[Steve91T]

So I've got a 97 SS that now looks like a mismatched LS1 SS. I'm running a craigslist LT1 that's bone stock, down to the mani's and Y pipe. The engine sat for years before I got it. I did a dry compression and leak down test and my numbers were all over the place. I took the chance that it just needed to be run. Long story short, it took a while but it started to run pretty good. So now I've done 3 track days and it and it blew me away. I fully expected to go home with no less than half of the Pistons I started the day with. Not only did it not miss a beat, it used at most 1/2 quart of oil, no smoke, and seemed happy as hell all day long.

So my plan was for an LS1 swap later this year. But now I'm thinking this engine might be healthier than I thought. TT3 rules require me to have around 350 rwhp for my comp weight (3400 lbs). I can knock 100 lbs off the nose by going to an LS1 and light flywheel and clutch. The problem I have is my LT1 isn't worth anything. $500? Maybe? I figure the LS1 swap will cost me at least $3k. But LT's, cam and tune will be about $1500. I figure both should get me close enough to 350 rwhp.

Right now I'm way down on power, so I have to do something. I really want an LS1, but is it worth an extra $1500? At the same time I'm afraid I'm going to buy headers and a cam and the next day it's going to blow up. What would you guys do?

[dailydriver]

^^^Yes, that is EXACTLY WHY I am willing to drive (or flatbed if needs be) the car down there, and pay the hotel expense for three+ days to wait around while they do the swap, so that when the engine they install is a dud, they have NO excuse to NOT to replace it with a good one. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I was also thinking about the full engine/trans swap, especially since they will give me a $1000.00 'core' for MY 180K mile T56, but then you are at the mercy of whatever clutch is in that set up, and it can be the crappy stock Valeo weakling if the miles are low enough. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

This post has been edited by dailydriver: May 31 2016, 10:36 PM

[Steve91T]

^^^Yes, that is EXACTLY WHY I am willing to drive (or flatbed if needs be) the car down there, and pay the hotel expense for three+ days to wait around while they do the swap, so that when the engine they install is a dud, they have NO excuse to NOT to replace it with a good one. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I was also thinking about the full engine/trans swap, especially since they will give me a $1000.00 'core' for MY 180K mile T56, but then you are at the mercy of whatever clutch is in that set up, and it can be the crappy stock Valeo weakling if the miles are low enough. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

How much do they charge to do the swap? I've pulled my engine before and it's really not that hard, so I'll definitely save the money and do it myself.

I think ultimately it makes sense to sell my engine/tranny for as much as I can and get the LS1. In the long run, it makes more sense to do that than put any money at all into my LT1.

[dailydriver]

^^^Yes, that is EXACTLY WHY I am willing to drive (or flatbed if needs be) the car down there, and pay the hotel expense for three+ days to wait around while they do the swap, so that when the engine they install is a dud, they have NO excuse to NOT to replace it with a good one. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I was also thinking about the full engine/trans swap, especially since they will give me a $1000.00 'core' for MY 180K mile T56, but then you are at the mercy of whatever clutch is in that set up, and it can be the crappy stock Valeo weakling if the miles are low enough. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

How much do they charge to do the swap? I've pulled my engine before and it's really not that hard, so I'll definitely save the money and do it myself.

I think ultimately it makes sense to sell my engine/tranny for as much as I can and get the LS1. In the long run, it makes more sense to do that than put any money at all into my LT1.

They get ~$1200.00 just for the R&R labor, whereas most of the places around me here in Eastern Pennsyltuckey get MORE THAN TWICE that for the same exact thing, with one exception of a quote I got for ~$1050.00, but he almost sounded like he would PURPOSELY sabotage a Hawks used engine, with all of the disclaimers he was throwing around, so I do NOT trust him to install anything but a warrantied Chevy performance LS3 crate (and maybe not even that!).
But if Hawks know that THEY will be replacing an engine that THEY sold me on THEIR labor (and second engine) dime, I am guessing that they will MAKE SURE that I get a 'good one' to start with, no?

Since I neither have the; space, facilities, tools, helpers, or even the permission of my HOA (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/bigun2.gif) ($50.00 initial fine, TRIPLING with EVERY subsequent infraction!! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) ) to do this swap, I am REALLY f'ed, unless I totally give up on the LSx f bodies, this car gets sold as a roller, and I go to the anemic FWD crew with the Fiesta STs I'm looking at, and throwing a Quaife diff in it to help the torque-steer/turn-in/apex launching. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)