Honest to god question...I have this motor...

[6erWEBB]

An LT1 to be exact, out of a 96 camaro. Ive been trying to sell it for some time now and no one seems to want it. It needs a hone because the previous owner let it sit out and two cylinder walls have rust but everything else looks good no cracks heads are good. also have the high clearance oil pan ready for a retro fit and the full engine wiring harness, plus pulleys and brackets for ac and other stuff.

So I was at this euro meet tonight talking about making power and everyone is talking about turbos and superchargers (way out of my money league) and somehow it got mentioned that I had this engine laying around. I then got hounded all night about putting this motor in the six,:shifty I mean stock it puts out almost 60% more power than I have right now.

Im just not sure if its worth thinking about, you know sacralige and all, but I mean the way I look at it this cars gunna be pretty different as far as styling when Im done so why not performance wise too? I dunno thoughts? To swap or not to swap?:help

[Layne]

:orangesle

[Zack01GC]

DO IT. I want to LS1/LS2/LS6/LS7 swap my car. This tired old M30 is BORING.

[euroshark]

This tired old M30 is BORING.

Only because you have the second most boring US spec M30 that was available in this chassis! Try a Euro B34 or a tweaked B35. After driving my 6 with the fresh B35 I nearly lost the desire to turbocharge it. Everything about the power delivery and the balance of power, handling and stopping feels so good now.

[bumbavfan]

Dude, if it makes you happy, DO IT. I would like to swap in a Porsche V10 or McLaren F1/BMW V12 into my 6 but I haven't won the lottery yet. But when I do....

[FernandoBunster]

Whatever rocks your boat....just do it. But if you do, do it well.

[e24mpwr]

If you have the skills, I'd go for it in that car. That said, you aren't talking easy. I know John E. in Norfolk put an LS1 in one of his M635's, but was having trouble with cooling.

Not sure what tranny would be required, but if you're going to play, I'm sure you'll figure it out.

[6erWEBB]

If I were to swap it in I was thinking richmond 5 speed, and theres a racing shop in Nashville that could make me a custom aluminum radiator. And of course I would paint every peice of the engine black to hide the "chevy". also Ive read the steering column was the biggest problem, but if thats the worst I might consider it.



Edit: I just found out that the m30 weighs 300 somthing lbs and the lt1 weighsalmost 800!!! if thats true, this idea is toast.

[jbd5015]

thats a heavy ass small block man. i wonder if that weight rating is including all the peripherals as well?

alternatively, how much would it cost to fix that motor up and how much would it be worth after the work? if you can make some money off of, like a grand or something, youd be able to do some engine work on your m30 or pick up the B34 or B35?

-Jeff

[Bert Poliakoff]

If ya want a Chevy powered car, buy a Chevy. By the time you get done screwing around with that conversion, it will cost you as much or more than having your M30 rebuilt and modified to put out an honest 250hp. That will then put you in range of a US M car, but with a pretty cheap to maintain engine.

[flipakine]

a little off subject but what is the going rate on b34 or b35 motors?

[e24mpwr]

If ya want a Chevy powered car, buy a Chevy. By the time you get done screwing around with that conversion, it will cost you as much or more than having your M30 rebuilt and modified to put out an honest 250hp. That will then put you in range of a US M car, but with a pretty cheap to maintain engine.

Wise words...

[RoundLightsRule]

DO NOT swap in an LT1. If you have a chubby for a domestic V8 buy an LS motor. Much lighter and much more power and potential. The only way i would say do it is if you can get a 400 sb crank and turn it into a 383 stroker. Then your talking about stump pulling torque.
Keep it BMW. I found a used vortech sc on ebay and with about $1,500 total invested, plus my time, i was cranking out close to 350Whp and over 400lb ft at the wheels in my 735i with 8.3-1 pistons.

[6erWEBB]

The only reason I considered the swap was because I had the engine laying around and no one seems to want it. The suggestion of fixing it then selling is pretty good.
The euro b34/35 motor is probably what im going to go with. I was offered one awhile back for 500 i think. It was a 150k mile motor though.

[Layne]

Edit: I just found out that the m30 weighs 300 somthing lbs and the lt1 weighsalmost 800!!! if thats true, this idea is toast.

M30 is closer to 500, but still if it is actually 800, that's way too much for the car.

[ryl]

I wouldn't do that, but I know a guy here in NorCal who has a 327 Chevy in an E28. He loves smokin' spikey haired kids in rice-rockets. !!