LS engine swap cost/adaptability for 70-72 Skylark

Discussion in 'High Tech for Old Iron' started by Christopher Spouse Drew, May 11, 2019.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. 300sbb_overkill

    300sbb_overkill WWG1WGA. MAGA

    Wow, cool looking Miata!:D
     
  2. Buickone

    Buickone Founders Club Member

    :) LOL
     
  3. BUICKRAT

    BUICKRAT Got any treats?

    3-5k to rebuild/stage 1 conversion on your 455 is unlikely. You will most likely double that amount when all is said and done.
     
    buicksWILD likes this.
  4. 1972Mach1

    1972Mach1 Just some M.M.O.G. guy.....

    Now THAT is cool! Always loved that body style (who wouldn't?) especially in a coupe. Dang near bought a really nice coupe a few years ago for my daily for 4K, but not having a real source for Jag parts and really not wanting to learn about them electrically was a big no go for me. You've got the best of both there.
     
    Buickone likes this.
  5. 1972Mach1

    1972Mach1 Just some M.M.O.G. guy.....

    This is one of my tech's LS swap I gave him a hand with....total sleeper twin turbo budget beater Ranger.
    we20.png we14.png we15.png we12.png
     
    buicksWILD likes this.
  6. Ryans-GSX

    Ryans-GSX Have fun, life is short.

    That is a awesome looking car and now you don't have to worry about all the engine problems that plague Jaguars.
     
    Buickone likes this.
  7. Julian

    Julian Well-Known Member

    Their both just engines. Still 4 cycle.. same type of diagnosis and troubleshooting. SMH
     
  8. Sebambam

    Sebambam Well-Known Member

    Now imagine this Saturday night car is a Buick Skylark/GS with a LS :)
     
  9. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    lssema.jpg
     
    Julian likes this.
  10. Ryans-GSX

    Ryans-GSX Have fun, life is short.

    Thats one cool looking motor. I wonder what that gem would set someone back ?
     
  11. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    I took a picture that Lingenfelter engine at SEMA Tuesday. My guess is 20 - 40k.

    A local friend just bought an electronic Hiilborn injection set up with stacks for his 426 Hemi. The unit alone 9–10k before labor.
     
    Julian likes this.
  12. Julian

    Julian Well-Known Member

    8 stacks have the best throttle response! I don't know how they compare a power output however
     
  13. flynbuick

    flynbuick Guest

    I should also add that Hiilborn stated that his would be a collector’s unit because it was the last one. The Hillborn Company was being sold. My guess is Holley or someone like that is acquiring Hillborn and will just use their name—similar to Wieand.
     
  14. Julian

    Julian Well-Known Member

    Ugh.. bad news
     
  15. 1973gs

    1973gs Well-Known Member

    I hope Chin Yang buys it and not Tong Yea. Chin Yang has much better quality because you must be at least 12 years old to work there and they only require 14 hour work days compared to Tong Yea's minimum age of 10 and a 16 hour work day.
     
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2019
  16. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    Standard small block Chevy would be even cheaper no?
     
  17. 2.5

    2.5 Platinum Level Contributor

    I have two ls swapped cars, both with a built 4l60 tranny. One is a 1966 Chevelle the other a 1967 Chevy II. They are my go to car for driving. The Chevelle has a new from Summit Racing 480hp ls3 with AC and cruise. The Chevy II has a stroked ls3 with 488hp at the tires. It has no ac or cruise and both cars get 20mpg running 75mph down the hwy. They both have a nice chop to the cam and it is really hard to tell that they are ls motors with the hood shut. It is a pretty pricy swap when you consider all the extras, if you buy new not from a junkyard. You will buy a radiator, fuel tank, fuel pump, pulley system, computer, shifter, trans crossmember, drive shaft, engine mounts, headers, etc, not counting the engine and a built transmission. I would assume you would want to beef up the rear end because of the extra power "maybe not" if you plan on using a decent tire. Both of the ls cars feel stronger than my Buick but may not be quicker at the track as feelings can be deceiving.

    My 1970 Stag 1 car still has a Buick engine in it and I love it just as much but...... it is not my go to car for a long drive. Its a great car for local stuff but not one that I want to put a lot of miles on.
     
    1969BSGS likes this.
  18. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    Where?

    You apply the same tech to a larger CI engine it makes more power.

    Comparing forced induction to NA is apples and oranges.

    The LS is the junkyard swap to this generation, that the 350 SBC was to my generation. Cheap, and all over the place.

    Don't count out the BBB for mileage.. I build a 68 GS 400 convert here about 10 years ago.. a very modest 400ci build, all iron, with exhaust manifolds and all.. 9.2-1 to run on 87 octane. 395Hp, 425 TQ.. with the 200-4R, it would cruise all day at 75mph, and get 20mpg doing it.

    JW
     
    Mark Demko and stump puller455 like this.
  19. Sebambam

    Sebambam Well-Known Member

    Is a Budget build bad?
    That's Hot Rodding, build something and make it work with the available resources.
    I love BBBs and SBB I have both in my cars .
    However speaking for the usual hot rodder that doesnt have the $ and expertise to build A BBB for example a LS is still the way.

    395hp is a gen4 (04-07) 5.3 with a cam ,valve springs and tune. Internals not touched.
     
    buicksWILD likes this.
  20. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    Nope, and there was nothing expensive about that 400. My buddy traded out the labor and he might have had 3-4 K in it. Just your basic cast piston rebuild, nothing fancy. But it's like brand new.. not some junkyard motor with 100K plus on it.

    Your smokin' rope if you think your getting 395 HP out of a Gen IV truck motor with a cam change and a tune. That's a 310-320 HP factory motor, and you would have to put one big hairy stick on that thing to make an extra 75 HP. And it would absolutely kill the low speed torque. I have seen plenty of buildup articles on those motors, and all of them involved aftermarket cylinder heads to gain that type of power.

    Here's one.. https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/1905-how-to-easily-gain-100-horsepower-on-a-5-3l-ls-engine/ It's a Gen III to start with, but functionally there is not that much different between this and the Gen IV version.

    I know a fair amount about the LS motors, I currently own 3 of them, 2 5.3 LM7 motors and a 6.0 LQ9. All in Suburbans where they belong.. :D They make good power, as long as you scream the piss out of them. It's a small block, no one would expect any different result. As with any small block, they lack low speed torque, which is why the engineers coupled them with high ratio low gear auto transmissions. 335 ft lbs.. that's a BBB with 2 holes unplugged.

    I have been thru one of the 5.3 motors, and you start building something nice, they get expensive in a hurry. You go talk to the NHRA Stock Eliminator guys that run them, and start running off at the mouth about how cheap they are, your going to get an education rather quickly. It's an expensive motor to machine properly, once you get tired of fooling with the junkyard stuff, and want to build something nice.

    I would argue that "hot rodding" is what the kid with the 65 wagon did.. Engine, trans, steering column, computer, dash. and everything that goes with it. I think that is pretty cool, I have always liked street rods, and that is basically what that is.

    And don't get me wrong.. I like the new motors, the Gen 3 Hemi's are pretty awesome, as are the LS based 427ci LS7 and the Coyote motors.. especially when you start boosting them... but those are anything but inexpensive, and your not likely to trip over one of them in a junkyard. :rolleyes:

    JW
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page