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Sometime around 2003, I bought an LS1 crate motor. As I recall the motor was directly from the GM line and was an excess engine once the 2002 year production ended. I bought it to put in a 63. Fast Forward 20 years later, its sitting in the unfinished '63 and it has never been fired, its never has seen gas. Its been garaged the whole time. Every so often, I would crank it over with the starter. Just to coat surfaces with oil. My world has changed a lot in 20 years and I'm having second thoughts about it. I have the original 327 and I'm thinking of returning to that. You can put an aftermarket Fuel Injection system on the 327 and it will run great. It will never be the LS1, but it would suit my needs.
I have not committed to sell it yet........So the question is, what is this LS1 worth?
I would think no more than 5g at most and that's if you can prove it has zero miles with paperwork. Their isn't anything special about an ls1 today. You can get an LS3 and it's just a better engine. You also don't have any electronics etc for it. That's my .02
Actually even at 5 I would probably still look for an Ls3. 5 is to high thinking about it further
Well, a couple considerations here. Letting an engine sit for long periods of time is not necessarily good for it. Turning it over with the starter doesn’t really prelube it. In fact in may be spinning some surfaces that are dry. Also, as mentioned, LS3 is probably a better engine, as time and technology March on. Now ask yourself this question, GM offers an LS crate engine at 450 HP for around $4200 over the counter with a better cam and heads. If you were looking for a LS would you buy that or an LS1? Not trying to rain on your parade, just a little glance at reality. If someone would buy it for $5000 I would take the money and run.
JMHO.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
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I am moving this to the C5 General section. If you want to post this in the C5 Parts for Sale section, you have to add a price.
Now that this is in the C5 General section, please do not turn this into a for sale thread by offering to purchase the engine. If the thread goes that direction, it will be closed - the OP is only asking what a good price for the engine would be so he can price it fairly.
The prices being referenced above for an LS crate engine at $4k-$5k are all longblock prices. Not complete motors with TB, pulleys, Intake, fuel rail, injectors, exhaust manifolds etc. Complete LS3's are going for around $8k-$9k. Plus no one ever has them in stock these days.
Heck I see LS1's with 50k to 75k miles going for $3,500+ all day online. Motors from wrecked cars that no one knows what they are getting into.
None the less I'd say between $4k and $5k for what you have is fair. The LS1 complete crate motor sold for $4200-$4500 back in 2003. Anyone looking for a drop-in that doesn't have parts to swap onto a longblock, or can't find a complete motor in stock would be your target market.
Last edited by Johnny Hardcore; Dec 12, 2021 at 09:02 AM.
Well, a couple considerations here. Letting an engine sit for long periods of time is not necessarily good for it. Turning it over with the starter doesn’t really prelube it. In fact in may be spinning some surfaces that are dry. Also, as mentioned, LS3 is probably a better engine, as time and technology March on. Now ask yourself this question, GM offers an LS crate engine at 450 HP for around $4200 over the counter with a better cam and heads. If you were looking for a LS would you buy that or an LS1? Not trying to rain on your parade, just a little glance at reality. If someone would buy it for $5000 I would take the money and run.
JMHO.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
A crate engine LS3 from GM for $4,200.00??!!! Where did you find that?!? Put me on the waiting list, behind at least 300 other guys....
The prices being referenced above for an LS crate engine at $4k-$5k are all longblock prices. Not complete motors with TB, pulleys, Intake, fuel rail, injectors, exhaust manifolds etc. Complete LS3's are going for around $8k-$9k. Plus no one ever has them in stock these days.
Heck I see LS1's with 50k to 75k miles going for $3,500+ all day online. Motors from wrecked cars that no one knows what they are getting into.
None the less I'd say between $4k and $5k for what you have is fair. The LS1 complete crate motor sold for $4200-$4500 back in 2003. Anyone looking for a drop-in that doesn't have parts to swap onto a longblock, or can't find a complete motor in stock would be your target market.
I agree, Johnny! Plus, inflation since 2003, especially since the new president took office (how's that for a diplomatic statement?!!), would make a mockery of the $4,200-$4,500 of 2003. So I agree with the 4-5k, especially since it has been sitting for the last 18 years, which does no good for any device, mechanical or electrical. If I would purchase that engine, the oil pan would come off, and so would a couple main and rod caps, for a thorough inspection of how much lube was still in there, as well as looking closely at the cylinders for any rust. If I were the OP. I'd start at 5k, and be negotiable......My .02.
