OK guys, here's what I was referring to in Bane's thread. I'm really HOPING that I'm guessing high for most of this stuff, but I've learned the hard way that car projects devour budgets like Rosie O'Donnell on a buffet line...

The engine is set at $3500 (honestly, not too bad for a 0-mile 400hp Gen-IV crate engine), & the one quote I got for shipping a truck engine to me was right at $475, so I just rounded up a bit. The tranny is $2k, but I bought it during a "free shipping" promo. The SPEC-3 clutch is recommended by SixSpeedsInc (the shop that's building my T-56), so I'll probably go with their recommendation, unless I get convincing evidence to the contrary.

I'm thinking of using the ('98?) Corvette regulator, since it seems to work well for people here. Some of the stuff I really suspect I'm guessing high on (DBW setup & fuel lines), but I suspect that they're offset by others that might be low (esp. headers, I'm HOPING to find a set of 1.75" headers that I can "mangle" to fit the LSx flange, but I MIGHT have to break down & get the Hawk's units...).

Finally, you'll note that I have two engine harnesses listed - the top group is the basic, minimal stuff that I think I'll need to accomplish the swap. That retains the original truck programming, including the VVT. The 2nd group is my "preferred" option, that would allow me to swap a cam in before installing the engine, but of course that will be significantly more expensive. We'll see if that's even possible for me...

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L92 - $4000
T-56 - $2000
Gaskets - $150
SPEC-3 Clutch, PP & Hyd - $600
Motor Mounts & Trans X-member - $100
Fuel Pressure Regulator - $160
Fuel Pump - $200
DBW setup - $450
Fuel Lines to Regulator - $250
Headers - $400
Exhaust - $400
Cats - $300
Sensors - $600
Engine Harness (VVT) - $250
Relays/fusebox/wiring - $250
Misc. - $125

EDIT: Looks like I'll also need to add a water pump to fit the F-body accessories... - $???

Oil Filter - $250

Subtotal -- $10,485.00

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And here is the "preferred" cam-swap option:

Cam - $400
ECM - 12612384 - $160
Manual trans, non-VVT engine harness - 15940760 - $470
New LS6 oil pump & gaskets - $160
Timing set - $180
LS2 front cover - $???
Lifter guides/trays - $???

Cam gear? Cam tensioner?

Subtotal -- $ 1370 + ???

Tune - $???

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So, what do you guys think? Does this "guesstimate" basically sound realistic??

I have stuff that I'm selling to knock the 'net total' down some, but (acc. to what I can see) I'm still right up against my self-imposed budget limit.

Any constructive thoughts/suggestions would be most welcome.

 

Good grief, that's 5 times what I think I am spending.
Your better off buying a moded 4th gen with 500HP already and just dropping it in then that, but I guess it's your money.

 

Aaron91RS:...so youre paying 2k on your swap? Care to share what you bought, and what you are doing to the car??

I figure I have around $10-$12k into my car all said and done. I stopped keeping track because it became painful.

However...my budget included an entire 11.5 sec donor car, full suspension rebuild front and rear, full steering rebuild/upgrade, full autometer gauges, some little upgrades like the shifter, SFCs, etc etc.

So for just doing a motor/trans swap...10k sounds alittle high. But thats good... Ide much rather think its going to cost me 10k, and have it only cost 6 or 7 or 8. Once you start gathering parts for real, your budget will become alot more obvious.

Its better to try to get actual prices, and make a list...then budget things in and out of the list based on the actual cost. Figure in shipping and taxes where they apply...because those things add up too.

J.

P.S... I forgot. You are also selling your motor and trans right? Im assuming 350 TPI? You'll get a decent amount of change for that stuff if its in good shape, and you pull the harness and all out in good shape. I sold my 305TPI for a good bit to a guy swapping to an S10.

 

Looks sensible to me but your estimates seem high on sensors ( what do you need? ) and low on exhaust. This is one area that is allllll custom with these swaps and will cost you $$$

Everything else you can go cheap. You might want to search around for a wreck 4th gen and part out what you dont use.

 

I paid $55 for my vette fuel regulator, though i never used it, so its just sitting here. I sure as hell hope that the DBW setup doesnt cost me $450

Im fabricating my own headers as said.

Im hoping to have spent less then $3.5k once i have it running, but all it will be is a cammed 5.3L truck motor with a 4L60e, nothing near as special as a 6.2L L92.

