LS swaps are boring

Keith wrote: Or an RB26DETT into a classic Mustang! Oh, wait...

Hey, that was plausible in the context of the film.

(I already said that I liked "Driven", so my reputation is already besmirched beyond repair. getting a Fast and Furious reference can't do anyworse to it. FWIW, I think it is a good idea to put an L24 in a refrigerator.....)

I do get that weird or unusual swaps are more interesting but from a functional perspective it doesn't make much sense. Don't get me wrong I like odd stuff. I loved my 79 Aspen for what it was, same for my 98 Park Avenue Ultra (Supercharged).

However if I am spending my time and money on it, I want the car to perform as well as possible within my budget. I also value a motor that doesn't have one foot in the grave to make any horsepower. I wouldnt want something that doesn't perform as well just to be different.

I just couldnt see spending the effort and money to put a oddball motor into something I cared about just because. If I happened to have an motor and chassis sitting doing nothing that might be a different story.

I'd take a "boring" LS motor over any engine that I've ever had in any car. That said, there's something to an engine choice that fits with the character of the car. For instance, a high-reving DOHC V6 seems like a logical choice for a Miata. It's something that the factory might have tried themselves if they weren't afraid of canibalizing RX sales. I'd also like to put a modern Atlas I6 in the place of an old iron OHV unit. Same configuration, but better in every way.

Didn't read the whole thread so this may have already been listed............but how about a little reverse psychology and put a rotary in a Corvette or Camaro. Sure they would be horribly under powered and not nearly as reliable and of course much slower but I bet some where some one has done it.

In reply to Feedyurhed:

Put a mildly ported 13bT with a good turbo into an early 80s Corvette and you'll double the power.

I don't think LSx swaps will ever be boring if you are DRIVING THE CAR in question.

They might not be high on style points any more, but driving isn't about being cool, it is about enjoyment.

A rotary in a Corvette! What would people say?

Keith wrote: A rotary in a Corvette! What would people say?

Good one Keith!! Ha, I forgot about that one!

Brett_Murphy wrote: In reply to Feedyurhed: Put a mildly ported 13bT with a good turbo into an early 80s Corvette and you'll double the power. I don't think LSx swaps will ever be boring if you are DRIVING THE CAR in question. They might not be high on style points any more, but driving isn't about being cool, it is about enjoyment.

That's true Brett. I am actually a big rotary fan and I am on my 2nd RX7. No worries there.

Man, this is begging for a LSx swap. hahaha

Barfmobile

Feedyurhed wrote:

Keith wrote: A rotary in a Corvette! What would people say?

Good one Keith!! Ha, I forgot about that one!

I was about to post this. Didn't they only make 4 of these bad boys?

Anti-stance wrote: Man, this is begging for a LSx swap. hahaha Barfmobile

That's begging for a couple of gallons of gasoline poured over it and a match.

SO I have decided what I want to build next, after I button up the last of the Caddi.

This.

In this.

With a whole bunch of this.

scardeal wrote: Fine. If LS swaps are boring, swap a Honda F22 engine into a Corvette. Just to be different.

How about an a turbocharged EcoTec? http://forums.corvetteforum.com/autocrossing-and-roadracing/2951047-my-xp-c4-build-is-in-full-swing-build-log-3.html

I think what it comes down to is money. A good friend of mine has been dying to stuff a V8 into his FC RX7 and couldn't decide between an LS or a SBF. I drive an LS powered car, but advocated for the SBF. Another person was all for the LS, having modifed his GTO into insanity.

In the end I found a lincoln mark vii that he drove home for $500. The low buy-in of the SBF gave the most performance for the dollar that he could afford.

wearymicrobe wrote: SO I have decided what I want to build next, after I button up the last of the Caddi. This. In this. With a whole bunch of this.

just be careful of the vtec, yo..

fasted58 wrote:

Canute wrote: Yeah, T5s are light too. Under 75 pounds without bellhousing. Would an aluminum block, head, and intake SBF be boring?

... not in a TR-6

Or an FC . 350CI, weighs the same as a 13B. I'm actually quite fond of Spitfires, but the swing axle pic I saw in a thread recently really scares me.

