"LTX" Swapping my 1986 Pontiac Trans Am! | The Teardown Ep.1

[@dillanhalma1118]

just bought a wrecked 2018 ss and plan on swapping the interest driveline and brakes and touch screen into my 87 z28 your videos are a huge help thank you!

[@BackPainGarage]

Man, this video came just in time. This weekend my tired old 305 comes out to make room for the 4.8. All i have left is a couple ground straps on the back of the head, pull the t5 and out comes the engine. Definitely feeling a little more motivated now to get it out and start making the engine bay look nice.

[@darinr9424]

why a 4.8

[@BackPainGarage]

@@darinr9424 because it was within my budget, and once it's in there wired up and such, if i want to go bigger, it'll be a whole lot easier to swap out. Also, this is a car I've had for 13 years and just want to be able to drive it again without smoking like a runaway diesel going down the road. So more or less right now my expectations are to make it drivable and not the fastest thing on the road. Besides, the 4.8 is probably double the HP compared to what my tired old 305 tbi makes.

[@terrybryant]

I have this exact same car. Purchased it new in 1986 and it is in mint condition as it has been housed its entire life. The 305 just puts and hate to mess with it but had a 350 for it but sold it. Love this car.

[@Robs_garage90]

Dude I love the music you use on the trans am videos!

[@lsxmatt]

Thanks, I try to use different songs in each video but I’m running out of options😂

[@rdpeach]

@@lsxmatt Dont bother, lol the 80s synthwave is great

[@articat568]

No reason you shouldn’t have more subs... I swear you had more. Great to see you doing this because you’ve been getting way more thorough and attentive to the little things. Great work!

[@J2A61]

I remember buy those kenWood 6x9’s (@4:25 )brand new for my first car at 15yrs old I was so happy lol

[@TravisRez]

I don’t think I’ll ever pull the 3.1 out of my 91 Camaro but I love seeing your videos because a lot of the non-engine stuff for both the Camaro and Trans-Am can still relate to me while I attempt to work on mine.

[@geremychubbuck3730]

Sad to see the old small block rest in peace. Looking forward to seeing the project progress. Keep up the great work!

[@051570orion]

Wow , I was surprised the floor pans didn't look worse . Great video , I'm working on getting everything together for my SBC , for my 1972 Nova and I'm looking into using either vortech parts to have multiple coils and eventually fuel injection , or just try to save up and get the MSD kit .

[@Linwood_Garage]

Great video. Those floorpans are in surprisingly good shape. I got an 87 Trans Am that is identical to this one except I got GTA wheels.

[@UltimateRoadWarrior9]

Looking forward to the interior and weatherstrip install and where you sourcing the parts. That's next on my list for my 86 IROC. Thx for the videos!

[@lsxmatt]

Its probably coming before the interior goes back in!

[@filthyfrank1in482]

great video always extremely helpful and a great guideline for everyone

[@Roxaschao]

Shouldve taken a sip of the standing water in the backseat, get a real taste of the 80's.

[@marcbrazzers]

I noticed that too, was happy to see not too much rust under that carpet!

[@jp2246]

Yum yum

[@projectcarz4798]

Saw the 350 on Facebook marketplace while researching small block for my 1988 trans am

[@3beltwesty]

Great that you ran a before engine swap baseline test. With 0 to 60 mph tests the outside air temperature and tire pressures are factors too . With the 2.5 L 1982 Camaro here the weight of tools and crap one has in the car matters too since dinky motor. :) in the 3rd gen the sound deadening RPO package adds weight and an AC adds weight. With the dinky 2.5L engine here the air filter is really too small and a bottleneck in airflow if one is pushing the motor really hard. A used dusty one radically cuts the power down. Going down the 7 percent Camarillo grade on US101 the car will go 70 mph plus at idle ie not touching the accelerator pedal. Thus you turn the AC on for more engine braking. That is in 4th gear with a manual and a 3.42 rear end. In going up that 7 percent grade with the 2.5L the performance was * highly dependent* on the air temperature. On a cold night sail up in 4th gear at 65mph to 70 . On a hot summer day a running start in 4th gear worked but sucked eggs at 52 to 55. :) if one had to slow down to day 40 due to traffic then 4th didn't have enough torque . Thus had to downshift to 3rd gear. In 1983 a 5 speed manual was also an option. They enlarged the transmission tunnel on the 1983 F car for the 5 speed manual. A 5 speed in a 1982 has one i believe cutting out part of the transmission tunnel

[@chopper6464]

No trap door yet? Amazing! Good luck and enjoy.

