I know I've asked a lot of questions about building a street 383 but now I'm having second thoughts. I'm not abandoning the stroker motor just yet but the advantages of EFI are obvious. How much more will an LS motor of equivilant power (450/450) set me back? Are all the clearance issues and fabrication headaches worth the payoff? Feel free to chime in all you LS1, LS2, LS6 guys!

 

I have been toying with this idea myself. I already have a 383 in mine and it runs well but I want FI myself. I figure the retrofit FI will cost me about 3K. If I was to do the LS swap I wanted a LS3 motor and a 6 speed plus all the other parts. The best I could figure and this is low is about 8K for everything. I know it can be done way cheaper with a LS1 and use my existing Tremec but if I was going to do it I wanted to go all the way. I think I'm sticking to a retro fit FI on my 385 with a roller cam better suited to FI.

 

I looking into the same thing.....local vette LS1 engine for a grand, but needs intake, tbody, rails, computer, wiring, ignition, serp drive, and exhaust headers...by time I outfit that puppy, that grand for a engine jumps to about 2500 to get it done.....

since I have a LT1 mani on a L98 #113 Al. heades, 4 bolt all roller truck 355 engine now, in there and operating....I just can't see doing it....

most I could sell existing engine complete for is about 800 bux....

 

What about using one of the 5.3's. They are LS based and will accept all upgrades and can be had CHEAP, like under a grand for a running engine.

 

I'm not familiar with any of the LS family less than 5.7. But it sounds good. What kind of power do these things make?

 

You can buy a package (LS1, Trans, computer, etc) from a junk yard for around $3000-$3500. Look for a wrecked 2002 Z28 or Trans-Am. I have about 6K into my LS6 swap so far. The LS Sticky at the top of this page has most of the info you'll need.

 

A 5.3 from a sliverado will have 260hp/215tq.

Here's the video that's got me thinking about putting a 5.3 in something. Perhaps my nova.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/W...-LS_160422.htm

 

I think the LS1 was the best mod I have done by far. I had a good running 350HP 350 and the stock LS1 blows it away. I also converted to the T56 which mostly made a difference in the cool factor and gas mileage. Well over 20 MPG where I was only getting 10 with the old motor.

One of the nice things about the LS is the smoothness and reliability. I frequently let the car sit for several months between drives and when it is time to go, I just turn the key and go. It runs just the same now as it did 6 years ago when I first fired it up.

If you are wanting 450Hp, then I would recommend an LS2 with L92 heads and L76 intake. If you don't mind an iron block, you can save a little money and get a LQ9 6.0L I would still add the L92/L76 combo. (Silverado SS & Escalade)

Since I only wanted a fast cruiser, the LS1 was plenty for me.


Here is a list of what it cost me about 6 years ago. This is for engine and transmission swap and doesn't count the $1000 I got for the stock motor and 4-speed at the swap meet.

http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/70lt1/costs.shtml

 

That really sounds great, especially the bottom line cost, if you don't mind me asking I've got loads of questions. How much of the work did you do yourself? How much could an amature like myself get away with on my own? I had looked at the LS2 but I didn't know any of them made that kind of power. So can I just go to a local junk yard and ask for the motor out of an Escalade or Silverado SS and know I'm getting the setup I'm looking for? If not what's the easiest way to identify the L92 heads and L76 intake- did this setup have a specific name?

P.S. sorry I don't mean to blow you away with questions, just very interested.

 

Right now on ebay there is a Camaro, either 1998 or 2000 I forget which, that has an LS1, nitrous, and 6 speed. Current bid is under $5k.

That would be everything you need for a pretty badass LS swap, and you could recover a few bucks by selling the rest of the Camaro. I don't have the link handy, but I remember seeing it just a couple hours ago.

 

I did everything myself with the exception of welding the trans adapter to the frame and the welding of the notched radiator support. Before the swap, the most complicated auto work I did was change the oil. And remember, this was back before everyone had done it. Everything for my swap from engine mounts to trans mount, to alternator mounts was custom made. S&P had a few parts out there, but no one else was swapping LS1's yet.

The L92 heads are currently being used on the new 6.2L 400Hp Escalades. I think they are 07+. The L76 intake has been used in Australia on the Holden Commodores for a few years, but are now used on the Pontiac G8's. I think the LS3 intake is pretty much the same thing. You can pick up the heads and intake from Scoggin Dickey parts or any GM dealer for pretty cheap. The down-side is they need at least a 6.0L block so you need the LS2, LS3, LQ4 or LQ9 as a starter motor. The first 2 are aluminum, the latter are iron.

LS2 is a 400 Hp 6.0L and came in 05-07 corvettes, 05-06 GTO's, SSR's, Trailblazer SS's and maybe the later CTS-V's.

LS3 is a 430 Hp 6.2L and came in 08+ corvettes.

LQ9 is a 345 HP 6.0L and were only avaliable in SS Silverados from 03-07 and the Escalades (don't know which years off the top of my head.) It is basically an iron LS2 with a truck intake.

LQ4 is a 300 Hp 6.0L and was available in Sierras and Silverado HD's. It uses different pistons than the LQ9 to lower the compression slightly.

 

Alright just two more questions. Most of the LS engines I've seen on Ebay are either out of my price range or have 50,000 miles+ on them. What is the life expectancy of these motors? Also, will an LS motor fit my stock TH350 transmission?

 

yes itll fit your stock 350 with a crank adapter and 6 longer bolts or a custom torque convertor.im running a 700r4 with the crank adapter 6 longer bolts and my 700r4 convertor.

As far as 50000 miles thats not bad,but these motors arent really hard to rebuild either while you got it out.

 

Mine had about 40,000 when I bought it. These things can go well over 150K with no problems.

If you are buying off ebay, make sure the engine did not come from a roll-over. If the car is upside down and the engine doesn't shut off, then you are running with no oil.

 

Another ls1 convert here - also best mod ever on my C3 - no more worries about reliability or getting stranded. My 98 C5 ls1 has 117,000 miles on it and still going very strong-my used LS1 I put in the C3 had reported 30,000 miles. Did nearly all the work myself, thanks to folks that trailblazed this (like Jeff and Pat ..and others I am forgetting right now) there was a lot of prior information on the net and things like motor mounts to be bought on ebay. Mine was first running over a year ago - CA legal smogged as 99 vette and getting new paint now.

I have ~$6.5K into my engine/tranny conversion, $2.2k for ls1 w/o all accessories, $1.1K for T56 + new ls6 clutch, spent $500 for hptuners, lots of small things that add up (coils that didn't come on engine, ps pump, alt, wirign harness, pcm, paid for exhaust fab as don't weld, had to switch from vette batwing oil pan to f-body, the list goes on.....).

If you do it ... take the advice to get engine/tranny/wiring harness/computer all from same car - much easier and probably save $$. I learned the hard way....