I have a '91 Caprice wagon and want to put an L05 or LT1 in it, which is easier and cheaper to do? I have a 305 in it i'm not too fond of and can get a good running low mile LT1 from a friend for $300. I'm assuming I'd need the computer and wiring harness from and LT1 equipped car correct? or is there an easy way to mod the harness I have?
When I saw the title to your post I had the same questions that you do. I honestly would not know where to start on getting all of the electronics back in place or replaced. I like old stuff. Call me chicken, but I would find an LT1 car I like and call it done. Good luck with your endeavor and should you proceed, please keep us updated on the steps involved. Thanks Rodney
Nobody loves the 305. Be different. Do a Vortec 5000 (L30) or a TPI 305 (LB9). Otherwise you could do a Vortec 5700 (L31). Honestly a TPI 305 would be relatively easy. Later year TPI 305's did 230hp/300tq.
The LO5 would be no problem to swap, basically the same engine with 45 more cubic inches, tons of them around. The LT1 would be a lot of messing around, electronics would be a challenge. 300 bucks may not be such a good deal if the Optispark is bad. I wouldn't own one of the engines, I'm old school, the distributor behind the water pump just don't make sense no matter how you look at it.
Thanks for the input guys, im leaning more on the drive it till it pukes end and will probably just buy another waggy that already has the 350 in it....although the TPI 305 may be a way to go, prolly just source one out of a Camaro or something and i bet the harness is about the same aside from the computer and a few connectors or i could just gut the factory loom and put the LT1 in it with a stand alone harness from painless
Honestly if you are going to change engine platforms (I consider the L03 to LT1 a platform change even though they are very similar) I would just go with a newer 4.8 of 5.3. They both make around 300hp stock and are getting pretty affordable these days. Just something else to think about.
Thats a great idea, i thought of sourcing a 5.7 vortec out of a 96 and up pickup too, quite a few of em around my way with twisted frames and cheap price tags
L31 is a pretty solid engine and makes my list. Any way you look at it any/all of these swaps will require some harness and PCM work. You'll probably also have to upgrade the fuel pump since I think the TBI only runs 15psi and these other systems would require 35-45psi I'm guessing. Might be able to source the LT1/L99 fuel pump, but I have no idea if it is a direct swap for you. None of the swaps would be terrible to do. I just like doing things a little differently. Here is a L03 buildup I just stumbled on that would be even simpler yet. http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/tbi/435894-300-hp-bolt-l03.html Not sure how this would do in a heavier car, but the numbers look good.
I run a LO5 in my estate, and i cant imagine that it would be worth all the extra work with changing all the electrics to swap a different ignition, fuelinjection, and all the harness... My car runs cheap, strong and always starts.. I dont need more than that!
