Ls swap
Posted by direcheetah4579@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 32 comments
If I wanted to ls swap something, why wouldn't I buy a complete vehicle from copart.com and have all the wiring, computer, accessories etc and just sell what's left? Is this too easy?
chucky5150@reddit
you also have to deal with selling the stuff on Facebook marketplace and / or ebay.
direcheetah4579@reddit (OP)
I'd probably set a time limit and just haul whatever is left to scrap yard
2Drogdar2Furious@reddit
I'll trade you for one snow ski: https://youtu.be/n4bRd0Zx1KU
Adorable_Status_2189@reddit
Do you have room for 2 cars to be torn down? Most people don't.
direcheetah4579@reddit (OP)
I sure do. Won't make my wife happy though
Hey_Allen@reddit
Work fast, save anything else that might be useful, sell the rest either to other users or to a scrap yard.
velowa@reddit
I’ve read that you need to tow the vehicle away from the Copart yard. No driving it. If you can do that and have the space to do this then absolutely.
Also read a few accounts of individuals buying from Copart. Cletus Mcfarland bought a Copart car and the engine was worthless. It’s a bit of a gamble. If you can find a private party selling a runner or a salvage title that’s been smacked in the rear then you’d be able to get something you know a little better. Something to think about.
direcheetah4579@reddit (OP)
Yeah, maybe so. I really need a running engine and good transmission. I want to be able to strip all ac components and controls, power steering, alternator, starter, computer etc...
velowa@reddit
Yeah, start browsing copart to get a feel for what is on there and what the prices end up at. Still could be a good way to go.
angel_of_death007@reddit
Donor cars are still the best way to do a swap it gives you a lot of parts that you will need that no long block or crate engine will give you. Even with a donor though, depending what you are putting the LS in, isn’t a direct swap and usually costs considerably more then most people budget.
1leggeddog@reddit
That is the easiest way i mean, its basically using the parts car in the end
devilpants@reddit
This is how I did mine and if you can swing it, it saves so much time and headache. Easier to verify the drivetrain is good and the mileage. You know all the parts match and you can use all sorts of other parts from the car to help out. From random brackets and bolts to wiring pigtails to interior switches if needed.
1leggeddog@reddit
It's easier to adapt gauges and linkages then redoing or adapting a wiring harness for sure
direcheetah4579@reddit (OP)
Im going to pull the entire harness from the donor vehicle and make it fit.. headlights to tail lights. Probably be easier than chasing shorts in a 40 yr old car
devilpants@reddit
For an ls1 (at least the older ones, not sure on the newer stuff) this really is pointless and more work. The engine needs almost nothing from the body harness and it’s so well documented you’re just creating more work.
direcheetah4579@reddit (OP)
Yeah, definitely gonna start watching copart to see how much things sell for.
devilpants@reddit
For a truck you might be better off just getting a beat up Tahoe or something suburban or whatever off Facebook marketplace. I don’t think dealing with copart is worth it for something so cheap and common. They are not hard to find beat to hell but running and driving in the sub 2k range all day even here in California. You can also check out other car auctions like tow yards or charity donation auctions.
direcheetah4579@reddit (OP)
I was thinking I could get everything i needed for an older car swap and part out everything else and come out pretty good compared to a salvage yard motor. I swapped motors a few times as a youngster, now I'm old and kinda feel the need to do it again. I just want to put a stock 5.3 into an old datsun and don't really need to build more power into it.
Yondering43@reddit
Assuming you use a truck motor (by far the most readily available and cheapest) that’s a great approach, but you may want to do a couple things to make it rev more freely. At ~275-285 hp stock for the gen 3 5.3 truck motors, while it may not need more power for your Datsun, the power characteristics are a bit different than a lightweight hot rod wants. They’re mostly set up for bottom end and don’t rev very fast, so it’d make sense to swap in a cam and do some basic tuning. I’d go with an electric fan as well.
Years ago I dropped a truck 4.3 V6 in a 260Z and ran into the same characteristics; it would snap your head back off the line but wasn’t all that quick beyond 3K-4K rpm. A cam swap is the first step to changing that characteristic to something more appropriate for a car motor.
Hope that helps.
direcheetah4579@reddit (OP)
Thanks, I appreciate that. It is going in a zx. Revs might be good. From researching already seems like the r200 rear did ought to handle a stockist small block easy enough
Yondering43@reddit
Yeah I think the rear should hold up just fine. Going easy on the shifts will help too; if it’s an auto avoid doing the old school tuning methods that make it bang into the next gear really hard, and if it’s a stick avoid side stepping the clutch. No need to do it and that’s what’ll kill the rear end.
direcheetah4579@reddit (OP)
I drove the car almost a year as a daily when I got it. The trans is shot and I really would like a little more pep. Getting power out of the 2.8 is expensive. I want to gonwith the 5.3 and put 327 badges from a 60's corvette on the fenders! 😄
Solid_Enthusiasm550@reddit
A donor car is a cheaper way than buy all new parts, but you pay in the form of a lot more labor hrs.
Also, you often don't use some parts anyway if you are increasing power.
You also need the extra space to store a donor car for weeks/months. Not to mention having it towed away when finished picking off of it.
direcheetah4579@reddit (OP)
I will sawzall value less parts off of donor. I figure if I buy a truck I can sell wheel, doors, glass. Maybe interior. Keep back half and build a traile4 out of it. Cab and front half of frame go to scrap yard. Ive plenty of room, live outside town
Ambivadox@reddit
If you find a low mile that was hit in the side often you can use the fuel tank system as well. Just watch out for cracked transmissions.
We've done a few for cheap that way.
fmlyjwls@reddit
Not everyone has the space to bring another vehicle to
direcheetah4579@reddit (OP)
Im lucky there... plenty of space
xjosh666@reddit
Sure, did it with an Audi TT into a Beetle, but same idea.
SaltyAppointment@reddit
Exactly what I did when building my kit car. Bought a running 2006 Corvette from copart and kept the engine, suspension, radiator, AC coil, steering column, and parted out the rest. (Honestly, I got lazy with selling and gave most parts away.)
Cheezslap@reddit
If you can do that, do that.
rudbri93@reddit
its way more work than it sounds, but that is a way that some people do it.
juwyro@reddit
Parts cars are a common way to get motor swaps done.