Please don't hate - LSx vrs 2Jz

[Bfranklyn86]

Just out of interest, anyone heard of an LS going in a RHD car? I know the vorshlag kit is LHD specific.

[wutsaiu]

Originally Posted by Bfranklyn86

Just out of interest, anyone heard of an LS going in a RHD car? I know the vorshlag kit is LHD specific.

Aside from exhaust headers I don't see what is LHD specific about an LS swap.

[NOHOME]

The LsX is the more elegant solution and seems to be the more developed path to follow. Since I value torque above HP, and ease of maintenance with off the shelf parts both in the short and long term, I would go with the GM option.

The 2JZ brings more WOW factor to the party and will impress with your technical abilities.

I would want to mentally commit to $20,000 in the war fund before I started either one. Until you have done a trans-species drivetrain swap, its hard to believe the stuff that you don't anticipate eating up dollars.

[Da Brz]

I've heard a lot of good things about junkyard 4.8/5.3s. Something to think about if you really wanna save money. The junkyard not far from me says $250 for any engine regardless of condition or make/model. They have a 4v 5.4 Mod motor I'd like to drop in my Mustang.

But the 5.3 and 4.8 are a dime a dozen and hard to kill.

To answer your original question, there is no question. LS all the way.

[Bfranklyn86]

Originally Posted by wutsaiu

Aside from exhaust headers I don't see what is LHD specific about an LS swap.

On the vorshlag blog they said their kit was LHD only and they had no plans for a RHD version. I can't remember which specific part wouldn't fit.

[Kodename47]

It could be to do with the brake components or the steering wheel. Isn't an LS swap going to be silly money here as the engines aren't that cheap?

[Bfranklyn86]

Originally Posted by Kodename47

It could be to do with the brake components or the steering wheel. Isn't an LS swap going to be silly money here as the engines aren't that cheap?

It seems silly money even in the states TBH at £20k. Seems like a really complex process, and..... when going past 350whp you'll run on to the same axle and diff issues that you would would with FI. I do love the sound and torque of a V8, especially a light one like the LS. But again, probably 15 mpg, verses 25mpg FI.

I am in the states for 6 weeks later on this year and just thought in the back of my mind maybe if I got my car shipped over (1 - 1.5k return according to an brief internet search) and left it with a shop to do the work..... but these are all pipe dreams, you know me by now, I just think out loud.

Edit: I will also just mention, as a safety feature for this plan, my American cousins are fairly good mechanically - one of them has put a V8 in his MG B

[MRS-Colin]

Originally Posted by Bfranklyn86

But again, probably 15 mpg, verses 25mpg FI

With the right transmission with a good overdrive you would easily get 25mpg. Stay out of it = better mpgs.

[Bfranklyn86]

Originally Posted by MRS-Colin

With the right transmission with a good overdrive you would easily get 25mpg. Stay out of it = better mpgs.

Oh really? Basically keeping it below 2k rpm and using the torque I guess.
I would not be able to stay out of it if I swapped this - would be practically sleeping in it!

Reading through a bit though, would it be fair to say that nobody has had a smooth V8 swap?

Despite this, (and on the topic of the thread) I would still go for an LS over a 2j - there's no way of using that extra 2j power on the road or track, just the drag strip maybe.

[NOHOME]

Originally Posted by Da Brz

I've heard a lot of good things about junkyard 4.8/5.3s. Something to think about if you really wanna save money. The junkyard not far from me says $250 for any engine regardless of condition or make/model. They have a 4v 5.4 Mod motor I'd like to drop in my Mustang.

But the 5.3 and 4.8 are a dime a dozen and hard to kill.

To answer your original question, there is no question. LS all the way.

I also heard about the fantasy of cheap LS power. And even had a yard that offered a reasonable price on "Any Engine" like you mention.

Recyclers are not stupid. Your selection is going to be iron block truck engines with over 100k miles with Automatic gearboxes; they know what aluminum blocks and low-mileage units are worth.

Have you priced a 6 speed for an LS engine? Expensive and broken is the intro price. New and about to fail seems to be the higher end of the scale. And we need a clutch and clutch actuation mechanism, so lets budget for that.

Your junkyard motor is going to want to be rebuilt. That thing that GM does with cylinder deactivation kills them pretty young. Myself, I don't drive junk engines in such an expensive project. Budget about 3k for rebuilding the long-block with a decent cam.

That truck intake and truck accessories are not going to cut it, so budget for that. Need a harness and controller along with some HP Tuner (or whoever) program$

So, no, I don't believe in inexpensive LS power.

[Sportsguy83]

Originally Posted by NOHOME

I also heard about the fantasy of cheap LS power. And even had a yard that offered a reasonable price on "Any Engine" like you mention.

Recyclers are not stupid. Your selection is going to be iron block truck engines with over 100k miles with Automatic gearboxes; they know what aluminum blocks and low-mileage units are worth.

Have you priced a 6 speed for an LS engine? Expensive and broken is the intro price. New and about to fail seems to be the higher end of the scale. And we need a clutch and clutch actuation mechanism, so lets budget for that.

Your junkyard motor is going to want to be rebuilt. That thing that GM does with cylinder deactivation kills them pretty young. Myself, I don't drive junk engines in such an expensive project. Budget about 3k for rebuilding the long-block with a decent cam.

That truck intake and truck accessories are not going to cut it, so budget for that. Need a harness and controller along with some HP Tuner (or whoever) program$

So, no, I don't believe in inexpensive LS power.

While I agree with you, (my current swap budget is at over $20K), there is one person in the forum who did the swap for under $10K (watsuai).

[NOHOME]

Originally Posted by Sportsguy83

While I agree with you, (my current swap budget is at over $20K), there is one person in the forum who did the swap for under $10K (watsuai).

Big fan of watsuai's build. He is not the norm though is he?

Recall what I said about T56 boxes being broken or on the way there?

Watsuai has a picture of the input shaft from his T56 that has seen better days.

[IMG]httphttps://s17.postimg.org/qxggbuf1r/IMG_0433.jpg://[/IMG]

[wparsons]

If you still want the car to feel nimble, I'd go LSx... that said, you'll want to look into oiling and sustained high G's with an LS if you're going to be tracking it hard.

[gtengr]

LSx should also sit lower and further back in the chassis, improving the CofG and polar moment of inertia of the chassis.