View Full Version : ls series swap
sfusco3
08-16-2010, 03:11 PM
I currently have a 91 v6 bird and I want to swap to an ls engine, I cant do the work myself so i called over to js performance and the estimate that i got would be around $$$$$ for everything. I cant really afford that, so if anyone can help me out with this swap i will pay for there time. I have a budget of around 6000 for everything including parts.
Thanks
Steve
deadtrend1
08-16-2010, 03:52 PM
Estimate for about half that $6,000 is going to go to the motor and trans. Maybe even a little more.
This thread here is a good one to get a idea of what you need. I don't see the price of exhaust in there though.
http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/ltx-lsx/445766-ls1-conversion-price-lists.html
Thats going to put you right around your budget, and this is doing everything yourself and not taking into account anything along that way that you need.
BonzoHansen
08-16-2010, 04:00 PM
I currently have a 91 v6 bird and I want to swap to an ls engine, I cant do the work myself so i called over to js performance and the estimate that i got would be around $$$$$ for everything. I cant really afford that, so if anyone can help me out with this swap i will pay for there time. I have a budget of around 6000 for everything including parts.
Thanks
Steve
I underlined the part that jumps off the page at me. If you have $6k, my suggestion is sell the v6 car and buy a 99+ V8 car. If you love 3rd gens go buy a nice v8 3rd gen and enjoy it. swaps like that get pricy fast when you get a shop involved.
BTW I saw the price you had up, that ain't all that bad.
GrandmasterCow
08-16-2010, 04:37 PM
I underlined the part that jumps off the page at me. If you have $6k, my suggestion is sell the v6 car and buy a 99+ V8 car. If you love 3rd gens go buy a nice v8 3rd gen and enjoy it. swaps like that get pricy fast when you get a shop involved.
BTW I saw the price you had up, that ain't all that bad.
That's not a bad idea, just throwing it out there that i'm currently selling my car, PM me if interested.
MonmouthCtyAntz
08-16-2010, 04:49 PM
The swap is certainly not cheap, especially having someone else do the work...sell the 6 and take the 6 grand and grab a LS1 car...you can easily find one...you' be better off financially.
sfusco3
08-16-2010, 05:16 PM
thanks for the input guys, but its not as simple as just selling my current car. It is modified to be a replica car and that is why i want to upgrade the powertrain
BonzoHansen
08-16-2010, 06:01 PM
replica of what?
LTb1ow
08-16-2010, 06:08 PM
Shoot BiGals a PM on how much has spent on his swap, granted a few of us have done the work for him...:lol: but still, at least that will get you an idea on parts pricing etc.
crainholio
08-16-2010, 06:55 PM
Mine was over $5K just in basic conversion parts back in 2004. $4400 or so for the engine+trans+pedals+harness/accessories, another $800 for the exhaust Y-pipe + cats fabrication and cat-back setup, $100 for a chassis harness to chop up, $80 or so for the engine mounts, $120 for a fuel pump, etc. That was before I added a cam, chain, oil pump, valvesprings, and clutch.
BonzoHansen
08-16-2010, 07:09 PM
don't forget fuel line fittings & hose, fuel filter, air intake, blah blah blah. it is rather easy to nickle & dime it to death.
rear... drive shaft... brakes...
BigAls87Z28
08-16-2010, 11:42 PM
Possible to do for 6 grand, with help. I have help, with any major retrofitting anything, it helps to have help.
There are lots of ways to do it, and lots of hurdles to jump to make it happen.
sfusco3
08-17-2010, 12:40 AM
well i have a knight rider car, so i have to much invested into it to just sell it and only 8 months to get the car done before the next show i put it in. So i dont have enought time to even find another 3rd gen V8 equipped and convert it over
then you might want to go tpi, carb, or even lt1. all would be easier on the budget than an ls1, and all would give a good power increase over the v6
an lt1 would be a nice choice, same mounts and alot of stuff would switch over, that swap could be done parts wise for under 3k
which would leave room for a nice rear and coil conversion....
BonzoHansen
08-17-2010, 11:41 AM
any v8 swap he'll need a transmission and whatever else that entails. my advice is save your $$.
a 91 knight rider? that car was an 82, no? did you swap all the ground effects & the nose?
