I've decided to go ahead and perform a LS1 swap in my 86 951. I've been looking and think I've found a motor.

It's $3500 for a LS1 out of a GTO, with all the engine accessories, computer, & wiring harness. Does this seem like a decent price? I've found some cheaper but w/o the harness, accessories, etc. After adding up what was missing the "cheaper" motors were going to end up costing more... Any comments or suggestions?

 

How many miles are on it? Have any tests been done on the engine? I bet you could find an ls2 for that kind of money.

 

Preferably you want an LS1 out of an F body. The accessory brackets put them in a better spot, although the GTO ones work. $3500 is kinda expensive for that, unless it's super low miles, most like $2500-2800.

You don't need the wiring harness, you'll be buying one from PSI. Get all the other parts from Texas Performance Concepts...

 

My motor is out of a GTO. The only accessory that didn't fit was the A/C compressor, it needs to be swapped for an F-body compressor. The wiring harness is easy to modify, if you want to. The price is high.

 

Mileage?

Proof of condition; leak down, compression?

The power steering pump mount is different also if you decide to get an f-body pump, TurnOne revalves pumps to work better with the Porsche steering rack; they only do it with f-body style pumps though. The GTO style pump will work if you decide not to change it though.

As mentioned that is on the high end i think, i paid around $3500 shipped if i remember right. LS1 also out of an '04 GTO that was rear ended. 58k miles and i was pretty confident with the condition based on what was provided to me before buying. I was willing to pay the premium because the guy seemed to have a good reputation and i felt comfortable with the condition of it based on video, compression and leak down #'s. The motor was complete also; a/c comp, PS pump, alternator, harness, PCM..etc. I sold almost everything off the motor that i didnt use; (including some used parts i never would have thought anyone would buy used including the flywheel, clutch, pressure plate and waterpump!) and made back a couple hundred bucks.

The GTO harness is not ideal for a swap. For the work involved also i would just sell it and the PCM (i got around $150 for both i think). The GTO harness has the body control module integrated, also the PCM from the GTO is not as 'tuner' friendly as the 411 PCM (found in many trucks, vans and f-bodys.) Pickup a 411 PCM for sub $100 on ebay and get a PSI standalone harness for around $500. You pay more out of pocket but you simplify the work with the wiring. The PSI harness is extremely easy to hookup; The wiring involved sound scary but is infact one of the easier parts of this swap.

BTW, personally i would not rule out a motor without the accessory stuff on it. Poke around online and find out what it would cost just to piece together all the stuff yourself. Some particulars include

-engine harness
-PCM
-water pump
-crank damper
-alternator mount
-PS mount
-PS pump
-A/c compressor
-A/c compressor mounting bracket (if you even decide to install A/C)

The stuff for the LS1 is so cheap and readily available; you might be surprised.

I would pick a good motor that you are confident in over one that is complete in questionable condition.

 

Thank you for the replies and guidance. I was really hoping to find one locally and avoid shipping but have had pretty much zero luck in that regard. I'm going to keep poking around the net and see what I can come up with. On a positive note, I got to drive my 356 for the first time in about 20 years today! Still have some carb tinkering to work out and it was only about 3.5mi but I'm super excited.

 

I paid $600 for the complete all aluminum truck L33 5.3L for my car....complete, but half not compatible. $600 or so to buy the F body accessories (waterpump, alternator, mounts, pulley, tensioners, etc). $350 for an LS6 intake, $100 for a LS1 drive by cable throttle body. Couple of pressure sensors/o2 sensors etc added a few hundred more. Want to say custom wiring harness, fuse panel, ECU (ecu that came with the motor wasn't the one to use, and they actually gave me a credit for the old core), tuning from SSP was around $500 (car had zero wiring in it for this project, so that made most sense for me rather than modifying a harness). The SSP harness was plug and play, had to hardwire in maybe 8 wires to tach, power, ground, supplied fuse box complete, OBDII port, etc. Sold a few things off the motor for maybe $100-200 or so.

 

A different take on the question. How will you be using the engine? Will you be opening up the engine to add/refresh stuff? If the car is intended to be a road car and the driving won't stress the engine then it's probably not a bad deal for a good mill. On the other hand if you do intend to open it up and add racing springs, titanium bits and pieces machine the heads, do the valves and ARP bolts then its too expensive by at least a grand. The matter of how you intend to use the engine is important cuz the LS engines were not designed for race car use, at least not out of the box.

 

correct with your retorical question.

ebay can be good. the suv class/Ls based motors may have seen less abuse.

best deal ? a virgin LS3 crate engine from Scoggin Dickey or Crate Engine Depot will be hard to beat over the long haul.

then, pick up some of the other stuff off ebay, salvage or *Scoggin Dickey Chevrolet.

best Chevy dealer evaar.


btw,

congrats. you're building the ultimate/intelligent enthusiast's car from the 944 series.

long live the 944/968.

 

Get a new LS2 block and L92 heads, 6.0 truck pistons, rods, crank for all under $3k.....F body accessories and have a supercar for cheap. Another hybrider doing just that. Think he said the new block was only $1300

http://ls1tech.com/forums/dynamomete...p-446rwtq.html

 

so,

i added the most expensive 24 cubic inches evaar.

 

I think you added the most expensive gearbox ever lol.
There's alway the 1uz option. Got another UK swap happening.

 

OT post;

Rob,

I've been researching fuel additives...

do I have one mother f_cker of a study, with graph to show you all about one particular additive!!

 

which one? guiness doesn't count.

 

post #356

https://rennlist.com/forums/924-931-...l#post11477461

I'm somewhat optimistic Acetone can help fuel economy with Chevy v8 if using the *long gear.

* long 5th setup in the 944T box or long 6th in the 968 box.