vazbmw
vazbmw New Reader
6/20/09 4:21 p.m.

I am looking for a trustworthy supplier for an LS1 engine. If I can find a higher performance LS version for the right price - but I am sure the price will be too high - I would love a LS6.

This is going to be for an e34 engine swap.

Does anyone have any experience with engine suppliers that ship for a fare price, or within 150 miles of Seattle, Wa?

I will need the ECUs, wiring harness and transmission. And quite possibly Camaro the driveshaft.

Thanks in advance or any information

P71
P71 GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/20/09 4:35 p.m.

LKQ

Keith
Keith GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/20/09 5:15 p.m.

I found it just as cheap to buy myself a Camaro. Going price for an LS1/T56 was about $4500, and that's what I paid for the car.

So I'm driving my engine and transmission around debugging things (like a bad water temp sensor) so I know the drivetrain is good when it comes out. Plus I got my rear end, all the wiring, a fuel pump, instruments...and some sellable parts left over.

vazbmw
vazbmw New Reader
6/21/09 12:31 a.m.

I have been thinking about that. The issue I have now is space and a big a hill of a driveway. That still maybe the best way to do this, plus maybe recoupe some dollars from the sale of some car parts ala 200X Challenge.

Keith wrote: I found it just as cheap to buy myself a Camaro. Going price for an LS1/T56 was about $4500, and that's what I paid for the car. So I'm driving my engine and transmission around debugging things (like a bad water temp sensor) so I know the drivetrain is good when it comes out. Plus I got my rear end, all the wiring, a fuel pump, instruments...and some sellable parts left over.
warpedredneck
warpedredneck New Reader
6/21/09 8:53 a.m.

hope i dont get flamed for this but, theres a shop in new york that alot of the guys on (pirate4x4) rave about, i dont know how to post links, not real savvy yet, ill ask my fiance to show me how tonight

vazbmw
vazbmw New Reader
6/21/09 3:25 p.m.

Why would you get flamed? Maybe for not knowing the name of the shop : )

warpedredneck wrote: hope i dont get flamed for this but, theres a shop in new york that alot of the guys on (pirate4x4) rave about, i dont know how to post links, not real savvy yet, ill ask my fiance to show me how tonight
warpedredneck
warpedredneck New Reader
6/22/09 7:30 a.m.

went back over to pirate last night, turns out the guy they were raving about a few months ago isnt supplying what he say's, not shipping in a timely manner,not returning modified customers wiring harness/ecu's.even had some missing components i wont post his name but if anyone wants it you can pm me,

Rangeball
Rangeball Reader
6/22/09 9:53 a.m.

Have you kept an eye on ls1tech.com or ls1gto.com? I know at ls1gto.com a lot guys pull out their ls2's and replace them with fully built motors for FI. I know a guy in Tampa (FL) who does a lot of work on GTO's and could give you leads on motors. But that is in FL and the opposite side of the country.

Good luck!

dyintorace
dyintorace GRM+ Memberand Dork
6/22/09 10:14 a.m.

I can't help with engine sources, but you should reach out to this GRM'er. He's put LSx motors in lots of things, including an e34.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/community/1175/

Rangeball
Rangeball Reader
6/22/09 10:55 a.m.
dyintorace wrote: I can't help with engine sources, but you should reach out to this GRM'er. He's put LSx motors in lots of things, including an e34. http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/community/1175/

WOW, he's in Jax too. Must see this ride!

dyintorace
dyintorace GRM+ Memberand Dork
6/22/09 12:28 p.m.
Rangeball wrote: WOW, he's in Jax too. Must see this ride!

Unfortunately, at least in this case, the map is wrong. From what I recall in trading emails with him, he is northwest of Tallahassee in a little town.

cwh
cwh Dork
6/22/09 4:54 p.m.

I-10 is your friend.

Rangeball
Rangeball Reader
6/22/09 8:35 p.m.
cwh wrote: I-10 is your friend.

