Typical cost of an engine install

[Stigmundfreud]

Just musing options as I have found a place that can supply LS3's with a UK warranty for a fairly reasonable price. What is the typical cost of replacing the engine with a turn key crate engine?

Or alternately what would be a typical head/cam change cost?

[MyM8V8]

For a start you will either need a new ECU to suit, or its a crank out job to change the reluctor wheel for yours Stig.

[Stigmundfreud]

these are just hypothetical musings

tbh I think the limit to my mods are going to be a CAI and thats it as I'm more than happy with the performance

eta you know what its like, you get autotrader and set yourself a budget - its like that but for the car

Edited by Stigmundfreud on Monday 20th October 01:00

[MyM8V8]

A cam will do the business on yours. There's got to be a lot of good used LS1 stuff about now, i.e heads etc.

L98 heads £1700 ish, inlet £500, cam kit inc push rods, springs £700 ish, plus labour.

+50-70hp ish?

Or LS1 Fast intake, Cam, cai for about the same HP, £1600 + labour ish.,

[Stigmundfreud]

couldnt be doing with the tuning no more

[ringram]

Stig has a 5.7 so the L92 heads are out.

You should get 360rwhp cam only. Im guessing £1000 parts then labour on top. Should get you in the high 12's with the right tyres.

You will have to pull your finger out and tune it though mate. That will save £600 or so. If you keep the cam mild it will be easier. (Its not hard anyway)

[Boosted LS1]

MyM8V8 said:

For a start you will either need a new ECU to suit, or its a crank out job to change the reluctor wheel for yours Stig.

Or you could pin the front pulley and fit a trigger wheel to the crank. I've not done it but it should be viable for the later type of wheels.

[Magic919]

I noticed Walkinshaw in Aus are trying to shift surplus LS3s http://www.walkinshawperformance.com.au/wp/2008/au...

Left over from making W427s :-)

Maybe they'd stick one on the boat...

[ringram]

Cheaper from Holmart http://holmart.com.au/online/prod2085.htm

[Magic919]

That's only about £100 and without international shipping. I fugured WPUK might be able to slip one in with a load headed this way.

[ringram]

Ah yes, good point. Im sure Phil would be open to suggestion. I think they will have 427 of them sitting there eventually

[MyM8V8]

ringram said:

Stig has a 5.7 so the L92 heads are out.

You should get 360rwhp cam only. Im guessing £1000 parts then labour on top. Should get you in the high 12's with the right tyres.

You will have to pull your finger out and tune it though mate. That will save £600 or so. If you keep the cam mild it will be easier. (Its not hard anyway)

Oops. Yes, 4.00" bore and above only. Sorry.

[Stigmundfreud]

BAD do a crate turnkey ls3 option with a UK warranty

Rich I think cam would make the most sensible option and yes I would obviously tune but need a trip to get a seperate bung and the lc-1 wired in full time

[v8-alg]

so does anyone know how much it would cost to drop a crate engine in? ls2 or ls3 been wondering if its a viable option for me to upgrade my late model vz cv8.

[ringram]

ls2 or ls3 into ls1 is pretty much a straight swap....
However knock sensors are now in the side of the block and not the valley, cam sensor is also at the front of the engine. Otherwise engine mounts and external dimensions are the same.
Another thing to be aware of is electronic or cable throttle, but thats an easy fix.

Oh and the magic crank sensor. LS1 had 24 pickup, later engines will be 58, the swap happened half way through the LS2 during the E40 ecu days.

Ideally buy a built engine with forged parts, cam, heads etc as labour costs will be the same, so the extra £1000 for forged will not only pay for the right crank, but set you up properly going forward. (Labour costs the same except obviously a stock tune is easy and free, custom tune will cost unless you roll your own with efilive or similar)

[monkfish1]

v8-alg said:

so does anyone know how much it would cost to drop a crate engine in? ls2 or ls3 been wondering if its a viable option for me to upgrade my late model vz cv8.

Actually swapping one out and another in is the easy bit. About £950 would cover that. But you have to change the crank trigger wheel, so the engine needs a strip down first. Probably around another £600, plus parts, ie gaskets head bolts etc.

Then you need to tune your exsisting PCM to your new engine. Bit more difficult to put a price to this until its done.

Drop in an LS3 even with a decent exhaust and headers and you will still be well short of 500bhp. Of course you could modify your new engine, but hey, why not modify the one you have?

[v8-alg]

monkfish1 said:

Actually swapping one out and another in is the easy bit. About £950 would cover that. But you have to change the crank trigger wheel, so the engine needs a strip down first. Probably around another £600, plus parts, ie gaskets head bolts etc.

Then you need to tune your exsisting PCM to your new engine. Bit more difficult to put a price to this until its done.

Drop in an LS3 even with a decent exhaust and headers and you will still be well short of 500bhp. Of course you could modify your new engine, but hey, why not modify the one you have?

ahh ok thanks for that just weighing up the options really,

[v8-alg]

oops! meant to say thanks, just weighing up the options at the moment but thats given me a bit more to think about.

[ringram]

Again decide on your power level requirements first, then plan to that. Makes everything easy then..

[monkfish1]

ringram said:

Again decide on your power level requirements first, then plan to that. Makes everything easy then..

Sound advice. Decide what you want to acheive first. It WILL cost you less in the end.