Thoughts on rebuild or swap

**Questioner** · 12-11-2021, 07:03 AM

Hey everyone, it has finally come to that point in time for a complete overhaul of my 2000 WS6 drive-train and engine. I was looking into LSX376/4l60E combos on JEGS that cost around 11-13k. I wanted to see if some of yall could help me choose what course I end up taking. Budget somewhere around the 20-25k mark total. That total would be for everything said and done. Original plan is/was a 376/60e combo for 12k, 3600 stall 1k ish, cam 4-500, 12bolt for 3.5k, and about 6500 for misc stuff and labor. Please feel free to dive in and show me some ideas on how yall would do it, if you had the same budget and same idea. Any info would be much appreciated to help start me on my journey to restore this beaut, like engine builders/suppliers, components etc. Thanks in advance everyone.

Car will be street/dd, mild cam, (think bad a@! DD)

***SMWS6TA*** · 12-15-2021, 10:40 AM

Will you be doing the work or having a shop do it?

Check out Texas Speed & Performance. They have some great pricing and engine builds. Regarding transmission I would look for a better trans over the 4Lshitty. For your budget a 4L80e would be best. I does require some additional parts and work. A BFH to make some clearance too.

Now I did my build myself and sourced parts etc....Engine costs around 4k and had my transmission rebuilt by Tick Performance $3500.

**Questioner** · 12-15-2021, 11:59 PM

I was going to tow it to LG Motorsports in Ana Texas and have them do the R&R/tuning. I do not have time to do anything other than basic maintenance on my car like plugs, fluid changes etc. Would I still be able to use my stock computer for the 4l80e and TSP engines are like 3-4k more than other engine suppliers from my research. I could be wrong. Thanks for the reply and the tips.

**Whamhammer** · 12-30-2021, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

Will you be doing the work or having a shop do it?

Check out Texas Speed & Performance. They have some great pricing and engine builds. Regarding transmission I would look for a better trans over the 4Lshitty. For your budget a 4L80e would be best. I does require some additional parts and work. A BFH to make some clearance too.

Now I did my build myself and sourced parts etc....Engine costs around 4k and had my transmission rebuilt by Tick Performance $3500.

I wonder what a 6.2L V8 & 6 speed auto pulled from a 5th Camaro would run these days.

Probably could get away with modifying the driveshaft length.

***SMWS6TA*** · 01-01-2022, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by Whamhammer

I wonder what a 6.2L V8 & 6 speed auto pulled from a 5th Camaro would run these days.

Probably could get away with modifying the driveshaft length.

Main problem will be getting the trans to fit as well as deciding on how to wire it all up.

Holley stand alone would be the easiest, not necessary the cheapest route. The dash cluster will be an issue unless you kill it all and use a table.

**SylviaWhite** · 01-06-2022, 09:34 AM

Getting it to fit has been a problem. Someone should really come up with a better solution to the issue.

**Questioner** · 01-13-2022, 05:03 AM

So, I did hard research on buying all the parts to HCI swap my LS1 and buy a short block later and it turns out the LS3 is a better swap, the 4l60E can be built to hold the LS3 power. So here is a quick checklist I made and I'm going with an LS3/4L60E/12-Bolt swap and doing most the work myself. I have got the OK for time needed to do the work from my boss. I am thinking I will order all the harness's and adapters, TB (cable), fluids, headers and all that stuff and wait for my trans, parts, engine and rear to get to me then spend about a week or two doing the swap, then tow it (with my truck) to a reputable tuning shop and have them sort it out.

