Ls Motor swap cost?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Ls Motor swap cost?
Gang, planning on moving forward buying a chrome bmpr c3.. would like to turn it into a daily driven screamer with style and reliable therefore thinking of an LS motor...outside of the cost if the engine, what do anyof you think it would roughly cost to have one professionally installed??
Drifting
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 1
From: Boca Raton FL
Gang, planning on moving forward buying a chrome bmpr c3.. would like to turn it into a daily driven screamer with style and reliable therefore thinking of an LS motor...outside of the cost if the engine, what do anyof you think it would roughly cost to have one professionally installed??
Not going to be doing that with my current vette but hopefully my 2nd one - curious about the answer myself.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 38
From: Cedar,BC
No idea really,but I would guess parts and labour would run anywhere from $5000 to $10K.Those custom work hours ($40-100/hr) add up real quick,real fast if the shop(as most) don't really know what they are doing and you are paying for their education...
Lets throw some numbers out there for fun,anyone feel free to chime in:
50 hours labour-$2000-$5000
Headers,new exhaust-$1200
New radiator/fans-$500
New fuel system-$500
Custom harness-$350-$850
Programming/tuning-$500
Misc.bits and pieces,shop supplies,etc-$750
Of course,don't forget all those taxes,enviro/disposal fees,lift fee,lunch fee and all the other BS "fees" shops invoice you for,
not to mention the three dozen trips you will be making to see if they are actually working on your car while they charge you for it for,and the dozen return trips for adjustments, corrections and glitches if they ever get it close to done...
You will really have to be diligent in your research on a project like this,not many places are capable and the ones that are know it,and charge accordingly.Good luck,this will take a big sackful of cash,and/or a huge credit line on that card.Or just take the smart path,buy a C5 or C6 for about the same money and just enjoy it.
Lets throw some numbers out there for fun,anyone feel free to chime in:
50 hours labour-$2000-$5000
Headers,new exhaust-$1200
New radiator/fans-$500
New fuel system-$500
Custom harness-$350-$850
Programming/tuning-$500
Misc.bits and pieces,shop supplies,etc-$750
Of course,don't forget all those taxes,enviro/disposal fees,lift fee,lunch fee and all the other BS "fees" shops invoice you for,
not to mention the three dozen trips you will be making to see if they are actually working on your car while they charge you for it for,and the dozen return trips for adjustments, corrections and glitches if they ever get it close to done...
You will really have to be diligent in your research on a project like this,not many places are capable and the ones that are know it,and charge accordingly.Good luck,this will take a big sackful of cash,and/or a huge credit line on that card.Or just take the smart path,buy a C5 or C6 for about the same money and just enjoy it.
Last edited by tfi racing; Aug 29, 2011 at 03:30 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
Dont know what kind of wrench you are, but probably not worth the dollars if having to pay a shop to do it. Most repair shops dont like doing engine transplants anyway. Custom Image/Josh can price you on everything needed for the conversion. If deciding to go this route, it's LS3 all the way, as really the star of the line up for the money. If going full boat with Tremec manual 0.50 od 6th, 3.42 axle, expect 25 mpg+ highway.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Im installing a LS3 in my 72 right now. I can tell you there is probably areas where i could have cut costs but i chose not to. There is a lot of small details that go into this that would cost plenty to have a shop do it. I cant imagine what it would cost to have a shop do a real nice custom install of this type. I will probably have over 100 hours in this easily. A shop that does this all the time could probably do it in less time but they are not ging to do the fine points that I will do. I would figure on 50+ hours depending on what you want. The small details are what cost but make the final install look and perform very well.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,455
Likes: 665
From: Republic of Texas
straight labor, I think TFI is right in saying $5-$10K with the higher figure being more realistic.
Like Gordon said, it's all in the details.
Like Gordon said, it's all in the details.
Last edited by Corey_68; Aug 29, 2011 at 08:41 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
Not sure where you plan on getting the engine, but if new, figure $8K with ECU/wiring harness at best. Certainly not trying to talk you out of anything, as the LS series is awesome, weighing 120 lbs less than a standard iron headed small block. The L92 heads on LS3's flow 330 cfm intake. Own a C6 ZO6 LS7 car myself, and can tell you its basically insane for road track days on Hoosier R6's. Even this package gets 25-26 mpg at 70 mph highway, all day long.
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Thanks all...the suggested option from my shop locally was to put in a 383 with about 450 hp.. That sounds great but this needs to be a like new vette in reliability, air, heat/defrost and that was my concern with 3 season drivability and I haven't seen many around here doing the LS swaps yet...
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 50
From: Prosper TX
Thanks all...the suggested option from my shop locally was to put in a 383 with about 450 hp.. That sounds great but this needs to be a like new vette in reliability, air, heat/defrost and that was my concern with 3 season drivability and I haven't seen many around here doing the LS swaps yet...
