One of the reasons why I suggested he get a Monte. The others mess with my Oldsmobile purist OCD ticks. An LS in a Cutlass makes me twitch.
What is the cheapest possible ls swap?
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Hmmm, I'm still keeping my GM all GM though lol.One of the reasons why I suggested he get a Monte. The others mess with my Oldsmobile purist OCD ticks. An LS in a Cutlass makes me twitch.
Identify what cars/trucks came with LS motors. What does a used Impala PPV go for at the public safety auctions? Watch Craigslist. Buy a complete running smashed car/truck. That way you get all the wiring, ECU, a tank to pirate from, pedal, etc. Have your flatbed trailer ready to pounce. Bring cash.
Grab a van with a 4.8 and an 80E. Swap it all with a Walbro 255.
Van donor - about $1000
Tune - about $300
Later after your sick of 300hp add turbo and the niceties that go with it for $1500-2000 and make 600 whp. When and if the motor goes kaflooey then spend $250-300 on a 5.3, or stick with the $100 4.8's.
FWIW, there are two places locally that will sell running 4.8's on a pallet for scrap value ($100). 6.0's on the other hand - $1500.
Van donor - about $1000
Tune - about $300
Later after your sick of 300hp add turbo and the niceties that go with it for $1500-2000 and make 600 whp. When and if the motor goes kaflooey then spend $250-300 on a 5.3, or stick with the $100 4.8's.
FWIW, there are two places locally that will sell running 4.8's on a pallet for scrap value ($100). 6.0's on the other hand - $1500.
A few thoughts, and yes, I know opinions are like bellybuttons.
The cheapest adapter plate mounts (to use SBC mounts in stock or setback position) can potentially let you run an oil pan easy but then cause you to have to switch accessories, which can be expensive. One winning combo is the Spohn mounts, F-body (or Holley -2 or -3) pan, and truck accessories. Worst case scenario is relocating the alt. to passenger side. AC w/ the right compressor outlets can even fit, no cutting. A lot of folks get obsessed with using the short Vette /CTS-V or medium depth F-body /GTO accessories with no real benefit. And truck engines are usually less money than passenger car.
Manifolds are a lot better flowing on the LS engines than the junk in the 80s. And cheaper and less likely to leak. Cheap headers haven't changed. They still cost money, and modification time when not quite right.
If the Truck intake clears your hood, go with it. They make good power under the overall torque curve. And they come attached to again, the engines that are usually the least money.
There are plenty of ways to spend less in the short run, only to spend more later because of initial choices.
The cheapest adapter plate mounts (to use SBC mounts in stock or setback position) can potentially let you run an oil pan easy but then cause you to have to switch accessories, which can be expensive. One winning combo is the Spohn mounts, F-body (or Holley -2 or -3) pan, and truck accessories. Worst case scenario is relocating the alt. to passenger side. AC w/ the right compressor outlets can even fit, no cutting. A lot of folks get obsessed with using the short Vette /CTS-V or medium depth F-body /GTO accessories with no real benefit. And truck engines are usually less money than passenger car.
Manifolds are a lot better flowing on the LS engines than the junk in the 80s. And cheaper and less likely to leak. Cheap headers haven't changed. They still cost money, and modification time when not quite right.
If the Truck intake clears your hood, go with it. They make good power under the overall torque curve. And they come attached to again, the engines that are usually the least money.
There are plenty of ways to spend less in the short run, only to spend more later because of initial choices.
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To do it all over again, I would do exactly what ssn696, and 64nailhead are suggesting, pick up the few parts I cannot fabricate, or modify to work, and start swapping parts. Van is probably the least expensive donor, and they do come with the LQ4 as well in the heavier ones. Just my $.02.
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