[@gavinjhral9611]

Im so excited. im doing a ls1 swap on my 84 t/a and this is going to give me so much insight and help. Thank you matt!!!!!

[@Tyler-mb8ce]

I can't wait for your next upload. Let's hear the LT thunder!

[@stvmassacre]

Sweet video, its great when videos are made and show it only takes 20 minutes to pull an engine and trans 🤣jk🤣. Cant wait for the next video.

[@gavinc8635]

Love you vids man super entertaining and informative. I have a 4th gen Camaro and after watching these I’m startling to want a 3rd gen.

[@lsxmatt]

Thats awesome, thanks for the support.

[@davebarron5939]

SWEET! looking forward to seeing this, every step and detail!

[@larrydeaton5452]

Nice video Matt. Keep them coming.

[@dirtdiggerbear1075]

please don’t gloss over the wiring harness. i think that’s something a lot of people would love for you to go through in detail.

[@J2A61]

Very much so I’m saving to send my harness to be reworked right now...

[@lsxmatt]

I’m probably going with a holley system, but I’ll definitely be going over the thirdgen side for the starter and gauges.

[@ariyanadumon4549]

Agreed.

[@28tonrod]

Thank you for the videos! Cant wait to see the new engine in this Trans Am! Great job!

[@daniel03r1]

Hood should clear. My LS with a Holley sniper intake cleared a stock firebird hood. The tubular K members lower the engine a little bit and the LT intake should be lower than the sniper. I think you’ll be good.

[@Traxxastmaxxpro15]

Wow look at those mint floor boards lol, lookin good man👍🏻

[@theANGRIERone]

I got bagged in that spot you did the 0-60 right after hurricane Sandy on my way into the office in Jersey City in my 06 300 SRT8. I got a little PTSD watching that. lmao

[@davidwiley652]

I’m already lovin’ this. Exactly what I want to see. Can’t wait for more. I want to put my 5.3 in my 91 Z28 using tips for you Matt....💪🏾

[@bullit22]

Great Video Matt. Can't wait for more! You motivate me to get out and do things! Keep it up!

[@fallenrival5872]

Hoping to start on my 91 formula in a few months, got a ly6 for it .

[@garycallahan7867]

Check out the videos where they grind the fins off of the top of the intake for clearance. The Driveway Engineer has a lot of good information as well.

[@dwightschrute4029]

You can always count on your t tops to rot out your floor pans. Yours look pretty good after 30+years so be proud of that.

[@lsxmatt]

I was surprised as well!

[@motorola12slvr]

The most waited video in KZbin!

[@horsepoweravenue4924]

The more detail, the better... I am restoring a 1988 Trans Am!

[@brettbeez]

This is a great video very informative! Excited to see the next one.

[@LTJohn]

I love the Miami Vice music!!! 😎🦅👍

[@GoGoGarage]

Looking forward to the next video.

[@abbysapples1225]

In regards to the torque arm. I was told you have to do that when the suspension is loaded because if you do it without it can come down and the legend is it can kill people. Not sure if that is true.

[@lethalnate9461]

Surprised the dash didn't fall in your lap on the launch. Lol

Good job on your '86 Trans Am.

[@lsx3701]

Nice project. Arrange Engine bay and paint before you swap. Now you have space to arrange

[@m1a1hm]

Great video!!! Can't wait for the next one. Say i know this may be a dumb question but i thought that the only 350 that came in the Trans AM were the TPI and the 305 were TBI . I could be wrong but i was just wondering.

