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LS engine in a new Cadillac ATS?

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Old Oct 28, 2012 | 10:25 AM
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Default LS engine in a new Cadillac ATS?

Sounds like the ultimate setup to me. Lighter than a CTS-V, probably better handling. The new ATS is getting great reviews, but the plans for the ATS-V are sounding like it won't get a V8, but a turbo V6. That's too bad. I'd love to have a tire shredding V8 rumble in one of those sweet packages
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Old Oct 29, 2012 | 12:07 PM
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I like the new ATS! cant wait to see what power the ATS-V will have
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Old Feb 28, 2015 | 08:01 PM
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On a swap such as this, in newer GM cars, is it possible to retain the existing cluster, stability control, ABS, etc?
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Old Feb 28, 2015 | 09:46 PM
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The ATS-V will have a twin turbo V6 with 420hp but won't come with all wheel drive like the turbo 4 has. I test drove one and didn't like it as much as the Regal so I bought that instead.

It has the same drivetrain and options as the ATS but cost a lot less. The Regal handles and rides well plus it really scoots when I'm cruising and hammer it. I'm gonna get a tune for it soon that'll give it well over 300hp and over 350 ft lbs of torque.
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Old Mar 8, 2015 | 05:55 PM
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Originally Posted by vtirocz
On a swap such as this, in newer GM cars, is it possible to retain the existing cluster, stability control, ABS, etc?
Does anyone have input on this?
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Old Mar 8, 2015 | 07:37 PM
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anything is possible, but nothing exists and there is very little development on this platform so very unlikely to get full integration. It takes years of work to decode a modern canbus system to make all the modules communicate properly.
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Old Mar 8, 2015 | 11:15 PM
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I would say its not worth it. Factory 420hp twin turbo v6? Surely with a tune and bolt ons you will be near 450. Why bother with the LS swap? After all the time, money, and effort, i would bet you could have turned that TTv6 into at least 600hp instead.

Last edited by y5mgisi; Mar 8, 2015 at 11:21 PM.
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Old Mar 9, 2015 | 12:59 PM
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Oops. I had my facts mixed up. Looks like they are factory 455hp... Tune and bolt on have got to get you very near to 500hp. A full "build" of that motor with new cam, head work, bigger turbos, etc has got to be every bit of 750hp. Why bother with an ls swap at that point!
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Old Mar 9, 2015 | 01:12 PM
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I work at a caddy dealer and fantasize about this swap every time I have one in the air. If you can fit a 3.6 high feature in there you can fit an ls. If you use the e38 ecm I bet the electronics would work just fine.
Too bad the vehicle is so expensive to begin with. In about 10 years I can maybe pick one up and do the swap. The 2.0t ones have a cast diff housing too. Not sure what the limits are on it. Haven't had to fix one yet.
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Old Mar 9, 2015 | 03:02 PM
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Doesn't seem to be much reason to do it; would kind of be working backwards at this point. LS motors are only the future relative to the classic swap cars and neat for cars with less than great motors to maintain to begin with (the fox bodies, bmws etc etc). Putting an LT motor in might be cool though. I love the sound of 6+ liter sewing-machines but a TT 6 has a certain appeal to it as well. As long as the CTS-V stays 8 then we get the best of both worlds.
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Old Mar 9, 2015 | 08:57 PM
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The ATS-V will be $60K plus which is about $15K more than the Chevy SS. That's way too much money for a small car with a V6, the turbo 4 is the most affordable and it comes with AWD. I paid less than half that amount for my 2014 turbo Regal and I can make it just as fast for a lot less $$$.
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Old Mar 9, 2015 | 09:57 PM
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98Gt. The E38 ecu will not work for this as it is a di motor (E39 ecu). With very little work we are seeing 550 hp. Steve
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Old Mar 9, 2015 | 11:22 PM
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I was referring to weather or not it could communicate on the high speed gmlan buss with the other modules. Or if it would be able to communicate with the ipc since it is on the MOST buss. I guess I was just thinking that if you put an ls3 in and used its ecm, it could communicate. Or am I crazy to think it could? I haven't obviously tried it, but have been brainstorming.
I just hope the ats-v is better than the xts with the tt3.6. I really am not too impressed with it stock. But I am sure they can be tuned up pretty easily.
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Old Jan 8, 2016 | 08:33 PM
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Anyone else considering this swap now that the 2016 camaro is released and older ATS's are getting less and less expensive? It seems like a lot of the parts needed would be readily available.
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Old Sep 27, 2019 | 11:22 AM
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Default LS engine in Cadillac ATS

Originally Posted by pdsq98gt
I work at a caddy dealer and fantasize about this swap every time I have one in the air. If you can fit a 3.6 high feature in there you can fit an ls. If you use the e38 ecm I bet the electronics would work just fine.
Too bad the vehicle is so expensive to begin with. In about 10 years I can maybe pick one up and do the swap. The 2.0t ones have a cast diff housing too. Not sure what the limits are on it. Haven't had to fix one yet.
I have a 2013 ATS with a blown 2.0t. I have been asking the same question. I would like to build a new toy with it. Have you found anything out about this swap?
LS engine in
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Old Oct 2, 2019 | 05:01 PM
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I was thinking the same thing. I bought a salvage 2013 2 litre AWD. But I really like driving it so I will leave it. I also bought a 2016 ATS V coupe that had a small fire. I had to splice about 100 wires from the dash to the engine compartment.
I would say anyone wanting to do an LS swap had better be really good with electronics. Just so much electrical stuff. I also have a 2006 CTSV. Looking at the wiring on that car just seems so simple. The newer the car the more electronics and to get everything working would be more than I am willing to do. I also have an LS swapped E36 BMW. Even that was simple compared to new.
Anyone doing it I salute you.
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Old Mar 22, 2021 | 10:03 PM
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I have a Ls swapped ats it's definitely very fun car now with the extra torq! But it is alot of work to do it ! Unless your good with wiring don't attempt
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Old Mar 23, 2021 | 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Joshua Gallant
I have a Ls swapped ats it's definitely very fun car now with the extra torq! But it is alot of work to do it ! Unless your good with wiring don't attempt
pics and write up or it didn’t happen....
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 01:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Joshua Gallant
I have a Ls swapped ats it's definitely very fun car now with the extra torq! But it is alot of work to do it ! Unless your good with wiring don't attempt
. I'm curious if u have any info on how you got the factory electronics to work and if u have any pics on the engine mounts you had to make to get this engine in ..i have a 2014 Ats with the 4th blown engine and this time no warranty which is total bullshit on GM but itll b what it is ..i have a 283 with a 700r4 im thinking of installing just so I can drive this fancy **** box so I can get my money's worth out of the chassis at least any photos or documents would be great
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Old Apr 11, 2022 | 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Lockman85
. I'm curious if u have any info on how you got the factory electronics to work and if u have any pics on the engine mounts you had to make to get this engine in ..i have a 2014 Ats with the 4th blown engine and this time no warranty which is total bullshit on GM but itll b what it is ..i have a 283 with a 700r4 im thinking of installing just so I can drive this fancy **** box so I can get my money's worth out of the chassis at least any photos or documents would be great
The LAST thing you want to do is drop in an ancient, inefficient dinosaur like a 283 and 700R4. It WILL be slower, guzzle gas, and overall be a poor sub for what was before.
Put the right engine/drivetrain in it and quit abusing it. FOUR blown engines in a row, points straight to its owner.
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