Budget LS1 swaps

[dogsht]

I didn't think there was any such thing as a budget LS gbody swap. Never seen anyone actually honestly & conclusively get one road ready for less than $4k even with the lil 5.3. Although I am sure somebody with mad skills luck and great connections will prove me wrong. But then I would have to have AC and good headers and I don't want to fabricate sh*t. I would like to do one with a 6.2 screw the lil 5.3. I don't want to have to gear it and wind it up to make it go. 8)

 

[LS1GN]

i was thinking at this particular time there is no budget ls swap.

Yes - depends on one's definition of budget I guess. Some LS swaps are easily north of ten grand, some twenty. Some of these people spend a grand on the chrome engine accessories alone.

I have spent a LOT of time at the boneyard and tried to buy used whenever possible, but I am still over $2,000 for the "LS" part of the deal.

 

[1983mailbuwagon]

I don't know if anyone knows this but a 700R4 can be bolted up to a 5.3 with a spacer. I will be doing one soon in another s-10

5.3 at wreaking 300-700 depending on miles
or Where I live I can buy a whole truck with a 5.3 for around 1000.00 bucks

the 5.3 motor are a strong little motor so if you get one with around 120,000-150,000 miles at first to set things up they still run good.

standard transmissions are cheaper then a 4l80 or 4l60! or like i said run a non computer 700R4.

Harness 😀 make one or buy one! stock computer

The more you make the more you save 😀

 

[LS1GN]

Carburetor and carb intake is cheaper than buying a harness and computer and having it flashed.

car-part.com is a great source for used LS engines - it is where I found mine.

 

[beeterolds]

Im building a 5.3 right now.. it will be carbed.. I paid $285 for the motor and of course its currently nickel and diming me.. the most expensive parts I have bought to date besides the engine.. are the MSD controller and the Caddy CTS-V oil pan which I heard is the pan to use if you want great clearance.. the pan was $180 shipped with gasket, pickup, baffle and dipstick..

My friend made my motor plates, i used SBC motor mounts, and clamshells.. to couple the flexplate to an old trans all u need as the hughes adapter which is essentially a steel stepped bushing, and you need to oval out the torque converter holes... thats it.. the rest is cake.. Lots of smart shopping and research will get u to where u need to be on the cheap.. I will have roughly $1400 invested into this project when im done..

 

[LS1GN]

Yours looks sweet! And yes, it can be done on the cheap.

To get to our LS HP and torque levels you'd have to shell out some serious $$$$ in an SBC or (heaven forbid) and Olds 307!

Just sayin.

 

[beeterolds]

the Olds 307 is probably one of my favorite engines.. but even in top tune a tired high mileage 4.8 would run circles around a good 5.0 Olds...

A little more cleanup and farting around and ill have the engine in soon enough.. 🙂

 

[LS1GN]

A friend of mine is an old-school small block Chevy guy. Before I got my LS he was trying to "virtual" build me a 383 stroker. Target was 400tq/400hp (which is what I have now). We stopped when I realized the bare AFR heads for SBC were more than my entire budget!

 

[CHRIS.O]

I love ls engines and would love to swap one into something old. However 400hp isn't really very expensive with an old carbed engine really. Buying an ls engine from a junkyard and swapping one in obviously saves a bunch of money. A 383 making 400hp and 400 torque could be easily achieved with 200 dollar junk yard vortecs. Of course your gonna spend 1500-2k on the bottom end though.

 

[LS1GN]

I've not been to the dyno yet, but I'm prob north of 400/400 at the crank.

As for the SBC, I didn't really want to have to wind a 383 to 6500 all the time. Plus machine shop work (block would need to be clearanced). And those 2 bolt mains would have me worried.