LS# swap??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 778
Likes: 1
From: Chantilly VA
LS# swap??
Has anyone out there done a LS3 swap into their C5? I've been a looking at pricing for the crate motors and have found that they run a little over $6k. What is usable from the LS1 motor? i.e. A/C starter, alternator etc?
Is a new ECM required or will the c5 work OK? If anyone has done this drop me a line.
Thanks
Is a new ECM required or will the c5 work OK? If anyone has done this drop me a line.
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
IIRC, there are just a few sensors that need to be changed and some harnessed lengthened. Why would you want to do that though? If you are looking for more power there are much more cost effective ways of doing it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 7
From: CA
The ls3 hot cam engine is 6,500 and 480 hp. You can't beat that. This is also what I want to do . H&C are about 6k. Blowers are about 6k installed , with this you get a new motor to boot . Then later you can then add power ...Plus this mill comes with a 24 month warrante
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 778
Likes: 1
From: Chantilly VA
I agree! I like this idea of new motor and spare motor. Or just sell the LS1 to lessen costs. I don't really need the 500+ HPs and I pretty darn sure that a set of headers will not add 150 HP to 350 HP motor, no matter who does the tune. Blowers/H&C are $6k so we only talking a little money difference here. Now warranty, new motor, extra motor, and the little extra seems good to me.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 778
Likes: 1
From: Chantilly VA
Ok I'll bite! What's the other cost effective way/ways to get the same torque and HPs out of the LS1? Also lets consider a DD in suburban traffic.
Thanks for your input.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 9,844
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From: S. FLA :: Professional Devil's Advocate
I put LS3 CNC ported heads/intake on my LQ9 iron block in my C5. 
Franken car.
Not sure where the 6k H/C swap number came from. Long story short though that 6k for the LS3 engine is going to end up more like 8k even if installed yourself to get all the misc. parts needed worked out and what not.
Franken car. Not sure where the 6k H/C swap number came from. Long story short though that 6k for the LS3 engine is going to end up more like 8k even if installed yourself to get all the misc. parts needed worked out and what not.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 778
Likes: 1
From: Chantilly VA
I put LS3 CNC ported heads/intake on my LQ9 iron block in my C5. Franken car.
Not sure where the 6k H/C swap number came from. Long story short though that 6k for the LS3 engine is going to end up more like 8k even if installed yourself to get all the misc. parts needed worked out and what not.
Franken car. Not sure where the 6k H/C swap number came from. Long story short though that 6k for the LS3 engine is going to end up more like 8k even if installed yourself to get all the misc. parts needed worked out and what not.
Got'a love the "what nots" lol
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,467
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From: 972 and 405
-Alex
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 9,844
Likes: 33
From: S. FLA :: Professional Devil's Advocate
Ahhhhhh This is what I was looking for, the misc parts and the the "what not". So it would seem as if some think an extra $5k or more for the "what nots" is in order. I'm not looking for a parts list from anyone, but the general "what nots" that would neeeeed go with the LS3 stock'er swap. Thanks for the input, keep them ideas and what nots a' coming. Got'a love the "what nots" lol
Got'a love the "what nots" lolPersonally, I think you should do a H/C/I/E upgrade. In just swapping an LS3 intake I found one I needed a new style sensor that I had to splice in. The injectors are different on the LS3 and require adapters. The LS3 intake with top cover and baffle DOES NOT fit under the C5 cowl. It will fit with the baffle and cover removed though.
It's just you're going to get nickel and dimed to death doing a swap to a different engine. It definitely can be done, it just a bunch of $50 sensor here, $100 adapter there type deal. And IMO a stock LS3 is not worth the hassle.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
I have been running a H/C package for years and it has more HP/TQ than an LS3. I use it to go to and from work, drag racing and have been stuck for many hours in traffic on the belt parkway and have never had a problem.
If you want to save more coin, you can go with a cam only package. Some people are getting very very good numbers with just a cam, headers, cat back and minor valve train upgrades. It saves the cost of new heads and produces very good numbers, not necessarily as high as full H/C packages.
An LS3 crate motor is $6k. Are you doing all of the work yourself to get that motor in, the old one out and all the little things that need to be done to make it work, like a new tune? That number will grow quite a bit more if someone else is going to do the work. IMO, for an 80hp gain, it is not worth the $6k minimum cost.
Last edited by chaase; Aug 26, 2009 at 12:13 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
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From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
I am not familiar with oiling systems. Do you mean that the LS3 does not come with a Dry sump system from Chevrolet? Did they seriously release a Corvette with a known oil system weaklink? Or do you mean you would need to convert the LS1 oil system to meet the LS3 requirements when swapping the engines?
-Alex
-Alex
the LS3 had problems when it was raced in SCCA T1 competition.
first it was the two piece valves breaking,
then it was the Stainless steel valves breaking.
answer was the LS6 type valves, hollow and sodium filled.
on the oiling issue, the LS3 oil pan was replaced with a special GM Performance Batwing oil pan, that did not do too much
then the oiling issues of high speed left hand sweepers and under hard braking. Dry sump is the only answer for this
For normal street driving the LS3 is a great motor, but for any power adders or any type of performance driving or racing add in the dry sump.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 778
Likes: 1
From: Chantilly VA
Thanks everyone for their thoughts on this. I would still like to get more if anyone wants to add. I just assumed that the motor will fit under the hood. I don't care much for engine covers where you don't see the motor. The rail covers are OK, but anything more and it starts to look "plastic" too me, something else to clean also.
I've thought about the heads, cam, and intake. It would seem as if he costs start to climb quickly on those mods also. All the little mods air filters and headers and such, seem to be a little too expensive unless your going to open up the motor a bit, C&H etc. FI is neat and cheap (relative) but you still have the basic LS1 motor, small heads and cam. FI and C&H now we back into mo'e money again. But HPs = money.
My thoughts were new motor, torque and HPs for about $6-7k (like FI), but not knowing the "what nots" and would it bolt right in. $6k is a lot for 80 hp or 150 hp IMO, obviously 150 is more for the buck in that respect. But HPs = money.
I've thought about the heads, cam, and intake. It would seem as if he costs start to climb quickly on those mods also. All the little mods air filters and headers and such, seem to be a little too expensive unless your going to open up the motor a bit, C&H etc. FI is neat and cheap (relative) but you still have the basic LS1 motor, small heads and cam. FI and C&H now we back into mo'e money again. But HPs = money.
My thoughts were new motor, torque and HPs for about $6-7k (like FI), but not knowing the "what nots" and would it bolt right in. $6k is a lot for 80 hp or 150 hp IMO, obviously 150 is more for the buck in that respect. But HPs = money.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 989
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From: Chino Ca.
If you are going to do it yourself, I say go for it!
I just put in a LS3 stroker (418CI), and had a ball doing it. Doing a crate engine you will only need a Cam Sensor/Knock Sensor relocation harness, readily available at Casper's. Some engines come with the proper reluctor wheel some need the converter box.
The other things needed are what you would change on any engine change such as clutch, torque tube bushings etc.
I just put in a LS3 stroker (418CI), and had a ball doing it. Doing a crate engine you will only need a Cam Sensor/Knock Sensor relocation harness, readily available at Casper's. Some engines come with the proper reluctor wheel some need the converter box.
The other things needed are what you would change on any engine change such as clutch, torque tube bushings etc.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 8
From: 972 and 405
Also keep in mind that adding horsepower to your engine with much higher miles than a crate engine is going to eventually come into play. The LS3 was factory designed for that much power whereas the LS1 was not. Not knocking the LS1 at all as I know it can tolerate more power and last awhile, just a thought though.
-Alex
-Alex