http://vettaid.com/systemmanuals/repl ... es/19901996Corvettes.aspx

I am re-awakening this thread due to that damned studdering problem I am having with my '92.

I also need to share some financial theories I have...

Way back in 29 June 2000, I bought this car. I paid a guy named Joe (a lurking member of the Guru) the princely sum of $16,800.00 for this car. It had 39k miles on it, had a clean CARFAX report and title. The car was originally sold at Kerbeck in Atlantic City, NJ; may even had been traded back and resold there a couple years later.

In 2000, what could you buy for that money new? Civic? Focus? Hyundai? Not happening.

When new in 1992, with the factory options, Bose Gold, dual leather sport seats and climate control, it sold for about $37k, not knowing dealer add-ons and stuff.

This means I beat the crap out of depreciation. The car is currently worth about $8k, when running right. Even with the advanced miles, it has new wheels, paint, tires and has been maintained - brakes, bearings, ujoints... plus the audio, newer clutch, KONI shocks, Banski kit, Corsa exhaust and the Hurst shifter with knob.

All of this means I have room to waste money. I can't justify dumping $50k-$120k on a new car. Just can't do it. Not currently. This isn't a case of the "economy sucks", it's a realistic case of "budget constraints." We all have them to varying degrees.

So putting in the right engine makes sense. When you consider that all the stuff I have done to this car still hasn't touched the original sticker, I am still ahead of the game! Hell, the amount I have spent on major maintenance - the LTCC, the upgrades to the LTCC, Corsa, audio, plus clutches and other things. I don't count tires, gas, oil, insurance. I would have those regardless. But I estimate that I have spent about $14k, in total. This means I have about $30k in the car, period.

So where does that leave me? In a pretty good place. I can spend another $20k and only barely be touching the MSRP of a new C6 or C7. And yes, I know, they are nicer in many ways...

Just time ... and planning... and if planned right, shouldn't take long to implement. Need to talk to the guy at
Vettaid...

If this were my project:

Loose the ASR & ABS.

Convert the dash to the aftermarket analog unit. Other LSx products are available.
http://vettaid.com/ReplacementGauges/19901996Corvettes.aspx


Use a Howell harness.
http://howellefi.com/gm-ls-series-pro ... ls7-2006-08-products.html

GL

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While this is true and I understand your reasoning.....you can buy a low mile C5 Z06 for $20k.....just sayin'

I just finished my LS6 drop in to my C4 keeping the ZF6. This is with manual guages, no CCM, ABS, ASR, digidash, etc. It took 3 months of roughly 20-40 hour weeks (all evenings and weekends), with a couple of two week breaks for travel overseas. During those weeks away I was still researching and ordering parts. Ch@os started his swap last april (see page 1 of this thread and look at the dates), and is not complete as of today.

Do NOT underestimate this swap. I had a few custom things you won't need (my KRC PS pump took a lot of extra time and required moving the alternator to the opposite head, which in turn screwed up other things, etc. etc.) which added headaches, but I also don't have stuff you'll need like A/C and the instruments.

That said, if you go through with it, I have a spreadsheet with the parts required, part numbers, prices, and where I bought them. I'm happy to send it to save you a LOT of research.

Will it have been worth it? Hard to say. I still need a tune before I can drive it. I'll let you know July 2 when I get back from the maiden voyage.

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Why bother with a Z? My buddy bought a '99 FRC a few weeks ago for $11k. It had a few extras, like headers, a Z06 trans and Z06 wheels. He took it to Grattan (in western michigan), set the track record for his class (TTA, same as C5 Z06 and base C6), changed tires and drove it to work the next day.

The price of entry into the C5/C6 amusement park is lower than you think.

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Obviously, if Andy wants to stay with a C4, that's fine.
Personnally, I think $20k is a boatload to throw at a street C4 when you can move into a low mile car for the same bucks.

Ok... I guess my math isn't communicating.

Try this... As much as I have tried, I just don't like the shape of the C5 Z06.

Quote: I agree. And the driving position sux. Not very sporty

Too bad your in Kali.... The truck engines have awesome performance potential and go for less money than the car engines


Good luck on your project.

To be honest, a truck engine isn't that big of a deal...

If I was to never need to see a referee, I am ok. Most sniff stations don't give a shit... it sniffs, it passes.

There was a point when the truck engine was a huge issue - they had different standards. But these days, drop in a 6.0 from an Escalade and use the Z06 programming, who cares?

If thats the case you can do better than LS3 performance with LS3 money by modding a L92 or L76...... Good luck on your project.

Quote:I have to agree, dolar for dolar, better deal

Ok... once again... people just ain't reading shit... the LS7 was an idea, but nothing I was glued to.

In general, think LS-anything. It really doesn't matter WHICH engine you go with, the installation challenges will be the same regardless. The electrical, the mechanical... all there... toss in the complexity of the dry sump, it gets really icky... no question.

Last time I talked to him Jeff had a kit for the T56 trans, included engine mounts, t56 adapter, C-beam, and driveshaft with T56 yoke. If you go through with this give him a shout.

And it's not "icky" as much as time consuming (I know, "duh"). I had the engine in the car in April. Coolant lines, PS and alternator setup, oil pan, and wiring are going to take time and focus to get right. The question is can you be without your car for up to 6 months while you work on it? There is no winter down time in your area.

And this is why the project is still in planning stages.

I need to get bastet's done first, and that will be a learning experience... I will then have either that or the Jeep to use.

It would be great if the aftermarket made plug and play wiring harness.

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I thought you were putting the LS in Bastet's and the rebuilt LT1 in yours?

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There is a firm that is now making harnesses.

http://vettaid.com/Home.aspx

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Very originally, I wanted to do an LSx... but that was 7 years ago and well, it wasn't a good idea then. Everyone talked me out of it. So I did an LT1 swap.

Got a great deal on a used LT1/4L60E, with harness, manifolds and accessories from Vette2Vette.

Life then got busy... and my engine has since started to tire, so I am going to take her 61k mile LT1, put it in my 92, and then go after an LSx for her 87.

Whew.

At some point, I will either rebuild the LT1, or, swap over to an LS engine of some sort. At this point, the swap looks like a more logical choice.

Finally... the car has been running perfect... and oddly, after 8 years of guessing, the damned gas gauge has decided to start reading accurately again. Insane.

I too am tossing the idea around about
A.) installing the NA LSX 454 SBC,,,
or
B.) putting an ATI Procharger on my 406ci engine (430RWHP/460 RWTQ)

pros to A.) = NA and 620 FWHP @ 550 RWHP (?)
Pros to B.) = at least 600 RWHP minimum

Cons to A.) = 11:1 CR so minimum future gains except for a small boost Magnuson

Cons to b.) Not sure except 40% of the end result will be a power adder

the only thing I don't like about blowers, is the parasitic loss of them just being there.

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yeah, bu tthe loss of them being there is offset by the gain of them kicking in.

For me, its the 1.) heat, and 2. the fact that its one more thing to go maintain and or go wrong.

I am sort of done chasing HP really, I just got my car painted, I'll post pics when I pick it up, and dropping in the LSX 454 would get me a long ways to having a fast NA engine.

If I wait long enough, I might drop in a BBC with big cubes, like 572 or 598 or so