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01-13-2016, 01:37 PM | #1 |
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LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
I am researching an LSx swap in a squarebody truck. I have read lots of posts and gained a lot of info. I can see that very quickly the cost to do a LSx conversion has come down due to availability of massed produced conversion items that were once only available from limited sources. Combine that with some very innovative swappers tracking down alternatives parts, the swap is becoming much more affordable.
With all that said the one variable I see is the actual cost of the engine and transmission itself. I know there are super cheap deals to be had for the expert scrounger, but lets throw out the highs and lows to find a middle ground. If I am looking for a truck that wont be used for heavy hauling, track racing, or any other above average scenario, whats the best bang for the buck? I know the base 4.8 and 5.3 are more common, hence they are cheaper. The 6.0 is next in price and availability, followed by the much sought after 6.2. Lets say I'm looking to net a realistic goal of 450 HP so we will use that as a benchmark. I have been told the 6.2 can do that with headers and a tune. What will it take to get a base 6.0 there? How much more to bring the 4.8 or 5.3 to that level? Not trying to start a pissin contest over what motor is better, just real world facts on what I should be looking for. As much as I want a 6.2 they dont seem to be abundant at a fair price. I can buy a 4.8 or 5.3 for 600-700 but how much will it take to get that 450hp? Discuss....
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01-13-2016, 02:06 PM | #2 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
450 engine horsepower? A garden variety LM7 5.3 with a ~228 duration cam should put you right about there.
Valvesprings, pushrods, cam, headers, and it'll produce. Heck, I've tuned a bone-stock LM7 with headers and a 3000 stall in full weight Chevelle, and it was a blast to drive. Not going to set any records, but for the price/power, it's impossible to beat. Here's a video of it before we had the bugs worked out of the trans and while it still had a stock converter. I need to video it now with everything working perfectly, it's a blast for low, low bucks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kRiRzHEriU
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01-13-2016, 02:17 PM | #3 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
Good info Heavymetl. I understand 450hp @the crank is very achievable with a 5.3. My understanding is 500 engine horsepower is common with bolt ons. My question is, for average Joe Swapper (like me) would it be about the same money to buy a 6.2 that already produces 420 hp, and never have to break it open?
It appears that the 6.0 with 345hp might net more for less.
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01-13-2016, 02:29 PM | #4 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
An advantage of the 6.2 is that all of them are aluminum. There are some aluminum versions of 6.0 and 5.3, but they're harder to find. I don't know how much 100lb or whatever extra matters to you, and I've seen claims that the iron engines can take more boost if you ever go that way.
I've been looking for the right deal, I think I'll be buying a 6.0/4L80E before too long. If you want to have fun in it I'm not sure how long a 4L60E would last for you. I've read that the 6 speeds are a little more complex to tune but reasonably durable. A downside to the 6.2 is that many of them use displacement on demand, which you might want to get rid of (I believe it involves cam, lifters, tune so not too bad but it is something). I think the auto versions use it and the manual versions don't.
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01-13-2016, 03:08 PM | #5 | |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
Quote:
The engine/trans combos are several hundred more than what I used to get them for...I thank the core rebuilders....since my local yard now has a $300-400 core on an LS engine that used to not be there. Another example is intake manifolds. People used to give away and throw away LS1 intake manifolds in favor of LS6 or FAST intakes. I know guys who literally threw them away. Now they cost $150-200...for a bare intake. Same with the fugly truck intake manifolds...I've thrown away at least 5 of them, and have given away a few more. Now they go for $50-100. It's crazy.
