Prices?!?!?! - Lateral-g Forums

PoorMan · #1 06-07-2006, 03:59 PM

New guy again...having been out of the scene for a while I'm very much out of touch with today's pricing. I just called a guy about an LS1/LS2 install in a 66-67 Nova and he said he did one that ran about 20k?!?!?! This confuses me when I see things like the 350 Ram Jet for $4,900 (minus installation)...big price difference. I've had similar experiences with other calls. Are these guys blowing me off or what? Granted...I don't have the car yet and, yes, I feel bad that I am taking their time (I try to be brief and to the point), but I'm also not about to get myself into a project that ends up 50K over budget. I'm trying to be smart here and know what I'm getting myself into.

I understand cost is a sensitive subject. If I spent a ton of cabbage building my dream car I probably wouldn't want to tell people off the street what I paid either.

I can install and/or assemble the engine myself. I've done it before but these days I just don't have time. (I guess I could drop the Ram Jet in easily enough.) But this is frustrating. HELP!

MaxHarvard · #2 06-07-2006, 04:15 PM

on a 66, there are a lot of things that need to be changed to get an LS1/2/7/X in there. Mainly the gas tank if i remember correctly needs a return line to the gas tank. This means you either need a new gas tank/ or a custom sending unit with the pump installed in the tank.

$20,000 does sound a bit high... i hope that includes the price of a motor/tranny. But in fairness, it does take some work to do it right.

PoorMan · #3 06-07-2006, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaxHarvard

on a 66, there are a lot of things that need to be changed to get an LS1/2/7/X in there. Mainly the gas tank if i remember correctly needs a return line to the gas tank. This means you either need a new gas tank/ or a custom sending unit with the pump installed in the tank.

$20,000 does sound a bit high... i hope that includes the price of a motor/tranny. But in fairness, it does take some work to do it right.

I failed to mention he did say that included the price of the engine tranny. And sticker shock made me forget that he broke it down...5K labor and 15K spent on engine and tranny. Should rebuilding and LS1 cost 15K?

**Steve1968LS2** · #4 06-07-2006, 04:53 PM

I have a better shop in Rancho Cucamonga.. and he would not only be cheaper but do a better job (it's where I did my '69 Camaro)

$15k for the engine and tranny????

You can buy a new LS2 for $5500 and a new T56 for $3k.. that leaves $6500 for "incidentals".. and that seems like an awful lot of "incidentals".. has the guy done LS1 swaps before? Did the $20k include the fuel, cooling, mounting systems? Computer programing? Harness? engine accesories? new engine? used engine? rebuilt engine? All of those things effect the price.

Like I said.. I could help you get it done cheaper than that.. If you are looking at an LS1 then I am pretty sure you can find the engine and tranny for somewhere near $5k.. then you will need labor and some $ for stuff like motor mounts, wiring and such.

Email me at [email protected]

**Stuart Adams** · #5 06-07-2006, 04:53 PM

Sounds reasonable to me.

**Steve1968LS2** · #6 06-07-2006, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoorMan

I failed to mention he did say that included the price of the engine tranny. And sticker shock made me forget that he broke it down...5K labor and 15K spent on engine and tranny. Should rebuilding and LS1 cost 15K?

It all depends on what you want.. if you would be happy with a mainly stock LS1 (for now) then you could find a clean pull out engine by shopping around. Maybe you could toss a cam in it for $400. I bought my LS1 for $2800 delivered and it included a 4L60e trans, a T56 would cost a bit more. The key is to buy a pullout engine with all the accesories and wireing harness. Then you will need the following:

Wireing harness rework = $450 from Speartech
Engine mounting plates = (not sure on a Nova.. maybe ATS or you could make some.. lets say $300)
Computer reprograme = $350
Fuel system = depends, rework the factory tank and use a regulator from '99 Vette or buy a custom tank (~$800 from a place like Ricks) and use the same regulator.

Other incidentals will depend on what you want. If you want aftermarket gauges then you will need a few fittings and the gauges. A few hours to have them installed or do it yourself after the car runs.

Oh, and you will most likely want headers. You could make the factory exhaust manifolds work on the cheap or find some. Make sure when you get the pull out engine that you get the O2 sensors.

All the rest is just fluff.. you can use your stock radiator with a little work but you will need electric fans. AFCO sells an LS1 swap radiator for about $500 and the fan/shroud for $250 or you can shop around.

Did his price include all this stuff (cooling, fuel, etc)?? I would imagine those would be "upcharges". I would say you should be able to get it done nicely for $15k or less. Most of it depends on how much you spend on the doner engine/trans.

**Stuart Adams** · #7 06-07-2006, 05:12 PM

Poor man, there are always things that "ya don't think of" when doing these cars that bring the price up. Sure he could low ball ya then pump it up after your into the project. The quote was probably because he does not want you to be suprised when the REAL final # totalled up. What ever you think it will cost just double it usually, for me anyways, LOL.

PoorMan · #8 06-07-2006, 05:56 PM

Grrrr...can't email from work Steven. Will email you tonight.

Stuart...that's what I was afraid of.

Does anyone around here use the 350 Ram Jet? One of the car magazines put one in a 66 Nova and it seems to have been a pretty easy install (with a few mods)

PoorMan · #9 06-07-2006, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve1968LS2

I bought my LS1 for $2800 delivered and it included a 4L60e trans, a T56 would cost a bit more. The key is to buy a pullout engine with all the accesories and wireing harness.

Is there a good/reliable place to find deals like this?

**Steve1968LS2** · #10 06-07-2006, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoorMan

Is there a good/reliable place to find deals like this?

Send me an email and I will see what can be done.. good deals are never easily found. Often you trade cash for speed.. the more you spend the faster you get what you want.

However the deals are out there and you live in a great area to find them. My example was with a 4L60e trans. A T56 will cost more. I still believe you can get the motor and trans for $5k fairly easily. And I would hazzard to guess $12k for the parts and install unless you want exotic components. $12k is better than $20k..

I would have to noodle out what you want exactly.. If you try you would be amazed what you can do on a tight budget.. if you try