vegasbuy

just wondering what swaps cost.. thanks

214Chevelle

Such a vague question. I'll try and sum it up a simply as possible. Buying stock, used stuff saves alot of money. Let's say maybe anywhere from an older engine like a 99-04 complete take outs can cost $1500-$3500 depending on if you get a transmission with it or not. Newer, complete take out, like 2010-up, can cost as much as $4000 or more due to low miles. Then you move to the high dollar aftermarket stuff which can break your bank account. You can spend $10k all the way up to $20k on a motor with an aftermarket block, forged or billet internals.

SUPERBOOST

iTrader: (11)

Thats a very broad question.It can vari so much according to how you do it.First you have your engine and trans,best bet is to buy a pullout and get everything you can get with it.Truck 5.3and trans will be cheapest,then ls1 and trans and on up the scale.After you decide that you need a fuel system that will handle fuel injection.That will be $500-$1000,you need a stand alone harness,that will be $5-700.So in general,it will cost at least $1500-$2000 more than a small block installation plus the cost of your motor and trans of your choice. This is a very basic estimate and you can make it go up a lot if you want higher end stuff or you can make it go down a little if you can fab a little ,do your own work and use all the factory parts you can.

sierrac3_s2000

iTrader: (6)

As others have said, there are way too many variables. However I tell everyone when doing a swap to budget at least $10,000. That is a realistic number that a swap can be done for. Sure it can be done cheaper but its a good ball park budgeting number.

Vicinity

iTrader: (7)

I'm in it for...

$2000 for 50k miles LS1
$600~ Harness and PCM
$500 for cooling system
$500 for Fuel System
$900 for T56
$400 for McLeod Bell (Viper to LS1)
$400 for Misc T56 parts
$400 for LS7 Clutch
$300 for Clutch Hydraulics

Then there's a few odds and ends you'll need to button it up. You can add those numbers up if you like, I'm not going to.

I wouldn't use my number for reference, I got a good deal on a few things and did a **** ton of work to get cheap stuff to work/fit.

$10k is a nice round number.

murphinator

iTrader: (2)

are you using your cars current transmission ? t350/t400/glide etc... that could save you some $$

are you planning a mild build where your not swapping cam , using the stock ls manifolds instead of buying swap headers?

are you buying mounts for the swap or are you fabricating your own?

are you going efi or carb ? if you have an existing carb and fuel system that could be utilized that would cut out upgrades to efi capable fuel delivery , pcm , harness , and tuning software

if not add headers , mounts ,tuning software etc... to what the guys above have allready pointed out.

you need to figure out if your doing a 4.8 with a q jet and adaptor plate with manifolds on to your existing trans or an ls7 with a built t56 , if your doing it yourself or paying a swap specialist to do it on your behalf.

theres threads on here of guys doing budget swaps for 2 or 3 grand total and theres threads surely upwards of 20 grand and more.....

so give us some basic info of what exactly you have and what your goals are and we can narrow it down a bit for you

chevrunner21

iTrader: (1)

$1,000,000

89gmcs15

iTrader: (7)

5k on the cheap with stock and use parts and 10k with decent aftermarket not all used stuff.

garys 68

iTrader: (1)

If you're asking, you're probably on a budget.
Tips on doing it on the cheap, around $2500
use an iron 5.3 motor
get EVERYTHING with the motor; accessories, Dbw pedal, sensors, wiring, ecu, exhaust manifolds/downpipes, fuel pump, air intake, etc
use oem plastic fuel line/fittings
use your existing trans
rework your own harness
have ecu reprogramed mail order
research before you order anything then shop around.

Jimbo1367

What a Gary68 said. I've wasted a lot of money (to me) trying to get things to "work together" or new, untried things (Spectra EFI tank) then having to repurchase proven components. But if you are willing to settle on what you may really want vs. whats cheaper and less visually appearing, you can do a swap cheap if you are willing to do alot of the work yourself.

Doug G

Motor needing rebuilt ....and had rebuilt using stock internals
LS3 heads
Cam
new bearings,chain,seals,gaskets,lifters,rings
Going carbed
Retro-fit parts for installing in a 68 Camaro (headers/oilpan/motormounts/belt/hoses)
MSD box
TCI SFI rated flexplate for using 350TH tranny
Vic Jr Intake

Right at about $6500 +/-

1964SS

iTrader: (1)

2002 LS1 pullout with computer, harness, new flywheel, clutch $2000
2001 T56 $1000

All other parts needed and programming $1500


Total build cost was $4500

olespanky

every ones cost are diff my stock 5.3 was very cheap till i decided to go twin 62s
i have seen people sell old motors and extra parts and come out with 1500 in a build
i have also seen people do swaps and spend 6k

thenova70ss

iTrader: (2)

I can tell you i have about $2500.00 after buying my LS1 and transmission but i could have came out a little cheaper if i would have used Cheaper Fuel Lines and not all AN stuff just the fuel system in my car cost $600.00. But i all so built my Transmission Cross member and a lot of stuff like that to save money. I will say after motor and trans most people will have about $3000.00 in a swap.

LS2GS

You can do the swap for $2000 after cost of engine and trans. Just look at the build threads and get ideas from what other people have done. Other people have already made the costly mistakes, go with the proven combos and take advantage of all the tips!