OK, I'm just kicking this idea around right now, as I don't have any money to attempt it just yet.

A few years ago, my dad bought a wrecked '95 caprice 9C1 MN state-patrol car with the LT1/4L60E combo, etc. The car has 70k on it and was completely rebuilt at 50k, so everything is still pretty fresh. The cop car has a JUNK title (that's different than salvage title, it means its a parts-car only and can never be put back on the road) It was rear-ended, but we've had it on the frame-rack and don't see any damage to the drivetrain.

He hasn't done anything with it, but would probably sell it to me for what he's got in it. My 400sbc in my malibu has about 185,000 miles on it, and will need a rebuild within a couple years anyway, so I'm considering the upgrade. I would love a fairly quick daily driver chevelle that knocks down 20mpg and 13 second ETs with the A/C on!!!

Does anyone make a kit to wire this thing up in my chevelle, and what does it cost? I'd prefer to continue running my stock speedo, which I believe I could just rob the parts off a spare 700-R4 we have in our 92 caprice parts-car to hook up a cable. (the '95 setup uses digital speedo)

I think I'd then have THE PERFECT combo for how I use the car... and if I get power-hungry, I'm sure there's chips, and bolt-ons that could possibly get me into the 12s without hurting mileage and driveability too much.

Then I could sell off the HD suspension parts, disc-brake posi rear, and some other goodies to get some of my money back out of it. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

My main concern is the COST for the wiring kit and how hard it is to install.

Not too big of a deal. Call up Street and Performance for a new harness and help.

got a phone # or web address?

OK, I just did a search in the tech 2003 section (didn't find anything in tech 2004 before posting) and found a couple topics, but it seems way over my head. graemlins/clonk.gif

I've got a friend who's good at the electrical stuff, so I'll get some help from him if I do the swap. (next winter at the earliest)

I just want to know what it's going to cost me to do the basic swap upfront before I get too many plans bouncing around in my head. After selling some stuff off, I think I'll end up with the engine and trans for about $700-800. As mentioned before, I don't have the money now, but may be able to do it next winter. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Derek -

My dad put an LT1 into his hot rod. I don't know if you've already come across some of my other posts about this, so I'll see if I can help get you started.

Call Street and Performance (http://www.hotrodlane.cc/)

They will have everything you could possibly want, but I wouldn't necessarily buy from them for the simple reason that they are expensive. Excellent stuff, just expensive. Just talk to them on the phone and they will tell exactly what you'll need. You may need to have the computer reprogrammed to eliminate any anti-theft protection stuff that may be present. There is software readily available for that so you wouldn't have to pay someone to do it, but I don't have a link handy right now.

Check out Howell EFI (http://www.howell-efi.com/)

If I'm not mistaken, their wiring harnesses are probably cheaper then S&P, and every bit as good. The only other things you will probably have to worry about are the accessory brackets. I don't know what the Caprice bracket setup is like, but I know the F-body LT1 brackets won't work in a Chevelle (I think the power steering and A/C are too low). That said, make sure that the water pump is good on the LT1 - those suckers are expensive! So are the Opti-spark distributors, but I don't think they go bad too often at the mileage you've given.

Good luck! Give me a shout if there's anything else I can help out with. I can call my dad about anything I'm unsure of.

Ryan

There are several people over at www.montecarloss.com (http://www.montecarloss.com) that have done the swap, go over there and look in the engine forum for some help.

I doubt the car will sail right into the 13's with the a/c on, but I can recommend doing a head and cam swap to make it easier ;) Get rid of those iron caprice heads as soon as you can! :D

I cant see any reason why you cant just take the computer and harness out of the caprice and make it work....albeit with a ton of effort, but it is definitely possible.

You have the donor car, so it should be pretty easy from that standpoint.

Looks like the harness I'd need is $600. OUCH! Still will probably be cheaper and have more "wow factor" than rebuilding the 400, not to mention the gas mileage and driveability :cool:

Still pondering....

The LT1 usually made a little under 300hp so I can't see 13's either without some work. A "Hot" cam kit from GM can be had online for about $500. It's a good deal considering you get a cam, roller rockers, springs, retainers and spring shims. Basically everything but lifters and pushrods. www.sdpc2000.com (http://www.sdpc2000.com) has the kit.

You can't remove the magnetic pickup in the tranny and put a speedo gear in the tranny. The computer needs the pickup to make the tranny shift right.

The 95 is an OBD1 flash based computer. You just need a cable, laptop and a program to change the tuning. However, you really can't pick up much power with tuning alone, you need engine mods to do that.

You need to turn off the VATS or get a VATS bypass module to make it run. Some wiring harnesses come with it built in or as an option.

Painless has a wiring harness. It's a little pricy at $600 though.

Peter

Pick up a JC Whitney catalog. They have the Painless harness For $599 minus 15% with a coupon on the rear cover. I have used this harness and it works fine.

go to camaross.com and check out the lt1 forumn for performace tricks.there is guys in there runnin low 12's and high 11's at factory weight with cam and bolt ons. im in the process of putting 1 into a 66.

Learn more about your setup by doing the wiring yourself. The Late LT1's harness is a stand alone harness.
Get the computer from the car and the engine harness, mark the connectors on the harness and remove it from the car. All you'll need to do is hook 12 volts from your cars ignition switch to the computer/wiring harness.
Strip out the Air pump,EGR,and any other not used systems and drop it into the Chevelle. You'll have to either relocated the AC condensor or notch the frame. As far as the trans goes A good gauge restoration place should be able to convert your mechanical sppedo and Tach to a electronic type. D and M restoration converted a Mechanical tach to aelectronic type in a 60 Corvette for me over the winter. It turned out great.
Got questions, fire away

A stock harness isn't as easy to use as just install it and go. There's a big connecter that goes through the firewall with extra wires and then there's extra stuff in there for emmissions and guages and abs and such that should be removed. I guess you could just install a harness and go but that seems a little silly. They do have a relay/fuse block in them that's handy to have.

I'm definately going to work on mine so that it doesn't look so ugly when laying on top of the motor.

Peter

Peter the late model stuff (after 94 I believe) the PCM is underhood there is no need to route the big bundle through the firewall. And true the fuse panel/relay center under the hood back by the AC evaporator should be used, in fact that would be the ideal place to tie into the Cars exsisting wiring. As far as the ABS that section of the harness should be reasonably easy to strip out

Originally posted by pmullaly:
Peter the late model stuff (after 94 I believe) the PCM is underhood there is no need to route the big bundle through the firewall.Yep, I know, but there still is a bunch of wires going through the firewall that have to come out of the harness. Some are required for switched ignition, SES light, brake pedal etc but most are not.

Peter

Roger that graemlins/thumbsup.gif

hay man i doing the same thing to my 69 chevelle i have the motor form a 97 lt1 camaro along with the 6 speed trany. for th wires i got themall out of the camaro to (headlight to taillight). im also going to be running the 94 computer b/c its ob1 not obd2 it gets ride of the rear O2 sencors. if you need any information let me know i have friends in to the camaro stuff.

FYI, 95s are also obd1, 96 was the first year of the OBD2.
Ron