Opinion on engine swap...

[chevyjunkie321]

So I am going to be pulling the motor out of my '89 Camaro. And the debate has begun on what to put in. It does not have the OE motor in it currently, it has a 350 carb motor that is failing. I'd love to say money is no object, but isn't it always after a point? lol. So I think i've narrowed it down to a crate carb motor or LS or 5.3L swap. The crate carb motor would obviously be brand new everything, is rated at 430hp, would mate nice with my already built 700r4 trans, everything I want to reuse would bolt up no issue, & cost around $4k. Doing a LS or L83 swap would new would cost way too much in my opinion. I have seen lots of people doing the junkyard motor pull and putting new cam & heads to up the power. The downfall I see is its still a used motor with most likely a lot of miles. I would have to swap computer, wiring harness, & tune it. With all the work and new parts I would have to get because my current ones would not work, I see it costing the same or more than the crate motor when its all said & done for a used piece.

So Basically I am looking for opinions on which way to go and why? I don't mind spending a little money to do it right. But I don't see spending $8k on a new gm LS crate + computer + harness, which i am sure would put me around $10-12k once its all said and done. So what do you believe to be the better option & why?

Any insight is appreciated, thanks in advance.

[DynoDave]

You might want to read through some folks previous efforts on the LS swap. There is a LOT to it...like everything.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engine-swap/

[Drdave88]

You basically already answered it. The crate engine is the way to go. A 5.3 is an LS based engine, so it's all the same, just a few less cubes and an iron block.

[farmington]

Over ten years ago I bought a 99 Z28 just for the fuel injection. Personally I would never own another carbed car unless it was a box stock 60's muscle car.

[MP81]

Over ten years ago I bought a 99 Z28 just for the fuel injection. Personally I would never own another carbed car unless it was a box stock 60's muscle car.

And even then - something like a Fitech can give a similar appearance, with the benefit of being fuel injected.



Joel is in the process of finishing up his Fitech on his truck, and I am considering one for the Camaro - the Qjet is too much of a variable at this point.

[JoeliusZ28]

figure 2k for a fitech by the time you do a fuel system the right way. But if you can get a crate engine for 3-4k plus that, youre probably still well under the cost of an LS swap.


...but it depends on the LS swap. If you spend 5 years shopping around you can do an LS swap on a dollar menu budget.

[chevyjunkie321]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/m...ctc1/overview/ this is what i was thinking of going with. The main benefit is my car is already set up for this and would have to change nothing. If it was a daily driver i wouldn't hesitate to go fuel injected. but its just a toy. But then there is that option of getting a fuel injection kit for this motor also. I was given the number of a shop today that does ls swaps often, think ill head over there and talk to them this week and see just how much I would have to change to go that route. If i have to change a ton im just gunna go with the crate carb motor.

[MP81]

Doesn't look like it did - I think you'll need to post the individual links.

[chevyjunkie321]

Doesn't look like it did - I think you'll need to post the individual links.

hows that?

[MP81]

Perfecto!

That looks like a great deal.