LS 1 swap in my mustache man BRZ

[inertia]

Originally Posted by Readytoxplod

Damn this forum is full of hating ass people.

Yes indeed there are. If it does not have a FA20 in it, they will bring on a debate and absolutely won't quit.

Kind of like flies on steaming, freshly secreted dog shit.

[Basket Case]

Originally Posted by BlackMonarch

I know you're not asking when\why\how\if - But this is a stupid idea. A rebuilt motor is just that. Rebuilt. It still has 220k on it. You're tearing apart a brand new car to shove a 200k+ mile engine in it. Sell the FA20 engine and buy an LS6 out of a Corvette/GTO with lower miles. Hell, just buy a Corvette.

So, you believe that a rebuilt motor is somehow inferior to a used factory motor? This is what is making me miss my mustang days...this site is full of people that don't really know too much aout mechanics.

You do realize that an lsx can vary so significantly. Heads, cams pistons, rods, etc. I would take a rebuilt motor with known components and mileage vs a factory built motor of unknown origin...

And just FYI, the gto either had a 5.7 ls1 or a 6.0 ls2 depending on the year, not an ls6.

[kaluce]

Ok, so I'm of the opinion that the LS2 swap should be done when you have at least 6 years or 100k miles on the frame, because by then, resale value is shot anyway, not on a brand new 990 mile BRZ. But that's like, my opinion man.

So lets talk brass tacks.

If you REALLY want to do this right, get the weapons grade complete kit, and get them to do the install if you live nearby, or do it yourself if you have the tools to do it. That will let you retain the factory AC, and will include all the stuff you need to do this properly. You will be out of a car for probably a month if this is your DD.

As for the whole COG/COM thing, well, the WG kit requires you to run bigger tires, and all sorts of other stuff, so you likely won't be drifting. To counter some of this, you'll probably need to drop the car about 1 inch or so to compensate.

Anyone advocating using a heavy ass turbo should realize that the extra added weight from an equivocal power ratio (60lbs increase), the turbo and all supporting upgrades will weigh the same ultimately as an LS2, but will throw it even further forward in the engine bay, without the reliability of having a N/A LS2 engine, making the weight distribution closer to 60/40, as opposed to the current 55/45. So it's really just a wash there.

[imag]

The LS motor has about as low a CG as any modern V8 because it doesn't have overhead cams and is really well packaged. So I do not think CG will be a big problem.

I would expect a big project, but I give you thumbs up for doing it.

[Drift&Drag]

Originally Posted by inertia

Yes indeed there are. If it does not have a FA20 in it, they will bring on a debate and absolutely won't quit.

Kind of like flies on steaming, freshly secreted dog shit.

Members from all types of internet message boards will challenge opinions/builds. There are some that will negate or try to deter you from your project and there are some that will be great influence and support it. Ignore the pessimists and move forward.

[Turbowned]

Some general swap/modification advice:

Get everything you need first *before* beginning the swap. Obviously you can't account for everything possible as there will no doubt be minor setbacks and whatnot, but try to reduce the downtime as much as possible. That being said, don't rush. Anything worth doing is worth doing right the first time, especially if you ever want to hope to re-sell this car to anyone in the future! Nobody, especially not you, wants a hackjob swapped car. Even a properly swapped LS1 BRZ will most certainly be worth less than one with the original engine, so I hope you've come to terms with that. Use the right tools for the job. If you don't have them, get them before attempting to finagle something and end up breaking the tool, the car, or yourself. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Make sure you're getting the right answers, too.

Best of luck, sir!

[AZFA20]

In all honestly there are only a handful of us experienced with this type of swap on this forum and platform. There really isn't a good spot for us to discuss it so we all PM in the rare occasion we need to get in touch with each other on here. It's mostly all done through text. Personally those who try to degrade this swap are those who just don't have enough experience with the FA20 to know any better. It's an awesome engine but it has no shortage of it's own issues that become apparent when making over 300whp. In regard to the LSx swaps the LS2 is really the best bang for the buck and easily upgraded to surpass the LS3 and LS6 for less. In your case you have the LS1 so that really doesn't matter any way.

[pinski]

Originally Posted by kaluce

Ok, so I'm of the opinion that the LS2 swap should be done when you have at least 6 years or 100k miles on the frame, because by then, resale value is shot anyway, not on a brand new 990 mile BRZ. But that's like, my opinion man.

My opinion as well - I'd hate to tear up a new car with a project like this. An older one? No problem. There's a 70k+ mile BRZ for sale locally that would be a much better candidate than a new one. Just my $0.02.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by Readytoxplod

Corvettes are heavier too, COG will change but that doesn't mean it will handle like shit. Example: miatas with ls swaps, there are a ton of track oriented ls miatas that do way quicker laps than a standard one. There are a ton of factors at play, it won't be as balanced but it won't turn the car in to a piece of shit necessarily. Damn this forum is full of hating ass people.

well what youre saying is not really relevant nor true. the cog might change but that v8 might in fact put the cran lower in the bay and reduce the center of mass. also, v8 miatas might go faster than stock miatas but they arent really faster than the fast 4 cylinder miatas. miatas dont gain much weight from a swap but that is because they go from a 4 cylinder steel anchor to a very small aluminum motor. that isnt the case with the brz. a brz with an ls swap is going to be less of a car than a corvette dollar for dollar. i dont see a way in which it wouldnt.