Nitroracer wrote:

scardeal wrote: Fine. If LS swaps are boring, swap a Honda F22 engine into a Corvette. Just to be different.

How about an a turbocharged EcoTec? http://forums.corvetteforum.com/autocrossing-and-roadracing/2951047-my-xp-c4-build-is-in-full-swing-build-log-3.html

For a racecar with a horsepower limit, or autocross where you can only make so much power, this actually makes sense. The EcoTech is lighter and can make the same 450 hp without too much trouble. Granted, it's way more expensive to get those 450 hp, but in a racecar ... kind of reminds me of the 4 cylinder Supras that used to run in the JGTC.

I hear the OP and I agree, they are boring. Why? Well for one, everyone is doing/building one, they are everywhere. I hate that.

So Why am I building one?

That is easy. For $250 I have an aluminum 5.3l that can support 1200 hp and the most important reason is I can actually pick up the V8 shortblock and carry it around.

i'm curious when we'll see more of the GM Atlas 4200 I-6's getting swapped into projects. They seem fairly plentiful (GM sold lots of trailblazers) and pretty cheap to me considering how modern they were. looks like they take to b00st pretty nicely too.

i like the LSX, its hard to beat. but part of hot rodding is seeing what everyone else is doing, and going the opposite way. i love to see variety, so any time people are coming up with neat alternatives, i'm interested.

Gasoline wrote: I hear the OP and I agree, they are boring. Why? Well for one, everyone is doing/building one, they are everywhere. I hate that. So Why am I building one? That is easy. For $250 I have an aluminum 5.3l that can support 1200 hp and the most important reason is I can actually pick up the V8 shortblock and carry it around.

You scored an L33 for $250? That's a great deal!

ScottyB wrote: i'm curious when we'll see more of the GM Atlas 4200 I-6's getting swapped into projects. They seem fairly plentiful (GM sold lots of trailblazers) and pretty cheap to me considering how modern they were. looks like they take to b00st pretty nicely too. i like the LSX, its hard to beat. but part of hot rodding is seeing what everyone else is doing, and going the opposite way. i love to see variety, so any time people are coming up with neat alternatives, i'm interested.

hear hear - I love those motors.

Keith wrote: A rotary in a Corvette! What would people say?

What about a 4-rotor? That would be pretty insane...

dyintorace wrote:

Gasoline wrote: I hear the OP and I agree, they are boring. Why? Well for one, everyone is doing/building one, they are everywhere. I hate that. So Why am I building one? That is easy. For $250 I have an aluminum 5.3l that can support 1200 hp and the most important reason is I can actually pick up the V8 shortblock and carry it around.

You scored an L33 for $250? That's a great deal!

Just a shortblock L33 (I paid too much), but I am working on a complete aluminum 5.3l LM4 sitting in a Isuzu Ascender, yep Isuzu Ascender.

Aluminum 5.3l's are also in GMC Envoys, Chevy Trailblazers, the SSR, and also Buick Rainier's. They are everywhere! and I am looking! I'm out to buy them all and corner the market.

I'm still looking for the right car in which to put my zetec and pinto 4 speed. Maybe a Model A... or even a pinto!

As much as I like obscure engines, I LOVE the LS-based Chevy V8's. If I could go back to when I built my Pontiac 400 for my '79 T/A, I would have gone the LS route. What's not to love: reliable EFI, smaller and lighter for better weight balance (and more room to wrench on it!), tons of aftermarket support, and I think they sound pretty damn cool. They are probably capable of helping a vehicle break orbit with enough power adders and money. Not a lot of drawbacks there.

My 400 is nice, and when it runs it's great. But like I said, that's when it runs. I've run into stupid issues with it so far, like finding headers that fit properly, dealing with constant hot start problems, and setting up the PCV system so it doesn't bellow oil smoke out the tailpipes. That's all coming from an engine that the car was designed to have!

And don't get me started with the Olds 403 that was in the car when I got it... what a turd.

Gasoline wrote: That is easy. For $250 I have an aluminum 5.3l . . .

Jealousy . . I haz it