Texas Speed
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 204
Likes: 8
From: Houston
Texas Speed I will be putting an LS motor into my restored 65 Chevelle. So I have been shopping around for engine builders in the Houston, TX area. If I do ultimately go with an individual shop to build my motor, I think I would like 500+ HP and am open to whether it be FI or not. I am not looking for anything exotic (at this point). It has been my initial impression that my cost is going to be anywhere in the neighborhood of 12K - 15k. Now that just includes the built motor.
After the motor is built I will still need the wiring harness, all the accessory drives, the install of course, and not sure what else I am missing here. So I have been continuing to poke around a bit and through this website and the numerous helpful people that have PM'ed me turned me on to Texas Speed.
It looks like to me they have engine packages with the whole 9 yards and all new components and parts even the block. For instance, I could get a new LS3 376 CI for just over 11K. It has everything on it all the accessory drives, wiring harness, pedal etc. Then to boot they have a 1 year warranty with unlimited miles.
So I know you always get what you pay for, and I am trying to figure out just that, is there something that I am missing here? What is the advantage of going to one of the custom builders when you have these kind of packages. I know it kind of has the big box store feel of the engine building world, but I am green and just wondering here.
After the motor is built I will still need the wiring harness, all the accessory drives, the install of course, and not sure what else I am missing here. So I have been continuing to poke around a bit and through this website and the numerous helpful people that have PM'ed me turned me on to Texas Speed.
It looks like to me they have engine packages with the whole 9 yards and all new components and parts even the block. For instance, I could get a new LS3 376 CI for just over 11K. It has everything on it all the accessory drives, wiring harness, pedal etc. Then to boot they have a 1 year warranty with unlimited miles.
So I know you always get what you pay for, and I am trying to figure out just that, is there something that I am missing here? What is the advantage of going to one of the custom builders when you have these kind of packages. I know it kind of has the big box store feel of the engine building world, but I am green and just wondering here.
Last edited by Mike Blanco; Aug 14, 2014 at 11:10 PM.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 204
Likes: 8
From: Houston
I called them a few days ago. Spoke to a salesman named Derek, pretty knowledgable guy and easy to speak to. I asked all the usual ignorant questions and he guided me along.
However, I just stumbled onto an lq4 w/ an 80E. All acces. Are there. Guy wants $1,200. I am going out there to look at it this morning. If it goes well I will be being that to my shop and stripping it down the. Try to figure out my next step.
However, I just stumbled onto an lq4 w/ an 80E. All acces. Are there. Guy wants $1,200. I am going out there to look at it this morning. If it goes well I will be being that to my shop and stripping it down the. Try to figure out my next step.
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Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 204
Likes: 8
From: Houston
Thanks. We have the motor about stripped down now to the bare block. Still have to remove the trans, and the crank.
After a lot of thought I think my plan on my power plant is going to be 500 - 600 HP at the rear wheel. I think if I apply any more than that to this Chevelle we might start breaking some stuff. The recommendation from some of the engine builders has been to build the motors bottom end to hold 800 HP just in case I ever did want to go FI.
With that said what components do I need to start looking at for this lq4? Will I need to upgrade the crank? If I am going for 500 - 600 HP what heads should I be running?
After a lot of thought I think my plan on my power plant is going to be 500 - 600 HP at the rear wheel. I think if I apply any more than that to this Chevelle we might start breaking some stuff. The recommendation from some of the engine builders has been to build the motors bottom end to hold 800 HP just in case I ever did want to go FI.
With that said what components do I need to start looking at for this lq4? Will I need to upgrade the crank? If I am going for 500 - 600 HP what heads should I be running?
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Launching!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 204
Likes: 8
From: Houston
I think I am pretty set on making it a 408. However, when I do the computations online for the displacement, I get the following information back. What am I missing to get to the 408 mark. Is it my cylinder ways will open up just a hair?
Number of Cylinders are = 8 to 1
Piston Diameter = 4.000 Inches
Piston Oversize = 0.000 Inches
Engine Stroke = 4.000 Inches
Computation Results:
Computed Engine Displacement (CID) is 402
Computed Engine Displacement (Litres) is 6.6
Computed Engine Displacement (CC) is 6589.7
Number of Cylinders are = 8 to 1
Piston Diameter = 4.000 Inches
Piston Oversize = 0.000 Inches
Engine Stroke = 4.000 Inches
Computation Results:
Computed Engine Displacement (CID) is 402
Computed Engine Displacement (Litres) is 6.6
Computed Engine Displacement (CC) is 6589.7
Why not get a junkyard engine and then build the bottom end later. It will be a lot cheaper that way. That way you get all the accessories with the engine. Sometimes you can even get the wiring harness. All for less than a grand.