View Poll Results: How did you select your LSx recipient?
You wanted a car w/ a more appealing exterior & / or interior
5
8.06%
You wanted a car w/ superior handling
3
4.84%
You wanted to begin with a lighter platform
8
12.90%
You chose a car for sentimental reasons
6
9.68%
You already owned or were given a car
31
50.00%
You just wanted to build something no one else has
9
14.52%
Voters: 62. You may not vote on this poll
How did you select your LSx recipient?
How did you select your LSx recipient? I am searching for a car to serve as the foundation for a resto-mod style, ground up build. It will be designed primarily for exceptional street performance and occasional road course use. I really admire the imagination and ingenuity of those of you here in the Hybrid forum. And like many of you, I definitely want to be creative and build something different. The problem, anything exotic or a GTM will exceed my budget, and I can’t think of anything similarly priced that, in my opinion, will look and perform better than a tastefully customized / modified C5 or Trans Am.
Knowing what factors led most of you here to undertake the increased difficulty and cost of building a hybrid may help me decide. Was it…..
1. When compared to a vehicle with a factory installed LSx. You wanted a car with a more appealing exterior and / or interior design.
2. When compared to a vehicle with a factory installed LSx. You wanted a car with superior handling characteristics.
3. When compared to a vehicle with a factory installed LSx. You wanted to begin with a lighter platform.
4. You chose a car for sentimental reasons.
5. You already owned or were given a car.
6. You just wanted to build something no one else has.
Knowing what factors led most of you here to undertake the increased difficulty and cost of building a hybrid may help me decide. Was it…..
1. When compared to a vehicle with a factory installed LSx. You wanted a car with a more appealing exterior and / or interior design.
2. When compared to a vehicle with a factory installed LSx. You wanted a car with superior handling characteristics.
3. When compared to a vehicle with a factory installed LSx. You wanted to begin with a lighter platform.
4. You chose a car for sentimental reasons.
5. You already owned or were given a car.
6. You just wanted to build something no one else has.
11 Second Club
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 390
Likes: 2
From: The Burnie, MD
A C5 or C6 vette is hard to beat in the looks/performance department, IMO. And with a couple well thought out modifications you can have super car performance.
I'd wager that the majority of the conversions you see here are done for uniqueness.... to have something you don't see every day.
For me there were a couple reasons. I've had the car since it was new and I wouldn't trade it for anything (sentimental). The car is lightweight, handles well and with 4 extra cylinders and over 3 times the displacement, it's a blast to drive. The reliability of the LS/T56 was also a big plus.
I'd wager that the majority of the conversions you see here are done for uniqueness.... to have something you don't see every day.
For me there were a couple reasons. I've had the car since it was new and I wouldn't trade it for anything (sentimental). The car is lightweight, handles well and with 4 extra cylinders and over 3 times the displacement, it's a blast to drive. The reliability of the LS/T56 was also a big plus.
Porsche 996's are excellant handling, but came with expensive maintenance, FACTORY DEFECTIVE motors. When this LS3 conversion ALL wheel drive is complete, should be very unique and very fast with great handling. 310hp vs. 430hp from a LS3. Same motor weight also.
I had my Miata and was ready to order the kit for the 425 hp 5.0 that was on the stand. My nephew called the night before I placed the order and told me of the LS kit. He offered to lend me the LS he had sitting in his barn but I eventually found one for myself.
I already owned the car and was going to do an engine upgrade and wanted to do something different. I wanted a more appealing exterior & interior, superior handling on a lighter car (considering the new cars are like 4000lbs..). I designed it with my personal taste that no one would have.
That pretty muct covered most of your selections.. so All of the Above !
That pretty muct covered most of your selections.. so All of the Above !
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multiple reasons...
already had the car, and had driven it with a few modifications to stock drivetrain, but was unhappy with power
love the looks, interior and exterior
also love the car for sentimental reasons. first "real" car i paid for in cash, i got engaged on a weekend trip we took in that car, just lots of memories.
already had the car, and had driven it with a few modifications to stock drivetrain, but was unhappy with power
love the looks, interior and exterior
also love the car for sentimental reasons. first "real" car i paid for in cash, i got engaged on a weekend trip we took in that car, just lots of memories.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,081
Likes: 8
From: Atlanta, Ga
My plan from the start was to make this car the way I wanted it. I tried a couple of other powertrain combinations, but the lure of the LS was always there. The car will never be done, just morphing another step.
