To LS or not to LS

To LS or not to LS

Author
Discussion

OleVix

Original Poster:

1,438 posts

149 months

Wednesday 31st August 2016
quotequote all
So I have a LHD early griff 400 with a rover lt77 and GKN diff. It has only 30k miles but needs a body off, new brakes, suspension etc.
I want to give it more oomph, say from a v8d 5.0 or more. If I go that route the LT77 would probably pack up so I need a new box anyway. That makes it at least 10k because I need a new diff as well. If I want up to 400 bhp from the rover its gonna cost me big...

Thats why I was thinking LS evil

The LS3 is a 6.2 that comes standard with 430bhp. A cam change gives 480bhp and 470 lbft. I can get a new 480 one for 9000 inc vat and wiring and anciliaries.
The Tremec T56 6 speed mates up nicely to the LS, there's a low miles used one for sale here in norway for 1750 inc bellhosing and slave.

I need to modify the shifter input on the t56
I need a BTR diff and new brackets to fit the old chassis... or I'll weld new one while I'm refurbing the chassis
I need a new driveshaft
Sportmotive have engine and gb mounts

Who has done this themselves and what are the dos and don'ts?

Boosted LS1

21,189 posts

261 months

Wednesday 31st August 2016
quotequote all
Cost it up properly. There is no doubt this is a good conversion but it'll cost bucket loads for the extras. What about the ecu, mapping and harness. The front end ancillaries etc? Fitting it to the car? It's a mega expensive project. You could add boost, turbo or s/c to your own engine for less or go bigger capacity n/a.

Edited by Boosted LS1 on Wednesday 31st August 23:41

Engineer1949

1,423 posts

145 months

Thursday 1st September 2016
quotequote all
boosted has it right single biggest expense will likely be manifolds anything that fits the ls wont go in your griff chassis so bespoke is needed but terrific mod


john

OleVix

Original Poster:

1,438 posts

149 months

Thursday 1st September 2016
quotequote all
Boosted LS1 said:
Cost it up properly. There is no doubt this is a good conversion but it'll cost bucket loads for the extras. What about the ecu, mapping and harness. The front end ancillaries etc? Fitting it to the car? It's a mega expensive project. You could add boost, turbo or s/c to your own engine for less or go bigger capacity n/a.

Edited by Boosted LS1 on Wednesday 31st August 23:41
Im doing the whole job, bodylift, engine swap, welding etc
I would use the stock ecu and loom for the ls, no need to map


I might go the cheap option also, 500 engine, rebuild the rover box etc

Boosted LS1

21,189 posts

261 months

Thursday 1st September 2016
quotequote all
You'll need to remove some of the parameters in the ecu unless that's already been done. You'll need front end anciliaries that suit your chassis as well as a suitable sump. Camaro, ls3 etc sumps will work. Also I'd suggest looking for a later engine as an ls1 is likely to be 15 years old and pretty well shagged out by now.

There are some pretty decent 'engine swops' books out there that will be helpful.

caduceus

6,071 posts

267 months

Thursday 1st September 2016
quotequote all
Engineer1949 said:
boosted has it right single biggest expense will likely be manifolds anything that fits the ls wont go in your griff chassis so bespoke is needed but terrific mod


john
I'm sure CliveF could fabricate something to fit.

carsy

3,018 posts

166 months

Thursday 1st September 2016
quotequote all
If i could afford it an LS would be my prefered option.

Have a word with SteveSPG he did the LS swap into his precat Griff here, i think with bits from Sportmotive.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Hes also done one into a Tamora so quite knowledgable.


Also speak with Alex and Neal who have both recently done it.

N7GTX

7,878 posts

144 months

Thursday 1st September 2016
quotequote all
Just to balance the opinion a little bit. I have had the Powers turbo done on my 400 and the cost was, including a full and proper rebuild, just over £12k. I added ACT manifolds for another £1.25k.
I have the original T5 gearbox and standard GKN diff. So far no problems.

The power figures are flywheel ones for your LS engines and as stock output, LS3 quoting 430 bhp and 425 lbs/ft.
I have, at the flywheel, 418 bhp and 481 ft/lbs torque. Bigger injectors would take this up to the next level. I asked Powers about swapping the GKN to a later BTR but Dom said the GKN was fine.

Adding up your figures and not including all the other bits like manifolds, BTR etc etc, the price is about the same and a lot easier?

Food for thought?



Edited by N7GTX on Thursday 1st September 12:25


Edited by N7GTX on Thursday 1st September 12:27

QBee

21,009 posts

145 months

Thursday 1st September 2016
quotequote all
Couple of comments (no, I haven't done an LS, but it is on my radar, due to the silly amounts of money needed to get another 40bhp out of my 500 engine NA.

First, have you seen this website in the UK?

http://www.partsworldperformance.com/ls3-v8-crate-...

They have a wide range of new crate engines. And new ancillaries. And new gearboxes. As you are in Norway they will supply them VAT free I believe.


Also, if you plan any serious fast or track driving, fit a baffled sump. My good friend Jony Ellis has just wrecked the LS engine in his Tamora doing a Sporting Bears day for seriously ill children. He suffered oil starvation on long left-handers and it threw a rod through the block. His sump was un-baffled.

