I currently have a 91 v6 bird and I want to swap to an ls engine, I cant do the work myself so i called over to js performance and the estimate that i got would be around $10,000 for everything. I cant really afford that, so if anyone can help me out with this swap i will pay for there time. I have a budget of around 6000 for everything including parts.
Thanks
Steve

 

I'll assume the "LS series" part is to be taken literally.

LM7, the 5.3l truck engine with aluminum heads, reportedly can be had for $400. Let's say $500 for the sake of argument. That'll be a long block, and will have parts you can't use.

You'll need f-body oil pan and front accessories, and passenger car intake. You can get LS1 intakes with throttle body, fuel rails, and injectors for a decent price. Shop smart, you can find all these parts for another $500. Let's use $750 just to cover the bases.

You need swap mounts. Can't get around that. If you don't use 4th gen type AC compressor, adapter plates are only $30-$40. But, you have a V6, and you need V8 mounts to use those plates, so add another $50. Mounts that bolt to the 3rd gen K-member and use the LS1 mounts are a little more, but I don't believe you can use the LM7 engine-side mounts (and they may not come with a long block). Let's call it $100 just to cover the bases. A swap transmission crossmember will be necessary, Hawks has a nice piece for $110. Let's call it $300 just to be sure.

Exhaust manifolds - f-body LS1 manifolds go for about $100-$200. You'll also need a custom y-pipe fabricated ($200-$400), and all new exhaust back from there (say $300 for a basic 3rd gen 3" cat-back).

You really should use a 4L60E (your V6 transmission won't mount to the LSx engine). While you can find good deals, figure on at least $1000 for a '98-'02 f-body 4L60E.

PCM - a dude on ebay will sell you a programmed PCM for $150.

Harness - Seems like I was seeing something like $200 for an LS1/4L60E harness.

The other "stuff" - throttle cable, $50; MAF, $40; intake hoses, filter, etc., $120; radiator/heater hoses, $75; solder, wires, connectors, etc. to graft the LS1 harness to the chassis, $50; fuel pump, $125.

That's about $4500 so far.

Or, buy a wrecked '98-'02 f-body for $2500-$4500.

I doubt you'll find someone to do the labor for $1500.

 

as five7 shows, this swap can and will cost a LOT. if you have time on your side, lots of patients, and are handy with the tools, you can knock that estimate down a little. but if this is your daily driver, you may want to rethink this swap. to do it right, you're pretty much redoing *every* system of your vehicle (fuel, engine, trans, rear, brakes, exhaust, etc).

The engine's the least expensive and easiest part of this swap.

 

Agreed. Assuming absolutely everything went smoothly the first time, you're looking at 100+ man hours of labor. Thats alot. Almost makes dropping it off at Hawks seem reasonable

The engine really is the cheap part of the job

 

Agreed with these guys. I almost got with Hawks on doing the swap. Then I started pricing out swap "kits" though them. Then realized that getting a donor car was easily the most cost effective way to go about it.

I got lucky and found a quality donor that was already built. I paid a little more...but I made quite a bit back in parts. Heck it was a vert, and I made almost 1000 just off of the vert specific parts.

If you just cant do the work, as in no place or tools or desire...then you might just be stuck until you save up some more money to have someone else do the build for ya. $10,000 is pretty high sounding for just a plain LS1 swap...seeing as how LS1s are pretty easy to find these days. But its all in the labor man. Its a good bit of work.

Good luck!

Justin

 

My swap, in general without the trans and rearend was about:

6.0 LQ4 complete for 700$

Headers from Hawks: 800$

Intake: 270$

ignition controller: 310$

Carburetor: 250$

F body earl pan: 120$

That si about it for me on the swap, then there was my option for a T56 6 speed 1100$, cam, pushrods, springs, head work:800ish but that was all in the search for power, the list goes on, hope this helps.

 

Another option would be to buy a pre-finished swap car. Most will have mods already and the work is done. Several really nice ones in the FS section currently

 

Yea, he would benefit allot seeing as he has a open diff and needs a trans.

 

I would do the labor for $1,500 if you let me have the car over the winter and you provided ALL necessary parts prior to delivering the car.

 

hey guys thanks for all the imput, i think i just going to get a V8 and transfer my current mods over to that car. What do u guys think of this http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/1895495835.html

 

Good deal man, that is a decent price for a straight car that is V8 equipped.

 

I agree with this plan.

Going with the v8 over the v6 will give you a nice performance kick, and it'll take a little while for you to get tired of it. A $1400 investment now, will hold you over for a couple years... And give you more time to save up for your LS1 swap haha

But seriously...thats a decent looking car. A little TLC and some elbow grease could turn it around pretty easy.

J.