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1972 2wd K/5 Blazer Turbocharged 370 LSx - 941 rwhp / 1093 rwtq 1969 Chevy K-10 L33 5.3 / 4L80E / NP241 / 4" lift 1964 Buick Skylark Twin TURBO 383 LS pro-touring project 2014 VW Passat TDI - Daily Driver Turbo diesel 2015 Sierra Denali HD Duramax Turbo diesel 2023 Ford Explorer ST - Twin Turbskis 2023 Ford F150 RCSB - Whipple Supercharged 2017 Polaris RZR Turbo 2014 Nor-Tech Center Console - Twin Supercharged Outboards TURBO ALL THE THINGS!! |
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01-13-2016, 03:53 PM | #6 | |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
Quote:
I did pick up a 2007 4.8L/auto tranny (4L65E?)/ Transfer case combo at a fleet auction for $650. I also got the 4.8L I just put into my '90 K3500 for $300, but I did have to buy a wiring harness and a few misc. bolts and gaskets for it. |
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01-13-2016, 04:06 PM | #7 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
I just checked what my local yard gets for an LQ4. I have bought several from them over the years...complete take-outs with accessories, wiring, pcm, no transmission. Anywhere from 90-140k miles for right around $700-900.
They have one currently...111k miles, from a 2003. $1850, and I dont' think that includes the core charge.... Several years ago you could barely give away a 4.8L around here. Seriously. Then that stupid Big Bang article came out in HotRod and everybody suddenly thought they could make 1200 hp on a stock shortblock. lol. Then the price went up. Same with 5.3s. When I first started swapping LS stuff, 5.3s were the black sheep of the LS family. It was an iron block "truck" engine and nobody wanted it. Everybody wanted an aluminum LS1/6/2. Now i think it's hillarious when you see guys with camaros and corvettes with boosted 5.3s that they installed in place of the aluminum deal after it came unglued.
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1972 2wd K/5 Blazer Turbocharged 370 LSx - 941 rwhp / 1093 rwtq 1969 Chevy K-10 L33 5.3 / 4L80E / NP241 / 4" lift 1964 Buick Skylark Twin TURBO 383 LS pro-touring project 2014 VW Passat TDI - Daily Driver Turbo diesel 2015 Sierra Denali HD Duramax Turbo diesel 2023 Ford Explorer ST - Twin Turbskis 2023 Ford F150 RCSB - Whipple Supercharged 2017 Polaris RZR Turbo 2014 Nor-Tech Center Console - Twin Supercharged Outboards TURBO ALL THE THINGS!! |
01-13-2016, 04:13 PM | #8 | |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
Quote:
Last edited by foamypirate; 01-13-2016 at 04:28 PM. |
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01-13-2016, 04:32 PM | #9 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
Yeah, it's crazy that the prices continue to rise despite the fact that the numbers of these engines out there are insane. I bought my '05 van LQ4 in '07 for $1500 with 3k and change miles on it. I'd be looking at double the price for the same engine now.
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01-13-2016, 04:36 PM | #10 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
subscribed
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01-13-2016, 06:21 PM | #11 | |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
Quote:
And yeah, anything with 4 figure mileage is going to be expensive.
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01-13-2016, 08:01 PM | #12 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
i paid 500 for entire running donor truck with 4.8 and 70k miles on it.. although i want to do a 6.0 in the future
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01-13-2016, 08:23 PM | #13 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
Ok , Now that we have the prices covered . Let get back to the Hp . To get to your hp goal in a 5.3 you will have to get pretty aggressive with a cam only . Stock converter would not be the best so and aftermarket one may be in order . A 6.0 lq4 or a lq9 would make it easier . lq9 being the better choice for N/A ( flat top pistons) with a milder cam . Ls2 is more of a prem price but they are 400hp out of the box and no converter needed . Just a few bolt ons and you will exceed the 400hp goal easy .
I have a ls2 bone stock 243 stock heads , long tubes , tbss intake , lets just say above a mild cam , good exhaust that makes 381rwhp which puts me in the 450fwhp range . I did get by with a stock converter for a while but a 3200 stall made it much more fun to drive . If you are staying N/a . The bigger cubes you go the more it will drive like stock with a milder cam if you are staying with a stock long block . Also I see the price holding on pretty good on these engine in my area . 5.3 are hard to beat for a driver engine with some miner upgrades . Last edited by homemade87; 01-13-2016 at 08:35 PM. |
01-14-2016, 11:35 AM | #14 | |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
Quote:
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01-13-2016, 04:44 PM | #15 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
Thats why i have 8 engines rat holed in my garage. All part of my hoarders disease.
