I was wondering if I bought a 1999 pontiac firebird with a V6, can I easily drop in an LT1 or will there have to be some fitting that needs to be done so the engine will fit properly?
Not knowing anything about firebirds here, but im sure you would have more issues with the tranny hooking up to the tranny bell housing and stuff like that rather than the engine itself fitting in.
that and the ECU, rear end, driveshaft, and all sorts of fun stuff that might not be the same
Once again, I know nothing about firebirds or pontiacs in general for that matter…but just some things to think about.
If you’re going to go through the trouble of a swap, you may be better off with an LS1 swap instead - just as complicated, more reliable ignition electronics (they don’t call it the Opticrap for nothing). Besides, in '99, the V8 option was the LS1 anyway.
Otherwise, all you’d need is stuff from a donor car, really.
the LS series may fit better because it would have been the v8 option for that chasis, but I dont know how inspection would work? I guess OBD2 would work the same but I thought engines had to be what the car came with from the factory?
LT wouldnt be worth the effort IMO
LT1 can certainly beworth the effort, cheap reliable and fast. But its much easier to have a donor car, LT1 or LS1, to make the swap happen because its really engine/wiring/trans at the least. The chassis’ are the same for all v6 and v8 cars between 93-02 (other than some small floorplan changes that affect trans crossmember choice). But the v6 transmissions wont work, so it will need to be a v8 trans that matches whether you get an LT1 or LS1 to put into it. The kmember bolts up to the car in the same places but the motor mounts and bolt holes are different. Computer is different, harness change for both dash and engine. The rear axles are all 7.625 10 bolts, so if you stick with the v6 version you just dont have posi. Suspensions are different but can work as is. v6 fuel pumps dont flow as much but Ive seen them work anyway. However 99+ went to plastic gas tanks with different setups, and LT1 and LS1 fuel pressures were different, so there are issues to resolve there.
So I guess it depends on what parts you have available and what you consider easy. Most wouldnt consider it easy, although it is all bolt on if you’re willing to change out most of the parts.
Can you easily “drop” an engine in? Fuck no. Nothing’s easy on these cars. You’re much better off waiting for a Z28, TA, or Formula. There’s a bunch for sale at all times over on LS1Tech. If you really wanna tackle the swap, then LS1 into the 99 is the way to go, but it’s not even close to being worth the trouble.
I would guess that the price of a '99 firebird with a V6 will be just about the same as a '93-'95 LT1 car, if not more. Unless you can pick up either the '99 for free or a donor V8 car for free, I would just keep looking for something else.
coulda sworn we just covered this exact topic in the past few weeks. Do a search.