I respectfully disagree. Too many road trips to New Orleans and one trip to South Padre Island that make me despise that long boring road.

vazbmw
vazbmw New Reader
6/22/09 10:03 p.m.

I have and have all of his info on his swap

dyintorace wrote: I can't help with engine sources, but you should reach out to this GRM'er. He's put LSx motors in lots of things, including an e34. http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/community/1175/
Dav
Dav New Reader
6/22/09 10:18 p.m.

Not to go OT, but I knew a guy a few years ago that wrecked his '06 GTO--it only had ~6K miles. The total from the insurance co. was something like $6500 for the whole thing. Previous to wrecking that car, he wrecked his '99 Camaro SS (he was on a lot of medications) that had like 60K miles; I think that he said the buy back for that total was ~$1500, if I recall... .

Rangeball
Rangeball Reader
6/23/09 7:26 a.m.
Dav wrote: Not to go OT, but I knew a guy a few years ago that wrecked his '06 GTO--it only had ~6K miles. The total from the insurance co. was something like $6500 for the whole thing. Previous to wrecking that car, he wrecked his '99 Camaro SS (he was on a lot of medications) that had like 60K miles; I think that he said the buy back for that total was ~$1500, if I recall... .

In other words, don't get in any car that guy is driving...

Lugnut
Lugnut Reader
6/23/09 4:27 p.m.

I've been looking around... where are all of these screaming deals on Gen IV motors I keep reading about, sometimes on this very board? People say, "Oh those truck motors are $600 for a full swap!"

Yeah, right!

Keith
Keith GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/23/09 6:14 p.m.

Car-part.com will show you some of the truck motors. Look for the L33 (4wd extended cab Silverados) if you want an aluminuminum block. Last time I looked, I found a 30,000 mile example for $800. You'll need a different intake ($80, eBay) and oil pan (I got one from a GTO owner who didn't need the F-body pan that came with his engine) but that's about it.

This is the internet. There's always someone bragging on an impossible deal.

njansenv
njansenv Reader
6/24/09 6:02 a.m.

The iron 5.3's are really cheap, but my understanding is that in many cases the F-body or corvette accessories need to be used in a swap anyways....negating any savings pretty quickly. I'd still like to put a 5.3 in an e34 wagon.

Nathan

cwh
cwh Dork
6/24/09 8:13 a.m.

Granny's Speed Shop says that you need to use a Camaro LSx for their RX engine swaps. Something about engine hieght, IIRC.

P71
P71 GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/24/09 8:30 a.m.

Iron block 5.3's go for that cheap and less. Average price at LKQ is around $550. $800 will get you the iron 6.0. If you shop smart they have $100 off days and coupons. At the Portland Swap Meet LKQ drug out an L33, and LS6, and a GTO LS2/T56 for $750, $1500, and $3500 respectively.

LOTS of "abandoned" swaps on CL as well, including whole cars. There was an LS1/Auto Trans Am with driver's side damage for $3500 that ran and drove. I really should have bought that one, sold the hatch, t-tops, interior, ram air hood, and nose and still had the complete drivetrain.

Keith
Keith GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/24/09 10:19 a.m.

The 5.3 is the same height as all the other LS engines if you swap out the oil pan and the intake. You may also have to swap out the accessory drives depending on your engine bay, that's going to be a difficult generalization to make. For the Miata, we're using CTS-V accessory drives - so, if you want an F-body setup, find someone using an F-body engine in a Miata

I find this fascinating - the GM media archives. Photos of every engine from exactly the same angle in high resolution. Great for figuring out which engine has an alternator nicely tucked down the left side and for spotting a potentially good factory header.

http://media.gm.com/us/powertrain/en/photos/f_actual/powertrain.html

Actually, looking at that, the truck alternator does seem to be mounted pretty high. So either you will have to perform some bracket magic or find a different drive from someone else.

P71
P71 GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/24/09 2:32 p.m.

I already figured out that the truck accessories/intake clear the P71's engine bay, so I'm good there

For RX-7's you need F-Body or GTO stuff.

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