I just wanted a car that looked different from others. Most of the current cars all look the same. So my Biscayne was a good candidate and fits into the old school looks with new school technology.
For me it was a combination of a lot of things. I voted "wanted something different than anyone else", which is true, but mostly I wanted a convertible roadster to play with. I also wanted something that handled good, was attractive/sexy, looked fast, etc.
Back when I had my 01 Z28, I fell in love with JoeZ’s 1996 LS1 Z3. That, and others since then, put me onto the LS1 powered BMW roadster kick. I had sold off my Z28 a few years back, and about the time I graduated from my masters last year my LS1/T56 Silverado got totaled by a red light runner. So I needed a “new” car to get me to work and decided to just go buy my next project car and use it. I liked the Z4 better than the Z3 (handling/exterior/interior/strength/etc.) so started looking for Z4s.
As luck would have it, I stumbled onto a guy who had a 2003 2.5i Z4. He wanted $10,500 for it (I almost didn't go look at it thinking it would be trashed at that price) and I reluctantly went to see it. After I looked it over and drove it, I snagged it immediately (met the guy, drove it, gave him money/got the title that evening). It ended up the perfect fit for a “pristine body for a V8 swap”.
So, long story short, I wanted a specific car.
Chris
Back when I had my 01 Z28, I fell in love with JoeZ’s 1996 LS1 Z3. That, and others since then, put me onto the LS1 powered BMW roadster kick. I had sold off my Z28 a few years back, and about the time I graduated from my masters last year my LS1/T56 Silverado got totaled by a red light runner. So I needed a “new” car to get me to work and decided to just go buy my next project car and use it. I liked the Z4 better than the Z3 (handling/exterior/interior/strength/etc.) so started looking for Z4s.
As luck would have it, I stumbled onto a guy who had a 2003 2.5i Z4. He wanted $10,500 for it (I almost didn't go look at it thinking it would be trashed at that price) and I reluctantly went to see it. After I looked it over and drove it, I snagged it immediately (met the guy, drove it, gave him money/got the title that evening). It ended up the perfect fit for a “pristine body for a V8 swap”.
So, long story short, I wanted a specific car.
Chris
my first swap was my truck i already had. it ran good but the miles were getting up there, 96 with 136K. then i found my first LS1 & did the swap. my current swap is an IS300. my wife has one & i really like the car. handles good, small & still has 4 doors, so i set out to buy my own. then i came across a great deal on an 02 IS300 & thought the only thing better would be if it had an LS1. shortly i found another LS1 & here i am, getting ready to start my second personal swap.
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
I paid $500 for this 1991 mustang gt. It already had 4.30 gears a spool after market axels with c clip eliminators, frame connectors and a 8 point roll cage. My plan was to sell the car for a short profit. I have a friend that had this LS1 sitting in his garage for 7 years he also had a chevy truck with a 350 turbo trans with a 3500 stall TCI converter. I asked him if he wanted to go in on this project. He said yes and let me use his engine and trans. He agreed and even gave me a tachometer a new ratchet shifter and a radiator to use. The mustang is light 2625lbs and has went as quick as 6.78 @ 99.96 mph in the 1/8 mile and I have less than $2500 in the whole project including the price of the car.
I'm currently looking for something from the mid-'60s for about $1,000. I want it to be big and comfortable with a great interior. Currently have my eye on a '66 and a '63 Thunderbird. Only swap issue will be the oil pan to drag link clearance. It will give me a big headache I'm sure.
With the '70 Camaro, it's what I had in my garage at the time.
With the '70 Camaro, it's what I had in my garage at the time.
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
From: Drivers seat in Centralia, Mo
I just wanted to build something and swap it myself. I wanted a 49-53 Chevy pickup but they are just too dang expensive for what you get. Most are rusted out and not even close to complete.
Launching!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
No one made a car I wanted to buy or afford. I like small cars and the torque of a V8 but I didn't want to give up any creature comforts or handling. The Japanese cars either had rust issues (early Z cars) or were too expensive for the donor, thanks FNF.