[@lsxmatt]

This isn’t the original engine. Someone swapped the 305 out for this late 70’s 350 somewhere along the line.

[@m1a1hm]

@@lsxmatt That's what i was thinking had happen.

[@idletime]

Great start on things Matt 😎 I'llvguess the weight of the LS @ 475 LBS. 🤓

[@Leveluplivin]

At 0:54 how do you get the mph to display like that? Is something hooked up to a computer or gps or something?

[@juanmena4676]

Is that the classic 1ton harbor freight engine hoist?

[@obs_nation_9712]

Great video man, so what’s the goal for the trans am?

[@morenoangel633]

I lost it when he dropped the transmission 😂😂😂

[@lsxmatt]

I always forget that the stupid hf jack is too high so I always need to throw it off the jack to get it out from under the car😂

[@jxhws678]

Im very excited 😆

[@mikeyWRX]

412LB. on L83. And fantastic work on your videos. Your viewership should take off soon, production has gotten very good.

[@lsxmatt]

Thanks for the support, I’ll keep these videos coming.

[@pigrond]

i would like very much to buy the motor mount brackets that bolt to the motor itself on the motor you are taking out. i need them for my 87 TA.

[@bonecrrusherSS]

What is the name of the song you used in the last half of the video?

[@hybridmusclegarage4590]

The PARTY has started!!!!

[@gio94sr20ve]

Nice work, keep the content coming 👍🏻

[@tylerjones2]

Yes, it's time.

[@piotrmalewski8178]

You know what? I think you should start selling updated 3rd gen Trans Ams, I'd buy one to Europe. I love the car for its looks and Knight Rider, but the original from technical perspective is terrible.

[@charleshenson4183]

Should definitely build that LT before installing it as they're fairly weak sauce & you'll end up needing to do it down the road if you boost it anyway. I had one in my old 17 c7 stingray. I got rid of that car simply because of this bs. They're capable engines once built though,I just didn't expect to have to go that deep into it in a new Corvette. Live & learn

[@J2A61]

Oh shit I have to hurry up I have the first genV swapped third gen.... just not totally complete yet.... but cool maybe we can help each other..... although I have a big head start my motor and transmission is all in ready for final install.....

[@1slo13tahoe2]

I think the l83 weights between 360 and 400 lbs

[@alconk7129]

Nice video! You mentioned it’s a 350, do you know that for a fact since that year they did not offer the 5.7 from the factory or someone just swapped the 305 somewhere in its life. Also what are you using for your 0-60 time. I’m interested in that. Thanks

[@lsxmatt]

I was using a dragy for the 0-60. Someone swapped the 305 out at some point so the engine I pulled was a 350.

[@cool62chev]

Great video! What was the device in the beginning of the video that timed the 0-60?

[@turbogti78]

Dragy performance meter

[@cool62chev]

@@turbogti78 thanks

[@chrisdag1994]

Was honestly surprised with the condition of the floorboards especially with the t tops leaking and water still in there

[@glennmanchester1568]

It was fairly decent with the 350 and it still sounds healthy too it's the stock motor ?

[@lsxmatt]

100% stock from what I can tell.

[@red96fb]

Look in to Fat Mat sound deadner. I used it for my 98 Trans Am.

[@luisrivera6840]

Hey Matt what did you use to get your 60 foot?

[@lsxmatt]

Dragy, its a gps performance recorder

[@luisrivera6840]

LsxMatt thanks

[@ThaMetalMan]

Great video buddy!

[@zachowens1412]

I would say the new engine would be around 470ish.

[@TheUnknown714]

When are you going to fix that fender? Lol

[@lsxmatt]

The more I do the car performance wise, the less I want to fix it lmao

[@TheUnknown714]

@@lsxmatt ha ha ha ha

[@tonyr9235]

You always make this seem way too easy.

[@603cobralifestyle4]

The 5.3 ways about 450 about 480

[@jamescotten34]

I'm thinking around 400 for the weights

[@Sutliff01]

I’m guessing about 465 for the L83

[@streetfighterracing1583]

Guess you should pack up and become a Florida man too...