[dpesce]

Go for it! Who knows how it'll turn out? Just, whatever you do, take your time on the swap, do it right, and document the process! You'll be a whole lot happier if you do it all right. Buy everything ahead of time, make sure you have all the tools AND expertise on hand to get it all done and most importantly remember, "Working on my car is FUN." I always see car lovers tackle a big job like this and halfway through lose motivation and desire after they break another bolt, or drop a pulley on their toe etc... But hey, when you finish, it will be your special BRZ and no other will be the same (even if it eds up having COG and wt dist problems, poor fuel economy, a diff vibration etc)

Would I do this to my BRZ -- heck naa, too new, too much of a financial investment... but my 95 mustang otoh, I have been planning/saving up for a Coyote swap and I'm gonna get the crate and wiring and go barebones on the job b/c I care very little for the car other than making it badassery in a straight line.

Heck, my friend did an electric conversion on my 95 626 (I buy 95s cause they're usually built in my birth year... yea Im weird like that). Anyway, that was a failure: the car went like 25 miles on a charge and just blew all around. Just do it for you, not for cred, not for us, otherwise you wont be happy!

[08stiguy]

Originally Posted by dpesce

Go for it! Who knows how it'll turn out? Just, whatever you do, take your time on the swap, do it right, and document the process! You'll be a whole lot happier if you do it all right. Buy everything ahead of time, make sure you have all the tools AND expertise on hand to get it all done and most importantly remember, "Working on my car is FUN." I always see car lovers tackle a big job like this and halfway through lose motivation and desire after they break another bolt, or drop a pulley on their toe etc... But hey, when you finish, it will be your special BRZ and no other will be the same (even if it eds up having COG and wt dist problems, poor fuel economy, a diff vibration etc)



Would I do this to my BRZ -- heck naa, too new, too much of a financial investment... but my 95 mustang otoh, I have been planning/saving up for a Coyote swap and I'm gonna get the crate and wiring and go barebones on the job b/c I care very little for the car other than making it badassery in a straight line.



Heck, my friend did an electric conversion on my 95 626 (I buy 95s cause they're usually built in my birth year... yea Im weird like that). Anyway, that was a failure: the car went like 25 miles on a charge and just blew all around. Just do it for you, not for cred, not for us, otherwise you wont be happy!

Thanks for the positive feed back. I will be doing the swap just need some time

[NOHOME]

Originally Posted by Vides990

not sure how this hasnt been posted.....

http://shop.weaponsgradeperformance....rz-ls-swap-kit

Love the idea of swapped cars. Currently have my own on the go (NOT the FRS). They are a ton of work and often the results are not as good as the dream that drives us to to do the project in the first place. I tink that the BRZ is a great platform for doing a swap since the chassis can obviously handle the extra power.

Keep in mind that at the end of the swap comes the soul and wallet crushing heartache of sorting the car when all we want to do is be done spending time and money and just drive. This separates the men from the boys. See a lot of these on e-bay.

The Weapons Grade project was completed some time ago, and while there are videos of the finished car, I have not seen it move under its own power nor heard reviews of the result. Anyone heard or seen it in action? Not much BRZ swap chat on the Weapons GRade Facebook page either.

The Vorschalg (sp?) swap is a great effort. I love the elegance of their design and highly recommend to anyone doing this to look into the water-jet and laser cutting options for fabrication. You do need some drawing software to interact with these guys so be aware of that.

I would like to know what the rear end will handle when it comes to power? Certainly a bit short in the gear ratio department unless you have a .5O OD ratio.

Final consideration is how the smog Nazis will treat the finished car. Or the insurance companies?

Be nice if the Mods open a Swapped car section like the Miata board did.

To the OP, help would be a lot more focused if you told us a bit about your capabilities? What kind of tool, talent and budget arsenal do you have to toss at this project? Do you have a place to work? What is your past resume that led to this project? As a rule, my response to a person doing this with a 70k budget and a full machine shop would be quite different than if you told me you were 19 years old, doing this in your parent's garage and had a budget of 4k. I can get behind either effort, but knowing who I am working with will help everybody.

[08stiguy]

I'm 31 and I own my house and I use my car port in back to work on my cars. My background is basic mechanics on Honda, toyota and subaru. Anything on the outside of an engine I can fix, replace and upgrade. It's the internals and fabrication that I'm still in the process of learning. I was hoping to keep my 08 STI and use that as my learning canvas. I'm willing and motivated to do it all. My only restriction is the family. They come first obviously, but they support me in my dream and hobbies. My cousin Juan is the fabricator and his buddy is the tunner. So between the 3 of us, we can tackle it head on. My budget is about 7k but I'm hoping to make some of that back with selling the BRZ motor and whatever I don't use off the Trans am. Why do I want to throw a 15 year old motor into a new car? because racecar lol. My goal.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by 08stiguy

I'm 31 and I own my house and I use my car port in back to work on my cars. My background is basic mechanics on Honda, toyota and subaru. Anything on the outside of an engine I can fix, replace and upgrade. It's the internals and fabrication that I'm still in the process of learning. I was hoping to keep my 08 STI and use that as my learning canvas. I'm willing and motivated to do it all. My only restriction is the family. They come first obviously, but they support me in my dream and hobbies. My cousin Juan is the fabricator and his buddy is the tunner. So between the 3 of us, we can tackle it head on. My budget is about 7k but I'm hoping to make some of that back with selling the BRZ motor and whatever I don't use off the Trans am. Why do I want to throw a 15 year old motor into a new car? because racecar lol. My goal.

i think you are just getting overly opinionated advice. yes, its stupid and people are going to let you know. on the other hand, its what you want to do. is the car going to be worth the time, money, and effort? i can 100% guarantee you it wont. will the sense of accomplishment be worth the time, money and effort? if you say yes, jump right in.