Spent a lot of time reading this thread, with the mixture of searching other things I had questions on. Currently on page 21 or this 33 page book and planning to finish after my basketball game tonight.

Currently thinking:

LQ9 (Like the idea of price and iron block)
T56 Transmission
Fueled Racing Kit
Standalone for wiring (recommendations)

Also in talks with Frank at Hills Garage for a quote. He is supposed to call me back next week with some tips and pricing.

 

The iron block is frowned upon because it is heavy, but it is so damn cheap and you can put a lot of power throw it

 

I thought it was only a 80-200lb difference? Or is that the LQ4?

 

It is about 75 pounds

 

go big.... ls7 that bish

 

I wish! I'm doing a semi-budget build haha. With the LQ9, T56, install kit, install, and accessories I'm trying to stay under 20k.

 

i contemplated the build.....you should only do a ls swap under certain circumstances,

1. your Z is not your daily driver
2. You have money to waste


When you do the swap, a/c and stock security system is gone. if you live in a hot climate like me in las vegas, you dont want to daily drive a car without air conditioning in 115-120 degree dry heat.

stock security system is pretty much gone, i think noah who did his ls swap awhile back on this forum put 10s of thousands of dollars in his build and one night someone stole his Z....

and lastly, all the money you put into the swap, most likely you will get some of it back by parting out with the car but not really selling it as a whole piece. more than likely you will be blowing your money away.

 

We got an expert up in here...

Put your flame suit on...

Yes you can put AC on an LS swapped car...

What is the difference if they LS swap a car for $20k or build the stock VQ and boost it for $20k, they obviously know what they are getting into.

The stock security system, lol who cares... You could have hidden kill switches that would do a better job...

And at the end... It is on the rarest of occasions you will ever see your money back from modifying any car...

Go buy a Honda and put stickers all over it...leave car enthusiasm to those of us with passion

 

Realistically, what would the experts in here estimate the amount of hours for getting the swap done? I know it's a lot, but, does 5k seem reasonable as an estimate? This isn't a spoon feed me question but, everyone in here did it themselves it seems like and I don't have the know how and willingness to do that. I'm supposed to be getting a quote next week but wanted a rough estimate so I could play with the numbers.

5k being for just the labor. Not including engine, trans, kit, or other accessories.

 

Of course anything can be done if you have the money and can make custom fabricated lines for ac

I saw this ad here in Las Vegas this guy goes through all the trouble putting ls power in hi g35 yet no security system and ac?

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/cto/5107088885.html

That is something I cannot comprehend awhile back Noah puts tons of money into the swap and yet he didn't have at least LoJack on his car..... I bet after the swap people have like no money left I am guessing lol

I would probably pass out if I had no ac in the car here in Vegas

 

If you ask a shop to do it 5k is about right.. In just labor alone


I'd rather just buy the 1k air compressor tank and air tools and cherry picker engine holder and all the right tools for 1.5k and do it myself it's not incredibly difficult to so an engine swap.... Just disconnect and unbolt everything bleed out all the liquids piece by piece....

 

vegas is a little different than virginia

 

I also don't see that much of a difference of dailying a LS swapped Z or a GTO / Vette. In terms of engine / transmission at least.

 

Justin100,

My A/C cost me all of $300 in parts and another $100 in tools and a viper alarm costs another $250...

Resale values of LS Swapped Z's have matched quality turbo'ed Z's if not exceeded them. So it would be more accurately said that "modifying your car in any way shape or form will be blowing your money away"

I would have zero problems daily driving my car minus the lack of cargo space.

 

I am glad I wasn't the only one...

I seriously think that was my only compliant about the Z, I made due, but I had to know friends with trucks

 

I took another glance, and constantly see people recommending a standalone instead of worrying about 2 ecus / custom harnesses and such. But, can anyone recommended a standalone / has first hand experience?

Still looking at a LQ9 + T56 + Fueled Racing(?) + having the work done at Hills Garage (waiting on quote / recommendations from Frank). About to start picking out my accessories.

 

I'm running dual ECU's although I don't know why I have not yet removed the Z ECU other than lazyness. There is zero cross talk between them and other than being bolted together they don't have anything to do with each other. Standalones are expensive and for 90% of the cars out there is unneeded. Save the $2000+ and run an OEM ECU reflashed to clear VATS and tuned for your mods. Just make sure your PCM matches your harness.

 

Just spoke with someone at Haltech who recommended there Elite 2500 which is $2200. Going to keep looking at my options and doing more research. Maybe a used one will pop up for sale in the meantime. I don't plan on buying the big parts until February.

Also, been looking at FI, I saw one with a Vortech and am not even sure how that was setup. I'm sure these are all custom kits and I'm not sure how much that would add to the budget. But I'm pretty sure it would be better to do a LQ4 if I do FI due to compression.

 

Any reason your mindset on the standalone? From everything you have mentioned you can do all of that with the standard GM PCM with HPtuners. Unless you need boost by gear, anti-lag or some sort of timing or ignition based traction control for a 2 step or launch control you will not see a benefit.

 

Nope, sorry I'm not set in stone for a standalone, just did some reading that a lot of people recommended it and I had already emailed Haltech earlier this morning. I won't be doing the work myself, thinking about pulling the engine myself though. I will look into HPtuners. I just know a lot of people had issues with getting harnesses and such made my people on here.

Thanks again for your replies.