Ettie

Howdy 3rd gen guys. I'm contemplating going heavy on the crazy in the mid-term with an LS1 swap. I have a question about using a donor car.

If I pick up a whole car and swap in all the running gear from the 4th gen to the 3rd, including the dash, does the process become closer to plug-and-play? If yes, why don't more people do it that way?

I looked at the stickies but couldn't find this specific question answered.

Put another way, how do I make the process as simple as possible, even if it adds cost? (Sending it to Hawks for 10k isn't really an option.)

If I didn't search hard enough, feel free to put me in the corner.

robguitargod1

iTrader: (4)

ANYONE that's done the swap will tell you that buying a donor car is the way to go!!! It's literally 1-stop shopping for all of your swap parts needs.

Sure you can always piece everything together, but that will take some serious time and coin. The donor car won't be cheap, but you're saving yourself a tremendous amount of time, and getting all the nuts/bolts/hoses, harness, PCM and everything all together.

An LS 4th gen f-body is a super hot vehicle and could sell in the 8-10K range which is why the ideal situation is to find one wrecked.

However, deals ARE out there! I picked up a great running/driving LS1/T56 '99 Z28 got $3600 DELIVERED to my house. Pulled everything including the fuel tank and sold the roller for $1100.

Yes, using the dash will make things easier but you'll still have to have the PCM tuned or at least have rear o2's deleted and such.

86White_T/A305

If you plan on swapping in the dash,fuel tank,drivetrain and brakes. Then no brainer a donor car is the best way to go.You still need to make the basic wiring connections and need/make your lsx swap parts.If you are only doing the engine/trans swap then Id only shop for a complete pullout from an fbody.Ofcourse price can change everything.

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

In my opinion, the dash doesnt really make anything easier. Installing a set of aftermarket gauges with matching senders lets you separate the gauge package from the LS1 swap part of your project. LS1 fuel tank + programmable fuel level gauge = no fuel level gauge issues.

Yes its pricey to get into a full set of custom gauges depending what brand. Im also partial to our stock dashes...plus less to mess with with HVAC and filler panels and all. Thats just my opinion... certainly plenty of guys have done the 4th gen dash swap, got it functioning and looking great!

But as to everything else...YES...DONOR CAR 100%! I used so many parts off the Z28, not to mention all the parts I sold from that thing. Front clips off of LS1 cars are hot if you have everything because the 93-97 guys like to do conversions. My car had side damage. Slid into a pole. So I was good selling off front parts and rear parts.

J.

rickyzZ28

iTrader: (4)

I bought a wrecked car from copart.com and it was worth every penny. I spent 4k on it but it was exactly what I wanted, 01 LS1/t56 with ebony leather. Mine unfortunately had a broken dash from the airbags deploying but I basically sold everything off the car that I wanted to minus the t-tops which are in my attic still. I sold everything else, bumper covers, steering wheel, console hood, passenger fender, door panels, airbox, headlight, spoiler. I used everything else on my car or my dads car. I got lucky too as the car I bought was a Z28, but it had a factory SS hood and spoiler which I sold for a good amount of money. Could I have made more money off the car sure, but I kept some of the high dollar items like the perfect ebony interior for my car.

DIGGLER

iTrader: (1)

i swapped an LS1 car into my LT1 car. every wire, hose, nut, and bolt.

then i swapped the LT1 stuff into my thirdgen. lol well, the engine and complete wiring harness from the LT1 car. ran it for awhile like that and then build a new wiring harness for the car to save some weight.

Ettie

Awesome, awesome replies. I really appreciate the feedback. Now to figure out how to keep two non-functioning cars in my drive for who knows how long without alerting the HOA

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Not really. You still need to do something about the engine and transmission mounts. Exhaust doesn't fit directly. Fuel lines can be made to fit, but they aren't exact. Etc.

robguitargod1

iTrader: (4)

Hey 57, quit busting my *****!

He is right about that though. While a LOT of stuff you'll get from a donor car, mounts, trans mount, fuel lines filter/regulator, exhaust will have to come from other places. The exhaust manifolds will work, but you'll have to build your own exhaust from there.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Yeah, that's a problem I have...

Not saying the donor car isn't a good idea - it is. It's just a few fries short of a happy meal for a 3rd gen LS swap.

88blackiroc

iTrader: (1)

I did pretty much what your asking. Donor car. We used the dash, rear, fuel tank and whatever else we could use and im happy we did. Im more into favor of the 4th gen dash myself to. I didnt want to have to buy a harness or build it, I extended each pcm wire to relocate it to under the dash and that was enough for me!
Donor car ftw!

POP6482

iTrader: (2)

I agree that finding a donor is the way to go. You might save in the long run, and whatever you don't use you might be able to sell on your own. I started with a LQ4 short block and pieced everything together. My wife though I was nuts when I would sit at the computer for hours each day with my checklist of parts that I needed. It was a lot of work to find everything. Took me about 4 months of constantly searching. Good luck with your build whichever way you decided to go.

513camarors91

iTrader: (1)

yeah a donor car is the deff. the way to go. i didn't but wish i would of i have just enough money buying a engine and trans that i could of bought a entire car for.