Ok. I am looking for a LS1 donor car.


first my quick story:
walking around a car show a week and some back, and i was drooling over a LS1 TA. Then all of a sudden it hit me. Why am i planning such an insane build (long story) just to beat these LS1's, when i can have a LS1 to begin with?

And so began my search. But after some time looking hard (and i've been keeping an eye out for a friend for 3 months. He's planning the same swap) I have yet to find a suitable donor car for myself. I have found 1 on craigslist, but my friend got that one, and then ended up selling do to finances before the swap could be performed.

So for 3 months i have found exactly 1 donor car. Why?! there have to be some wrecked LS1s out there. Ive tried ever site and paper i can get my hands on but not even a hint of ANY wrecked 4th gens, never mind LS1 T56 cars...



Where have all of you found your donor cars?

Thanks. And yes i know i have only been looking hard hard hard for a week, but still please bear with me.
~LMSkyliner

 

Didn't get the car, just the "stuff" from eBay.

 

JJ's Automotive in Mt. Pleasant. Call them up or hop on over to LSxperformance.net to visit the forums and store. They are LS1 specialists and have drop outs from low mileage LS1's to 5.3L/4.8L/6.0 L to LS2's, to full cars reconstructed

They have a few wrecked cars that only have body damage. Hell i can stop down to verify for you, but its best to call them. Prices usually range from 5-10 grand for a car depending on how bad the damage is

They get em and ship em out Or pick it up

 

Whats stupid is 5K buys you a running/driving non-wrecked LS1 car on ls1tech.com
Anyone that wants 5K for a damaged donor can go to hell

Here's a wrecked lower mile one for $3500
http://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=922916

Here's a rebuilt running/driving ls1 VERT for $3500
http://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=889504

Here's a clean running driving 98LS1 for $5100
http://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=924291

Here's a TA with a rebuilt trans for $5800
http://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=892513

Here's a low mile one with some nice heads, exhaust and clutch but needs a head gasket $4800
http://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=916711

Here's a good running/driving camaro $4500
http://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=915787

Here's a running driving ls1/t56 $5500
http://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=921072

 

never seen that before, that pricing seems extremely low


if that is true then its probly a 170K mile car thats not worth buying in the first place or something else is wrong

the cars that jj's sells are using cars that have bumper/hood damage that are easily fixed and have less than 50K miles

 

Mt. Pleasant isn't too bad. I will need to sell some stuff before i can start looking in honest, but i was very curious as to why I couldn't find one, and where other people may have found them.


Also i wll keep a closer eye on LS1tech. I already have a membership there from like a year ago.


and Orr, do you approve of my new direction?

~LMSkyliner

 

if i could do it all over again, i would have bought a LSx/T56 combo I just wanted to try a small block first but it would have been same price to have the better technology of lsx motors

If you can do it, get a LS1 motor and put it into that thirdgen of yours. Dont sell the thirdgen for a LS1 car tho

 

interesting...



Don't worry, my thirdgen is the candidate for swappage. Thats why the LS1 would be the "donor".

I was more thinking along the lines of selling my Grand Am, my L98, and the entire drivetrain out of my Iroc

 

haha nice, well i talked to them, they got a nice wrecked LS1/T56 trans am for sale. 61K miles, just side and rear damage

they also have a pulled LS1 thats been ready to go for a month now they got what your looking for

 

Got any prices on that stuff? Thats right on the money right there.

/emails them


edit: They have mail. I just hope this stuffs cheap enough. I mean i can sell some stuff pretty quickly, but this is the lowest my bank account has been in months ($3000)


I suppose even if it is not close to enough (im thinking $2000 short), they will know i'm looking and will be able to hit me up when i have more money.