88-89 GTA Project - F-Body Online

ojos · 03-22-2008, 07:12 PM

Hello FBODY members,

I'm actively seeking for an 88-89 GTA project car. My goal is to swap the old TPI for a new LS6 or LS7? First question I have, is this even possible? Second question, assuming the LS6 or LS7 swap is possible would you recommend I get a T-Top or Hard Top? I would prefer the T-Top, but I know that makes the vehicle unstable and if they ever leaked I could be looking at some rusty floors? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

fbody01 · 03-22-2008, 07:23 PM

yes i believe it is possible to do that swap. and i've owned 2 firebirds w/ t-tops and they never leaked before. just make sure your weather stripping is good.

strc09 · 03-23-2008, 06:00 AM

The swap would be possible but you'd have to do some custom stuff since the throttle body on the LS6/7 are "fly by wire" instead of the traditional wire used on the LS1 and early GM V8s. HPP did an article a couple months back about a 1988 Pontiac Firebird that the guy did a LS2/T56 swap into. That would give you the basis for what you'd need to do in order to make it work. The artilce doesn't go into specific, specific detail but detail enough to let know what to expect. This would be a very cool project and I'm looking forward to seeing what you do.

BTW...Welcome to FBO.

ojos · 03-23-2008, 09:18 AM

Thanks for the info. That Black Firebird with LS2 is a real beauty. Let's see if I can top that!

ojos · 03-23-2008, 04:27 PM

STRC09:
I have a question for you. I see that you plan to swap your transmission to manual in the future. How difficult will this be? Does it alter the integrety of the car at all?

BTW. Awesome 88!

strc09 · 03-24-2008, 07:03 AM

If you're talking about the integrity of it being original, of course. Especially since I have the 350 and there were no 350 equipped GTAs or Formulas produced until the 1992 Firehawk. I'll be using GenIII console though so it'll look "stockish". Structurally...no. T56 swaps are fairly common. With mine, since I'm sticking with the L98 block, I had to use the Borg-Warner T56 from the LT1 cars instead of the Tremec from the LS1 cars. Being that I'll be using the BW T56 it is almost a direct bolt in. I'll be able to reuse my flywheel, torque arm, and driveshaft. The only custom part is the crossmember. There is a full write-up on TGO that tells you what you need...T56 6-Speed Coversion I've got almost everything I need. I just have to get the tranny rebuilt before it goes in.

Hope this helps.

ojos · 03-25-2008, 08:37 PM

Thanks for the good info Patrick. I appreciate it.

strc09 · 03-26-2008, 08:09 PM

You're welcome.