I'm not telling you not to do the swap...I just say you can't do that swap for less than putting in a 347. Too many factors involved in the swap that will cost a great deal of money and time. Time is money whether you believe it or not too. And there are way cheaper 347's out there than 10K. As stated above, it's your car so do what you want. Got plenty of money and time...do the swap.
Heh that's totally true I'm thinking... money pit!!! Just like a project car is supposed to be. I'll have to have a dedicated garage spot if I decide to undertake this. As it is I'll have to settle for tearing around in my currently 302 powered Mav And tell me you wouldn't, even a little bit, like to be around to see the faces of anyone looking under the hood of that car. There may be a lot of LS's around, but I wager not many of 'em are stuck in a mid 70s muscle car! xD
You own a muscle car? I thought you were putting this in a maverick.... I still think you'd get more "ewws" than "heyyys"
LSx engines are awesome! But even if you get the engine cheaper in a crate than a 347 in a crate, you are still far from camparing apples to apples. The sheer cost of getting the thing fitted into a car that it is not supposed to be in will eat up your savings. Add to that the fact that you have an expensive tranny to get, which also doesn't fit a Maverick floorpan/tranny tunnel. Then the electronics, even the conversion of the fuel tank and system to the LSx super-high pressure system will eat up time and money. You're talking about biting off more than most folks can chew without unlimited resources. Just my opinion... and I love LSx engines!
Btw: I had to get rid of that Z28 in 04 to pay for business startup costs, and it was only worth 8k then. It pulled 328 rwhp for me (about 370 hp for a car rated to have 305). Then the guy that bought it put headers, better exhaust, high flow MAF, and a power programmer and pulled some crazy number. Around 370 rwhp! Remember that this is REAR WHEEL. That is equivalent to 440 hp the way the factory rates it. And this is without ever opening even a valve cover since it left the factory! I hated losing this car. Fact is that since the Camaro was discontinued, GM hasn't been underrating these engines. An LS2 that rates at 400 hp will pull 340 at the wheels (only with a T56) which is "right". The engines were underrated when the F cars were around because Vette buyers got pi$$y if they were rated same as the Vette. So F cars were underrated, while the same engine in the Vettes were rated correctly and making same power as the F cars. Make sense? I got WAYYYYY off subject though! The point of my post is that you can get a dam good LSx car for the same money you are considering for only an engine! Edit: Oh, and if you know LSx engines, you know that they get improved all the time. My puny little LS1 was only a 98 model, 2nd year of production, and it was awesome. Just think of what you can get with all the LS1, LS2, LS6, and LS7 stuff out there put in the right combination...
hey somebodys puting a viper motor in a mav so a ls motor wouldnt be as radical. you expressed orignaly that the cost would be about the same, then you changed your story. its your car, your check book so in the end its your choice. im a big fan of the ls motors. i would love to have one. i would put it in a chevy personally. if you do take alot of pics and post them. we would all love to see something custom and different. if cost is your 1st concern then stay with the ford.
I don't really have an opinion on what you are trying to do - do what pleases YOU - but your animated Avatar is - like - really hypnotizing - and I'm not sure in a good way - it's hard to concentrate on your messages..... Chris
IMO I would stay away from the T-5 for an LS motor unless it is a built T-5. I would go with a T56 and call it a day or TKO 500 or 650. I've seen the LS2 Engine and T56 trans combos go for about 7500-8000K. The T56 is WAY stronger plus you have the 6th gear for highway cruizin and its already setup for Hydraulic throw-out bearing!
OH and the motor mounts are an easy deal. Lots of companies are making universal kits to mount LS engines into stuff. Check out Speedway Motors, Scotts Hot Rods, even some places on ebay. About $150 should get you a set.
I normallly stay quiet when this topic arises and I just chuckle at how some of us have blue blood running through our veins and others just want to be different. With that being said I do recall everyone was in aw when the gentleman put a Maverick body on a viper frame. Another guy slid a Monte Carlo frame under a Maverick. I don't recall anyone saying how awful that was or when someone else installed a jag rearend under their car. It was just the oppisite everyone was saying how neat it was and how did you do it. If car enthusiast all had the same type of car with the same type of motor how boring would that be! To install a MII front end is just about as labor intense as mocking up a small block chevy on the system. So if you have the talent I would never let anyone sway my idea on what I want to do with my car. I am sure I have ruffled enough feathers. with this comment So go for it, it is fun to see a project that you visualize come togather.
I missed the part about the "T5" tranny. Remember the LSx engines have a totally different bellhousing setup than the old Chevies, LT1 and earlier. With all the install kits for the LSx out there, as mentioned by another member, someone may make custom bells to put a T5 or other trannys on an LSx. However I don't know of any yet. So your tranny choices would be limited to the LSx spec auto or the T56.
do what you want....its your ride. But 10K for a 347 with only 400 ponies Thats funny.......my little 347 I have......carb to pan/flex plate to water pump, all brand new "good" stuff except the block and it was less than the chevy crate your talking about.........I have somewhere around 400 but again.....do as you please. I would be interested if you do, do it. Keep an honest tab from start to finish. I would like to see how much money you save
Sorry it's taken me so long to reply here, I just got out of the hospital with severe back spasms. You must have not done any searching, I've been on the board for almost a year now and my LS-1 powered '72 Mav is about 75% finished. It's got an R & C front clip, streetrod type motormounts, BBK 351 foxbody swap headers with LS flanges, springs moved, rails tucked and minitubs in (will fit P325-15 on 10" wheels with 6.5" backspacing). Currently getting the tubs finished and ready for paint within the next month or so... Russ
Here we go. I will say that although I love the idea of making something totally unique the idea of mixing SOMETIMES bugs me. Here's an idea, and you know what they say about ideas> for the amount of money to be spent on the LS1 set up, why not track down a wrote off Lightening. Then you will have the best of all worlds. Tons of room to make all the power you want, 365hp to the wheels to start with, a ford combination, and a totally radical project that would be the envy of pretty well everyone. That would be my two bits. Also as far as strokers go, I just got a 408w crate, forged steel crank and rods, forged pistons, victor jr. heads and intake, and for 4 grand u.s. dollars. Yes I'm from Canada. No, its not used. It will make 500hp and still has room to move. And it will bolt right in. Imagine what you could do with the other 6 grand. I know it won't be unique, but it will be fast.
