i know i'll burn in forth gen hell, but it looks like a great repurpose to me.
LT1 swap update - split loom install
- Thread starter JD1964
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Except for the 98-02 firebirds, especially the ws6, 4th Gen fbodies are hell.
Here's to hoping you don't accidentally sit in one that spontaneously combusts
I have a Gran National front sway bar in the garage already but I have not put it in yet.
The LT1 gets knocked by people all the time because it isn't an LS. But stock LS1 vs stock LT1 is about equal. If anything, the LT1 makes more low end torque. Its probably one of the best bangs for the buck these days as no one wants them and they can be picked up dirt cheap.
My daughter's '95 Firebird Formula had intermittent no-start issues. It was finally parked for a year and that is when the fuel pump seized up for good. It was an easy fix after cutting a hole in the rear deck right above the gas tank. So if you just want to get it running right now that is the way to go. While the engine is out is a great time to look at the Opti-Spark ignition system. They are failure prone and impossible to work on in the car. The water pump tends to leak and drip onto the distributor killing it. '95 and up used an intake vacuum routed vent to dry the inside. It's a good upgrade after taking it apart and re-sealing the distributor cover "O" ring seal. Also the rotor gets loose and hits things. Loktite-ing the rotor screws is good insurance.
In order to upgrade to the vented Opti, you also need to swap in a 95 only timing cover. Good optis are hard to come by these days but you can do a 24x swap. I put an AC Delco in my 93 back in 2014 and haven't had any issues with it. *knocks on wood*
Some cars never had issues with the Opti. My father had a 94 Z28 he bought new. He drove it for 8+ years and about 80k miles and never had a problem with the Opti. Not that other areas on the car weren't problem prone.
yes, the opti has a bad rep, but i put over 220k on my factory unit with no issue in spite of a leaking, peeing, water pump.
Thanks for the heads up on the opti. I am familiar with them. Lack of maintenance is the main thing that leads to problems I think. Ignition misfires will hurt the opti too. Something as simple as not replacing the dist cap can cause a failure. Carbon tracking under the cap is hard to spot. I’d say replacing the cap is more important than the plugs and wires on theses LT1 engines.
On the rear diff parts interchangeability I have a question. The current rear in the wagon is a 3.73 from a Monte SS. It’s a posi but the clutches are worn from doing abusive donuts.
Are the side gears in the Monte diff the same as the 94 f body? That way I could swap the side gears and run with my current 26 spline axels.
Are the side gears in the Monte diff the same as the 94 f body? That way I could swap the side gears and run with my current 26 spline axels.
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