[geo's 66]

Guys, wanting to do an LS swap in a '64... In having this done at a performance shop, what's the informed guess as to billable hours for an engine and t56 swap? Just trying to plan this out. Thanks

 

[novaderrik]

the actual putting the engine is is simple- you can guy the mounts and oil pan and headers and what not to do that- it's everything else that goes along with it... i'm pretty sure there are floor modifications to get the trans to fit, and the completely new fuel system...

what does the shop say?

 

[geo's 66]

Spoke with a gm performance parts guy and he said about 25 hours... Hoping someone here who has done this can help so when I go to a shop, ill have an idea

 

[chuckd71]

Are you going to have the old stuff out, gas tank dropped, interior out, carpet up and be providing every last fluid and part?
If so the swap itself could be done in a day I bet, not counting the trans. I was quoted $1200 for just the T-56 part (in a car with no seats or carpet, they would cut out and rebuild the trans tunnel, etc) and was told it would be a simple job (which it likely would be if you can weld and can make a drive shaft).
Too many variables that depend on what you want. Steel fuel line with flares or simple oem nylon? Trans cooler? What gauges, what is your wiring like, etc etc. I can't see why a shop would charge any less than 25 hours.

 

[geo's 66]

I hear you, Stu. I imagine I'd remove the old motor and trans. Beyond that, I'd have to have the shop do everything including wiring and re installation of tank, cooling, etc... So maybe 50 hours may be more realistic for me.

 

[novaderrik]

might as well gut the interior, too.. unless you feel like paying them to take out hundreds of little screws..

 

[geo's 66]

Thanks Derrick, good idea, will do

 

[Andy's Auto Repair]

If you are going LS/6 speed, and you are talking floor mods, fabbing a clutch setup, cooling, exhaust, brackets, hoses, power steering, driveshaft mods, you could easily be into a hundred hours or more.

 

[Dave Birdwell]

If you are going LS/6 speed, and you are talking floor mods, fabbing a clutch setup, cooling, exhaust, brackets, hoses, power steering, driveshaft mods, you could easily be into a hundred hours or more.

I'm with Andy on this one... By the time you make everything fit, you still have to wire it all, integrating it into the car's harness, make a fuel system, you'll need an adapter to make the Speedo work. Lots of little things add up to lots of hours.

 

[Derek69SS]

I'm no pro, but I'm 3 years into mine. :clonk:

Things take a lot longer when you take everything apart for paint and detailing though... my next car will look like crap under the hood, and I won't care.

 

[chuckd71]

When thinking about a harness, it might be easier to just get a holley hp efi. Battery, ground, ignition and that's about it. Need the I/O harness as well for an elec fan setup but that's only $50 or so. If you are paying $XX for the harness itself, $XX/ hour for someone to work on a harness, then put that harness into your car, etc etc the labor adds up. That isn't including a tune. Just a thought.
Odd things like the ps pulley will likely need swapped as well; if they don't know this you're looking at an easy hour wasted while they figure it out. If you are running a low mount a/c then the frame probably needs notched.
The fuel system can be done pretty cheaply with oem stuff, but it still takes time.
Just thinking about it you'll probably spend more on labor than on parts. It might be worth getting on ls1tech and seeing if there are any guys near you that do this as a side project; this is a super common swap and it shouldn't be hard to find a guy with a garage who churns these out for something less than a shop's $70-95/ hr. Might also be cheaper to just buy a chevelle with the swap already done. Like everything else with these toys, spending thousands on a swap only adds hundreds to the 'value' of the car.