The Official LS Swap Info/Questions Thread
First off, it's crazy how much info is in this thread. This and ls1tech = 
So I really got into the idea of swapping an LS into my G about 2 years ago, I even flew to New Orleans to go for a ride on a guy's LS2 G (the only one at the time), but I ended up doing a Vortech setup... blew a motor within a week, had to buy a new one but then I was good for a solid year 'til I accepted a new position within my company, and moved to Brazil for a 2 year work assignment
I parted a lot of the car out (at least all of the FI stuff, most engine bay bling, audio components, and some of the misc aftermarket stuff ), but I couldn't make myself sell the car, so I ended up parking the car for these 2 years and finally going ahead with the swap plans.
I decided that I will start about 6 months before I move back, and I will have a shop that I trust very much (Danny - Greengobblin, owner of Slammered Inc and friend - a lot of you know who I'm talking about) install it for me. That way, the car is done when I get back. I would love to get more DYI into it, but I know I won't have the time when I get back, since I'll be so busy catching up and transitioning back into whatever position I take upon my return. And I want to enjoy the car with most of the kinks worked out when I'm back.
The plan is to have a fully functional DD - that means AC is a must, power steering, traction control for rainy days, even cruise control .... read expensive add ons so of course I'll have to compromise once the wallet starts being beaten. I'm assuming I'll end up doing some bolt ons such as Fast intake, street friendly cams, and headers, since these engines respond so well to them.
Anyways, the original plan was to do a ls2 from a defunct GTO with a t56 tranny, as those were the go-to parts when I was in the market in '11, but nowadays the other options are becoming more feasible. I think that the ls3 might be worth the bump in price now as they are cheaper than then used to be a few years ago.
I know a guy selling his ls3 with 6 sp tranny straight out of this 18k mile camaro, and he would do it for 5.5k. How do you feel about that price?
With the low end torque from these engines, I will be happy with 475 hp, so I don't think I'll need to boost it (I've said that one too many times before but this time I thiiiiink I mean it), so no need for Iron block, and it saves on weight.
Also read that these transmissions are better than the T56s from the LS2s.
When taking into account weight, strength, quality, and price, what do you guys think is the best LS based engine for my goals?
Thanks
So I really got into the idea of swapping an LS into my G about 2 years ago, I even flew to New Orleans to go for a ride on a guy's LS2 G (the only one at the time), but I ended up doing a Vortech setup... blew a motor within a week, had to buy a new one but then I was good for a solid year 'til I accepted a new position within my company, and moved to Brazil for a 2 year work assignment
I parted a lot of the car out (at least all of the FI stuff, most engine bay bling, audio components, and some of the misc aftermarket stuff ), but I couldn't make myself sell the car, so I ended up parking the car for these 2 years and finally going ahead with the swap plans.
I decided that I will start about 6 months before I move back, and I will have a shop that I trust very much (Danny - Greengobblin, owner of Slammered Inc and friend - a lot of you know who I'm talking about) install it for me. That way, the car is done when I get back. I would love to get more DYI into it, but I know I won't have the time when I get back, since I'll be so busy catching up and transitioning back into whatever position I take upon my return. And I want to enjoy the car with most of the kinks worked out when I'm back.
The plan is to have a fully functional DD - that means AC is a must, power steering, traction control for rainy days, even cruise control .... read expensive add ons so of course I'll have to compromise once the wallet starts being beaten. I'm assuming I'll end up doing some bolt ons such as Fast intake, street friendly cams, and headers, since these engines respond so well to them.
Anyways, the original plan was to do a ls2 from a defunct GTO with a t56 tranny, as those were the go-to parts when I was in the market in '11, but nowadays the other options are becoming more feasible. I think that the ls3 might be worth the bump in price now as they are cheaper than then used to be a few years ago.
I know a guy selling his ls3 with 6 sp tranny straight out of this 18k mile camaro, and he would do it for 5.5k. How do you feel about that price?
With the low end torque from these engines, I will be happy with 475 hp, so I don't think I'll need to boost it (I've said that one too many times before but this time I thiiiiink I mean it), so no need for Iron block, and it saves on weight.
Also read that these transmissions are better than the T56s from the LS2s.
When taking into account weight, strength, quality, and price, what do you guys think is the best LS based engine for my goals?
