LS3 is bought!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 142
Likes: 132
From: Chicagoland
Good news is Vette is done and ready to get picked up. Took just over a week (including a massive snow storm that shut them down for 1.5 days and sub zero temps) which I think is pretty impressive. This is 1000x faster than I could have done with with a lot less frustration so I am happy with that.
Bad news is I'm a bit ticked at the shop right now as the final bill is over $860+ more than was quoted/discussed. A lot of this was to replace the power steering pump which A) was working perfectly when I dropped it off. B) They said there was an issue with it after the swap and would fix it but never said it needed to be replaced nor charge labor for it. There were also charges such as new motor mounts. If they would have called and said they should have been replaced due to age/etc. then I would have definitely agreed to it but to be blind sided is not cool. Other charges include C6 radiator hoses since it is a new engine. These I get but I feel like this is not his first rodeo and something he should have known up front and should have been in the original quote. Hopefully I love the transformation so much I forget about the $860+ right away.
Bad news is I'm a bit ticked at the shop right now as the final bill is over $860+ more than was quoted/discussed. A lot of this was to replace the power steering pump which A) was working perfectly when I dropped it off. B) They said there was an issue with it after the swap and would fix it but never said it needed to be replaced nor charge labor for it. There were also charges such as new motor mounts. If they would have called and said they should have been replaced due to age/etc. then I would have definitely agreed to it but to be blind sided is not cool. Other charges include C6 radiator hoses since it is a new engine. These I get but I feel like this is not his first rodeo and something he should have known up front and should have been in the original quote. Hopefully I love the transformation so much I forget about the $860+ right away.
Last edited by Rwdirtbke; Jan 16, 2024 at 10:50 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 30
Likes: 12
From: Mn
I will guarantee you will love the transformation, I have the ls3 495 engine whenever I have a bad day at work take mine for a spin, it always puts a sinister grin on my face in short order.
The shop should of up sold on motor mounts and coolant hoses on the quote, cheap simple wear item's. The power steering pump is questionable tho in my book.
The shop should of up sold on motor mounts and coolant hoses on the quote, cheap simple wear item's. The power steering pump is questionable tho in my book.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 893
Likes: 986
From: NW Burbs of Chi-Town
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Good news is Vette is done and ready to get picked up. Took just over a week (including a massive snow storm that shut them down for 1.5 days and sub zero temps) which I think is pretty impressive. This is 1000x faster than I could have done with with a lot less frustration so I am happy with that.
Bad news is I'm a bit ticked at the shop right now as the final bill is over $860+ more than was quoted/discussed. A lot of this was to replace the power steering pump which A) was working perfectly when I dropped it off. B) They said there was an issue with it after the swap and would fix it but never said it needed to be replaced nor charge labor for it. There were also charges such as new motor mounts. If they would have called and said they should have been replaced due to age/etc. then I would have definitely agreed to it but to be blind sided is not cool. Other charges include C6 radiator hoses since it is a new engine. These I get but I feel like this is not his first rodeo and something he should have known up front and should have been in the original quote. Hopefully I love the transformation so much I forget about the $860+ right away.
Bad news is I'm a bit ticked at the shop right now as the final bill is over $860+ more than was quoted/discussed. A lot of this was to replace the power steering pump which A) was working perfectly when I dropped it off. B) They said there was an issue with it after the swap and would fix it but never said it needed to be replaced nor charge labor for it. There were also charges such as new motor mounts. If they would have called and said they should have been replaced due to age/etc. then I would have definitely agreed to it but to be blind sided is not cool. Other charges include C6 radiator hoses since it is a new engine. These I get but I feel like this is not his first rodeo and something he should have known up front and should have been in the original quote. Hopefully I love the transformation so much I forget about the $860+ right away.
