LS swap without the LS ???
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 51
From: Connecticut
LS swap without the LS ???
So I found something interesting this morning as I did some research on LS swaps.
Check out this hybrid SBC/LS block.
http://www.pbm-erson.com/Catalog/Wor...k%20Chevy%20LS
Now I am not saying it is cheap/inexpensive. I am only saying it is a different way of getting around the SBC to LS swap issues we have with the C4. Issues like motor mounts, oil pans and transmissions. AND it can use the SBC accessory drive.
I will also add that if you do the math on one of these builds that I believe it would be cheaper to just buy a C6 Corvette. BUT..... it is still cooler to have an LS powered C4 IMHO.
What do you guys think? Worth it or not?
Check out this hybrid SBC/LS block.
http://www.pbm-erson.com/Catalog/Wor...k%20Chevy%20LS
Now I am not saying it is cheap/inexpensive. I am only saying it is a different way of getting around the SBC to LS swap issues we have with the C4. Issues like motor mounts, oil pans and transmissions. AND it can use the SBC accessory drive.
I will also add that if you do the math on one of these builds that I believe it would be cheaper to just buy a C6 Corvette. BUT..... it is still cooler to have an LS powered C4 IMHO.
What do you guys think? Worth it or not?
Last edited by kg4fku; Oct 10, 2016 at 10:07 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Not...IMO. Everyone has their different mission/vision/goals, but to ME, why not just buy some fantastic flowing Gen I heads? Even SB2 heads or other heads with modified valve angles would probably be cheaper. To me, it just seems like a very, very expensive way to get good flowing heads with some other marginally meaningful benefits. It's a cool idea...but probably not worth it.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Likeit
up to 4.125 bore 4 in stroke and 906 lifter. 55 mm cam simple HEI oh yeah
Could build a friggin monster. Worth it $ wise your call
Reminds me of an SB2 witout the 400 cfm head
up to 4.125 bore 4 in stroke and 906 lifter. 55 mm cam simple HEI oh yeah
Could build a friggin monster. Worth it $ wise your call
Reminds me of an SB2 witout the 400 cfm head
Last edited by cv67; Oct 10, 2016 at 10:47 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 319
From: Ohio
Motor mounts? Stock C4 mounts with $30 ebay adapter plates. Done.
Oil Pan? Modified stock truck pan, Holley pan, C5 oil pan, CX Racing pan. The most expensive being the Holley pan at around $300. The least expensive being the modded truck pan, which will cost you probably $100 to have someone weld it up.
Transmission? Any of the auto transmissions work like they were made to. Manuals can be made to work with the correct bellhousing.
I personally don't think its worth the money. You can have an LS in, bolted to your auto trans, with all accessories moved to clear everything for $500 or less worth of parts.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 51
From: Connecticut
What issues? I tossed an LS in my C4 within a couple of hours of getting my L98 out of there. I can't believe people are still having issues with these things.
Motor mounts? Stock C4 mounts with $30 ebay adapter plates. Done.
Oil Pan? Modified stock truck pan, Holley pan, C5 oil pan, CX Racing pan. The most expensive being the Holley pan at around $300. The least expensive being the modded truck pan, which will cost you probably $100 to have someone weld it up.
Transmission? Any of the auto transmissions work like they were made to. Manuals can be made to work with the correct bellhousing.
I personally don't think its worth the money. You can have an LS in, bolted to your auto trans, with all accessories moved to clear everything for $500 or less worth of parts.
Motor mounts? Stock C4 mounts with $30 ebay adapter plates. Done.
Oil Pan? Modified stock truck pan, Holley pan, C5 oil pan, CX Racing pan. The most expensive being the Holley pan at around $300. The least expensive being the modded truck pan, which will cost you probably $100 to have someone weld it up.
Transmission? Any of the auto transmissions work like they were made to. Manuals can be made to work with the correct bellhousing.
I personally don't think its worth the money. You can have an LS in, bolted to your auto trans, with all accessories moved to clear everything for $500 or less worth of parts.
Also with this setup you can use your stock oil pan and accessories. Don't need to buy or modify an oil pan or bell housing and it looks like most lower end sensors will be plug and play.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 319
From: Ohio
Spending $3000 to save $150 or so on an oil pan seems like a complete waste. This is the reason most people dont do or can't finish an LS swap. They get started and then realize they've racked up $7000 in useless spending and scrap their projects to go back to SBC.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 51
From: Connecticut
Not disagreeing with you. You could have over $7K in this engine build alone. This is why I am researching all avenues now and then setting a budget to match expectations.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,386
Likes: 534
LS swap without the LS. Before I clicked on this thread I said, "Must be talking the Motown block". It's been out for a good while now. I remember drooling over it in a random hotrod magazine when they did an in depth look at it years ago but at the same time I knew it must be $$$ for one then, probably still the same now. At least a couple grand for one.
Guess you couldn't go wrong between a Dart SHP block and a Motown 2 but at least with the Motown, you could run a worry free dry LS manifold. If you wanted LS power, the cost to build a long block with the Motown would score you a T56/LS3 pullout ready to drop in your project.
It's the cynical side of me but go-fast goodies like the Motown II only conjure up images of only speed shops coughing up the money to do the builds to get their names in magazine articles. Then the motor gets mothballed forever or it's dropped in a project by the same speed shop for another quick mag article, then the car is mothballed. For the average guy, doesn't make a lot of sense to shell out that kind of money when good fun 450-500hp worth of street car motor can be had for a lot less and still plenty reliable.
Guess you couldn't go wrong between a Dart SHP block and a Motown 2 but at least with the Motown, you could run a worry free dry LS manifold. If you wanted LS power, the cost to build a long block with the Motown would score you a T56/LS3 pullout ready to drop in your project.
It's the cynical side of me but go-fast goodies like the Motown II only conjure up images of only speed shops coughing up the money to do the builds to get their names in magazine articles. Then the motor gets mothballed forever or it's dropped in a project by the same speed shop for another quick mag article, then the car is mothballed. For the average guy, doesn't make a lot of sense to shell out that kind of money when good fun 450-500hp worth of street car motor can be had for a lot less and still plenty reliable.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
LS swap without the LS. Before I clicked on this thread I said, "Must be talking the Motown block". It's been out for a good while now. I remember drooling over it in a random hotrod magazine when they did an in depth look at it years ago but at the same time I knew it must be $$$ for one then, probably still the same now. At least a couple grand for one.
Block $2900 (Summit Racing)
Special Pistons: $??
Special Cam: $??
Still need crank, rods, lifters, heads
Valley Plate: $??
T-Stat solution
I think a Crate "LS" would be cheaper and then you'd have the LS bottom end.