I would be shocked if this is actually in stock. The LS2 block has been out of production for a decade. The last virgin LS2 I saw for sale went for over $2000.
Be advised, that BOTH LS2 and LS3 blocks are Gen IV. They require relocation of a couple of sensors and a custom ECM tune. Not the end of the world by any means, but something you should be aware of

 

Ah you're right, I think I falsely assumed it was in stock since it's listed.

 

Must be nice to have a business that can turn down thousands of dollars because its not a new engine!! What the Hell do they care whether or not it's new or used? If it was my shop, I'd make the customer sign a release saying my shop was not responsible for anything other than removing the junk engine and bolting in a different one. Also, in regards to the post saying an LS3 swap wouldn't be any less than $20,000, HOLY RIPOFF!!! Even if the LS3 cost $10,000 (and they don't!), anyone who'd cough up another $10,000 for labor is crazy!!! BREAKING NEWS!!! Jegs has a new crate engine LS3 long block with GM Hot cam for $7,515!! 495hp and 473lb/ft torque. It simply isn't that difficult. Back in 2009 a well respected shop in Michigan quoted me $2,000 (I know it's more now) to R&R the engine in my 2000 C5. $1,000 to yank the old one, and $1,000 to install a different one. So, I spent around $2,000 (about $1,850 to be exact) to buy a new 2 post lift. Yes, the lifts are also more than that now. Best tool I have EVER bought in my entire life. Still works as new 16 years later. Paid for itself when I removed my old Darton wet sleeve 427 and installed my built LS7. Plenty of adapter harnesses and tuners around that could make an LS3 swap for a Helluva lot less. As for the KR sensors, mine work fine. If, and when I get a little spark knock, the computer quickly pulls timing. I have almost 55,000 miles on that LS7. No split sleeves, no cracked or holed pistons, OEM accuracy or not. Back to the LS3 swap. Say it takes 10 hours to R&R the engines. That's being VERY conservative. But let's say it takes even longer- 12 hours shop time. Let's say shop time is $200/hr. That's $2,400 for labor!!! Where on earth is the other $7,600 going?????? The one-and only-way it could cost $20,000 is to have the dealer do it. Even then, I can't imagine $20,000 for the swap. Something is wrong if its $20,000 to do this swap......

 

let's brake it down shall we...

You absolutely cannot buy a new LS3 for less than $10K - if you can find an LS3 crate motor, they are $10942.
R&R an engine is about 30 hours - 30 hours x $200/hour (what a good shop around here charges) = $6000
<Hmmm, we're already at $17,000>
Still need a clutch, some various adaptors, engine mounts... $1000-$2000 depending on what you use.
Custom Dyno tune to make the whole thing work ~$1000

Hey, guess what... we're at $20K.

 

You are WRONG!!! Check my post for the GM hot cammed LS3 for $7,500. Also, as I said, even IF the LS3 was $10,000, there's no way it costs another $10,000 for parts and labor. Im sure there are some robbers out there that would gladly charge a total of $20,000. For semi-saavy car guys out there, $20,000 is a joke.

 

By the way, THIRTY HOURS to R&R the engine......I can beat that time by a considerable margin, and I'll be 72 years old next time. Any mechanic that charges 30 hours labor is either a robber, is charging for high overhead, or is slower than a Sloth...

 

Mitchell Labor guide says 30 hours, that's what most shops are going with. Congratulations if you can do it faster that's not what a 3rd party can base their cost estimating on

RE: $7500 LS3
If you are referring to this long block https://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Per...35108/10002/-1
That would be a bargain for a car that already has a LS3 in it and needed a new engine. As it stands OP would still need an intake manifold, throttle body, fuel rails, fuel injectors, water pump, engine mounts, full sensor array... along with the adaptors. That is not apples to apples with an LS3 crate engine

I'm trying to give this guy a realistic number to plan for.

 

What about an l94/l9h/l9y?

I know a guy out of Nevada that sells 6.2 long blocks for $2600 if you're interested. He can do a 24 reluctor and set it up for a c5

 

I realize shops have to make a profit, or they're gonna go broke. That said, perhaps "reasonable profit" would be a better term. For the Hell of it, I called Jegs. They can still get the new LS3 with the Hot Cam for $7,500. The Hot Cam bumps power to about 480hp, IIRC. Jegs says it comes directly from Chevrolet/GM as a crate engine. The Hot Cam is NOT to be confused with the ASA Cam. The ASA is a lot more Cam, and can be a challenge for some tuners to tune. For $7,500, you could do a lot worse than the 480hp LS3 Hot Cam motor. That's what I'd look into if I had to pay someone else. There are also deals everywhere for used fuel rails, throttle bodies, intake manifolds, etc. Intakes and fuel rails aren't wear items, and used TB's are usually good to go. Probably best to buy a new 85mm LS6 MAF, and I'd definitely buy new injectors. But a used intake, TB, and fuel rail can be cleaned and be as good as new. This would also help with replacement costs......