BonzoHansen
08-17-2010, 01:57 PM
This is why a swap is better for the mechanically inclined. Here is 80% or more of the parts you’d need:
http://www.njfboa.org/forums/showthread.php?p=723173
Buy for $5500, sell off all the parts you don't need. I bet that makes the parts cost ~$2500 +/-$500. This would have been a great way for BiGal to go.
But you can't really do that if you need a shop to do it all.
BigAls87Z28
08-17-2010, 04:32 PM
This is why a swap is better for the mechanically inclined. Here is 80% or more of the parts you’d need:
http://www.njfboa.org/forums/showthread.php?p=723173
Buy for $5500, sell off all the parts you don't need. I bet that makes the parts cost ~$2500 +/-$500. This would have been a great way for BiGal to go.
But you can't really do that if you need a shop to do it all.
Would have been great to have two dead camaros in my drive way! Fantastic idea why didn't i think of that?
LTb1ow
08-17-2010, 04:42 PM
Would have been great to have two dead camaros in my drive way! Fantastic idea why didn't i think of that?
Well the idea would be to take what you need from teh donor car, rip the rest apart and sell it all before you rip your third gen apart.
At least, thats a logical approach it.
BonzoHansen
08-17-2010, 05:17 PM
Would have been great to have two dead camaros in my drive way! Fantastic idea why didn't i think of that?
works for me. it's amazing how fast you can turn a car into a pile of sheet metal in the back of a truck
BigAls87Z28
08-17-2010, 06:38 PM
Well the idea would be to take what you need from teh donor car, rip the rest apart and sell it all before you rip your third gen apart.
At least, thats a logical approach it.
Right, its so easy to just sell off the scraps of a carcas!
And buy a car with 150k miles on it...BEST IDEA EVAR? maybe
So have a big heap of car sitting in my driveway, wait for that to be sold off or sent to the scrap heap, then do the motor swap.
So much easier then buying the motor by itself. Logical, youre right
works for me. it's amazing how fast you can turn a car into a pile of sheet metal in the back of a truck
Its amazing that I dont have a truck.
Nor a place to put a truck, if I had a truck, to tear down a car that fast and develop a pile of parts to then put in said truck.
Its amazing how fast you have gotten rid of that LS1 car. Coming in on half a decade.
Unless you find a screaming deal on a LS1 car that doesnt have a 1/4 million miles on it, then I suggest you start looking for LS1 pull outs. Cheaper and with much less mess then having a heap of **** 4th gen lying around as you try to sell the parts off.
sfusco3
08-17-2010, 07:56 PM
hey guys thanks for all the imput, i think i just going to get a V8 and transfer my current mods over to that car. What do u guys think of this http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/1895495835.html
BonzoHansen
08-17-2010, 08:01 PM
Right, its so easy to just sell off the scraps of a carcas!
And buy a car with 150k miles on it...BEST IDEA EVAR? maybe
So have a big heap of car sitting in my driveway, wait for that to be sold off or sent to the scrap heap, then do the motor swap.
So much easier then buying the motor by itself. Logical, youre right
Its amazing that I dont have a truck.
Nor a place to put a truck, if I had a truck, to tear down a car that fast and develop a pile of parts to then put in said truck.
Its amazing how fast you have gotten rid of that LS1 car. Coming in on half a decade.
Unless you find a screaming deal on a LS1 car that doesnt have a 1/4 million miles on it, then I suggest you start looking for LS1 pull outs. Cheaper and with much less mess then having a heap of **** 4th gen lying around as you try to sell the parts off.
don't get all upset sunshine. next time get a house with a garage. :p
BigAls87Z28
08-17-2010, 11:38 PM
Next time I will. Wasnt totaly up to me this time around. Next time, ill just fill the pool in and plop a garage on top of that.
LTb1ow
08-18-2010, 03:03 AM
Next time I will. Wasnt totaly up to me this time around. Next time, ill just fill the pool in and plop a garage on top of that.
And have a nice solid level surface for jackstands to not kick out on?
Do ittttt
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