Thanks
475HP for an LS3 is a cam upgrade since you'll have to use some sort of headers anyways. You may even have a bit more closer to 500HP. It will take that power all day long. I did a cam, L92 heads with mild inner radius porting and Sikky headers and did 450 whp, ie ~530 BHP with lower than stock SCR. I have about 9.9-10.0:1 vs the stock LS2 of 10.8:1 due to the L92 heads larger chamber and tuned on 91 octane pump gas
Small update from the weekend
We had to "clearance" the tunnel for the external linkage on the T101
Mildly modified X-member
Pretty solid tranny mount
This is how far back she is sitting
Lots of room for headers
We had to "clearance" the tunnel for the external linkage on the T101
Mildly modified X-member
Pretty solid tranny mount
This is how far back she is sitting
Lots of room for headers
UPdate:
How do you accessorize? Corvette Alternator, Z33 p/s pump and a boat ton of idlers, lots of belt wrap. The blue aluminum is the leftover carcass of a harbor freight jack
Motor mount mock ups, after we weld them al lup, I'll swiss Cheese them to shed some pounds, might even send them out to get made from 7075 or 6061, depends on how much weight I can drill out of them and still feel safe
How do you accessorize? Corvette Alternator, Z33 p/s pump and a boat ton of idlers, lots of belt wrap. The blue aluminum is the leftover carcass of a harbor freight jack
Motor mount mock ups, after we weld them al lup, I'll swiss Cheese them to shed some pounds, might even send them out to get made from 7075 or 6061, depends on how much weight I can drill out of them and still feel safe
this thread made me change my mind on my org cosworth engine swap idea i planned on my return back from afghanistan im now looking into a ls3 with a t56. would love to turbo it also anyone have some links to a kit or is it all fab for the turbo. or would it be better off to just build the motor looking to get 600-700 rwhp
this thread made me change my mind on my org cosworth engine swap idea i planned on my return back from afghanistan im now looking into a ls3 with a t56. would love to turbo it also anyone have some links to a kit or is it all fab for the turbo. or would it be better off to just build the motor looking to get 600-700 rwhp
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Wytheville
spent the last 3 days slowing going through this entire thread,...all 68 pages, quite expansive and interesting. I have an LS3/LQ4 I tore down and built back up myself and the help of a friend who is a GM mechanic. I'll be paying JGY Motorsports to install it for me hopefully in the next 2-3 weeks. Glad to see others using something other than a LS1 and LS6. This is my first time doing a project of this magnitude (for lack of a better term). Haven't bought a tranny yet, but feel I will be going with the tranny from the GTO GT with the final gear from a ZL1. I'm hoping to see 400whp when its all said and done. My graduation gift to myself will be a small turbo for a little extra kick to bump me into the 500-575whp range.
Love this thread and LS1tech, very informative projects and innovation members here it seems. Hopefully some of you live somewhere near me (24605)
Love this thread and LS1tech, very informative projects and innovation members here it seems. Hopefully some of you live somewhere near me (24605)
I bought a Z06 Ac bracket and compressor (which i turned into my P/S bracket -- RHD) for $130 on ebay, bolts right up and you could go with the Z06 P/S pump for fairly cheap too
Small update:
full frontal nudity
got belt wrap?
New PFC rotors
I borrowed a buddies Stock C5 Z06 Exhaust, and low and behold it clears everything, so I'm calling
today
And then lastly I modified my Momentum Performance Control arms, to get rid of the machined piece that was the ball joint replacement, I swapped it out for a cone made of 4140 and then a Grade 8 1/2" bolt :P
full frontal nudity
got belt wrap?
New PFC rotors
I borrowed a buddies Stock C5 Z06 Exhaust, and low and behold it clears everything, so I'm calling
today And then lastly I modified my Momentum Performance Control arms, to get rid of the machined piece that was the ball joint replacement, I swapped it out for a cone made of 4140 and then a Grade 8 1/2" bolt :P
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Wytheville
I need help and have questions concerning the wiring harness for my LS3 to 350z ECU. What wiring setup are you guy using to? Standalone units? E-management? Wiring crossovers ? Specialty wiring assemblies? I'd like to have a simple plug-n-play setup for my LS3 harness -> 350z ECU without having to pay $$$$ and know absolutely nothing about wiring or electronics or any such black magic lol I will be ordering my Sikky Swap kit hopefully by the end of next week! maybe if i get adventurous, I'd attempt to drop the engine+tranny into the car myself. I will see about starting my own little build thread.
wait your trying to use the 350z ecu to run the ls3? it dosnt work that way man you will need a ls3 ecu to run a ls3 engine. or something stand alone, e manage is a brand of aftermarket. if your unsure your best bet is to drop it off at a shop that does know.
I need help and have questions concerning the wiring harness for my LS3 to 350z ECU. What wiring setup are you guy using to? Standalone units? E-management? Wiring crossovers ? Specialty wiring assemblies? I'd like to have a simple plug-n-play setup for my LS3 harness -> 350z ECU without having to pay $$$$ and know absolutely nothing about wiring or electronics or any such black magic lol I will be ordering my Sikky Swap kit hopefully by the end of next week! maybe if i get adventurous, I'd attempt to drop the engine+tranny into the car myself. I will see about starting my own little build thread.
I need help and have questions concerning the wiring harness for my LS3 to 350z ECU. What wiring setup are you guy using to? Standalone units? E-management? Wiring crossovers ? Specialty wiring assemblies? I'd like to have a simple plug-n-play setup for my LS3 harness -> 350z ECU without having to pay $$$$ and know absolutely nothing about wiring or electronics or any such black magic lol I will be ordering my Sikky Swap kit hopefully by the end of next week! maybe if i get adventurous, I'd attempt to drop the engine+tranny into the car myself. I will see about starting my own little build thread.
plus the vq cam/crank signals are very specific nothing else runs that pattern. why we get stuff so late in the ecu market.
trying to use the nissan ecu would result in the ecu not sending spark signal to the coils. changing that requires reprogramming the firmware.
trying to use the nissan ecu would result in the ecu not sending spark signal to the coils. changing that requires reprogramming the firmware.
Last edited by jerryd87; Nov 7, 2013 at 08:57 AM.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Tuscaloosa
LOL, I know this guy IRL. He's got it pulled back apart for a turbo now.
Looking forward to pics and results of Justin's harness.
btw...has anyone else seen this guy's build thread?
http://g35driver.com/forums/g35-seda...-lsx-swap.html
He is not using stock guages or the 350z ecm for that matter
btw...has anyone else seen this guy's build thread?
http://g35driver.com/forums/g35-seda...-lsx-swap.html
He is not using stock guages or the 350z ecm for that matter