[@glennmanchester1568]

They were so smothered by emissions back then they had zero balls and it didn't take much to smoke them lol I knew a kid bought a brand new trans am anniversary edition or some fancy one 5.7 etc 5 speed he let me take it for a ride I don't think it had 200 miles on it I jumped on it in 1st snatched second and broke the transmission mount that quick that immediately turned me off those yr model Camaro Firebirds etc and they really weren't much of anything to write home about speed wise to look at and handling different story so now you'll have the best of both worlds especially if you upgrade whatever suspension parts you can to modern urethane stuff and I'm sure a rearend upgrade is on the agenda as well

[@lsxmatt]

I usually upgrade the rear after I blow it up😂

[@gobzillagaming1277]

Let’s go

[@jaywalker8954]

More motivation

[@marcuslimbaugh4592]

Wish we were neighbors

[@liammaupin9492]

I’m gonna say the L83 is about 100-120 lbs less

[@420architecMindNDesign]

im guessing the l83 weighs in at around 480

[@michaelhanewich245]

Throw that Starf**ks card in the trash! Friends don't let friends drink Starf**ks.

[@J2A61]

Vacuum pump has to go FactoryA/C compressor has to go The factory oil pan has to go The DOD/AFM has to go.... and there goes about 5k depending on how much you have in the motor/transmission also ICT make and sells almost everything far as the relocation parts every part for the LT is higher for what ever reason so heads up.... I believe my hood will close with the truck intake I haven’t made it that far yet. It sticks up higher in the front of the block I can tell you that much but I have a 3” Hood scoop already so hope it helps... look on my channel to see what I’ve figured out so far

[@lsxmatt]

Just took a look at one of your videos, awesome to see the 6l80e in there. Are you running power steering? Thats the next thing I see being an issue with the steering box and truck accessory drive. I know my ac box is gonna need a chunk cut out of it as well. After seeing your video I’m positive the truck intake will probably have to go.. Theres a guy on thirdgen.org that swapped in an lt1 and tr6060. His thread has some use-full stuff as well: www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-lsx/750406-gen-v-lt1-install.html

[@J2A61]

LsxMatt I plan on using and electric set up for the power steering I was told to use a Nissan set up Mitch from swap time used it on his truck L83 swap he has a lot of info because he’s swap the L83 & L86 in a few different cars and trucks already... he also has a video showing the harness but he doesn’t go into detail about the rework part but he does show where every connection goes/ plugs in.... I’m waiting to send my harness to him now starts at 550.00 I think flashing the batts off is another 150.

[@MrBeard-ig5zc]

Body by Fischer

[@ariyanadumon4549]

I'm betting the 5.3 will weigh in at 450 lbs

[@mwajszczyk]

I'd guess 483lbs for the l83.

[@mrphiscal]

Im shocked that the carb 350 got to 60 not shocked your lt swapping it

[@ipdjbt]

A lot of children these days believe carbureted engines are anemic. This one may be, but not because of the carb.

[@NoahStines]

I think engine weighs in at 427

[@slick4401]

I'd buy a technically updated 1986 Trans Am done properly, thumbs up those in agreement pls.

[@Corassiam007]

Gonna guess it weighs like 477

[@jo-ghost3889]

485 for the weight

[@truthpurveyor8298]

415 on the weight

[@manbearpig2164]

I would've held it in gear a little longer

[@barrycuda1427]

LS3-420 lbs

[@indianajonesjr.1760]

I'm Guessing 394 pounds??

[@michaelmcnally545]

390Lbs

[@J2A61]

L83 489

[@TotalCamaroZ28]

5.3 I’m going to guess 478lbs.

[@Ghost-mann42082]

weight 448

[@leathergunn]

Now the cars gutted it will be easier to take to the dump where it belongs

[@lsxmatt]

Instructions unclear, accidentally started restoring.

[@Ls3guy]

165-175 lbs lighter

[@Slinkoguy]

440lbs

[@joshuakay4427]

My guess: 471lbs