obs swap in need of experienced opinions

[cxpcman]

Well i got an 88 obs truck, i have been serching and reading a lot about the swap options i got at the market but i really have no experience doing a swap. this will be my first time .. im sure i can handle the entire project, but what i was wondering is something i don't read often, cost, cost-performance, cost-easyness. if somebody can jump in and give me an idea of the entire cost of their own setup, that will help me to decide the route to take.

I was looking around town and internet prices of the following:
LS1 engine + trans + ecm + wiring + electric fans
lq4/9 engine + trans + ecm + wiring + electric fans

the truth is that i know i will be spending a lot more than that ecuation in the swap but how much more ? is my q?
i dont want to start the swap and finding out that i could do better with less. if i get a good deal in some of those i will just take it, but if not i want to know the pros an cons of each setup to get the best setup for my buck ..

im sure that the engine alone will not keep me happy for long, thats why i will add a forced induction system but will not happend until end of 2007 or maybe midle 2008 so think it as a long time investment.

i also consider a disel engine swap but i already measure an engine and seem like a time consuming and costly setup because im almost sure it will not fit under the hood.

any suggestion, tips or any idea of the cost and labor time will be great .

im sure this has been asked before but i swear that i already hit the search button like a thousand times and the more i hit it the more i reallize that i need somebody with experience in the swap to giveme me and idea of what i will be getting into ..

thnks

[1BADC10]

You'll be getting into a lot. The key character trait you need to keep is PATIENCE! It doesn't happen overnight unless you have deep pockets. Take your time, unless you're in a hurry. My swap took at least six months. Some have taken a lot longer than that.

RedHeartBeat can probably shed some light on your swap more than me. I think the 88s are similar to the early 90s trucks (don't quote me tho). If you're just looking for ideas, just skim over the thread titles in this forum (LS1 Conversions). You'll see a few "swap" threads to see what others have gone through. The material's there, just need to look in the right places.

Others are glad to help (when time permits to log into the forum).

-Ron

[RedHeartbeat]

I think you can do the conversion for about $3500 if you do it correctly, minus a/c. You could do it for much less if you shop around. Don't fear a 100K engine, those are just broken in.

$2000 engine and transmission
$50 engine adapter mounts from Ebay
$800 Custom engine Harness and fan harness
$200 Electric fans from 2005 Silverado at GandRauto.com
$200 New aftermarket 34" radiator
$20 materials to make mounting brackets for fans and radiator
$60 new radiator hoses... 3/4 2005 Silverado hoses
$150 hotrod tune to remove VATS and non-essential smog diagnostics
$70 silicone intake elbow reducer
$60 K&N air filter
$650 Street and Performance hi-right side a/c relocation brackets and Sanden 508 compressor
$100 custom a/c hoses built by NAPA
$200 custom exhaust

if you have a single inlet fuel rail, you'll need a 2000+ Corvette internally regulated fuel filter and quick connects.

$60 fuel filter listing on main conversion page along with connector part numbers
$28 (2) 3/8" female quick connects
$14 (1) 5/16" female quick connect
$12 (1) 3/8" male quick connect
$5 one foot of 5/16" fuel injector type hose
$30 six feet of 3/8" fuel injector type hose


Depending on what you can do on your own dictates how much your conversion will cost you. Some guys notch/box the frame to use the stock LSx a/c unit, I just pay the extra money for the S&P unit since my welding skills are not that great and I don't care to weaken the frame any.

[cxpcman]

thnks for the replys guys ..well as i see it i need a good deal with the engine-tranny combo to have enugh mone y to spend in the little stuff that is around half of the cost , im not in a hurry so i will jump on good deals from now on. starting with the stuff that can be used in diferent engines in case i change my mind like radiator fans exhaust . i go to a local junkyard and they want 1800 for a 2002 6.0l engne just engine no accesories no ecm

[Weird_guy]

Also don't be afraid to try ebay.

['89ChevyMadneSS]

i have an '03 6.0 w/an '01 intake (so it is drive by cable and not AS complicated) id sell you for 1500.

^ only 36k miles btw!
(no accessories, i do have a pcm w/a mild tune that i had bought for it i would throw in aswell)

[cxpcman]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(&#39;89ChevyMadneSS &#064; Nov 8 2006, 07&#58;48 PM) [snapback]72780[/snapback]</div>

i have an &#39;03 6.0 w/an &#39;01 intake (so it is drive by cable and not AS complicated) id sell you for 1500.

^ only 36k miles btw&#33;
(no accessories, i do have a pcm w/a mild tune that i had bought for it i would throw in aswell)
[/b]

is that a lq9 or lq4
ypu got pictues ?
how close from south cal are you ?

['89ChevyMadneSS]

lq4
can snap some pics
its only half way across the country, could be worse&#33;
i dont mind to crate and take to a shipping depot, you pay shipping

[cxpcman]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(&#39;89ChevyMadneSS &#064; Nov 12 2006, 11&#58;15 PM) [snapback]73383[/snapback]</div>

lq4
can snap some pics
its only half way across the country, could be worse&#33;
i dont mind to crate and take to a shipping depot, you pay shipping
[/b]

i will let you know .. theres a wrecked corvette and they going to sell it thursday morning so let me check if i can get it cheapo. damn shipping is killing me &#33;

['89ChevyMadneSS]

wish i could find a cheapo smooshed up vette, i could find all kinds of goodies....