Need help with decision
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Teching In
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From: Virginia
Need help with decision I have a 78 Oldsmobile Delta 88 I am really thinking about putting a LS Engine in my car. It is a full 4-door car, which I will be getting stereo system and rims added to the car. I want to get a stock crate motor just not sure if I should go with a LS1 or anything different. I have had the car for a while and ready to drive it more than anything. In the future would pull the engine and get more performance out of it. Last question if I went to say O'Reilly's how would I even search for a motor their?
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From: ohio
Oh my! Not a common question at all? I am assuming you are very young.
First off why would you do ANYTHING with a 78 olds 88? Not exactly a performance platform. If you are limited on funds don't even consider an LS swap. If funds are not a problem then sell the 88 and get a sportier olds if that's what you like. LS engines in the older cutlass' are awesome projects.
If you insist on the car/engine combo then you may wanna find your engine at a local parts yard. You will need it, the computer, engine harness and a compatible transmission for starters. Then you need to find all the swap parts.
Good luck either way. Hope you don't take offense, just trying to understand where you're trying to go and why.
First off why would you do ANYTHING with a 78 olds 88? Not exactly a performance platform. If you are limited on funds don't even consider an LS swap. If funds are not a problem then sell the 88 and get a sportier olds if that's what you like. LS engines in the older cutlass' are awesome projects.
If you insist on the car/engine combo then you may wanna find your engine at a local parts yard. You will need it, the computer, engine harness and a compatible transmission for starters. Then you need to find all the swap parts.
Good luck either way. Hope you don't take offense, just trying to understand where you're trying to go and why.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 23
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From: Virginia
Oh my! Not a common question at all? I am assuming you are very young.
First off why would you do ANYTHING with a 78 olds 88? Not exactly a performance platform. If you are limited on funds don't even consider an LS swap. If funds are not a problem then sell the 88 and get a sportier olds if that's what you like. LS engines in the older cutlass' are awesome projects.
If you insist on the car/engine combo then you may wanna find your engine at a local parts yard. You will need it, the computer, engine harness and a compatible transmission for starters. Then you need to find all the swap parts.
Good luck either way. Hope you don't take offense, just trying to understand where you're trying to go and why.
First off why would you do ANYTHING with a 78 olds 88? Not exactly a performance platform. If you are limited on funds don't even consider an LS swap. If funds are not a problem then sell the 88 and get a sportier olds if that's what you like. LS engines in the older cutlass' are awesome projects.
If you insist on the car/engine combo then you may wanna find your engine at a local parts yard. You will need it, the computer, engine harness and a compatible transmission for starters. Then you need to find all the swap parts.
Good luck either way. Hope you don't take offense, just trying to understand where you're trying to go and why.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 517
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From: ohio
Alright then. Any LS engine would be sweet but your best option will likely be determined by 1. Your intended use, 2. Your desired HP level, 3. Your intended future mod.s, and 4. Your budget.
You could go with a 4.8 and see good performance in stock form or even turbo it to the moon for not too much money or you could go for a high dollar H/C/I max cube LSx.
Whatever you decide, you found the right place to learn. Read as much as you can, check the sponsors, and don't be afraid to use the search box.
Sorry if I offended you. Only trying to help.
You could go with a 4.8 and see good performance in stock form or even turbo it to the moon for not too much money or you could go for a high dollar H/C/I max cube LSx.
Whatever you decide, you found the right place to learn. Read as much as you can, check the sponsors, and don't be afraid to use the search box.
Sorry if I offended you. Only trying to help.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 23
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From: Virginia
Alright then. Any LS engine would be sweet but your best option will likely be determined by 1. Your intended use, 2. Your desired HP level, 3. Your intended future mod.s, and 4. Your budget.
You could go with a 4.8 and see good performance in stock form or even turbo it to the moon for not too much money or you could go for a high dollar H/C/I max cube LSx.