According to his face-book post, his biggest problem was getting the car recovered......with him dressed in full Batman outfit!!




Edited by QBee on Thursday 1st September 19:28

OleVix

Original Poster:

1,438 posts

149 months

Thursday 1st September 2016
quotequote all
N7GTX said:
Just to balance the opinion a little bit. I have had the Powers turbo done on my 400 and the cost was, including a full and proper rebuild, just over £12k. I added ACT manifolds for another £1.25k.
I have the original T5 gearbox and standard GKN diff. So far no problems.

The power figures are flywheel ones for your LS engines and as stock output, LS3 quoting 430 bhp and 425 lbs/ft.
I have, at the flywheel, 418 bhp and 481 ft/lbs torque. Bigger injectors would take this up to the next level. I asked Powers about swapping the GKN to a later BTR but Dom said the GKN was fine.

Adding up your figures and not including all the other bits like manifolds, BTR etc etc, the price is about the same and a lot easier?
Food for thought?
Yes thank you I have the Eann Whalley turbo kit in my Chim 4.6, so I know how it works, its great smile

OleVix

Original Poster:

1,438 posts

149 months

Thursday 1st September 2016
quotequote all
QBee said:
Couple of comments (no, I haven't done an LS, but it is on my radar, due to the silly amounts of money needed to get another 40bhp out of my 500 engine NA.

First, have you seen this website in the UK?

http://www.partsworldperformance.com/ls3-v8-crate-...

They have a wide range of new crate engines. And new ancillaries. And new gearboxes. As you are in Norway they will supply them VAT free I believe.


Also, if you plan any serious fast or track driving, fit a baffled sump. My good friend Jony Ellis has just wrecked the LS engine in his Tamora doing a Sporting Bears day for seriously ill children. He suffered oil starvation on long left-handers and it threw a rod through the block. His sump was un-baffled.

According to his face-book post, his biggest problem was getting the car recovered......with him dressed in full Batman outfit!!
Thanks for that Anthony! Good info there

CHIMV8 500

2,768 posts

222 months

Thursday 1st September 2016
quotequote all
OleVix said:
N7GTX said:
Just to balance the opinion a little bit. I have had the Powers turbo done on my 400 and the cost was, including a full and proper rebuild, just over £12k. I added ACT manifolds for another £1.25k.
I have the original T5 gearbox and standard GKN diff. So far no problems.

The power figures are flywheel ones for your LS engines and as stock output, LS3 quoting 430 bhp and 425 lbs/ft.
I have, at the flywheel, 418 bhp and 481 ft/lbs torque. Bigger injectors would take this up to the next level. I asked Powers about swapping the GKN to a later BTR but Dom said the GKN was fine.

Adding up your figures and not including all the other bits like manifolds, BTR etc etc, the price is about the same and a lot easier?
Food for thought?
Yes thank you I have the Eann Whalley turbo kit in my Chim 4.6, so I know how it works, its great smile
Ole
For such a light motor do you really need more

SILICONEKID345HP

14,997 posts

232 months

Thursday 1st September 2016
quotequote all
You have the money , expertese, time and the facilities .

Go fot it and go for the ls.

Why do all that work and do half a job .
Buy a new diff and brackets from TVR Central, collect the gear over time and enjoy the yellow one .

Boosted LS1

21,189 posts

261 months

Thursday 1st September 2016
quotequote all
OleVix said:
QBee said:
Couple of comments (no, I haven't done an LS, but it is on my radar, due to the silly amounts of money needed to get another 40bhp out of my 500 engine NA.

First, have you seen this website in the UK?

http://www.partsworldperformance.com/ls3-v8-crate-...

They have a wide range of new crate engines. And new ancillaries. And new gearboxes. As you are in Norway they will supply them VAT free I believe.


Also, if you plan any serious fast or track driving, fit a baffled sump. My good friend Jony Ellis has just wrecked the LS engine in his Tamora doing a Sporting Bears day for seriously ill children. He suffered oil starvation on long left-handers and it threw a rod through the block. His sump was un-baffled.

According to his face-book post, his biggest problem was getting the car recovered......with him dressed in full Batman outfit!!
Thanks for that Anthony! Good info there
The best sumps are the big wing vette sumps, a proper sump but costly to produce. After those GM made some pretty crap sumps.

OleVix

Original Poster:

1,438 posts

149 months

Thursday 1st September 2016
quotequote all
SILICONEKID345HP said:
You have the money , expertese, time and the facilities .

Go fot it and go for the ls.

Why do all that work and do half a job .
Buy a new diff and brackets from TVR Central, collect the gear over time and enjoy the yellow one .
exacly, good one Daz

SILICONEKID345HP

14,997 posts

232 months

Friday 2nd September 2016
quotequote all
A left hand drive LS restored Griffith will have a massive resale value ..Could be 50 k .Cant see you loosing a penny.

Edited by SILICONEKID345HP on Friday 2nd September 08:47

N7GTX

7,878 posts

144 months

Friday 2nd September 2016
quotequote all
Or fit a Coyote engine and own the first pre-production 'new' TVR evilwoohoo