General LSX Automobile Discussion - Replace LS1 with LS2,3 or LS6?

I'm looking to replace a LS1 engine. What is a good swap? LS2,3 or LS6? I've got about 3,000 at the most to spend. What are your thoughts? I know all the LS motors are good. The plan is just a bolt on motor for now. Heads and cam will have to wait.

swap your heads with 243 heads, and put in an ls6 cam... bam you have an LS6.

doubt you'd be able to find any ls2/3 for less than 3 grand

swap your heads with 243 heads, and put in an ls6 cam... bam you have an LS6.

doubt you'd be able to find any ls2/3 for less than 3 grand

I really have no clue what a 2 or 3 goes for.
I really want a Z06, but I'll have to wait a while for that. Work is slow.

I bought the LS6 and put in mine. If i wouldnt have known any better then, I would have waited and dropped in a bigger motor

you can get a brand new ls6 from gm for like 3... thats about it.. my ls3 cost around 7 and its really not got that much done to it.. you could possibly find a used one for cheap tho, id start looking now, you can find some amazing deals on here...

I forgot to say, this engine is for a shell I bought. The tranny is still in the car. A4. The car is a 2001 z/28. It's a car I'll be selling to my brother in law. He's the one who is buying the parts needed. I'm on here, so I'll see what I can do for him.

I forgot to say, this engine is for a shell I bought. The tranny is still in the car. A4. The car is a 2001 z/28. It's a car I'll be selling to my brother in law. He's the one who is buying the parts needed. I'm on here, so I'll see what I can do for him.

if he doesn't mind an iron block, i'd get an LQ9 (6.0 iron block) and put it in there. Its the same as an LS2 with different heads/cam i believe. they have a ton of potential for a much better price than any of the aluminum blocks.

if he doesn't mind an iron block, i'd get an LQ9 (6.0 iron block) and put it in there. Its the same as an LS2 with different heads/cam i believe. they have a ton of potential for a much better price than any of the aluminum blocks.

Is that the truck motor? How much do those go for?

ya it is. I'm pretty sure they go for less than a grand for a complete long block. i may be wrong tho.

ya it is. I'm pretty sure they go for less than a grand for a complete long block. i may be wrong tho.

Wow that's cheap! Can't go wrong with that motor. Where do I find one that cheap? What's all needed to swap in the LQ9 for the LS1? Or does it just bolt in?

PCM, sensors, pan, etc... are a direct bolt on. There is one alternator bracket hole not drilled in the block that is not necessary. Search around for more info. CR is different on the LQ4's cause they have dished pistons where LQ9's have flat tops... Search....

id save for the bigger motor...like mentioned 243 heads and a 02-04 ZO6 cam and you have an LS6...01Z's cam wasnt as big...rated at .525 intake and exhaust. It was .550 for the 02+. Not sure on the lobe sepration.

I would get a 5.3 truck engine. LS based, all aluminum, all LS parts bolt on, and the best part? You can pick them up complete for like $650-$1000. Then id use the extra money to supercharge it. And for $3000-$4000 TOTAL, you could have 450-500 horsepower in a completely reliable LSX drive train.

one of the sponsors here has LS6 longblocks going for like $3100 i think. but i wouldnt recommend that. an LS6 really is a waste of time if you current motor is fine. only heads and a cam away from that. the LS2 has the bigger bore so if youd wanna take that to a 402+ci motor later on, you could. same goes for the LS3, but with mroe stock power obviously.

or you could spend the money on a good H/C and be making more power than the LS2/3 would be making.

you have other options though. is your car paid off? are you debt free? if you answer NO to either of them, id say do one of those.

heres what you do, find an lq4/lq9 shortblock. put some 241 heads off here for 150-200 or 243s for around 500 if you can swing it. buy a nice cam package to compliment the heads(i would have one specd out by Pat G or Predator Z, and top it off with an ls6 intake. then get all the accessories and covers off an ls1 and wiring harness if you dont have one. you can easily put that together for under 3k and you can find most all of it in the classifieds in real good shape. i would check some local scrap yards for the shortblock. If you find a longblock just sell the extra parts on here. youll need some LT1 front springs for the heavier iron block too.