's coming along nicely

[GothamCity]

Ok guys car is home, and I need some help finishing up some things. I have a f-body a/t shifter I plan to use, but what cable do I NEED? I got one of ebay but had some parts missing on(got scammed)..I bought one from local gm dealership it's too short.I am using 41l60e out of 03 yukon. Also when I put the car in gear it dies..it idles in in park and nutreal. Needless to say it was fun pushing the car into the garage. The guy that did the work got in over his head and we ended up in heated exhange since he didnt do what he said he would, and admitted I am not sure how to to hook this up...(lesson learn you get what u pay for)...