Brainstorming My Next Car...

[Noble713]

Cross-posted from EvoM but I figured I'd get a different perspective on things here:


Option A: R34 GT-T or 25GT w/LS Swap
Basic Idea: It's like a coachbuilt Corvette with a brutish JDM-style body kit. GT-T has lighter curb weight than C6 vette, and the weight AND F/R balance should improve by pulling the long iron-block RB, turbo, and intercooler for the short aluminum LSx. I really want a RWD car, preferably a coupe, added to my stable.

Cost: FD RX-7 swaps seem to cost ~$20k (car + engine + swap kit + labor). I figure $25k for an R34, which has less aftermarket support especially outside of Australia (TT LS1 R34 drift car has been done).


Option B: JZX100 Toyota Chaser w/LS Swap
Basic Idea: Much of the same argument as above, removing a front-heavy iron I6 from a RWD JDM car. I've really taken a liking to Chasers here on Okinawa, I think they have understated looks that combine sportiness with a touch of luxury. Never understood why they didn't bring it to the US as a 3-series fighter. I'd rather have this than a BMW, Audi, or Mercedes (they all lack Toyota reliability and cost too much).

Cost: Even less common than an R34 swap, but at least one Canadian has an LS-swapped JZX90 drift car. I'd expect $25-30k.

Option C: BRZ/GT86/FR-S (depending on where I end up living)
Option D: LS swapped FD RX-7
Option E: used C6 Corvette

Regardless of the option chosen I'd keep at least one of my two Evos as my primary vehicle/daily driver while working the kinks out of any project cars. I stumbled upon a post on NAGTROC from a supposedly well-informed member who stated that swapped-engine vehicles could be registered as kit cars, which makes me curious about the legality of LS-powered JDM cars that would otherwise be Federally illegal in their stock OEM state. I need more information on this. Assuming I could use 'em as a legal street cars (either by moving to Canada, staying here in Japan, or working out the legality in the US), which option sounds like the best way to blow $30k over the next few years?

[Beyer Subaru]

Used Vette. You plan on swapping what ever you get. So why not just start with the right engine in the right car?

[Wes B.]

I would do a Ford 5.0 swap over an LS swap.

Overall, I'd have to agree with Beyer Subaru. If you can get a car with the right engine to begin with, then you can spend the remainder of your money and time tuning and perfecting instead of swapping. Plus, C6 Corvette's are a joy to drive and fast as hell!

[czar07]

Chaser w Coyote engine. do it

[TylerLieberman]

How about a jzx100 with the proper 1j that comes in it...

LS in a skyline or a chaser???? Fucking retarded. I don't care what the bandwagon jumpers say.

[STJ]

Why would your remove a RB or JZ for a LS! Especialy the 1JZ wich is going to make more torque than the LS in low revs and has potential to make 360bhp on stock turbo! And do you know what you would get by investing only half the money you plan on paying for the LS swap in a RB or JZ, count on 500bhp easy.

[czar07]

I assume he wants to be unique?

[Noble713]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

How about a jzx100 with the proper 1j that comes in it...

LS in a skyline or a chaser???? Fucking retarded. I don't care what the bandwagon jumpers say.

I want a RWD car that combines mid-1990's JDM aesthetic styling with American muscle. The closest thing on the market is the new Camaro, which is large, heavy, has poor visibility, and has a HIDEOUS interior. I think it's easier to do engine swaps (which have already been done, so the learning curve is less) than to custom fabricate an ENTIRELY NEW JDM-style BODY to stick on a C6 vette's chassis. Especially since I'd do it in carbon fiber, if I were to do it at all (no fiberglass please). Feel free to suggest some other OEM or turn-key solution.

Originally Posted by STJ

Why would your remove a RB or JZ for a LS! Especialy the 1JZ wich is going to make more torque than the LS in low revs and has potential to make 360bhp on stock turbo! And do you know what you would get by investing only half the money you plan on paying for the LS swap in a RB or JZ, count on 500bhp easy.

Simplify and add lightness. I'd rather have better weight distribution and the simplicity of an NA engine. I'm not building a max-hp drag car. I figured if there was any forum where such ideas would gain traction it would be at the home of the 86... Similar reason why someone might buy an Aston Martin DBS instead of a McLaren MP4-12C. Roughly the same price range, but not everyone wants the "Max performance per $ TT beast". I've already set the budget, no point in trying to cut corners to get a different product.

Likewise, there are WAY more cost effective things that I could be doing to my Evo right now instead of rewiring the car with an ISIS Multiplex kit and fabricating a custom carbon fiber dash. But it will simplify and lighten the car, and, to me, the technology involved is interesting.

Do you have a source for the 1JZ's low-end torque? Look at the following 3 dyno graphs: 1 stock-ish 1JZ-GTE in a Supra, 1 modded 1JZ-GTE in a S13, and a stock LS1. Neither 1JZ is hitting 200lbft until ~4.2k. Meanwhile the 2001 LS1 idles @ 275lbft and hits 375lbft @ 4k. So the area under the LS's torque curve will be significantly larger than the 1JZ's. Plus, I'm looking at either an LS3 or even the new LT1 anyway. No replacement for displacement, and all that...

[blur]

My vote goes to R34 with m50b25 turbo swap.

[M-17]

I'll simply say option A.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by Beyer Subaru

Used Vette. You plan on swapping what ever you get. So why not just start with the right engine in the right car?

Because the Corvette is the wrong car. That was my conclusion. I got an LS2-engined FD. Bliss... Also, faster than the stock ZR1 Corvettes at the Texas mile! They were running 180-183, I did 184.8

Despite being nearly 20 years old, the FD seats are better, interior look/feel is better (if dated), handling feel is better, and it's 500 lb. lighter-weight with the same engine (only about 50 lb. heavier than with the stock TT rotary).

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by Wes B.

I would do a Ford 5.0 swap over an LS swap.

Why? The Coyote is physically bigger (tougher to swap), marginally heavier (maybe 30 lb.), and makes less power vs. the LS3. And significant power gains are just a *single* cam swap away with the LS...

[Beyer Subaru]

Originally Posted by ZDan

Because the Corvette is the wrong car. That was my conclusion. I got an LS2-engined FD. Bliss... Also, faster than the stock ZR1 Corvettes at the Texas mile! They were running 180-183, I did 184.8

Despite being nearly 20 years old, the FD seats are better, interior look/feel is better (if dated), handling feel is better, and it's 500 lb. lighter-weight with the same engine (only about 50 lb. heavier than with the stock TT rotary).

Dollars to sense it just seems better to start with an LS powered car to me.

Granted I do cream for LS swapped FD's or any running FD for that matter.

[Mr.Jay]

LSx 240z

go now