GI: selling the ballermaro

[bigairboarder44]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

Sell V6, Buy V8:
- Sell the ballermaro: $5500 let's say
- Buy an SS: $10000 for a nice, low-ish mile SS
Cost difference: $4500

LS1 Swap:
- Buy LS1/drivetrain/harnesses: $5000 (from what Blizz said)
- Buy other random parts (new exhaust system, radiator, hoses, engine cradle, steering rack): differs, but we'll say ~$1500
- Sell 3.8/other stuff you got rid of: -$1000
Cost difference: $5500

It's really not cost effective to just swap instead. Trust me - I did it with a donor car that was <$4000. If you wanna do it just for the learning experience and to say you did it, then go for it.

[bigairboarder44]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

On a different note, you don't have to go straight to the LS1. You could pick up a 5.3 or a 4.8 even and turbo the **** out of it. Now that'd be fun. And those things are cheap as hell.


Regardless, good luck with the sale bud :)

[Mogobs30th]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

Well what do you expect? The majority of the people on this board have a v6 fbody. So they aren't looking for one.

Better posting it elsewhere.

You're in a pissy mood lately, aren't ya?

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

Sell V6, Buy V8:
- Sell the ballermaro: $5500 let's say
- Buy an SS: $10000 for a nice, low-ish mile SS
Cost difference: $4500

LS1 Swap:
- Buy LS1/drivetrain/harnesses: $5000 (from what Blizz said)
- Buy other random parts (new exhaust system, radiator, hoses, engine cradle, steering rack): differs, but we'll say ~$1500
- Sell 3.8/other stuff you got rid of: -$1000
Cost difference: $5500

It's really not cost effective to just swap instead. Trust me - I did it with a donor car that was <$4000. If you wanna do it just for the learning experience and to say you did it, then go for it.

You're high. 5.3 swap can be done for around $1k

[BallerMaro13]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

definitely a lot of good things to consider here guys, i appreciate it. this is exactly why i've been back and forth on the fence for quite some time. i love the ballermaro and there's a lot of blood, sweat, and beers in her but it's nothing i couldnt do again now that i've attained the knowledge to do so.

and you guys make some good points, but even if i did a swap, turbo, or build as is, i know for a fact that all of the unknown problems that nickel and dime you to death would make the project more of a headache and more time consuming than selling and getting exactly what i want from the get-go. plus, i know there's a good amount of interest in the 'maro around here bc i've even gotten a verbal offer of 7k for her if/when i'm looking to sell from a guy at work (talk is cheap tho, i know...) so putting money towards an SS is very reasonable even if i get somewhere between 5-7k.

my reserve with the ballermaro is she's a moneypit, and will always continue to be one if i work on her. but i'm always open to options :wavey:

and as far as all of the visual mods i've done that you guys agree i've put together well....those can all be done so easily again. if i sell her without the replica rims i can just throw those on the SS, it will already have the hood and spoiler i want, then it wont take much work to do niteshades/lights/tint/drop and some of the basic visual things. so that work wont be hard to recover whatsoever seeing as i did it all myself anyway.

[BallerMaro13]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

oh yeah, and bigair:

i know the smaller swaps can be done on the cheap, but that's gonna get me right back to this same spot when i want an lsx instead of the 5.3 down the road. sure, it would be an upgrade, but this time i want to get things right from the very beginning.

you and birdofprey are the perfect guys to attest to the ups/downs of doing a swap, can you shed some light on why you chose to do that instead of buy the ls1 upfront? bigair, i remember you got a donor car so that makes sense, but im sure you ran into your share of headaches.

[dmw319]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

i think you are on the right track with your ideas.

baller approved! oh wait.. thats not my line. lol

[BallerMaro13]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

lol well done sir :cool:

[Blizzard242]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

Find me a SS while you're at it. Then we'll ditch this site and go over to ls1tech haha! jk jk!

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

oh yeah, and bigair:

i know the smaller swaps can be done on the cheap, but that's gonna get me right back to this same spot when i want an lsx instead of the 5.3 down the road. sure, it would be an upgrade, but this time i want to get things right from the very beginning.

you and birdofprey are the perfect guys to attest to the ups/downs of doing a swap, can you shed some light on why you chose to do that instead of buy the ls1 upfront? bigair, i remember you got a donor car so that makes sense, but im sure you ran into your share of headaches.

I had a complete donor car that I bought for $1200. Can't beat that. Doing it again, we could do it in a day, if not less. If I were you, I wouldn't turn my nose up at a 5.3L. If you want to go FI, that seems to be the best stock LSx motor to boost. I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do. There is rumblings of a stock motor shootout next spring. If I want to do that, I need to pull my LS1 trans and rear to sell and replace with a 5.3, TH400, and 12 bolt. Or, I may put the LS1 in another body just to drive around. If anyone sees a CHEAP body that just needs a motor/trans, LMK!

[flamingchicken]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

Like bird said, the 5.3 isn't some slouch. check this out.

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/e...2/viewall.html

Realistically there may not be enough room to fit all that under the hood, but I have seen alot better engineering done.

[Docta]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

That's my plan. Maybe not boost it, but there's a GP GXP in a yard locally that I'm going to check out if the LS4 in it is still in one piece and complete.

[BallerMaro13]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

kyle you definitely raise a good point, and you're right in stating the 5.3 can do some serious damage, but an engine swap is the last thing i have time for in the midst of everything else. and if i had the time and the funds to do so, i'd drop a crate engine in the 'maro in a heartbeat and rebuild from the ground up...but i guess that'll have to wait until i have a classic way down the road to play with :D

[VF1Skullangel]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

That Maro is indeed, quite Baller. 7k Isn't impossible if you find a car enthusiast that appreciates what you've done to it, so it depends on how hard and where you market it. Keep in mind that most car enthusiasts that understand that mod list are also probably looking for a V8 in the first place. Unfortunately any money put into these cars is entirely for personal pleasure, it very rarely comes back to you when you resell. Best of luck :)

Very true!

Just keep it and get an SS. Nothing is better than having both a V6 and V8.

[Red&Black_Attack]

Re: GI: selling the ballermaro

I'd say keep it too man. If its paid for just keep it, maintain it and save up for a 2nd car to play with.
Only reason I got rid of mine is cause I was given the oppurtunity to trade for a my Lemans. I couldnt refuse the offer. :D

kyle you definitely raise a good point, and you're right in stating the 5.3 can do some serious damage, but an engine swap is the last thing i have time for in the midst of everything else. and if i had the time and the funds to do so, i'd drop a crate engine in the 'maro in a heartbeat and rebuild from the ground up...but i guess that'll have to wait until i have a classic way down the road to play with :D

Classic's are more fun anyways. :)