 

Deployments, marriage, divorce, medical retirement….it kept getting put on the back burner.

The problem with selling it all is that no one wants to buy a project. I had it priced to go quick on here and eBay. Still only got tire kickers and lowballers.

If someone wants to show up with a bag of cash and a box truck, they can have it all. If someone wants to help me part it out and earn some commission, I’m down.

If I have to sell it piece by piece on my own, I’ll rent a dumpster. I won’t deal with lowballers anymore.

Sorry for the rant. I have some heartburn from trying to sell the car in the past. Somehow, $10k for a 90% complete twin turbo FRC was still too high.

 

I didn't know you were trying to unload one of the cars. Or if I did it didn't register. I forwarded the quote above to a friend in Texas. Not sure he can swing it right now but I know he'd be interested. Or maybe interested in parts. Who knows? Is this the 99 FRC being sold or the second car?

 

I bought an LS3 for my C5. In less than 2,000 miles the engine blew. GM refused to honor the warranty saying that I put different valve springs in the motor. Somebody show me in the warranty car where it says you can not put upgraded parts, it's not in the warranty. That's just a little something GM adds after the fact when you try to get them to honor the warrant. PS none of the valve springs were broken. Buyer beware, the GM "help desk" was quite rude and refused to help saying there was "NO APPEALS PROCESS". Stay tuned for part 2, I'll update as the process moves forward. Suffice to say I did not buy another GM crate motor but instead overhauled a used motor. Why buy an other crate motor if they refuse to honor the warranty.

 

Buddy is taking out his bank roll and having a reputable shop put in a LS3 crate engine.

 

This is absolutely no surprise to me. For decades, GM has tried to wiggle out of covering ANYTHING. This while their "stealers" ruin what little good is left in the GM reputation. GM has been making some terrible decisions, both before, and after, their '08 bankruptcy. Don't be surprised if they go belly up a second time in the next few years. GM isn't alone in their bad decision making, either.....

 

Grinder11, I hope the guys considering a crate engine will read this and understand what you and I know about the way they treat their formerly loyal customers. I bought my first GM car in 1975 and I currently own 2 corvettes and a cady. They have low level call center guys working the warranty claims desk that know very little about engines and even less about customer service. They lecture you about how the engine group is just a sideline business that "they don't make any money on it". This begs the question of well why are you selling crate engines? Once again, buyer beware, GM runs for the hills when it's time to honor the warranty.

 

I hate to be a jerk, but no company is going to honor a warranty on a product you modify/alter.

 

I've been searching eBay for my next block, and there honestly seems to be some pretty great stuff on there.

Iron 6.2 freshly machined for <$1300 shipped, considering using this for my 416 stroker.

Freshly machined LS6 for $1,100 shipped

 

I'd say - be careful with the eBay LS6 block - I looked at that a couple of weeks ago. Gen III motors have kinda goofy sleeves that you really can't practically replace (without spending a fortune)
LS1/6 engines have a siamese 3.898 bore, you're really not supposed to take them beyond .005 over. That one is either .020 or .030 over depending on where you read (differing numbers is allready a red flag). On some Gen III's you can get away with that, but not all. You won't know if this one was "ok" until the block shows up... good luck returning it.

I'd give a call to Thompson Motorsports. When I last spoke with them, they had a couple of Gen III aluminum cores floating around they could build. They DO ship to California now, but you have to sign a waiver that says it's not for a street vehicle. https://thompsonmotorsports.net/coll...remanufactured

 

Lowend,

I read the same thing and I appreciate that you went to the source document. You have to read the full sentence, Damage due to .. alteration .... The proper reading of this is if your alteration caused damage then warranty voided. That is an entirely reasonable requirement and if my change actually caused the damage I would agree with GM. However, in my case adding better valve springs did not cause the damage. The valve springs are all 100% unbroken and operational and I shared that with GM. If GM wants to legitimately avoid honoring the published warranty they should change the warranty to say something like "Any engine modification voids the warranty". If the warranty said something like that I would agree but as currently written, only alterations that cause damage void the warranty. The document is poorly written and cause confusion which GM uses to their benefit. The solution is simple reword the document to make it clear that any alteration voids the warranty. Until then quit shafting formerly loyal customers.

 

Something else about buyer beware; I do hope that everyone realizes that if you buy a GM crate engine, there is no warranty on said engine UNLESS you have a GM dealer install it, and buy the GM OEM ECM/PCM that goes with the engine. If you don't do all of the above, warranty is void, period. Straight from GMs mouth "There is no appeal process."......