Alright i know this has been asked plenty of times, but i was just wondering what the estimated cost of replacing my 3.8 with a 5.7 LS1 motor and replacing the whole rearend and tranny from a V8, also including labor at a fair price. I know im going to eventually do this, but i was trying to get an estimate on about how much this would cost.

 

about as much as an ls camaro in good shape.

 

Yeah i know, but i dont want to buy a V8, i want to do this project.

 

How is paying some one else to do it a project? I guess I don’t think that way.

Est 40-60 hour, By a Pro, shop rates vary.
About 500 in wear parts.
The doner car cost will be depending on how low the miles are and condition. High miles will be about $2500 figure low miles at $5000

Somewhere $5400-$10,000 total. The 5,400 sounds reasonable but remember that is a high miles engine that just went thru a wreck.

It does not make sense:
I saw a 2001 SS for $7900 with 89K on it. Sell your car for 4K add $3900 and your in a real SS. Not a clone you will have trouble selling for half what the SS will be worth if you ever had to.

But after saying that if I had the chance to rebuild my first Camaro I would do it regardless of cost.

 

Yea. If your honestly willing to drop $10,000 into the swapping everything, basically. Sell the V6 and go buy an SS and upgrade the SS.

 

Ok thanks guys, i know exactly what you guys are saying when you say just buy a SS, but the reason for me doing this is...

1. This is my first car i recieved when i was 16.
2. Ive done about everything i want as far as appearance on the Camaro.
3. Its the 35th anniversary model.
4. Imagine how it would feel when that engine starts up the first time, rather then starting up an old V8 from a used car dealership.
5. I guess the key issue is the sentimental value of the car to me, and i dont like to brag but i have to say that i think my V6 camaro looks a lot better than most other camaros i see on the road. So i now i just want the power to match the look of the car.

*Oh and Btw im not trying to imitate the SS, my hood got damaged about a year ago, so i just decided to go with the SS hood because i think it looks a lot better. And its an original and functional SS hood.

I will post some better pics of my camaro soon, sorry for the blurry pic lol.

 

haha its sad that i joined 3 years ago and im a first gear

 

Inactive member ha

 

I can get what he is trying to say that he wants to keep his car. Its not the cost its the psycological value that is important to him, also its something that he can set towards as a goal. There was a time when i wanted to do this and still somewhat do although if your doing it yourself and have a good donor car its not as bad as it seems, Its just alot of work. The other day I seen an lS1 that was only 800 but it had body damage to the right fender but no bent frame or records just an oops.

 

Yeah the car would have a lot more value in my personal opinion.