Lisa Keefer

Hi guys , I’m looking for advice and or opinions! I have a 1986 IROC Camaro. 305/ auto. Bought without the engine. I’ve worked with small block chevys all my life and thought of possibly going to the LS engine. 4.8 / 5.3 or 5.7 . You can’t help not hearing how great these are and I’m sure they are. However Hawks 3rd gen tells me I’m looking at 4 to 5000 for the swap alone and while people say these are cheap engines I can’t find one in decent shape for less that a grand. Bottom line with all the hassle of the LS engine is it worth the time and$ to do ? I have a zz4 350 in another Camaro and it runs great ! Thanks again

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

The engine itself is the cheapest part of the swap

While they are fantastic powerplants, be sure you really want to use one before tearing anything down. If you've been happy with SBCs in the past, then don't overlook the 305 you already have

dmccain

iTrader: (2)

Stay with a gen 1 sbc preferably a 350. i think you will be happier and have a cheaper more simple straightforward swap

Komet

Every swap is 4-5k so pick what you want to work on.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Depends on what you want out of the car.

The more you drive it, the more you'll benefit from the newer motor. The LS engines are better in every way than the old SBC.

OTOH, swapping to one is often ALOT more work and money, than an upgraded SBC. $4-5k for a full F body pullout is probably about right. You can get a truck one, 4.8 / 5.3 / 6.0 w 4L60E, for maybe $1.5-2k. But then you have to deal with exhaust, mounts, tuning, etc. But a ZZ6 (current equivalent to ZZ4) is in the same $4-5k range.

Alot also depends on how much of the work you can do yourself. Paying somebody to swap to something that's in effect a "foreign" engine (to the car at least), is NOT cheap.

How soon do you want it running? Are you riding the bus to work? Or is this just gonna be a pretty-Sunday-afternoon playtoy?

You don't tell us how much of the car is still there; wiring, exhaust, etc. You don't tell us if it still has the transmission, or if so, if it's any good. The more of that that's missing or needs replacement, the more it tips the balance toward a LS, simply because you have to buy it anyway, and it just becomes a choice of which one you order.

For a car with no motor or trans I'd probably look real seriously at a truck LS pullout. I'd shoot for a good one: best to get would probably be about a 05 - 06 Escalade LQ9 w/ 4L65E. You haven't told us enough to really go on, though.

QwkTrip

iTrader: (22)

Once you reach a certain power level, you're doing all the same supporting mods regardless of which engine is in the car. If going naturally aspirated LS engine, then I would suggest 6.0L or larger. It's so much more a hot rod with those engines.

thatsupnow

If I had to do mine all over again I would've just gone to a big block and hit it with a few pounds of boost. LS are amazing engines and they make big power but definitely be prepared to spend some money.

Once you get the engine do you keep it NA or boost it?? Depending on which way you want to take your build the costs can balloon and suddenly you're $30k deep