Wednesday 29th October 2008

V8 in a crate

GM to offer V8 take-away

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"Would you like fries with that?"

Here’s a heads-up from General Motors for PH-ers planning ‘backyard special’ track day machines… the 638bhp supercharged V8 lump from the Corvette ZR1 will be available as an aftermarket performance part next year.

As we reported last week, GM has no immediate plans for future generation ‘Vettes, but it’s great to know the critical hardware won’t be going to waste.

GM Performance Parts division has announced the LS9 Crate Engine will be available as a complete package for ‘enthusiasts and racers who want the ultimate LS powerplant for their project cars, from resto-modified vintage Corvettes, muscle cars and street rods to late model F-bodies and shoebox Chevys.’

The fabulous 6.2 litre LS9 is a charge-cooled monster with high rpm (relatively!) validated reciprocating parts, and high-flow cylinder heads topped off by a low-profile supercharger designed to fit under the swoopy hood of the current Corvette.

According to the official statement it will come ‘fully dressed’ with ignition system, supercharger assembly, exhaust manifolds, dry sump lubrication and more. Builders will just need an external oil tank, coolant tank for the charge cooler and an ECU/wiring harness.

Price remains ‘TBC’, but US websites are talking about figures well in excess of the $14k you already need for a crated LS7 engine. And of course you’ll need to allow for postage from Detroit.

[Jdavis]

oh to have that kind of money and something to put it in. something tells me it wont fit in a fiesta!

[Tom74]

But to try to put it in a fiesta would be fun!

[98C4S]

It does make you think...

for arguments sake, it cost $20000 which is about £11k.

Buy a second hand something or other rear wheel drive car - Perhaps a Z4M Coupe, or maybe even a second hand Cayman (Mid engine I know)

but what im getting at, is that you could have a Bespoke 640BHP car with what I would imagine is a bullit proof engine, for under £40k

Hmmmm

[Essex Exile]

I'll have mine in a black '69 Camaro please.

[noumenon]

Would make one mother of a sleeping MX5.

[H22K]

98C4S said:

It does make you think...

for arguments sake, it cost $20000 which is about £11k.

Buy a second hand something or other rear wheel drive car - Perhaps a Z4M Coupe, or maybe even a second hand Cayman (Mid engine I know)

but what im getting at, is that you could have a Bespoke 640BHP car with what I would imagine is a bullit proof engine, for under £40k

Hmmmm

I think you might have forgotten to factor in the cost of the work to do the conversion..obviously I don't know your engine swap experience but it's not just a case of old one out, new one in...

[dele]

I know that the LS1 and LS2 fits into the RX7 pretty well, buy an FD3s with a blown engine and replace with this

(google hinson super cars)

[bosshog]

Essex Exile said:

I'll have mine in a black '69 Camaro please.

this is will exactly what I will be doing the day I actually can afford to do such a project (which may be never, but I can dream!)

[Goochie]

Would be nice to see someone offering that in a Cobra replica.

[leorest]

Ultimate Ultima?
I'm starting to giggle just thinking about it...

[oagent]

in a BMW e46 coupe please with an auto box and LSD.
Theres a company in the US that do kits for putting LS's in e36's already.

[jellison]

oagent said:

in a BMW e46 coupe please with an auto box and LSD.
Theres a company in the US that do kits for putting LS's in e36's already.

Autobox - Sad Sad Sad!!!!!!

[dkennedyvxt]

leorest said:

Ultimate Ultima?
I'm starting to giggle just thinking about it...

Don't they already get 720bhp out of the engine they use??

[paulmurr]

Should fit easily into a Monaro. I know i'd have one

[wab172uk]

Coming to another "New British Sports car" near you.

[Antj]

damn, if only the pound was'nt so weak. Oh well no v8 for the 206 then, back to getting 100bhp from my ebay elctronic supercharger....lol

[jellison]

I could drop that in over the weekend

[New Scot]

oagent said:

in a BMW e46 coupe please with an auto box and LSD.
Theres a company in the US that do kits for putting LS's in e36's already.

Surely you could just get one of those now almost mythical chipped 335d motors - would fit more easily! In fact, to save time/effort/money you could buy one ready-made and 'just' plug in the wonderchip!

And I'll have the V8 in a stock-looking Corsa for a laugh, please!

[tomTVR]

That will be will probably be £25,000 by the time you have bought the other bits you need, paid shipping, import duty, VAT and factor in the current exhange rate is about 10 cents to the pound.

You get easily get that sort of power out of a LS engine by modifying it yourself, they do it with Monaros all the time. Be nice to have the reliability of a factory built engine though.

[toohuge]

dkennedyvxt said:

leorest said:

Ultimate Ultima?
I'm starting to giggle just thinking about it...

Don't they already get 720bhp out of the engine they use??

Yes they do, but that is a serious bit of kit. It is not off the shelf like this. This engine will come with a warranty and imagine will be pretty reliable.