LS Swap

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I believe the vast majority of car enthusiasts do not really understand what it means to truly double (or more) the original power of a vehicle until they actually drive something that is swapped before and after. It is really staggering

I have a lot of potential customers contact me thinking they “need” a 430hp LS3 because they saw it on YouTube or instagram and then tell me they have no plans to drive it more then a few hundred miles a year around town. 300hp (and double the RPM range) is a LOT in a vehicle that originally came with with <150hp
 
cruisermatt said:
I believe the vast majority of car enthusiasts do not really understand what it means to truly double (or more) the original power of a vehicle until they actually drive something that is swapped before and after. It is really staggering

I have a lot of potential customers contact me thinking they “need” a 430hp LS3 because they saw it on YouTube or instagram and then tell me they have no plans to drive it more then a few hundred miles a year around town. 300hp (and double the RPM range) is a LOT in a vehicle that originally came with with <150hp
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I absolutely could not agree with this more.

I drove a great running 2f stock 40 the other day. I thought I might get run over, it ran fantastic for what it was. Would have ran circles around my 1f that was worn out.

My beater 230k mile bone stock 5.3 is not even in the same book. It will scare the 💩 out of you if you aren’t paying attention.
 
cruisermatt said:
My FJ62 has been ~125mph in trip trim (~6000lbs) with a stock 5.3 and that was before I boosted it
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When I was over at cruisermatt's shop to pick up the split case he showed me around and he had one FJ40 in there that not only had an LS swap, but they were custom installing a supercharger on it! If the axles hold together that would probably pop a wheelie and/or smoke all 4 tires at the same time. Might need some Currie axles for that one! 30 years ago when I was building my '34 Coupe with a balanced and blueprinted big block hemi I had Currie build the rear axles for me.
 
Wondering what people have done with their battery in a 5.3 / 4L60e swap. I moved mine to where the clutch master was. Seemed like the stock position wasn’t going to work with the V8.
image.webp
 
fireflyr said:
Wondering what people have done with their battery in a 5.3 / 4L60e swap. I moved mine to where the clutch master was. Seemed like the stock position wasn’t going to work with the V8.
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The swap we are currently working on (the supercharged one) we used the relocation tray from 4-Plus and it’s a great way to go.
 
@fireflyr - that was a great idea putting the battery where the clutch master used to be. Looks very clean! Nice! I think my power brake booster would be in the way of putting my battery there. Yours is not power brakes, right?

@cruisermatt - thanks for the info on the Plus-4 tray relocation. I can't remember, in the supercharged 40 did you move the battery to the driver's side, or where? I remember that engine compartment looked pretty full, and impressive! And when I looked up the Plus-4 tray relocation it said it works with Gen 1 & Gen 2, but probably not with Gen 3's (1997 - 2005 if Google is correct) because they are bigger. Is the supercharged 40 a Gen 3 and/or have you used the Plus-4 with a Gen 3? Putting the battery on the driver's side?

@clrussell - that was smart moving it there and using the factory LS cables. I see your air filter tucked in right behind your passenger side headlight. I know from years ago that some hot rodders & street rodders cut a large (like 3 or 4 inch) hole in the back of a headlight bucket and rig up a cold air intake to that hole, and when the hood is closed nobody can see it.

I have even thought about mounting an Optima battery on its side and tucked up close to the frame underneath somewhere, but I like the solutions you 3 guys shared, and those would be far easier if you ever need to get or give a jump start.
 
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Augustiron said:
Stock location, sort of.
Stock tray but custom attachment structure underneath, still all entirely removable.

Pic soon after I got it running, wiring has been cleaned up now

View attachment 4157234
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That looks good. What does it look like after cleaning up the wiring? Did you put covered on to hide things, or something else? I saw one YouTube video where a guy even relocated all the coil packs so they were down underneath and hidden, but I can't see doing that. Especially if a big storm or hurricane hit and you need to go through some water. I've thought about making or buying a cover to replace the Vortec plastic cover and paint it to look nicer and covers for valve covers & coil packs. I thought about getting some smooth covers and then maybe using the "TOYOTA" like what is in the grill and putting one on the cover for each valve cover or something like that. Something different. I found these when searching:

https://www.specialopsmotorsports.com/product-page/shorty-series-truck-intake-cover

https://www.specialopsmotorsports.com/product-page/smoothie-series-truck-manifold-cover

https://www.specialopsmotorsports.com/product-page/chevrolet-truck-manifold-cover
 
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peesalot said:
My batts sit right where the heater blower is in Augusts pic and right where his batt is but lower & a tad more forward. I have cruiser lean because the batts, tank, and spares are all on pass side, countered by tools & fridge on driver side.
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@peesalot - Man, I TOTALLY misread what you typed at first. I don't know if my eyes were slightly blurry or my bifocals just weren't lined up right, but I totally thought you said "My balls sit right where the heater blower is in August" and I thought to myself "That sounds miserable. I'd have to change that!" :rofl: Then I re-read it and understood.
 
FloridaLife said:
Anyone got any good videos or YouTube links their FJ40 roaring and/or lighting up the tires with your LS?
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This is the same combo you are doing, stock 5.3/4l60e

 
FloridaLife said:
SWEET!!! I love that! I'm excited!
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Good!! This is supposed to be a fun hobby, and if it’s not fun it’s time to stop and re evaluate!!
 
I think the biggest challenge with these LS Swaps is planning ahead so you aren’t having to redo anything. I was planning on a new wire harness, Dakota Digital gauges and a BP Automotive stand alone LS harness. Throw in a new column and steering wheel with Saginaw power steering…. Getting all that stuff to work together AND finding room for all of it; it’s quite the challenge. I ran into lots of little compatibility issues but the nice thing was I probably wasn’t the first guy to have to reason it out. Neutral safety switches, brake light switches, relocating gas tanks and fuel pumps and return lines and fuel level sensors and and and…

I read a lot of build threads. You’re essentially building your own vehicle so have a goal in mind before you start.

It was so much fun I’ve been thinking about a little Ford Cortina GT mark 1 sitting in a field a half mile from me. Would an LS fit? Six speed Tremec?
 
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