My List:
Engine Parts list for HCI swap LS1

IMPORTANT**********Heads off FIRST, Lifters removed, then cam swap, then topend

ATI 918852 (harmonic balancer) (500)
Crank bolt (15)
Crank pulley Rent from autozone etc

Fuel line disconnect tool
PRC LS6 STG 1 heads (1600)
MLS GM head gasket pair (50)
7702-1 Hi-Tech Pushrod Length Checker 6.800" to 7.800" Length (40)
pushrods after checking size^^ ( 130~)
GM style Head Bolts set (50)
thread chaser M11 and M8 (160) <Ridiculous, c'mon man.
Scotch brite (20)
Brake Cleaner (40)
Torque Wrench with Angle, 10-100 ft/lbs. model 85078 (200)
(chevrolet-performance-racing-hydraulic-roller-lifters-88958689 (400)
LS2 Lifter Trays (45)
Oil Pump Melling 10295 STD volume with High Pressure (150)
Cam BTR 3 (400)
LS6/LS2 Cam timing set w/ chain (100)
Cam retainer plate (20)
Front timing cover at TSP webpage (102)
Water pump gaskets x2 (12)
Injectors Green Top Ford 42 lb (550)
Fuel pump (300)
Fast 92/92 intake/tb with iac and tps on JEGS.com (1800) <Also ridiculous
MAP Sensor (80)
Fernco to fit the TB and maf (20)
Coolant,oil, filter, misc fluids ( 150~)
Headers (700~)
Engine TOTAL $8,140
NO LABOR 0.00

Transmission/stall/cooler 4000
Rear end 3500
Brakes and ABS fault ~600
Lift price 100ish maybe???
Tune 600
Complete Build total:$17,940~
NO LABOR 0.00

New engine block if it blows up later 4500

IF Bad things happen total-$21,440

LS3 swap (way easier and cheaper)
7800~ for the crate
2000~harness, adapters, headers, Cable tb, blah blah

***SMWS6TA*** · 01-13-2022, 02:12 PM

Swap the Fast 90 for a 102 and a Nick Williams 102 TB and have some $$ left over for that $1800 price.

Also include the cost of tuning. $450-650

**Questioner** · 01-13-2022, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

Swap the Fast 90 for a 102 and a Nick Williams 102 TB and have some $$ left over for that $1800 price.

Also include the cost of tuning. $450-650

Yep I included the tune cost in the list. Thanks I checked out the 102/102 and it seems to be about the same price, give or take a little. I think the LS3 will be easier, Swapping a motor vs all the work involved on the LS1. Cam only LS3's are pushing more power than a H/C/I LS1 anyway and I can not justify the 3-4k extra to H/C/I an LS1 over a brand new LS3. Thanks for all the input everyone!

***SMWS6TA*** · 01-15-2022, 08:13 PM

LS3 gonna need some other stuff to work. Either a stand alone ecm like Holley or a ECM and harness that works with the 58x reluctor wheel. Our 4th gens work on a 24x reluctor wheel as well as a different crank sensor.

Now you could tear it down and swap out the reluctor wheels but that's honestly going backwards or down grading in tuning.

**Questioner** · 01-16-2022, 12:11 AM

Yea but lingenfelter has a conversion box for 200ish bucks so not a problem for the reluctor. And the additional harnesess are pretty decent price wise. I found a guy to do the swap, if I dont feel like doing it, in Ft Worth as well. At the end of the day its still better for the LS3 swap. Oh and ill need a crank pulley but its still grands cheaper vs the HCI LS1. Thanks.

***SMWS6TA*** · 01-16-2022, 07:19 AM

Looks like you've done the research. post up how it goes....

**SylviaWhite** · 01-17-2022, 09:34 AM

Real enthusiasts. The passion you've brought to work is more than visible.

**Too Fast** · 03-19-2022, 10:35 AM

How is the build going? Anything yet?

I am thinking about upgrading my engine also.

I see your sig says 12.93 @ 107. 18 months ago I ran several low 13s, a best of 13.2 @ 108. No stickies on the back, I still have the OE 10 bolt no issues at all 163k now. Long tubes, ORY, lid and mail order tune. Pretty happy how this car still performs. My best ever was on a perfect weather night, all 7 runs were 109.x with a best that evening of 12.8x @ 109.9.