I have nothing but good things to say about Tony and crew over at Speed Inc. They have always been fair with me and have even told me not to buy or install things as they are a waste of $$$ for little or no gain. Still not an excuse for not calling. Tony called in when I was traveling in Europe after I dropped off the car for a clutch and TT rebuild in the fall. Turns out the TT was actually broken and they sourced a new to me, used one from RPM and did not mark up the price on the part. My car was done on time, sitting outside, when I got home from my work trip. The clutch (RST steel flywheel) they recommended is working great (may do the A&A FI at some point). They have been in business for decades and I think there is a reason for that. Good work at honest prices. Not sure why the no call though? That is very un-like my experiences with them.
Enjoy your new ride!!!! I'm sure it rips!
Hey, We get together on Sundays when the earth is warm in Addison. Stop by and show us your car.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ddison-il.html
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 142
Likes: 132
From: Chicagoland
Sounds like they quoted it over the phone without looking at the car? I'm not sure of the failure mode of the PS pump...
I have nothing but good things to say about Tony and crew over at Speed Inc. They have always been fair with me and have even told me not to buy or install things as they are a waste of $$$ for little or no gain. Still not an excuse for not calling. Tony called in when I was traveling in Europe after I dropped off the car for a clutch and TT rebuild in the fall. Turns out the TT was actually broken and they sourced a new to me, used one from RPM and did not mark up the price on the part. My car was done on time, sitting outside, when I got home from my work trip. The clutch (RST steel flywheel) they recommended is working great (may do the A&A FI at some point). They have been in business for decades and I think there is a reason for that. Good work at honest prices. Not sure why the no call though? That is very un-like my experiences with them.
Enjoy your new ride!!!! I'm sure it rips!
Hey, We get together on Sundays when the earth is warm in Addison. Stop by and show us your car.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ddison-il.html
I have nothing but good things to say about Tony and crew over at Speed Inc. They have always been fair with me and have even told me not to buy or install things as they are a waste of $$$ for little or no gain. Still not an excuse for not calling. Tony called in when I was traveling in Europe after I dropped off the car for a clutch and TT rebuild in the fall. Turns out the TT was actually broken and they sourced a new to me, used one from RPM and did not mark up the price on the part. My car was done on time, sitting outside, when I got home from my work trip. The clutch (RST steel flywheel) they recommended is working great (may do the A&A FI at some point). They have been in business for decades and I think there is a reason for that. Good work at honest prices. Not sure why the no call though? That is very un-like my experiences with them.
Enjoy your new ride!!!! I'm sure it rips!
Hey, We get together on Sundays when the earth is warm in Addison. Stop by and show us your car.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ddison-il.html
Nice! Addison is not far from my house so I will definitely try to stop by. Sounds fun.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 142
Likes: 132
From: Chicagoland
Little minor hiccup. Went to get the car. Was driving home (which was kinda dicey cause the 200TW tires get 0 grip in 0 degree weather and there is still some snow in places,) when all of the sudden check engine light, service active handling and reduced engine power notices came up. RPM would not come down from 2K nor could i go past 2K so I pulled over into a parking lot. Shut the car off for a min. Restarted it and at least the service active handling and reduced power went away so drove back to the shop. They deemed it was the wrong throttle body. They never put the Silver blade LS2 on it and he said we should have known better. He had a LS2 silver blade laying in the shop so he is going to put that on and test it. Hope that is the fix and I can bring it home successfully soon.
But wow I can tell this car is way different and all of this was below 2500 RPM. Can't wait to break it in and get some warm weather to really open it up.
But wow I can tell this car is way different and all of this was below 2500 RPM. Can't wait to break it in and get some warm weather to really open it up.
Last edited by Rwdirtbke; Jan 17, 2024 at 05:14 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 244
Likes: 103
From: Pueblo West CO
Little minor hiccup. Went to get the car. Was driving home (which was kinda dicey cause the 200TW tires get 0 grip in 0 degree weather and there is still some snow in places,) when all of the sudden check engine light, service active handling and reduced engine power notices came up. RPM would not come down from 2K nor could i go past 2K so I pulled over into a parking lot. Shut the car off for a min. Restarted it and at lease the service active handling and reduced power went away so drove back to the shop. They deemed it was the wrong throttle body. They never put the Silver blade LS2 on it and he said we should have known better. He had a LS2 silver blade laying in the shop so he is going to put that on and test it. Hope that is the fix and I can bring it home successfully soon.
