Bought a LS1 crate motor from GM Performance. Paid $ 3700
Engine was minus oil pan and exhaust manifolds.

No ECM or wire harness is available from GM Performance, didn't know that when I ordered!

Motor is going into a 914 Porsche and I have to find a wire harness/controller for the LS 1, then the ECM has to be reprogrammed.

Should I buy an aftermarket set up with programming for $1400 or spend a grand to go stock with the programming included?

Both have the OBD2 capability, but the stock units are at least 10 years old!

What should I do? Experienced comments?

 

IMHO you over payed but it all depends what you want you know youve got a brand new motor, but for the money your gonna spend you couldve got a lot more

 

why would it be a grand to go stock? you can buy already done harness' with fuse box for around 450$, and a used pcm on here all the time. I understand you prob want it real nice.

I actually like the holley stuff a lot though.

 

I found a crate ls1 motor right from GM Goodwrench for $3000 plus shipping and tax, is that price with all that included?

 

for 3700 from gm performance i assume he got the motor with the water pump, intake, coils, and plug wires from good wrench all you would get for 3k is the longblock

 

Considering how cheap you can get a "pull out" motor these days, the years of buying crate motors is almost obsolete. You can pick up a low mileage LSX pull out for less than $2500 nowadays, and most of the time you can get the harness/PCM with it.

Last month I snagged an 04 LS1 w/ harness, computer, all the accessories for $2200 from a junkyard up in SC.

 

I picked up a low mile modded engine with ECU and wiring for $1300

 

There is a guy here selling a bnib crate LS6 motor for that price. No intake manifold or ECU but with an oil pan.