Whatever you decide, you found the right place to learn. Read as much as you can, check the sponsors, and don't be afraid to use the search box.
Sorry if I offended you. Only trying to help.
You could go with a 4.8 and see good performance in stock form or even turbo it to the moon for not too much money or you could go for a high dollar H/C/I max cube LSx.
Whatever you decide, you found the right place to learn. Read as much as you can, check the sponsors, and don't be afraid to use the search box.
Sorry if I offended you. Only trying to help.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: ohio
At least 450 and decent budget yet something different that likes to go to the track occassionally: Hmmm, Let me think here. LOL That's easy. Get a junk yard 4.8 and turbo that beast to the tune of about 16-18 lbs. Should be good for about 550 or more at the wheels and shouldn't hit too hard coming off the line unless you aim for that.
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Thread Starter
Teching In
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From: Virginia
^^^^^^^r u serious. (i just cought the shakes) 550 horses. I've been trying to find a 4.8 on cragslist here and kind of scared to pull one from a salvage yard. My bad got to figure what the 4.8 comes out of.....(yeah i'm a rookie, time to hit the search button)
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IMO, a big heavy car needs torque, get a L92(6.2L) if you can or a 6.0L LS2.
The LQ4(6.0 L) iron block found in 3/4 an 1 ton trucks are also a good option if you're really trying to stretch your dollars.
The LQ4(6.0 L) iron block found in 3/4 an 1 ton trucks are also a good option if you're really trying to stretch your dollars.
Last edited by 99Bluz28; Oct 10, 2012 at 02:36 AM.
Thread Starter
Teching In
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From: Virginia
Is their a year range I should be looking for? I know that some of the Tahoe, Suburbans and Silverado's came with the engines just not sure years.
Last edited by 78power; Oct 10, 2012 at 07:29 AM.
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I agree.
For this application, I would want more than 4.8L. I'd want 6.0L or bigger if you are set on doing an LSx swap.
Frankly, I'd do an Olds 455ci with heads/cam/intake upgrade for ease of installation and all the gobs of torque. A small shot of N2O could also be added for even more power.
For this application, I would want more than 4.8L. I'd want 6.0L or bigger if you are set on doing an LSx swap.
Frankly, I'd do an Olds 455ci with heads/cam/intake upgrade for ease of installation and all the gobs of torque. A small shot of N2O could also be added for even more power.
Thread Starter
Teching In
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From: Virginia
I originally wanted to go with a 455 but their hard to come by out here in Virginia and the only one I could find, the guy wanted $900 for a engine that didn't even run. As for the LSx swap I've been trying to figure out what year trucks to look for. I know Tahoe, Yukon, Suburbans and Silverados.
I'd find a 5.3 from a truck like you've mentioned. It'll be the most common and likely least expensive. Stick a more performance oriented cam in it and you'll be closer to your power goal. Some porting here and there will do some good too.
If you can find a 6.0 by all means use it, but from what I've seen they're significantly marked up over 5.3s.
Good luck with your project. If this is your first engine swap, remember these words. KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID!
If you can find a 6.0 by all means use it, but from what I've seen they're significantly marked up over 5.3s.
Good luck with your project. If this is your first engine swap, remember these words. KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID!
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
An LSx swap will obviously make big power as well, and your budget will be the only limit to power potential. Just a different set of challenges and characteristics going that route.
Last edited by RPM WS6; Oct 10, 2012 at 04:46 PM.
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From: ohio
Yeah, I'm serious. Trucks
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From: Leander TX
At least 450 and decent budget yet something different that likes to go to the track occassionally: Hmmm, Let me think here. LOL That's easy. Get a junk yard 4.8 and turbo that beast to the tune of about 16-18 lbs. Should be good for about 550 or more at the wheels and shouldn't hit too hard coming off the line unless you aim for that.
look into the MS3 5.3 foxbody with nitrous.. carb budget build with and MS3 and 150 shot broke 9's