Hemi Swapped F-Body
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Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 635
Likes: 329
From: Missouri
there is a guy in franklin county (very close to stl) that did one, i think he was in the union or new haven mo area. its been couple years but try looking into some facebook in that area and see if you can find him. it has been done but ill bet it wasnt easy at all.
Last edited by Kjduvall; Oct 30, 2025 at 11:07 AM.
Have you seen the car? I wonder if it still runs factory gauges and 4L60e
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 635
Likes: 329
From: Missouri
i have not personally seen it. was just told about it from some buddys, it was a while back ago and honestley dont know if it ever got finished or not. either way its gunna be a tough job, i imagine the headers alone are gunna suck. if you go forward with it your gunna need alota patience and beer..... i hope you do though just for the sake of hot rodding happy wrenching sir.
i have not personally seen it. was just told about it from some buddys, it was a while back ago and honestley dont know if it ever got finished or not. either way its gunna be a tough job, i imagine the headers alone are gunna suck. if you go forward with it your gunna need alota patience and beer..... i hope you do though just for the sake of hot rodding happy wrenching sir.
Make any more progress? I'm getting ready to swap a 5.7 hemi in my 98 ta. Just deciding on transmission. Picked mine up as a roller and have a lot of hemis sitting in the shop. Been searching to see if anyone has done a 4th gen, keep seeing 3rd gens but not much else.
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IDK...Maybe it just to say "I have a HEMI under glass!" Why not the Chrysler 16 plug 426 HEMI?
I only see it as a way to complicate things to simplify spark plug changes when the No. 8 is the only PITA.
I do have to admit though..This would look pretty cool under the hood..
I only see it as a way to complicate things to simplify spark plug changes when the No. 8 is the only PITA.
I do have to admit though..This would look pretty cool under the hood..
I am a mopar guy but owned over 10 4th gen f-bodies... I'm not bothered by people ls swapping mopars. It gets boring because it was so common, but to me, if you own a vehicle, it's none of my business what you do with it.
I can't speak for the op of this thread but for me, I don't have any ls engines around and no ecm and engine harness but have plenty of 5.7 hemis, a meqasquirt and holley setup for both also, in the end its way cheaper for me at this point.
IMO the Gen3 Hemi is slowly becoming the new LS.
Let's face it, the LS is pretty old and well played to the point it is not as easy as it once was to just go get one for 200 bucks and build from scratch.
I know there are guys that will claim they know where there are stashes of 100s of 5 dollar LS engines but for most of us especially in heavily populated areas that is NOT the case.
They are also getting on in years which means most of the ones left out there are extra extra hammered.
In my area I would say the average junky ole iron 5.3 that claims to even run on Marketplace is probably averaging 1500. I have no desire to give anyone 1500 bucks for a questionable engine.
Let's face it, the LS is pretty old and well played to the point it is not as easy as it once was to just go get one for 200 bucks and build from scratch.
I know there are guys that will claim they know where there are stashes of 100s of 5 dollar LS engines but for most of us especially in heavily populated areas that is NOT the case.
They are also getting on in years which means most of the ones left out there are extra extra hammered.
In my area I would say the average junky ole iron 5.3 that claims to even run on Marketplace is probably averaging 1500. I have no desire to give anyone 1500 bucks for a questionable engine.
Yup same here. Not that high but I get amusement out of the majority of LS Engines posted around my area being clapped out Gen III 5.3l stuff with a way more than should be price on them.
That's the special people who are just money hungry. Don't make enough with their day job.
Saw a $300 LS1 Intake the other day. Bare Intake.. $300..
That's the special people who are just money hungry. Don't make enough with their day job.
Saw a $300 LS1 Intake the other day. Bare Intake.. $300..
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 7,322
Likes: 528
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Interesting points about the price and availability of used LS engines. For decades the term "engine swap" meant putting an LS engine into everything from a '70 Chevelle to a BMW to a Miata. Guess that really cleared out the junk yards and raised the price.
Yes, I have seen two LS swapped Miata at track events. I was offered a ride or a drive, but declined.
Yes, I have seen two LS swapped Miata at track events. I was offered a ride or a drive, but declined.
It may be a regional thing. Around there there is not a lot of old stuff in wrecking yards. Most of our wrecking yards are later model faster moving product that is all pre disassembled and computer inventoried.
The days of old school wrecking yards with 20 plus year old cars covered in green **** around here are scarce.
Now that being said, there is pick n pull but the chances of you getting a whole engine out of there that hasn't been mutilated first are pretty unlikely.
I never meant to insinuate that it is impossible, just that it is not as easy as it once one.
The days of old school wrecking yards with 20 plus year old cars covered in green **** around here are scarce.
Now that being said, there is pick n pull but the chances of you getting a whole engine out of there that hasn't been mutilated first are pretty unlikely.
I never meant to insinuate that it is impossible, just that it is not as easy as it once one.
I went to the one here in Pensacola about a month ago, 10+ Gen III 5.3l trucks in there several were still all together with everything. 8 were still Longblocks. If you needed just that, it was there. Like you said, regional thing. I didn't ask the price, already knew.
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,865
Likes: 1,122
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
I'm in Michigan, and the local pull your own yards always have tons of LS powered vehicles there. The prices for engines are flat fee, so it doesn't matter which engine it is, it's going to be the same price. I think they average around $400. I kick myself for not going more often, because the last few times I have went, there were numerous Escalades and Denalis that had L92 engines and were already frame cut and picked bare. But 5.3's and 6.0s are there every time I go. Aluminum 5.3s are also very common in the Trailblazers and other variants, because no one wants the hassle of yanking one out. They're a much bigger pain to remove than out of a full size truck.
