LS_M3

Hello,

I'm trying to decide what motor to swap in my M3. The kit that I'm getting for the swap comes with long tube headers.

I'm shooting for 500-600 rwhp.

The motors that I'm looking at are the L33, LQ9, or LS1

The car will be cat-less, and I want to run a nice cam and maybe trickflow head if I can budget for it.

I'm not opposed to supercharging but I would like to do it all motor.

The heads that I'm looking at are these: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...s-382-cfm.html

are they compatible with the motors that I've listed? The car will be a daily so I'm hoping to make some reliable power.

all info will be greatly appreciated!

Sinister_Z28

The tfs heads will fit on the LS3 and i believe the LQ9 but won't fit the LS1. If i was gonna do it all motor with the engines u listed id do a LS3 stroker. Cubes are ur best friend with high hp NA builds. Easiest route in my opinion is to forge anyone of the engines u listed and put a pro charger on it. Personally id figure out the short block then pick ur heads cam and intake. Whats ur budget on all this? Also ud probably get more responses if u posted this in the internal engine section.

LS_M3

Thanks for the response. my budget for the full swap is 10k. that has to include motor, tranas, and the swap kit. the swap kit is 3500 so the rest I can spend on motor and trans. I'm going to run the t56 tarns.

I will repost this there as well. Thanks!

BlackCowl

iTrader: (15)

It really comes down to if you want na power or fi. A aluminum block ls3 could never handle the boost a iron block would take but the iron is heavy.

I'd stick with stroked ls3 with some good heads and a decent cam.

My6speedZ

iTrader: (18)

I would go with an aluminum motor, try and find an LS1 pullout with a t-56, the aluminum motors still command a decent price because the pro-touring guys want them. However, the price is down alot because the LS1's dont make the power n/a people want now days (lets face it 450rwhp doesn't sound as shocking now days ). 500-600rwhp is not going to happen on a n/a 5.3 L33 or LS1, if you want that kind of power you'll need bigger cube, forced induction, or add the air chemically with nitrous.

Shortblock pricing doesn't change to dang much between sizes. The biggest difference is the crank. Like a new LS2 shortblock 364 and LS3 376 aren't to different in price usually 300 bucks or something like that. Add in the thousand bucks a forged 4" crank cost and the LS2 based 402 and LS3 based 416 are still the same difference apart as the stock stoke motors.

My6speedZ

iTrader: (18)

People had made tons of power on LS3 blocks, you'll run into other issues before you mess up the block.

OP a nice healthy head/cam LS1 with a smallish cam making lots of average power would be the ticket in a car like this.

LS_M3

I would love to do an LS3 but I think I'll be over budget with that motor.

how much power can a LS1 make NA?

91FormulaKiller

iTrader: (28)

The L33 is a nice engine, i swapped one into my last car, a 91 Trans Am, with an MN12 6 speed, stock for stock the L33 and LS1 are nearly identical performace wise, If i were building that M3 I'd stick a healthy L33 with a nice top end on it (maybe a Fast intake?) and run it. If your dead set on 500-600rwhp, I'd cheap out and go iron LM7 5.3 with a single turbo. Just my own .02!

HCI2000SS

iTrader: (2)

I guess it really depends on how much you want to spend, but the LQ9 will probably be your cheapest option. Don't let the fact that it's a little heavier deter you, as the minute difference can be easily offset eith an extra 10-15 hp. As long as you're not and avid road racer, drag racer, etc...it really won't matter

My6speedZ

iTrader: (18)

A nice 430-450 with a nice torquey set-up, 460-470 if you want to gear it and spin it. Few have broken 500 to the wheel and it took a lot of cash and a lot of time working out the details.

garygnu

look for the lq9 and use some TSP PRC 225 cast heads ,they can use stock GM rockers .get a fast intake and a matching TB .

JDEP162

if u are still debating n/a or supercharged, read the thread in here called "the real cost of forced induction". it was an eye opener. i though hell yeah i cud slap a procharger on mine, after research and that thread i realized, well holy **** thats 10k right there.

z28SSilvest

If you are looking to go that high with horsepower id recommend (for costs sake) a 346 iron block with heads, cam, intake manifold, full exhaust, and a nice 150 shot of nitrous (with supporting mods of course). I have a buddy that makes over 550 to the wheel with (only listing big mods but everything else adds up) a medium sized cam, ls6 heads (243s), a ported ls6 intake, and a 150 shot. He also has a full suspension setup, which you are going to have to get to support that kind of power and put it to the ground.