Add a Vintage Air solution and you're set.
Oh, and you just saved $5k.
Drifting
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 1
From: Boca Raton FL
Geos - I have a 69 matching # vert and live in South Fla and basically drive it every day. I have only had it a couple of months but think if I was going to do it all over again I would have bought a NOM 69 with a big block crate engine and all upgraded mechanics. I think the best bet is to find someone who already has done the work and have someone that really knows what they are doing check it out to make sure they "did it right". I love the old C3s and love the idea of having the beauty of a C3 but gutted. Having said all that, I still love my girl and being original is cool as hell as well.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 582
Likes: 1
From: Massapequa Park New York
i'll throw some real #'s at u
motor mounts 60$
going stick or auto? auto its about 250$ for flexplate and adapter
Headers, find any headers from an 98-02 F body $150-350
KEEP IT CARBURATED $700 for intake manifold and ignition box+harness
a stock ls1 engine wit lets say 70xxx miles on it for under $1500 COMPLETE
and labor ur on your own cause i do all my own work
there may be misc little things like electric fan and little stuff like that but the gist of it is all there
motor mounts 60$
going stick or auto? auto its about 250$ for flexplate and adapter
Headers, find any headers from an 98-02 F body $150-350
KEEP IT CARBURATED $700 for intake manifold and ignition box+harness
a stock ls1 engine wit lets say 70xxx miles on it for under $1500 COMPLETE
and labor ur on your own cause i do all my own work
there may be misc little things like electric fan and little stuff like that but the gist of it is all there
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
Depends on crazy you are going to get. I did a pretty comprehensive cost study to swap out my lt1 for an ls in my 92 vette. About 6-7k to acquire a used ls, and buy the necessary parts for the swap. Does not account for any engine work. my labor is free. A fellow in our vette club spent 24k to have someone else swap an ls3 into his 92. He told me 5k was labor, and much of it at reduced price due to some prototype work being done for future swaps. The engine was a crate ls3, cost 8k. 1 reason for the expense was trying to get the c4 computer to integrate with the ls computer. He wanted to use the stock guages, have his traction control and cruise control all work.
Needless to say, you can eliminate that expense, but it's still a lot more work than just building a sweet gen 1 small block, using an aftermarket fuel injection and get the same results. Excellent drivability.
Needless to say, you can eliminate that expense, but it's still a lot more work than just building a sweet gen 1 small block, using an aftermarket fuel injection and get the same results. Excellent drivability.
Last edited by Sunstroked; Aug 29, 2011 at 06:02 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
As for my 72? I'm taking my own advice. My numbers matching block is now a 383. The stock heads are in storage and a nice new pr of rhs heads are in place. The decision on F.I. Has not quite been made. Either way, carb or FI, the car will never be a daily driver, so gas mileage is not my top priority. But, with roller cam and a forged lower end, this engine should be a very reliable yet modest 420 hp build that can be driven anywhere.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 38
From: Cedar,BC
[QUOTE=Vettekid1992;1578552732]i'll throw some real #'s at u
motor mounts 60$
going stick or auto? auto its about 250$ for flexplate and adapter
Headers, find any headers from an 98-02 F body $150-350
KEEP IT CARBURATED $700 for intake manifold and ignition box+harness
a stock ls1 engine wit lets say 70xxx miles on it for under $1500 COMPLETE
and labor ur on your own cause i do all my own work
there may be misc little things like electric fan and little stuff like that but the gist of it is all there[/QUOT
This is what I would like to try ,but not the answer to the original question.Over on LS1 Tech there is a great thread on low dollar swaps,I'm just waiting for that cheap LQ9 deal to fall into my lap...
motor mounts 60$
going stick or auto? auto its about 250$ for flexplate and adapter
Headers, find any headers from an 98-02 F body $150-350
KEEP IT CARBURATED $700 for intake manifold and ignition box+harness
a stock ls1 engine wit lets say 70xxx miles on it for under $1500 COMPLETE
and labor ur on your own cause i do all my own work
there may be misc little things like electric fan and little stuff like that but the gist of it is all there[/QUOT
This is what I would like to try ,but not the answer to the original question.Over on LS1 Tech there is a great thread on low dollar swaps,I'm just waiting for that cheap LQ9 deal to fall into my lap...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
Geos - I have a 69 matching # vert and live in South Fla and basically drive it every day. I have only had it a couple of months but think if I was going to do it all over again I would have bought a NOM 69 with a big block crate engine and all upgraded mechanics. I think the best bet is to find someone who already has done the work and have someone that really knows what they are doing check it out to make sure they "did it right". I love the old C3s and love the idea of having the beauty of a C3 but gutted. Having said all that, I still love my girl and being original is cool as hell as well.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Victoria
NOO! Don't jump, don't jump...
