LS1 SWAP KIT, SIKKY Vs GARRETVS

[apiazza2010]

I have the Garret kit, I have been driving my car for about 1 year now.
It makes 450 at the wheels on a mustang dyno. The car is an absolute blast, but do not underestimate the complexity and length of the swap, as everything that can break will do so....

1. Sanderson headers are a pain to work with, they make the exhaust fitment terribly close to engine/steering shaft. They work, but I'm going to make custom long tubes, as it was posted above the runner size is to small
2. Sikky's Hydroboost setup is incredibly expensive, Garret's one work, i have a full e46 m3 swap now but even before the car behaved "properly" at the track (road course)
3. Whoever says there is no need for a second diff mount has not looked at the rear end under load. Stick a go pro under there and push the car, you definitely need one. I fabricated a top plate to tie everything together.

In the end it comes down to money, they are both quality kits, one is in total considerably more expensive than the other, they both work very well.

[bmk]

You don't like the Sanderson headers? Can you tell me why because I'll be doing the garret kit

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There is nothing wrong with build quality or anything like that (Just make sure your paint them or coat them ASAP mine were COMPLETELY surface rusted in 5 days)

And let me begin to say that this all depends on what you wanna do with that car. I think that if you have mild bolt on 4.8/5.3/5.7 and dont plan on going with more power then they are good.

For my application they just dont work. Im running a 6.0 with decent cam and nitrous. Ive just bought some full cast CNC'd heads which are gonna outflow these headers even more.

They are honestly just to small, the largest they make the header that fits the drives side is 1 5/8. (CC158). They do make the pass side just recently in a 1 3/4 but that.s no good if the drives side is smaller.

Because they are shorty style headers they do a poor job of scavenging (due to the length not the diameter) again something that is application specific. This is especially evident when you decide is time to upgrade your cam.

However the main PITA is working on anything on the engine, because of the complexity designing the exhaust go to around the steering shaft (keeping in mind maintaining 2.5" mandrel bends) it sucks taking on and off the exhaust, which Ive had to like 20 times because of various reasons.

When I had to replace the clutch last last time I opted to drop the entire engine and subframe out the bottom as one rather than battle with the headers/exhaust and trans in the car.

If I had to do it all over again I would either sack up and buy the sikky ones (probably not since they are a grand) or since you already have to make a bad ass custom exhaust I would look into buying the cheap cxracing ebay e36 lsx swap headers which are SS long tube 1 3/4 and modify the headers rather than having to make a crazy custom exhaust. Dont know in reality how well these would fit but look like decent shot. From what I can tell when I have compared the Sikky to the e36x they are super close in design however I think the e36 one's would need to be shortened (moving the collector towards the front of the car) about 5" bilaterally.

But listen thats just my .02 and probably making a big deal out of nothing. Im just a person who is constantly tinkering and like the ease of taking them on and off.

[garretvs]

You have 3 choices for headers:

1. Make your own.

2. Search for some that may fit - Chevy SSR, Hooker cast LS-swap headers, etc. Both of those look pretty good, but fit will not be known until someone tries them.

3. Buy headers that are known to fit the E30 with an LS-series V8 -- which Sanderson do.

[Reyhan335]

Any off the shef SC will most likely not work. A turbo fits perfectly on the passenger side using flipped truck manifolds with a 2.25 cross over.

As far as the kits go it all depends on what your looking for if you want a complete kit sikky.
On the other hand I got the Garett engine mounts, trans brace, and diff ear plus custom made drive shaft and steering shaft for under a grand.

In think by far the best part about sikky is the headers which I don't believe is included in that $1700 price someone else can confirm. The Sanderson headers absolutely blow. I'd love a set of sikky long tubes but don't have a grand to drop

You don't like the Sanderson headers? Can you tell me why because I'll be doing the garret kit

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[stanhayward]

someone here has boost on an LS setup, im sure its a tight fit.
yeah i think a SC would be simpler too.

Check out Dirk_HX35. He has an aluminum 5.3 with a gnarly big turbo in his E30.

[shiboujin]

Apparently not? my B

[Pootis]

No they aren't

[shiboujin]

Headers are included with the regular kit.

[bmk]

Any off the shef SC will most likely not work. A turbo fits perfectly on the passenger side using flipped truck manifolds with a 2.25 cross over.

As far as the kits go it all depends on what your looking for if you want a complete kit sikky.
On the other hand I got the Garett engine mounts, trans brace, and diff ear plus custom made drive shaft and steering shaft for under a grand.

In think by far the best part about sikky is the headers which I don't believe is included in that $1700 price someone else can confirm. The Sanderson headers absolutely blow. I'd love a set of sikky long tubes but don't have a grand to drop

[farrk007]

someone here has boost on an LS setup, im sure its a tight fit.
yeah i think a SC would be simpler too.

[shiboujin]

No boost for me. I got more than enough power for what I want to do.

Space... could be found if you wanted to do a dual turbo setup. But it'd have to be in the front of the bay. Kill the ABS unit and put it in that area I'd guess. The passenger's side has plenty of room if you want to do one giant merge collector for a single turbo.

Honestly, Why not roots SC? so much simpler IMO.

[farrk007]

http://www.sikky.com/view_item.php?id=189&catid=12

If ou go down to the bottom where it talks about the driveshaft it says it's for either transmission.

good to know, hey shiboujin, you running boost?
if so what type? and is there room in there?

[stanhayward]

I have a 2002 ls1 camaro that was automatic that I swaped a t56 into it and I didn't have to get a new driveshaft. The driveshaft from sikky kit should be good for both the 4l60e or t56 tranny.

http://www.sikky.com/view_item.php?id=189&catid=12

If ou go down to the bottom where it talks about the driveshaft it says it's for either transmission.

[z28]

Thanks for taking the time out to explain the pros and cons of both kits.The cost of the sikky kit isn't that prohibitive( i thinks its worth it). I emailed the guys at garret and have not heard back yet..probably busy, But all you mentioned, i now have a few more questions.
so please bare with me;

waffleswaffleswaffles this mean all ls swaps will in-fact need/require that gto oil pan for proper fitment? ( in which case i pretty much cant do without it?)

As far as the d/shaft goes, that would be necessary if i go with a T56 correct?
cos then if i do go auto(seriously considering it) then that would affect length of d/shaft which might render the one that comes with the kit useless,right?

I just wanna make sure i get this right.

Again thanks:)

I have a 2002 ls1 camaro that was automatic that I swaped a t56 into it and I didn't have to get a new driveshaft. The driveshaft from sikky kit should be good for both the 4l60e or t56 tranny.

[stanhayward]

Hey, also never done an LS swap, just tossed it around in my head for a while. Wiring Specialties makes a plug and play LS1, DBC LS2 or DBC Vortec harness:

http://www.wiringspecialties.com/ls1tobmwe30w.html