LT1 swap

A

Anonymous

Guest
Hi all,

I am new to this forum. I have a 1983 wagon. Some time ago I installed a 350ci with TH350. Due to emissions testing, it runs with all the 305 emissions equipment, including the carburetor and manifolds. Needless to say, the performance is poor. The car is no longer subject to emissions testing where I live, so I had planned to simplify things and make the car run. I had plans to replace the carb, distributor, manifolds, exhaust etc.

There is now a new twist. My wife has a '96 Caprice with all the performance goodies. It is equipped with a LT1 and I believe a 460LE. It has positraction also. She let her son take the car and it was subsequently wrecked beyond repair. (he's OK) Now it seems maybe my best course of action is to install the engine and transmission into my Malibu wagon.

My questions involve technical difficulty and expense of the swap. Can I buy a wiring harness to run the engine and transmission electronics in the Malibu, or will I have to engineer it? How difficult is it to move the accessories to allow fitment? I don't think the AC compressor will fit on the bottom as it is now. What about exhaust? Will catalytic converters be necessary to operate?

I intend to drive the car on public roads. I don't plan to go racing.

My job has me traveling and it will be a couple days before I'm on line again. Thanks in advance for your input.

Peace
 

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