LS7 Swap into V6 cheaper than factory?
 

So I was dreaming about the new Camaro when I woke up this morning, and I had a thought... You could MAKE a LT1 for pretty cheap money! Check my math:

1) Lets just say the V6 Camaro starts at $24,000

2) Lets just say you could still buy a new LS7 for $13,000 in 2009

3) Lets say you bought the stock engine controller for ~$400 (as currently listed) and it worked in the V6 Camaro with no issues.

4) Lets say you bought a nice kit that fit this engine into this chassis for $2000 (probably high) from GM or aftermarket...

5) Lets say you also bought the TREMEC 6 speed manual for $3000 (maybe low?)

6) And now lets say you add in some nicer shocks, brakes, and "details" of your choosing for another $5000...

...............

Now you have a 500hp 2009 Camaro for $47,400 with probably better parts than factory... AND you could probably sell of that nice-new V6/tranny combo for a few grand to offset some of the other costs...

Does this make sense? Do you think the factory could do it for less?

I'm not necessarily advocating this, but it makes me feel a lot better than an LT1 2009 Camaro could be had for similar cost to a Shelby GT500!

It would be a pretty cool project anyway... :headbang:

Thoughts?

~LSx

The factory could do it for a lot less, IMO. Parts seem to always cost more seperately than they do as a whole.

Factory for sure.

I think the factory could do it for less, although I still think you are right that it would be one very cool project.

I know you make concessions for various suspension and chassis upgrades in addition to the motor, but I would have to think that a ZL-1 type Camaro would probably be packed with more upgrades over and above that of a V6 alone, not to mention it may actually come with a beefed up rear-end and other adjustments to handle all of that HP. So, even if you completed the swap, the car would likely still not be quite as much of an upgrade as a comparable factory ZL-1.

Not to mention that you could probably just make a few mods to the LS3 (assuming it is the V8 used) and have well over 500HP at the fly at a very reasonable price. I mean, just throw in a new exhaust, CAI, and cam swap and I would be willing to bet a shiney penny that you would be well over 500 at the flywheel!

And their goes your warranty too.

If the warranty was being considered, then i don't think anyone would be swapping out the V6 for the LS7 :rolleyes:

It is a hypothetical situation.....

Also, there will most definitely be ways to achieve 500HP on a 425Hp LS3 without voiding your factory warranty.


Not to mention that you can indeed have the modifications I previously mentioned and still have some kind of a warranty as there are a great deal of tuners and dealers that will supplement their own warranty for any parts that are not covered under the factory warranty. Albeit, it may not be a 5yr/100,000 mile warranty.

For example....
http://lingenfelter.com/GTO366LS2.htm

That is on an LS2 GTO, but it illustrates my point. At the bottom you will notice they back their work with a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty.

this is just me but i believe that the LS3 6.2 will have more than 425 maybe more if that is what it is rated. Because i dint think they will let 6.1 hemi have the same hp as the 6.2liter.

Well, I just threw out 425hp as an approximation. However, the widely held belief in the Corvette community is that it will have 425Hp for the regular vette and 435HP for the Z51 due to an upgraded exhaust. We will find out for certain in about one month.

Either way, I don't necessarily know why they would care if the hemi has the same HP rating. I would hope they are more concerned with the overall performance of the Camaro versus the Challenger, and a 425hp Camaro should be able to out run a 425 Challenger any day of the week if the weight rumors are true.

i thought the LS7s from gm performance were going for more than just 13,000? i would have to say factory would be the way to go.

I would love to have a 427 cubic inch, hand built, work of art under my hood. I'd slap badges all the way around that sucka to make sure everyone knew what it was capable of.:evil:

Not to mention, the Z06 for example is much much more than just a motor swap into a base Corvette :cool:

Never - no emblems, watching the jaws drop would be much more fun

Sleeper all the way :thumbsup: :smoking:

I am with Tag... I'd want people to stop and look everywhere i go. If it is a sleeper, it looks just like every other Camaro out there and people would never know the difference except on those few occassions on the street that you get to use it.

For example, when I see a regular C6 Vette on the road I am like "that's a nice car" but if I see a Z06 I can't stop starring and am seriously in awe. Now if that owner, for whatever reason, decided to take the body panels off and put on regular C6 panels, then it would lose that magestic feel.

i am all about the badges! :thumbup:

Ya I would take that deal because you take someone like me age 18 trying to pay full coverage insurance on a top dog camaro. I like that idea because the insurance company would run the vin code # and see it was a V6 and not charge you as much for insurance.
But what they don't know is their is a LS7 under the hood. Cheet the system a little bit.

Just better hope you don't get in a wreck and need a new engine....

ya your right their becaus ethey come and look at the car and they lift the hood and see there is no V6 under there. Your screwed.

Exactly, then they can refuse to replace your $13,000 motor, which would be even worse!

Yeah...I was going to mention the fact that if something did happen, there goes your policy. Let's say you blow the engine or get into a wreck where ur insurance has to pay up. They will find out your upgrades, most likely pay up, and then kick you out the door.

I was at Ancira service talking w/ my service technician. He was telling me about a guy who brought his SS into the shop saying it stalled out in a low water crossing and was trying to get it fixed under insurance. The shop pulled apart the air intake and intake manifold. Guess what? Absolutely no water, dirt, grass, or anything....looked completely new. Then, they open the engine and its loaded w/ crap. When presented w/ the facts, the owner caved in admitting to having removed his supercharger and parts putting the factory parts back on. Service guy said insurance was informed of the situation (they have to), they paid up, and then dropped him. Needless to say, any quotes guy was looking for after that had to have been through the roof!

**Note to self - add water and dirt to inside of manifold when changing out with supercharger to take back to shop***:laugh:

Lol... yeah i keep some in my glove compartment just in case... :laugh:

I can see you liking that.
I've de-badged every vehicle I've owned since 1987 ... Nice and smooth :smoking:

I liked the sleeper look a while back. But, that was when I "got on it" a wee bit more than I should have. Yeah...people had the:eek: look on their face when I'd pull away. But, I've gotten to that stage where I don't let it loose like I used to on the roads. So, rather than show everyone what my sleeper really is by racing, I just like to let'em know I can dust them anytime I wish with badges.

It's like Casull said about the vette. I stare at the Z06 in awe of it's ... well...everything. It's a beautiful car. Then, I look at the C6 and think it's a really nice looking sports coupe, but it ain't the Z06.

very true about the Z06 tag. such a beautiful car and so much more than what the C6 is.

Not trying to take away from the C6...it's a fantastic car. But everything about the Z06 is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

TAG, I don't think you should be letting it loose on public roads! That's what you're supposed to be preventing right?! Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Ok my real thoughts are, "Smoke em if you got em". Tires of course!

I for one don't rip up the streets as much anymore either. Kids tend to make you more responsible.

:burnrubber:

My LP is too easily recognizable and is easy to remember. No point in getting myself in trouble. I race it at the track if I want to.