V8 engine and trans swap (auto to manual) or new car?

[DAS BOOT]

Re: V8 engine and trans swap (auto to manual) or new car?

Keep in mind we're going on almost 8 years without making these cars now. LS1's are racking up the miles themselves in the Fbodies. We're approaching a period of time where it might actually be more cost effective to buy the V6 stuff and fix the V6 up than it would be for the V8. Lets not be stupid here, FEW engines are more reliable than the LS1, sad thing is, the GM 3800 Series II engine happens to be one of them.

If you want to upgrade to a V8 then be my guest, but the average median mileage for a 2002 LS1 is probably damn close to 96k miles.

I agree alot of the ls1 cars are 100k range. But so are the v6s. I have been browsing f-bodies for ****s and giggles for months. Everytime I see a $6k ls1, I just check it out, because it seems clean. Alot of times they are in the 85-115k range. But appear to be in good condition. Average ls1 car on the road, and the average v6 car on the road, the ls1 car is in alot better shape.

I am not saying I don't see clean v6 cars out there too. And I don't see trashed v8 cars. But there are alot of clean, looked to have been very well taken care of ls1 cars out there in the $6k range.


As for the 3.8L You will here people claim they are the god of engines, then you will hear just as many people got burned on them. Do searches you will find people with good stories and horror stories.

Facts are facts, there were recalls, and lawsuit against GM about them.

Just did a search if 3.8L problems....

http://www.gmproblems.com/38.htm

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom..._manifold.html

http://www.stuevesiegel.com/CM/Resul...ON-LAWSUIT.asp

http://www.businessweek.com/autos/au...alls_15_m.html




I am not trying to bash the motor, its a decent motor, I owned one and half looked at buying my aunt's 01 Gp GT. But don't start claiming its the holy of holy most reliable engine ever.

I am sure you will post up some high mileage cars that are fine, so let me post my story.



I had 2 4th gens.

a 94, that was beat to hell and back, and beat till the day I sold it broken. Engien was fine other issues with the car, car was sold, and from my other post has a quarter million miles from the current owner, I sold it with ~140,000 miles on it.

Then I had 00 camaro. It was beat to hell and back, but not nearly as bad as the 94(we can use the fact, I broke 1 torque arm 1 rear, ~4 trannies, and went through like 5 clutches in my 94. I went through 1 clutch, 1 tranny, and started to get noise from 1 rearend), it did run much better times, but my 3.4 ran damn fine times too for what it was. then the '00 got retired for normal daily driving, nothing crazy. Like ayear later the engine failed at like 82,000 miles. Intake gasket, put coolant in oil, and developed a knock.

Same transmission, drivetrain, and only about a 100# difference between the cars.




I'll wait for the argument about how it was all my fault my car failed.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: V8 engine and trans swap (auto to manual) or new car?

This is just some local FL cars.

SOM SS convertable 70k
$6900
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

70k black trans am convertable
$6,000
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

99 black transam 85k miles
$6,900
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

98 Trans am Mystic teal, 95k
$6,800
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

'00 6-speed Ws6 99k
$4,995


$3500 134k but its a 6-speed (hell the tranny is worth ~$1k if it shifts)
http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/1517626091.html
$6500 100k, but longtubes, ls6, etc...
http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/1493196592.html
$6500 6-speed
http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/1491816503.html

[Mogobs30th]

Re: V8 engine and trans swap (auto to manual) or new car?

Every car manufacturer has recalls. EVERY CAR MANUFACTURER. No mechanical device is infallable.

The ONLY person here that I know that has had any complaint on the engine....is YOU. You're the only one ever. Your first addy you linked is specific to a certain model car, seeing as the FWD and RWD TB's, LIM and UIM's can be a bit off. And to be quite honest, you were never one to really take care of your cars other than appearance. I think you beat the living **** out of every car you ever owned, doing things to them most normal people wouldn't do.

[VF1Skullangel]

Re: V8 engine and trans swap (auto to manual) or new car?

Anyone here take any pride at all in owning a V6? Or do they consider a V6 a stepping stone to larger junk?

I do. Id rather drive my V6 than a V8 anyday of the week.

It gets the job done and does it right 100% of the time. Its not the Lamborghini I want but its very close. Not many people sport the V6 and it feels good going to every car show and being the only V6 Fbody there.

Also it has put a lot of money into my pocket compared to buying an LS1.

Like I said if I wanted an LS1, I don't want it in an Fbody.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: V8 engine and trans swap (auto to manual) or new car?

Every car manufacturer has recalls. EVERY CAR MANUFACTURER. No mechanical device is infallable.

The ONLY person here that I know that has had any complaint on the engine....is YOU. You're the only one ever. Your first addy you linked is specific to a certain model car, seeing as the FWD and RWD TB's, LIM and UIM's can be a bit off. And to be quite honest, you were never one to really take care of your cars other than appearance. I think you beat the living **** out of every car you ever owned, doing things to them most normal people wouldn't do.

Yes most every car has recalls. Answer me this question? How many cars have had class action lawsuits against them? L36 has



I take meticulous care of my cars, in fact more so then I ever did the appearance. Miss the part about my car before my 3.8L is still on the road with a 250,000 miles on it, original motor? Hell my current car, I have every receipt, keep a full log of every maintenace performed, and I have logged every gas fill up for the last 27,000 miles(Have it in a spreadsheet too I can tell you how much money I have spent, how many gallons and the mpg I have gotten since March 2008)


But I do agree at the same time I beat the piss out of them as well racing them. You are right, most normal people don't autocross, or dragrace their cars. If you paid attention, I showed you 1 4th gen I had held up to the abuse and has 250k, while the other didn't hold up. Pretty much identical cars with exception to the engine.

Its no sweat off my back if you guys feel I am 100% wrong, don't believe me, do searches of problems people have had with their cars on this board. There are hundreds of people who have had issues in the FWD and RWD versions, which despite what you believe are VERY similar and identical in most spots.


Research it yourselves if you guys feel I am full of ****. Once again, as I said before, I didn't say it was a bad engine, but I said its not as fluffed up as people make it.



I am just saying get your info from unbiased sources before you make a decision on anything.

[SilverRS96]

Re: V8 engine and trans swap (auto to manual) or new car?

I guess every1 is on the LS1 bandwagon. With the amount of time effort and money ud have to exhaust itll b easier to find urself a v8 car. But if the bird means something to u and u dont want to go that route then go ahead and swap it.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: V8 engine and trans swap (auto to manual) or new car?

I guess every1 is on the LS1 bandwagon. With the amount of time effort and money ud have to exhaust itll b easier to find urself a v8 car. But if the bird means something to u and u dont want to go that route then go ahead and swap it.

If its a daily driver, I'd prefer a good condition car vs. a motor swapped/junkyard parts car. Ls1/v6/whatever

Yes you may get a low mileage engine to swap in, but how long has that engine sat? Say the donor car got in a wreck in 2001 and the engine been sitting for the last 9 years.

[SilverRS96]

Re: V8 engine and trans swap (auto to manual) or new car?

hey i never said that the engine would b a great runner. He just asked if he should swap it or not.