Why are you into C3s and not getting a late model Pontiac GTO or something? Because you like low end grunt and the ground shaking when you start her up. Add in some flames on overrun, and why the hell would you trade your sputtering 350 for a smooth, slushbox LS? They're not good street engines. Good for the Nurburgring, the Top Gear test track and GM's fleet MPG, but on the road you want ashphalt frying grunt at 1,500rpm, not a silky smooth powercurve up to 7,000rpm.
I've never seen an LS C3 but there are plenty of pumped up LSx HSVs around here (including my neighbour's) and they all lack that X-factor to drive (or I wouldn't have gotten my C3).
Why are you into C3s and not getting a late model Pontiac GTO or something? Because you like low end grunt and the ground shaking when you start her up. Add in some flames on overrun, and why the hell would you trade your sputtering 350 for a smooth, slushbox LS? They're not good street engines. Good for the Nurburgring, the Top Gear test track and GM's fleet MPG, but on the road you want ashphalt frying grunt at 1,500rpm, not a silky smooth powercurve up to 7,000rpm.
I've never seen an LS C3 but there are plenty of pumped up LSx HSVs around here (including my neighbour's) and they all lack that X-factor to drive (or I wouldn't have gotten my C3).
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
NOO! Don't jump, don't jump...
Why are you into C3s and not getting a late model Pontiac GTO or something? Because you like low end grunt and the ground shaking when you start her up. Add in some flames on overrun, and why the hell would you trade your sputtering 350 for a smooth, slushbox LS? They're not good street engines. Good for the Nurburgring, the Top Gear test track and GM's fleet MPG, but on the road you want ashphalt frying grunt at 1,500rpm, not a silky smooth powercurve up to 7,000rpm.
I've never seen an LS C3 but there are plenty of pumped up LSx HSVs around here (including my neighbour's) and they all lack that X-factor to drive (or I wouldn't have gotten my C3).
Why are you into C3s and not getting a late model Pontiac GTO or something? Because you like low end grunt and the ground shaking when you start her up. Add in some flames on overrun, and why the hell would you trade your sputtering 350 for a smooth, slushbox LS? They're not good street engines. Good for the Nurburgring, the Top Gear test track and GM's fleet MPG, but on the road you want ashphalt frying grunt at 1,500rpm, not a silky smooth powercurve up to 7,000rpm.
I've never seen an LS C3 but there are plenty of pumped up LSx HSVs around here (including my neighbour's) and they all lack that X-factor to drive (or I wouldn't have gotten my C3).
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Victoria
Obviously you have not driven to many LS equipped cars. The low end grunt plus the high end HP is tremendous. No other motor can provide you the low end grunt and top end HP for the weight and size than an LS motor. The cylinder head design of the LS motors is so far superior to most any Gen1 style head and produces more HP and torque then the Gen1 motor easily. Granted it does not have the old school look of the Gen1 motor but the LS motor outproduces it in any way.
A theory I've had for awhile is that maybe it's just the retarded Aussie tuners who are aiming at performance numbers rather than fun cars, and that US built engines will do the lazy grunt thing better.
Last edited by Edelrock; Aug 30, 2011 at 09:47 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
You guys need some better tuners down under! 
Seriously I have riden in some real ground pounders that drive way better than any Gen1. Case in point my brother in laws 67 LS7 powered resto mod. Look up 1coolc2 here on the forum for his specs. He just added morepower but I drove it with 530 RWHP and it was very cival in normal traffic but will pin your eyeballs when stepping on the loud pedal. He just redid the motor and now makes 598 RWHP. I am currently building up an LS3 with about 530 flywheel hp and have driven this motor in a newer Vette and the low down torque and high end HP is no match for my current 383 motor with 500 flywheel HP and mine is pretty quick. Cmon over here to the states and see what is happening. In a few weeks there is the LS fest in Bowling Green, this is where the serious guys come to run. 40+ years of technology over a Gen1 is a huge improvement. Nothing like nostalgia of the old motors but for performance the LS motors have it all over the older ones.
Seriously I have riden in some real ground pounders that drive way better than any Gen1. Case in point my brother in laws 67 LS7 powered resto mod. Look up 1coolc2 here on the forum for his specs. He just added morepower but I drove it with 530 RWHP and it was very cival in normal traffic but will pin your eyeballs when stepping on the loud pedal. He just redid the motor and now makes 598 RWHP. I am currently building up an LS3 with about 530 flywheel hp and have driven this motor in a newer Vette and the low down torque and high end HP is no match for my current 383 motor with 500 flywheel HP and mine is pretty quick. Cmon over here to the states and see what is happening. In a few weeks there is the LS fest in Bowling Green, this is where the serious guys come to run. 40+ years of technology over a Gen1 is a huge improvement. Nothing like nostalgia of the old motors but for performance the LS motors have it all over the older ones.