Adding a few cylinders...

[bigairboarder44]

My Firebird is undergoing major surgery. It is being converted from an A4 3.8 to an M6 LS1. I got a salvage 2000 Trans Am that I am swapping everything over from.

I dropped both engines/trannies out today and am gonna cut holes for the clutch master cylinder and shifter tomorrow as well as cleaning the LS1 and my engine bay. I have stainless headers and ceramic covered TD's coming, who knows when they'll be here...

So far everything's been pretty much a cake walk. I still need to drop the gas tank and put in the T/A tank or switch out the pump. It'll probably be easier just to swap tanks. I have the fuel line and radiator pulled from the T/A, and got the radiator flushed and cleaned today.

The LS engine and tranny have over 80k miles on em and I'm debating whether or not to replace the clutch while everything is out. What do you guys think? Or am I crazy for even suggesting putting it off.

Here are some pics I took with my phone, I'll have a lot more later.

[marvelrunner]

Re: Adding a few cylinders...

Wow, good luck with the swap, keep us updated with everything.

[Heywood]

Re: Adding a few cylinders...

I love that pic of the v6 sitting next to the v8.

[vanbibber]

Re: Adding a few cylinders...

id go ahead and do the clutch and **** now, no sense in waiting when you already have everything easy to get to. how much did you pick the donor car up for?

[Everglades W68]

Re: Adding a few cylinders...

Hey, stop by and do my car when you are done there!

[venom3300]

Re: Adding a few cylinders...

Hey, stop by and do my car when you are done there!

i second this!

cant wait to see this develop

[bigairboarder44]

Re: Adding a few cylinders...

id go ahead and do the clutch and **** now, no sense in waiting when you already have everything easy to get to. how much did you pick the donor car up for?

$3200. Which I don't think is too bad considering I get everything needed for the swap and I've seen just the LS1 and T56 go for $1500 to $2000. I'm also gonna part the T/A out when it's all said and done along with the 3800.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Adding a few cylinders...

Get ready for problems :)

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Adding a few cylinders...

Get ready for problems :)

[unvmyrs]

Re: Adding a few cylinders...

Get ready for problems :)

Not if he knows what he is doing necessarily, but it is going to be a difficult swap. Nice project, good luck.

[bigairboarder44]

Re: Adding a few cylinders...

Yeah this is my first swap but I have been reading like a madman about everything I can find for last six months. So far, everything's going well.

I just cut the hole for the shifter and gotta go to Sears for a hole saw arbor because I left the one I had at the lake. I'm also getting two replacement craftsman 10mm sockets because they broke when I was trying to take the exhaust manifolds off.

And I think I'm going to hold off on power washing everything because that is also down at the lake.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Adding a few cylinders...

Not if he knows what he is doing necessarily, but it is going to be a difficult swap. Nice project, good luck.

You do know that I JUST did this swap like 3 months ago, right?

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Adding a few cylinders...

Yeah this is my first swap but I have been reading like a madman about everything I can find for last six months. So far, everything's going well.

What are you planning on doing for fuel system? Are you swapping all the lines and EVERYTHING from the V8 car? I actually like the V6 fuel line setup better, and you can make it nearly plug and play by adding a 1999-2004 Corvette fuel filter at the rail since it has the regulator contained within, and your V6 chassis already has a return line plumbed up to the engine bay.

Side note, have you tried to spin the LS1 by hand yet? I'd recommend doing that before you drop it in. Change the oil before you even think about starting it. Replace consumable items like plugs and such.

[unvmyrs]

Re: Adding a few cylinders...

You do know that I JUST did this swap like 3 months ago, right?

Yeah, well it could depend on numerous things. How mechanically inclined you are and if you did everything right, the condition of the engine/transmission you installed, etc. Not saying for sure that you're wrong, just saying that not everyone has the same problems.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Adding a few cylinders...

Yeah, well it could depend on numerous things. How mechanically inclined you are and if you did everything right, the condition of the engine/transmission you installed, etc. Not saying for sure that you're wrong, just saying that not everyone has the same problems.

I'm just talking about swap related issues. You're not gonna find some of the stuff online.