I agree, Johnny! Plus, inflation since 2003, especially since the new president took office (how's that for a diplomatic statement?!!), would make a mockery of the $4,200-$4,500 of 2003. So I agree with the 4-5k, especially since it has been sitting for the last 18 years, which does no good for any device, mechanical or electrical. If I would purchase that engine, the oil pan would come off, and so would a couple main and rod caps, for a thorough inspection of how much lube was still in there, as well as looking closely at the cylinders for any rust. If I were the OP. I'd start at 5k, and be negotiable......My .02.
As on 03 LS1 it has the LS6 intake manifold and the later block with improved windage passages etc. Not sure of other changes, but that may be the equivalent of on LS6 block as well.
In my previous post I referenced LS long blocks in $4500 range and LS engines are now around $7500. These are GM Perf Parts numbers AND another important consideration is that they come with a warranty by GM which no one has mentioned. Now ATK and Blueprint have the same for a little less with warranty also. I still believe $5000 would be a pretty good price for the seller but to each his own.
As on 03 LS1 it has the LS6 intake manifold and the later block with improved windage passages etc. Not sure of other changes, but that may be the equivalent of on LS6 block as well.
From 2001 on the blocks and intakes were the same on LS1/LS6. Internally the heads, cam, crank were different between the two.
In my previous post I referenced LS long blocks in $4500 range and LS engines are now around $7500. These are GM Perf Parts numbers AND another important consideration is that they come with a warranty by GM which no one has mentioned. Now ATK and Blueprint have the same for a little less with warranty also. I still believe $5000 would be a pretty good price for the seller but to each his own.
The warranties are typically only valid when installed by GM or a certified Indipendent service center. For the DIY guy trying to save a few bucks the warranties cost you a few thousand dollars because you have to outsource the installation.
As I recall, when I got it, it did not have a starter. I had to purchase that separately. I also purchased the ECU for it and the wiring harness and MAF sensor.
Back in the day, you just did not bolt an LS1 into a C2. So I had to fabricate motor mounts, belhousing, clutch linkage, exhaust, etc. It was a damn lot of work.
I was thinking this might be something a 2002 owner might want if they blew their engine and wanted a numbers matching block. I have not looked at the stamping on this block in years, so I'm not really sure what's there.
I do have the paperwork and I have scoped the cylinders, and you can see that its never been fired as you can read part numbers on the pistons and see the honing marks on the cylinder walls. The block has never had coolant either. In addition to cranking it over, I would skirt oil into the cylinders.
At $5K, I would keep it. But I still might revert back to the 327
As I recall, when I got it, it did not have a starter. I had to purchase that separately. I also purchased the ECU for it and the wiring harness and MAF sensor.
Back in the day, you just did not bolt an LS1 into a C2. So I had to fabricate motor mounts, belhousing, clutch linkage, exhaust, etc. It was a damn lot of work.
I was thinking this might be something a 2002 owner might want if they blew their engine and wanted a numbers matching block. I have not looked at the stamping on this block in years, so I'm not really sure what's there.
I do have the paperwork and I have scoped the cylinders, and you can see that its never been fired as you can read part numbers on the pistons and see the honing marks on the cylinder walls. The block has never had coolant either. In addition to cranking it over, I would skirt oil into the cylinders.
At $5K, I would keep it. But I still might revert back to the 327
Personally, I would keep it as well. You'll likely never be able to replace what you have for whatever most are willing to pay. Plush the hassle of dealing with tire kickers and dreamers wouldn't be worth my time.
You'll also have it handy for that one day when you come across a roller for cheap that you just can't pass up.
NOS 2002 LS1, never fired.
I agree, Johnny! Plus, inflation since 2003, especially since the new president took office (how's that for a diplomatic statement?!!
), would make a mockery of the $4,200-$4,500 of 2003. So I agree with the 4-5k, especially since it has been sitting for the last 18 years, which does no good for any device, mechanical or electrical. If I would purchase that engine, the oil pan would come off, and so would a couple main and rod caps, for a thorough inspection of how much lube was still in there, as well as looking closely at the cylinders for any rust. If I were the OP. I'd start at 5k, and be negotiable......My .02. 