 

I'm only half way through so I won't know for sure. I am keeping records of what I buy and what I sell off the left over parts of the 4th gen to offset that cost.(the 4th gen seats, wheels, axle)
At current I have spent $300 after subtracting out what I sold off the 4th gen.
Granted I still have to buy those overpriced headers and other stuff so I know it's going to go up a lot.
I'll post up my time and daily log of work once I am done.
Short version is already here under the 99SS car.
http://www.fquick.com/Aaron91RS
So far 3 days of work and $300 and I have a complete ls1 drivetrain, gas tank, harness. Doesn't seem bad so far, but these things do snow ball.

Whats saving me money is having the entire 4th gen car. That nickel and dimeing yourself for a vette regulator fuel lines, and this and that little stuff and all those little parts is what kills a lot of peoples budget.

 

Aaron - Yeah, I suppose I COULD buy a fourth-gen that's already been built, but then I'd wind up with an engine that someone's no doubt already thrashed the pi$$ out of, with unknown defects/issues/miles to go. It wouldn't be entirely surprising if it might need major repairs within a year - which is really not what I was looking for.

The original plan was to buy a low-mileage LQ4 or LQ9 that I could swap my L92 heads onto. I was holding out for one with 30k miles or less, even if it took a while for me to find it - this is just "taking that idea to it's illogical extreme", I guess...

(And I'll be able to sell some of the stuff that I've already bought for the "new" engine & won't be needing now as well, so that'll help a bit...)

Yeah, I think we all know THAT feeling - I just sold my 1.75" SLP headers, & before I did, I added up everything I spent so that I could 'do it once & do it right', & got a bit of a surprise out of it...

Yeah, that's what I'm hoping for - I've already found a couple of parts that are significantly cheaper at rockauto.com, now all I need is a good discount code on top of that!

Yep, I've been working on that...

Yep, it's a 350, I've got one of my buds coming over tomorrow to take it back to his place actually. I could've probably gotten more out of it, but he's already helped me with projects before, & has promised to help with this one as well, so that's worth some money in my book. The 700R4 is also sold, but I'm going to be posting an ad for the HSR setup (& maybe a few other little pieces/parts) either tonight or in the morning...

cam- - I'm honestly not sure what sensors I'll need, which is why I was trying to budget high in that area. I'm not even sure yet if the L92 uses a MAF or not...

As far as exhaust goes, I have a welder, & if I can rig something up to get me through the rest of the summer, then I can really 'finish' it over the winter/off-season. I'm going to see what kind of deals I can find on tubular and/or oval stock, with any luck I'll be able to do most or all of it myself. {crossing fingers}

Sheldon - I think that John at Speartech told me that the DBW setup would likely cost me about $300, maybe $350 - but I'm not sure about that, so I went high there as well.

And if you weren't located in Canada, I'd offer to buy that regulator from ya!

Thanks for the feedback guys.

 

I 100% agree with you here... I had a donor car sitting right next to my 3rd gen. And the amount of stuff that I used was crazy. I used a TON of the hardware to replace my rusty stuff. Brackets, wires, hoses, parts that I didnt even need... Not to mention it was a vert...and I made a good deal of money from selling the top , front clip, seats, rear, front suspention etc etc.

Many benefits to a donor if you find a decent one for a decent price and have the space to keep it.

J.

 

Yeah, I've no doubt you're right, but those are a couple of fairly big "IFs". Even if I'd been able to find one for a reasonable price (& I did keep my eyes open for a little bit), I really don't have a place to keep it. Maybe at a friend's storage lot that he uses for his business, but that's a few miles away, so I wouldn't be able to just "run outside & pull" whatever I'd need at that point...

So - aside from having a donor car, does anyone have any suggestions on where a person could save some coin with this swap without making it a "redn#ck special"?

LOL - you can't use the word 'r3dneck' here??!?

 

Well there's only so much stuff you can fabricate on your own. Ide say your biggest savings would be using stock manifolds that come with the motor, or fabbnig your own heads either from scratch or by modifying another set. Seems thats were the big bucks comes in...besides the motor/trans and all.

You can make motor mounts, trans crossmember, and your own harness fairly easy. There isnt a whole ton you need to get the motor and trans in the car and working. Its the details that soak you. All the little stuff.

it sounds like youve done some research and you atleast have a game plan going. That puts you ahead of some people.

J.