'96 Lt1 Swap Issue... HELP!!!

1st_Elco · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:51 pm Post subject: '96 Lt1 Swap Issue... HELP!!!

whats up everyone? I'm a first time El Camino owner and a new member to this site.
I have 1985 El Camino which is currently under the knife for a '96 LT1 transplant. The motor is out of a 1996 Camaro.

The problem I am having is that one of my header pipes is hitting an upper control arm.

What type of headers or modifications does anyone recommend?
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Poltergeist · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:19 pm Post subject:

Are you using Camaro headers? If so I don't think they will work. But you can use headers for an El Camino, Monte Carlo etc. The exhaust ports are the same. Are you planning on Long Tubes or shorties? You should also be able to use the stock exhaust manifolds. I had long tubes and then removed them and used the stock Impala manifolds so I could pass the BAR and get mine Calif. legal.
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1st_Elco · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:54 pm Post subject:

They are the stock camaro headers. What happened was, I guess I got lucky... A guy had his 1996 Z28 Camaro for sell he ran over a curb so hard that it bent the subframe and kind of twisted the body. However the drivetrain was untouched and the motor sounded fine, so I offered him $750 and was on my way home with the car.

So everything I have is coming right from the donor into the Elco.

Which year Monte Carlo or El Camino?

Being that I too am a Cali resident, what all needs to be done in order for me to smog?
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1st_Elco · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:47 pm Post subject:

Thanx Poltergeist the header pipe issue is now solved.

Now onto other things; I heard that becaus I switched the motors, from carb to injected, that I have to go to a smog referee and get a stamp or sticker that will let the smog facility know to smog the vehicle under fuel injected regulations rather than the carb regulations. Is this true? Or which route did you go?
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Poltergeist · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:07 pm Post subject:

Yes you will have to take it to a ref. I just got mine done a little over a month ago. It's not bad but you do have to make sure that all the smog stuff is there. But with you having a 96 you can remove the air pump if you want. I have a Tech Bulletin that lets you do it, I had to give a copy to the ref because he didn't know about it.

What did you do for headers? My ref had me move my catalytic converters closer to the motor and with anything other then shorties there would have been no way to do it.

Where is Cal are you? 750 for the Camaro is a smoking deal, you suck! j/k Laugh

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greywolf · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:11 pm Post subject:

Thankfully I did not have to deal with the smog nazis here in Kansas.
But see the hybrid thread here
http://www.lt1tech.com/
There might be something on dealing with the smog inspection for a conversion project. I know it's been done.

1st_Elco · Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 6:41 am Post subject:

I used headers from an older LT1 a friend had laying in his shop. He couldnt remember what year, but he is supposed to be finding out for me, so when I know, I will let you know.
I'm located in the I.E. (Inland Empire), as for the luck... Its all about the timing on craigslist.com. This is also where I purchased the Elco for $400.

Thanx for the site greywolf. There wasnt much on smog, unless I looked over it, but there were other helpful topics.
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Poltergeist · Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 12:10 pm Post subject:

I'm in the IE also - Ontario.

With the headers you might have a problem getting by the BAR with them if they move the CATS too far back. Unless you plan on doing a Y-pipe and single CAT in the stock Elky location, that was my 2nd option.

The smog part really isn't that hard just a pain in the butt.
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'82 El Camino with an LT1 from a 95 Impala SS

ECC Member #002

Come over to the dark side, we have cookies!!