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01-13-2016, 05:20 PM | #16 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
In more "economically depressed" areas, like Appalachian Ohio and Kentucky, you can still buy them cheap. I bought an 05 4.8/4L80E combo for $800, and a complete 5.3 for $550. Heck a friend of mine bought a slightly burnt L33 for $500 last month. But I know in bigger cities they've raised the prices, which is just responding to market forces I suppose. There's still MILLIONS of these things on the road and not even close to a shortage.
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01-13-2016, 05:20 PM | #17 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
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I'm starting to hoard them too. I just bought two 5.3's and have a line on a 6.0 I'm going to look at in the next day or two.... Check with your local body shops for engines, that's where I got the two 5.3s. He bought the trucks for the body and interior parts and sold me the 2001 & 2002 engines for $400 & $500, complete with wire looms and computers..... I'm really liking the LS1 in my '67 Panel. LockDoc
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01-13-2016, 08:11 PM | #18 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
You guys act like they are running out. I can go buy brand new 5.3's manifold to oil pan for under $4k. You know they still make them right? Just because the new trucks don't have them, doesn't mean GM isn't still having them made.
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01-13-2016, 09:47 PM | #19 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
Not sure anyone said that? We were mainly commenting on how the prices are going up now that most sellers and yards are aware of the LS Swap craze...
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01-14-2016, 11:51 AM | #20 | |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
Quote:
Lets see, $400 in the left hand for the used engine and $4000 in the right hand for the new engine. I know it's Apples to Oranges and I'm not mocking you, but I can build the rest of my truck for the difference..... Everybody has their preferences but I'm perfectly happy with the used engines. I know you are just making a point about buying them up and the above is just my reasoning for buying good used ones when I see them for a decent price.. LockDoc
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01-14-2016, 08:22 PM | #21 |
meowMEOWmeowMEOW
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
I'm not comparing the price apples to oranges, I'm illustrating the point that if some people are paying $1800 for high mileage motors from junk resellers, your better off buying new. LSX longlock packages at my cost aren't even that much crazier in price once you start looking what guys are paying for high mileage LS3's...then doing h/c/i anyway. Its all relative.
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01-14-2016, 08:37 PM | #22 | |||
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
Quote:
Quote:
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Thats really what I hope to achieve. I dont plan to build a truck to run at the track, or be a street racing terror. I'm not stuck on achieving any magic HP number either. I used the 450hp as a description rather than a goal.
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01-13-2016, 08:18 PM | #23 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
Before you add any HP to a stock 5.3 in your truck and your rear gear is a 3.42 you better plan on a good posi and some real expensive sticky tires.
You will be very surprised how good these engines produce torque and power with a good tune. These engines are awesome!! I'm working on number 3!
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01-14-2016, 01:14 AM | #24 |
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
I started with a stock LQ9, put a set of 799 heads, long tube headers, full 3" exhaust w/ H pipe, and a 231/235 632 cam. It made 373rwhp going through a 4L80 and 3600 stall.
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01-14-2016, 11:29 AM | #25 | |||
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Re: LSx bang for your buck. Whats the best value?
Quote:
I do realize the LS frenzy has driven motor prices up, but all the hard parts are much more reasonable and a HUGE amount of support. Back then everything came from S&P and there were only a couple of companies that would build your harness and tune the ECU. Quote:
Quote:
With that fact, how much did you spend on heads, cam, etc above the stock install? What I'm after here is this. If its going to cost less to by an LQ9, but I have to bolt on heads, cam, and 3" exhaust to get 450 HP, how close will that come to the average cost of a 6.2?
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