LS guys... cheap torquey LS combo?

[birdie2000]

I'm totally un-schooled with planning/building an LS engine, so please school me.

I'm considering an LS swap in the future for a project. Goals would be cheap, reliable, and tame/well-mannered. I'd want a torque monster that more-or-less drives like stock but with more power and has torque right off idle. This would have a T56 behind it with a mild clutch like an LS7 or equivalent. Would be looking to make in the neighborhood of 390-410rwhp/rwtq (of course more is always better). Willing to do a really mild cam as long as it drives nice and doesn't sound too wild, and still keeps the power peak relatively low (think 6k redline or less). I would ideally like something that can make this power with stock exhaust manifolds, but will do shorty headers if necessary. Do not want to use long tubes for ground clearance issues.

To put it in perspective, a stock LS3 would be seemingly perfect for what I want to do but I can't afford the $7k+ price tag.

So is there some truck motor combo or something that could get me what I need for relatively low cost? I know it's hard for an LS to NOT make good power, but is what I'm looking for reasonable? From what I see others do, I figure there's some random combo of "stock" parts from different LS engines that will give me what I need for a reasonable price. The less work the better though, and I want to use a factory shortblock of some sort because I don't want to deal with tearing down/re-assembling a shortblock.

[shawnc16]

LY6 (6.0) would be nice with a cam swap. Not sure on the price of them but, you could easily reach your goals

Another option is an L33 which is the 5.3 aluminum as well, possibly a little cheaper.

[1BADAIR]

L92

[birdie2000]

Oh, should also mention it should be 24x unless 58x can be easily/cheaply made to work with a 24x computer.

Also iron block is perfectly acceptable.

[sman]

LQ9 with a baby cam. Not very many people on here have a smaller cam than me, I dont have my graph in front of me but IIRC im right at 390/390 or 390/400. Somewhere in there.

Easy to throw together and cheap. My TR224 will be for sale in a few weeks if your interested, in whatever you end up with.

[WMCCjames]

Find a used stock LS1 and put a magnacharger on it...instant torque off idle mid 450ish hp at the wheels with stock cam...30+mpg when you are not in the boost...perfect drive-ability.

[birdie2000]

LQ9 with a baby cam. Not very many people on here have a smaller cam than me, I dont have my graph in front of me but IIRC im right at 390/390 or 390/400. Somewhere in there.

Easy to throw together and cheap. My TR224 will be for sale in a few weeks if your interested, in whatever you end up with.

That sounds like what I'm looking for in a combo. 6 speed or auto? Ever take it to the track?

Find a used stock LS1 and put a magnacharger on it...instant torque off idle mid 450ish hp at the wheels with stock cam...30+mpg when you are not in the boost...perfect drive-ability.

Believe me, I'd LOVE to do that. Unfortunately that doesn't really fall into the category of "cheap." I'm thinking more in the in the $2-3k price range for a complete engine if possible. Of course less is better but I think that would be near impossible for anything more than stock power levels. Also won't easily fit under the hood of a 4th gen.

[shawnc16]

Find an LQ4 as complete as possible, swap on some 243 heads with a cam swap.

You can find a complete LQ4 for around $1000. Heads about $350. Cam swap around $800 (cam springs lifters pushrods) LS6 intake $300. You'd be in good shape!

[kammi10]

Find an LQ4 as complete as possible, swap on some 243 heads with a cam swap.

You can find a complete LQ4 for around $1000. Heads about $350. Cam swap around $800 (cam springs lifters pushrods) LS6 intake $300. You'd be in good shape!

as long as you have the car accessory set up already.. i believe the truck set up sticks out to far. at least that is one of the reasons i know i swapped on my car

[birdie2000]

as long as you have the car accessory set up already.. i believe the truck set up sticks out to far. at least that is one of the reasons i know i swapped on my car

Any idea how much the car accessory setups tend to set you back?

[kammi10]

Any idea how much the car accessory setups tend to set you back?

o paid about 750 for everything inlcuding w/p, ps set up, alternator, brackets basically everything u need

[birdie2000]

o paid about 750 for everything inlcuding w/p, ps set up, alternator, brackets basically everything u need

Jesus! Well that just made this swap a lot less practical

[sman]

Yea, plan on 500-100 depending on if you want AC or not.

Thats through an auto. Forgot im running 799 heads too.
Best time was a 12.3 with a horid 2.xx 60' @ 114-116 mph, Ive got some ET streets I cant wait to try this year.

[shawnc16]

Jesus! Well that just made this swap a lot less practical

There's a lot more to the swap than everyone thinks there is. 3rd/4th gens need the Fbody pan and front accessory drive. Theres more money to be spent as well. Harness/PCM/Exhaust/Fuel system. Tunes arent cheap either. Depends on how much yur looking to spend. Its pretty easy to spend $5k

[birdie2000]

Just thinking of doing this to stop dumping money into my LT1 in my milder f-body that I hope to DD in the summer. The car already has LS1 PCM conversion, so the computer/wiring is already pretty much there, plus I know a guy who can figure out the rest of that part. Car needs to be re-tuned regardless. Exhaust is no biggy, same with the fuel system. I knew the accessory drive and oil pans were necessary, just didn't know people were so proud of them! I woulda guessed $250-350 for USED brackets/accessories, and maybe $50-75 for a USED oil pan, lol.

Well, I'll see what happens, thanks for the advice guys. Keep it coming if there are other good LS combos you can think of. I just figured for my power requirements an LS would make the same power for the same price, but be a much tamer setup (and it won't ****ing leak from every conceivable place). Maybe I'll end up sticking with the LT1.