My L99 to LT1 swap

I now have the missing piece to my LT1 swap puzzle.





Coming soon to nice weather near you...

I am also looking for ideas on modifications.

I would like to start with cam, rr, springs, lifters and pushrods for the top end. I also would like a set of headers. I am hoping my wagon part out will fund most if not all of this. Any suggestions?

Sweet!

All depends on your goals for the car as to what suggestions you'll get... So, what do you want out of the car?

Tim
If you are going internal on the engine, you would be better off doing it while the engine is out. But I know that that may not be possible. As Bill stated, it is going to be based on your goals. Reliability is number one, so look for any leaks and fix them now. If you have none, still consider replacing lower end gaskets and seals as you will have to lift the engine up to replace the oil pan gasket, and remove the tranny for a rear main seal, or front seal on the tranny itself.

If I could, I would be down there helping you. I have set the ISSF record for engine swaps on one car.

Thanks for the offer. I understand I am a little far from everyone. I sure could use a hand. Jamie said he'll come by and help.

As far as goals. I want a fast street car. Maybe the occasional event drag race. I don't really care about mileage my driving habits suck gas no matter what.

Maybe a mild cam like a zz4 and a set of Comp Pro-Magnum RR's and a set of the bee-hive valvesprings would do you well. If you go too big with the cam, you're looking at a set of 42lb SVO injectors and maybe a bigger TB, too. You'll want a higher stall and more gear with a bigger cam, too. And it will require headers to get the most out of it. And you really might as well clean up the heads and gasket match the intake and stuff too...

How much you want to spend?

That's a good point. What you end up getting out of a motor depends on how much you want to spend on it.

Tim,
If you're on a low budget, your first goal should be simply getting the swap done. If you have few bucks I would go with Billy m's route. You can always do mods later, but just the lt1 upgrade should make you happy for a while.

Well I just got some cash from a settlement so I am at least doing the pan gasket, oil pump, rear main and motor mounts. Anything else I should do while the motor is out maintenance wise? I was thinking plug wires. Plugs are fairly new ac delco platinums.

Don't know how crazy you want to get, but maybe rod/ main bearings?

I don't want to go that deep just yet.

Autozone is showing 2 different part numbers for 94 rm fuel pump and 94 L99 fuel pump. Will I have a problem with the pump I have now?

GasTT wrote:

I don't want to go that deep just yet.

Autozone is showing 2 different part numbers for 94 rm fuel pump and 94 L99 fuel pump. Will I have a problem with the pump I have now?

I would pull the pump from the wagon and use it in the sedan. Don't waste your money on the autozone pumps. If you need to replace, replace with ACDelco pump. Now would be a good time to send out either pcm to have it tuned for your swap. That way the new tune will address the lt1 to the gear set in the sedan. You can also have some performance tweeks also.

I'd get that swap done, do like u said, gaskets, tranny flush, filters, fuel lines, brakes, make sure the rest of the car can handle the new motor, its quite a differance, and if u don't have any yet some nice cat back exhaust. Then c what u have left, exhaust isn't cheap. neither is resealing and gasketing a motor.

Also, is the wagon bad? Wouldn't it be ten times easier to find an LT1 motor? Like the one pooge has? $500 bucks u got a running LT1 with upgrades, and can save the wagon.
My $.02

I live in an apartment with limited parking. My wagon is parked on the street and it is not registered. My landlord has told me several times to get rid of it. I live by myself in a 1-bedroom apartment and I have 3 cars here. I have gotten quotes of up to 3000 to fix the wagon to my standards. I didn't even pay that much for it. By doing the swap, I am gaining an LT1 motor for my caprice and also cash from selling the parts for mods.

My Caprice will be able to handle the LT1. It has the extra capacity cooling system and firm ride suspension, car is mechanically sound and rust free. The transmission I will be using I just put in the car about a month ago it has fresh fluid and a fresh filter. I have already had a custom dual 2.5" catback installed and I have a home depot intake.

I don't know that the wagon pump will work in the sedan. Tanks are slightly different. May work, but not sure.

I'm pretty sure the L99 pump will work ok for the LT1.

sounds like u r good to go, good luck. I didn't see the post on the RMW till now, sorry,

toomanytoyz wrote:

I don't know that the wagon pump will work in the sedan. Tanks are slightly different. May work, but not sure.

I'm pretty sure the L99 pump will work ok for the LT1.

The pick up unit could be different, but the pump itself should be the same.

IMPALADAKID wrote:

toomanytoyz wrote:

I don't know that the wagon pump will work in the sedan. Tanks are slightly different. May work, but not sure.

I'm pretty sure the L99 pump will work ok for the LT1.

The pick up unit could be different, but the pump itself should be the same.

If the pump will be fine I'd rather just leave it.

Regarding performance mods;

I plan on going with a cam and rr's to start. I have already bought some comp cams pro magnum 1.6's 1318-16. I was thinking 845 cam. Someone had suggested getting a custom cam ground close to 845 spec with a little more oomph. Next I need to figure out what springs to use. I think I should wait to see what the cam specs will be to choose that.. not sure. Assuming I get an 845 cam; Any suggestions on springs? Would I need new lifters and pushrods? Of course, headers are on the list too. With these few mods, are there any other 'required' mods? I plan on getting my PCM tuned for all of this. Thanks for your input this is my first time doing any mods like this on my own car, I've always been too broke.

The 845 is a good cam. I'm running an 846.

You should be able to reuse your lifters and pushrods. Just inspect them for wear.

You will ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, WITHOUT QUESTION want to replace your oil pump. Right? Say it with me... Melling with the bolt on pickup tube (MEL-10552 w/ MEL-12558). You don't want to be playing at higher RPM's with an older pump that may not be able to keep up with them.

You may want to gasket match the intake ports and home ports and clean-up the heads if you have access to a compressor. It will really help out with the new cam.

This is something you don't really want to rush on. If you have a friend who has a garage that will let you tear-down and build the motor in will suit you MUCH better than trying to do it all on the hoist or in the car, in ONE day. Take your time and do it right.

GasTT wrote:

Well I just got some cash from a settlement so I am at least doing the pan gasket, oil pump, rear main and motor mounts. Anything else I should do while the motor is out maintenance wise? I was thinking plug wires. Plugs are fairly new ac delco platinums.

Oil pump, check.

I live in the 'hood. Nobody has a garage around here. Nobody I know anyways so tearing down the motor while out of the car unfortunately isn't an option. I do have an air compressor. I do want to get this motor in asap. The L99 has began to run like a turtle when warm and I am not putting a dime into it.

Thanks for the recommendation on the Melling. I was going to go with an Autozone pump.

Hey Tim, Sounds like fun. When are planning on pulling the motor? If I'm available i could give you a hand. I do have a few friends who live near by you that may have a open bay in their garage. I'll make some calls and let you know.

Thanks!