by "Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
Published 09/01/2017 at 11:07
by "Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
Published 09/01/2017 at 11:07
Tags: AMA
STARS: 4
Anything you want to know?
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
09/01/2017 at 11:17, STARS: 4
How many #3 decals do you have on your monte carlo?
"Aremmes" (aremmes)
09/01/2017 at 11:18, STARS: 0
Swapped into what?
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 11:18, STARS: 0
0.
Unless It’s autox time and there’s a big #3 on the door in painters tape.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 11:19, STARS: 5
A 1986 Monte Carlo Super Sport.
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
09/01/2017 at 11:22, STARS: 0
I thought it was a law that all 80's monte carlos needed at least two of them? Especially if you have a loud exhaust. Or are you exempt from that if you have fuel injection?
"ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy" (bakeshake)
09/01/2017 at 11:22, STARS: 0
Motors mounts the same, or different? If they were different, did you fab the bracketry, or is a kit available?
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 11:24, STARS: 0
A kit is available. I used the Hooker 1 inch setback mounts. It involves moving the factory clamshells on the frame back one set of bolt holes.
"Aremmes" (aremmes)
09/01/2017 at 11:24, STARS: 1
A worthy recipient of LS power.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 11:25, STARS: 7
I get special exemption because I am north of the Mason-Dixon.
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
09/01/2017 at 11:33, STARS: 0
Plans to upgrade rear axle?
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 11:35, STARS: 0
Yeah, for sure. I’d like to put either a well built 8.5 inch rear from a grand national in it, or a Ford 9 inch. Either with a Detroit Trutrack diff. I also want to get a TKO600 in it.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
09/01/2017 at 11:35, STARS: 0
Whoa, didn’t know you went for a huge upgrade. how’s it feel?
"BeaterGT" (beatergt)
09/01/2017 at 11:36, STARS: 0
How long/how much? T56 too?
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 11:36, STARS: 0
In a word? Fast.
I’m really happy with it, but also constantly afraid to grenade the rear end and the transmission isn’t thrilled about the added power either.
"Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever" (rustanddust)
09/01/2017 at 11:36, STARS: 0
Aftermarket fuel/spark management, or reflashed ECU? If reflashed, who did it?
(I’m not even sure if you reflash the LS ECU, I’m thinking of LT OBD1 swap tricks).
"sony1492" (sony1492)
09/01/2017 at 11:40, STARS: 0
What did you do for Engine management?
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 11:43, STARS: 0
I got it done in around a month. Say around $3600 all in including misc. BS and Beer.
No T-56. I’m running the factory 200-4r rebuilt. I want to put a TKO600 in here, the T-56 is overrated and over priced. Used F-body T-56's are going for $2000 and a brand new 5 speed TKO 600 that is rated for 150 more ft/lbs of torque is $2500.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 11:46, STARS: 1
I used a microsquirt ECU and converted it to work on an LS. I really like it and the price is right. I did the harness and ECU for under 450 including TunerStudio Ultra license
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 11:47, STARS: 1
Microsquirt modified to run an LS
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
09/01/2017 at 11:48, STARS: 0
Are the GN rears tough to find? I can’t imagine a lot of them were wrecked/parted as there weren’t that many to begin with.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 11:48, STARS: 0
Hard to find and expensive as hell.
"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
09/01/2017 at 11:50, STARS: 0
LOL. Yeah, I figured.
"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
09/01/2017 at 11:51, STARS: 0
Let’s say hypothetically I wanted to swap a crate engine into a car in the future when I have my own garage, time and money. Where do I go about learning what I need to get an engine running? I’m talking from just a block in a crate to fully driving on a track kind of engine swap.
"Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever" (rustanddust)
09/01/2017 at 12:00, STARS: 0
That’s not bad at all, I figured you’d be out more cash than that.
I’m in the middle of a (slow) restomod on a (very rusty) 71 Nova, that’s getting a mildly built LT1 and T56 setup from a ‘95 Camaro. Mostly done modifying the wiring harness, just waiting for the body to be ready for subframe mounting to figure out how I want to route the main harness bundle and mount the ECU.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
09/01/2017 at 12:01, STARS: 0
Impressive.
"BeaterGT" (beatergt)
09/01/2017 at 12:04, STARS: 0
Interesting about the 5 speed. I knew about the TR6060 but not the TKO 600. IS the LS out of an fbody?
"Roadster Man" (roadsterman)
09/01/2017 at 12:08, STARS: 0
How much fabrication work was involved? I’m thinking of picking up a local cheap E39 5-series with 170k miles on it, driving it ‘til the engine pops, and doing an LS swap.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 12:16, STARS: 0
In my case, very little. Just attaching the exhaust and the bracket for the throttle cable. They offer lots of kits for LS swaps, but make sure everything will fit before you order.
