Just curious what you guys would reccomend would be cheap for a 5.3 turbo swap. Preferably a wagon. By easy I mean something that already came with a v8 with RWD making it "Bolt-on"ish and big enough bay to work. Really want a nova wagon however looks like it would be tough getting turbos under that hood!

Let me know what you think, I just love brainstorming projects and my dad wants to do a sleeper some day. I've almost tried to talk him into a express van turbo.

 

Cheap and turbo should never go in the same sentence. I assume finding someone local that can build a custom setup for cheaper being your best bet.

 

All realitive. Nothing with cars is cheap. However turboing isn't expensive it you buy cheap **** and run it till it blows up.

 

Nothings relative...Ive been through the build already on a old Fbody but good luck w/ that cheap **** lol.

 

Yeah...








It's not turbo'd yet...but that's the plan.

I've got about $2500-$3000 in this thing...5.3/4l60e

 

I think the 240sx chassis is the best V8 swap platform currently,

It has many enticing attributes:
1. lightweight RWD 2800lbs with the engine installed (the LSx engine weight is similar to the sr20det, if not lighter)
2. Big enough brakes to stop an 600rwhp car are $150 OEM units
3. The chassis is low production (only some 2500 made in 97 iirc), so if the swap is done clean enough, or even if the car is left all original, the vehicle will gain value over time, which is super rare for project type vehicles.
4. all the conversion V8 and turbo parts are available, from multiple sources, and used parts are overflowing so deals are everywhere
5. There are already a bunch of them done, V8 turbo, so plenty of pictures and ideas for how to run lines/exhaust/etc
6. The 240sx is a question mark, nobody ever expects one to be that fast

 

Mitsubishi Starion....

 

@Cattleac Jesus that wagon is like my dream car. Is that a Nova wagon? Chevelle? That thing is literally perfect. Wanna sell it?

 

I'm surprised. How would a japanese car be the easiest for an ls swap? I can't imagine the 240 has that much room in the engine bay. Currently in the middle of a 2jz swap in my mk3 supra but I don't. Tingle for just going chevy v8, so much easier!

 

It's '72 Chevelle wagon...I got it for a couple of carb rebuilds a guy wanted to trade it for...hail damage, but, great patina...

 

If it's Gonna be "bolt in" it's not gonna be "sleeper"
(Except for the van, for some reason fast vans crack me up)
Do some hackin'!

 

imo a GTO is a great sleeper. it doesnt look fast and sneaks up on people.


i say this because i owned one and while it wasnt the fastest car it shocked more than a few decently fast cars.

just keep it quiet.

 

Ahh GTO's are a bit expensive but yeah since they j ust look like a big cavalier!

But that guy's wagon is my wet dream of a sleeper car. LOL. I'll attempt to convince him to sell it.

 

well.perhaps you can find a GTO that needs a drive train cheap.




but,depending how far back you want to go you can get a vega or pinto. fieros last i checked have either an ls conversion or was it a northstar caddy motor kit for them?


me id want something lighter and i resent that cavalier remark. LOL.

 

LOL. Are you talking about 2000s GTO right?

Yeah I love vega cambak but small engine bay and they're hard to find not completely rusted out. If they are in any sort of shape they're very expensive!

 

first gen s10s. parts are cheap. room to put the snail. can be unassuming if quiet and leave stocl looking/alittle beat up

 

old ford courier, nissan or Datsun truck 70's or 80's

 

https://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/5550999337.html

What about that beast?

 

Are you $hittin' me Cow's...I'd be all over this thing if I lived down there...









A-bodys are perfect LS swap candidates.


Buick A-body even rarer and more of a sleeper...

 

Bruh. How about I buy it and trade ya? Aha!

The Buick doesn't have nearly as much of a badass look as your Chevelle does. Is that actually an A body? I thought skylarks were considered compact Y-Body. Is there a good chart that sh ows all of that?

Not as much of a fan of the Skylark wagon. I did find another regular Skylark for 4500, running a/c and all... I also found this camaro, I don't understand why it's as cheap as it is. http://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/5552131310.html

I mean it doesn't look in great shape, but damn it's still a 73 camaro with a running motor.. One of those camaros is definitely a dream car for me.

But how could I ever get rid of my Japanese muscle?