But wow I can tell this car is way different and all of this was below 2500 RPM. Can't wait to break it in and get some warm weather to really open it up.
But wow I can tell this car is way different and all of this was below 2500 RPM. Can't wait to break it in and get some warm weather to really open it up.
So when will you be ordering the blower?
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 142
Likes: 132
From: Chicagoland
Got the car home. Looks like the LS2 silver blade throttle body was the issue. When I talked to Tony about the bill being over $860 more then discussed without letting me know he was cool and took $100 off of it. He also swapped the LS2 throttle body for free which is about $80-$90 more than the LS3 so I think it all ended well and am happy.
Wasn't really able to go over 3000 RPM or 50 MPH on the way home but I can tell it is already insane. Any touch of the go pedal just tries to light the rear tires due to the cold and road conditions. Come on spring!
Blower is going to have to get put on hold. Everyone I talked to said for a road course car to leave it NA due to temps. But never say never right.
Wasn't really able to go over 3000 RPM or 50 MPH on the way home but I can tell it is already insane. Any touch of the go pedal just tries to light the rear tires due to the cold and road conditions. Come on spring!
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 244
Likes: 103
From: Pueblo West CO
You can add some vents to help with under hood temps, and of course you'll want a really good intercooler. Or you can run a few laps and take a break, if you're doing open lapping (which I do) rather than races with a designated duration.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 142
Likes: 132
From: Chicagoland
So have about 100 miles on it so far and all of those have been low rpm as we've been dealing with really crappy weather. The thing I'm shocked about is I'm getting 10mpg. I figured it would be lower, and since it's a track car I'm not concerned but dang that's a big difference from stock. Just an FYI to anyone thinking to convert to this motor is be ready for terrible mpg.
Last edited by Rwdirtbke; Jan 24, 2024 at 10:40 AM.
Running Guns & Moonshine
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12,581
Likes: 7,254
From: CT
I'm expecting similar later this year. Honestly, if I ever anticipated switching directions mid-stream to a twin turbo car I absolutely would not have the big pricy 402 in there sucking the juice down. A proper 5.3 with good bearings, rings rods and pistons would be all I'd need and still keep the cam pretty small since the turbos do all the work. When or if the 402 gets ventilated that is exactly what will be done.
10mpg.... what cam again?
10mpg.... what cam again?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 142
Likes: 132
From: Chicagoland
The cam is GM's ASA cam. Direct from Chevy's website "The ASA camshaft is a hydraulic roller with .525-inch lift on both sides, along with 226 degrees duration on the intake side and 236 degrees on the exhaust side. And for durability, we complement the cam with higher-rate valve springs." The shop did put in a Racetronix fuel pump as well. Per the dyno graph, it looks like the AFR is right around that 13:1ish range so maybe a tick rich but I don't think that is overly rich but maybe I am wrong.
Last edited by Rwdirtbke; Jan 24, 2024 at 10:37 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 244
Likes: 103
From: Pueblo West CO
So have about 100 miles on it so far and all of those have been low rpm as we've been dealing with really crappy weather. The thing I'm shocked about is I'm getting 10mpg. I figured it would be lower, and since it's a track car I'm not concerned but dang that's a big difference from stock. Just an FYI to anyone thinking to convert to this motor is be ready for terrible mpg.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 142
Likes: 132
From: Chicagoland
Good to know. Next week is looking a bit better weather wise so I hope I can get it out and get some more miles on it to see if this changes and really just give it a proper shake down. If it is still terrible then I will contact the shop regarding it. Thanks for the info.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 142
Likes: 132
From: Chicagoland
So took the car back to the shop because the SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING & SERVICE VEHICLE SOON lights came on twice. While there the harmonic balancer came off the hub. I have no idea how this happened but it should NOT happen on a brand new engine. They are going to replace it with an SFI one. Just glad it happened there and not on track.
