talk me in or out of a LS swap for my vert

[LuckyHenriksen]

Something I've always wanted to do. Go for it!

[lambo]

If you have to ask r3v...

...it's not gonna happen.

[Robotin]

just be ready to go really fast in a straight line. and have a car that handles terribly with all that weight in the front. and i hope you intend to upgrade your brake system as well. and hopefully your suspension will will right for having that huge motor in the front.

sometimes people forget what goes into a REAL motor swap like that...

[iansane]

and have a car that handles terribly with all that weight in the front. and i hope you intend to upgrade your brake system as well. and hopefully your suspension will will right for having that huge motor in the front.

So what you're saying is you know absolutely nothing about that engine family?

[Mlarsen]

Do it, then post pictures and a burn out video before you wreck it.

[Jason89i]

I have an ls2 in my e30m3. (and buddy put one in his 325.) They are silly fast. The first time i drove it, i said to myself.... "what have you done!?!" Its not the horsepower that is astonishing, its the low end torque. Anything below 80mph and the tires are hunting for grip. the step up from the s54 was staggering.

invest in RaceLogic traction control. enough said.

[tonerrrr]

do it b/c racevert.

[future rs]

just be ready to go really fast in a straight line. and have a car that handles terribly with all that weight in the front. and i hope you intend to upgrade your brake system as well. and hopefully your suspension will will right for having that huge motor in the front.

sometimes people forget what goes into a REAL motor swap like that...

uh... the ls series motors are aluminum block v8's...

I would venture to say that the Ls series motor is lighter than the m20/m50 by a bit.

[garretvs]

just be ready to go really fast in a straight line. and have a car that handles terribly with all that weight in the front. and i hope you intend to upgrade your brake system as well. and hopefully your suspension will will right for having that huge motor in the front.

sometimes people forget what goes into a REAL motor swap like that...

Our car weighs 85lbs more than stock ... don't believe the clean-hands pansys at Car&Driver, Motor Trend, etc who claim to be able to "feel the difference" of a few more lbs, or a couple percent change in F/R balance.

An extra 85lbs up front is about like having a 110lb passenger in the front seat ... the only guy on the planet that would notice the difference is Michael Schumacher.

Besides, with an LSx up front, you can steer with the throttle.....:p

[dnguyen1963]

Anything is possible...Remember, Jay Leno had a Taurus SHO engine inside a Ford Festiva and that thing was kick-ass (0-60 in 4.5 sec).

[dnguyen1963]

Our car weighs 85lbs more than stock ... don't believe the clean-hands pansys at Car&Driver, Motor Trend, etc who claim to be able to "feel the difference" of a few more lbs, or a couple percent change in F/R balance.

An extra 85lbs up front is about like having a 110lb passenger in the front seat ... the only guy on the planet that would notice the difference is Michael Schumacher.

Besides, with an LSx up front, you can steer with the throttle.....:p

I want your car!

[evandael]

..An extra 85lbs up front is about like having a 110lb passenger in the front seat ... the only guy on the planet that would notice the difference is Michael Schumacher..

i could notice the difference when i had a 110lb passenger up front... in my eta ;)



OP, you do know the engine cost is only the tip of the iceberg, right? you have to source and modify the oil pan, you need a transmission, modified driveshaft, maintenance items, the mounts, hydroboost system, the cooling system. do you have access to lifts, hoists, tools, or a welder? above all of that, is your suspension up to the task of managing 400hp? what about brakes, wheels, and tires? have you upgraded or maintained all the bushings all over the chassis? will you invest in chassis stiffing upgrades?


a $2k LSx does not a proper swapped e30 make.

[hfabricius]

Whatever you do, make sure you have every part you need for the swap before you take the current power plant out. That way the LS will go in that much faster with out so many hold ups.

[devon.818]

i could notice the difference when i had a 110lb passenger up front... in my eta ;)



OP, you do know the engine cost is only the tip of the iceberg, right? you have to source and modify the oil pan, you need a transmission, modified driveshaft, maintenance items, the mounts, hydroboost system, the cooling system. do you have access to lifts, hoists, tools, or a welder? above all of that, is your suspension up to the task of managing 400hp? what about brakes, wheels, and tires? have you upgraded or maintained all the bushings all over the chassis? will you invest in chassis stiffing upgrades?


a $2k LSx does not a proper swapped e30 make.

ok mr know it all, we had a good talk at lunch about this. started budgeting things out, 2k for motor, 3-4k in parts and some outsourced machine work, but most labor could be done in house. theres a porche 944 we got a lein on, found a adapter plate to use that transmission behind the LS motor, modified corvette oil pan was our go to but without pulling my motor was tough to say. definately not a "over night" turn around, more like a year or so project, and a project in every sense. i think about this everyday lol, this motor is litterally on a stand right by my box, i think its stalking me....freaking rediculous.

but the fact that im incurring major tool debt ATM kinda makes me want to hold off on all of this, so as of now, idk, but i do know that motors been there for a solid year and probably isn't going anywhere, so i have time to think on it.

[VinniE30]

What are your goals for the car?
For example, do you want a good comfortable classy daily driver? A drag race car? A drift car? A road race car? Do you want it to be humble and fast or do you want it to be an obnoxious and fast attention-getter?
Different strokes for different folks.
The thing is, people get obsessed with HP and TQ numbers. 90% of what makes a car fun is qualitative, not quantitative. There becomes a point where more hp does not always equate to more fun and it's not really usable, you can't drive the car all out. Remember, there will always be someone faster, so if your just trying to out do people, you're never gonna be happy.
Have you thought about a 24v swap? Much easier and keeps the characteristics of the e30. Well documented swap, reliable, good gas mileage, very smooth and revs up quick. Faster than most cars on the road and just looks and feels right in an e30.