johnny89345

iTrader: (1)

looking to spend roughly 6k. i blew my ls1 in my 99 camaro which is my daily driver. now my problem is i dont know what to buy. obv im not going to buy a stock ls1. what motor should i buy. im plan to use this car as my daily driver so dont want a cam thats too ridiculous or something thats too bad on gas. i want a nasty daily driver. i was looking at a tsp 418 ls3? would that be too much. please guys lead me in the right direction in case later on down the road i plan on going big i wont regret my choice

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

You can't buy a GOOD built engine with that budget much less supporting mods, tuning etc.

If time is critical find a used engine even a 5.3L or something then take the rest of the budget put it aside and work on coming up with a long term plan.

JakeFusion

iTrader: (7)

$6k? For just the shortblock or an entire engine/swap?

What supporting mods do you have? If any? Like if you have a FAST for a cathedral port LS1/2/6 it won't work with the LS3.

If you go with a stroker (and a 416 LS3 is going to eat most of your 6k budget) are you budgeting separately for heads/intake/exhaust/fuel if you don't already have them and the necessary installation(if needed) and tune expenses? Or does the 6k also need to cover that?

If you're just looking for a shortblock to get you back up and running quickly, TSP stocks street racer packages that may be available to you pretty soon. Their engines are good and reasonably priced. Of all the shortblock packages out there, the stroker LS3 provides probably the best price/performance ratio.

But the 6k budget isn't going to get you a new engine. Not even close.

badazz81z28

iTrader: (6)

I have 6K alone invested in a LS1....I agree, $6k isn't enough to get you rolling with a 418ci...Look for a junkyard 6.0 IMHO

SS10Tech

If this is a DD and you need a motor yesterday i would recommend saving your money and not buying aftermarket. Concentrate on getting something that actually runs without added expenses. If this was a project vehicle and you had the time to assemble the top end of a short block then of course that would be one option, but honestly your best bet is to go junkyard diving and pocket the difference for down the road. It beats walking.

johnny89345

iTrader: (1)

i meant to write lq9. currently i have fast 92/92 cathedral port intake. arh 17/8 headers, borla cat back, ati under drive, . i saw on tsp's site they have assembled lq9 long blocks for about 7k and thats with aftermarket 237 heads with cahedral ports. im just really lost as to what would be considered reliable and good for a daily driver

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

The thing is you get into an aftermarket headed stroker and you are likely looking at injectors and fuel pump as well as tuning just off the top of my head.

As I said put a used engine in for now then plan the rest of the build.

garygnu

look at TSP 347/383 short block ,and find some used 243/799 heads.

SWEET98SS

iTrader: (8)

I would look at Thompson Motorsports. You can pick up a ls1 shortblock for under $2000 and throw a cam in it and be at over 400 rwhp. My stock ls1 with a streetsweeper cam did 405 rwhp.

johnny89345

iTrader: (1)

wow their actually pretty cheap. but they dont say much about whats done to them. like the 480 hp one says nothing about the internals, heads, or cam. which one would you guys get. something with enough power to keep me happy for the next year or so so i can build something real bad.

TexasTarnation

A junkyard lq9 for $700 with 55k miles is right in my town, surly you could find something like this. A lq9 with LS3 heads and LS6 intake puts down damn near 450 hp every time. There cheap, easy to mod with an endless parts swap list and can handle good power.

SWEET98SS

iTrader: (8)

I would give Kyle a call at Thompson Motorsports, hes a great guy. He has posting on ebay also if it doesnt say whats inside the motor on their website.

Snkebait95

iTrader: (16)

+1. I just got an assembled 370 shortblock with forged pistons, rods, and arp rod bolts for $3200 shipped. Pretty good considering i didnt have a block or crank to start with so i didnt have the option of getting my old stuff machined

yonerhottlt1

iTrader: (21)

LS3 heads also require the LS3 intake. LS6 intake has cathedral ports and won't work...