Sell it or Swap it

[cobalt camaro]

Ok well here is my new thread. I know that the cost to swap my 3.8 to an ls1 is quite a bit, but if i sell my car, i will not be able to get alot out of it, due to the fact that it is a repaired title car. When a car is rebuilt the worth of the car is significantly decreased, and you have to let the people that buy the car know of it's condition otherwise it's a felony. So really my main reason behind doing the swap is because of the loss in time and money. Well let me know what ideas you guys have but according to kelly blue book my car is worth 6,000 but that's for a clean title car, my car has a rebuilt title. They don't even give a worth value to any branded titled cars.

What i would like to do is swap in an ls1,2,3 into my car but i am open to any ideas that you guys have. Except for turboing it because i've pretty much dismissed that as not getting the most bang for the buck. I know it would be alot of headaches, but i figure so would be a turbo kit. I'm prepared to do all the work myself and can do it, I just need to figure out a list of everything that needs to be replaced. So Far i have:

Crossmember 100
Springs 200
Engine/ Trans 4000
Intake system 150
Speedo 150
cat-back 500
Headers 500

I know that that's over 5k but if i can't get 5k for my car than it wouldn't be worth it.

[jeremy stanke]

wire harness?

[81DaytonaPaceCar]

Ahhh, that changes things...that's a tough one...

Might as well plan on a rear end and driveshaft too, but intake should come with the motor.

It almost comes down to the demon that you know, as opposed to the demon that you don't.

Do you trust the car you have? Do you know all it's little quirks and surprises? Anything majorly wrong with it?

If there's anything majorly wrong with it, bail and get the right starting platform.

For the cost of converting it, you can have an unknown LS1 car, but with potential problems...

[badinfluence]

if you do the swap, i might be able to help you out with a few items you'll need, save you some money too

[SoulTerror]

I vote swap. Your car has a unique color plus you've rebuilt the car.

[Derek]

I forgot your car was rebuilt when i posted in the other thread, but I truly believe the cheapest option will be buying an ls1 car, put your car on ebay and I bet you could get a decent amount.

[cobalt camaro]

81Daytonapacecar: I trust my car, i have went through the whole car and know that it is very structurally sound.

RedFirebirdv6, I have thought about just keeping this car as a cruiser and buying an ls1 for my muscle car.

SoulTerror, That is another reason why i want to swap instead of buy a new one, i love the color of my car and in order to repaint a new car to the same color it would cost me 1500 in materials.

Jeremy Stanke, most of the lift out engines come with the harnesses and the computer, but a good point.

[MunsterZ28]

id honestly say swap because camaros with clear titles r going for cheap so your car would have a real hard time selling, or like u said keep it and buy a ls1 car for the muscle

[JoeliusZ28]

I would definitely swap it. Now is not a good time to sell a car, i dont care what it is.

[mikek18]

love the color and agreed bad time to sell a car so id do the swap. but defintatly do the rear end as well

[BP_Z28]

swap!

[Virtue]

theres is plenty of ls1 cars being scrapped/parted out i think a swap could be done for not that much

people are broke and wanting to sell everything. i got some parts you may need if u decide to swap

i have a ls3 short block as well if u want it but shhh

[MP81]

Swap that shit!

[cobalt camaro]

Well talk about a teaser. Right now i'm in an Engines class at SVSU, and our lab Teacher is John Lohone of Thompson Automotive out of Redford michigan. Well last night we went down to his machine shop for a demonstration of all the machining tools and what they do. Well it just so happens that they build the ls7's for the bandit edition TA's for Year one. And they are crazy, they said that by adding a cam, and changing out the valve springs they are able to get 630 horsepower out of that engine. And on top of that they had about 3 ls motors and then a protoype lsx engine in their shop. It was like being in heaven. Then for the finally they had a twin turbo gm performance division motor there that dynoed at 2048 horespower.

Apparently their shop specializes in ls motor machining and performance along with all other engines but it was crazy to see some of the projects they were working on. It made me want to go to the bank and pull out a loan and tell them to go to town on a motor for me. Anyways just thought i would share a pretty sweet experience.

[98ultraz]

i would swap it out for a LS2 or got with a 402 or 408 but atleast go with a ls2 incase you wan to bore it out in the future