"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
09/01/2017 at 12:19, STARS: 0
What flavor and what did you put it in? I read the info you already put up about the ECU and harness. Good stuff.
I have a LS2 sitting in a crate in my garage. The dream is to put it in a Bandit Trans Am, but we will see. Lots of projects in work.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 12:21, STARS: 3
This is an LQ4 out of a 2004 Yukon Denali with an LS3 cam and valve springs. It’s in my 86 Monte Carlo SS.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 12:24, STARS: 0
No this is an LQ4 6.0l engine out of a Yukon Denali. The TR6060 won’t work with a slip yolk.
"Tristan" (casselts)
09/01/2017 at 12:27, STARS: 0
I’ll have a spare LQ4 laying around in the next year and a half-ish. What should I put it in?
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 12:28, STARS: 1
An 80's g-body or b-body.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
09/01/2017 at 12:33, STARS: 1
That was a very awesome and also very depressing answer. Sucks when you have to be gentle with what should be a brute of an engine.
I’ve got a whole new rear end (brake to brake assembly) in the garage for the Capri. I’m sure the 7.5 rear end will grenade on it at some point and the 8.8 will be a huge upgrade.
"Tristan" (casselts)
09/01/2017 at 12:41, STARS: 1
A Monte SS like yours is on my short list of dream cars, but prices have become unobtanium for decent, non-donked examples. I’d love to do A Malibu wagon, but they’re tough to find as well. Maybe A Fox body LTD/Fairmont/Granada/T-bird... They’re cheap as dirt still...
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 12:42, STARS: 2
So, most crate engines you would buy are fully assembled. If you buy the controller’s that go with the crate engines, in the case of the LS3, you just need to give it 12v and it runs.
If you are swapping into an uncommon chassis, getting parts that fit can be hard and fabrication is necessary. If you swap it into one of the common chassis they can have everything you need to bolt the engine in take holley’s kits for example: https://www.holley.com/products/ls_power/ls_swap_systems/
You’ll have to mount your new transmission, or adapt your old one. So depending on what transmission you choose to you use you might need any one of many things.
The most important part of any big project is research and planning.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 12:44, STARS: 1
You still see Monte’s for 4-5K up here in decent shape. GM built more Cutlasses than any other g-body so those should be easier to find.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 13:01, STARS: 1
I mean the only nice thing is that it doesn’t even approach having any traction in 1st so don’t think I need to worry as much as I do about scattering the ring gear.
"Sovande" (sovande)
09/01/2017 at 13:25, STARS: 1
Where are you and can I get a ride? I dream of this swap for my g body el camino.
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
09/01/2017 at 14:15, STARS: 0
hahahahaha. Just don’t put slicks on it I guess
"for Michigan" (formichigan)
09/01/2017 at 14:50, STARS: 1
You know there are plenty of people up north who match his description perfectly.
"gawdzillla" (gawdzillla)
09/01/2017 at 15:24, STARS: 0
do u have to use this kit, or are there any other bell housing options ? i purchased like 5 t56/tr6060 all under 1300ish
what are the flywheel / clutch options ?
"AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC" (addictedtom3s)
09/01/2017 at 15:26, STARS: 0
Very informative. Thank you! How does the instrument cluster come into play? Can you repurpose the old one? Or will the speedometer, tachometer and other indicators become useless? Is the only option a Motec unit?
How does one reuse the stock throttle and clutch pedal?
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 16:21, STARS: 1
The Detroit Metro Area, and sure.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 16:27, STARS: 1
Depends, for instance, the 1998 camaro used a 3 pin temp sensor, two pins for the ECU and one pin for the temp gauge. just so happens that the resistance is the same between the camaro gauge and a monte gauge. For the oil pressure gauge i used an adapter from the block to 1/8 npt and a 1/8 NPT Tee to hook up a mechanical oil pressure gauge and my factory sending unit (which ended up being bad I have a new one on order) The tach uses the Tachout wire on the MS box (very different for a factory ECU you need some sort of translator box) and the volt meter doesnt use any sensors. For the speedo since I am using a beefed up version of the factory trans that uses a mechanical speedo i am good to go.
For the throttle pedal, GM uses a universal style connection, the 1999-2003 Chevy trucks used the same connection, I just bought a throttle cable and it hooked right up. Your mileage may vary, this GM->GM so everything was pretty straight forward.
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
09/01/2017 at 16:33, STARS: 1
Here in Detroit the 6 speeds command a premium. If I could find a good working LS T-56 for $1300 i’d have bought it yesterday.
And no there are much cheaper ways to do it. I don’t think a scatter shield is necessary in most applications and those quick time bellhousings are pricey. I think that any old T-10, Muncie or T-5 bellhousing will technically work with a TKO. As for the clutch and flywheel. You can use the standard LS flywheel and Ram makes a conversion clutch good to about 600 ft/lbs IIRC.