fair enuff mate... thing is i dont give a rats about what anyone else is doing or what they've spent. So many people whinge about the price of a new ls1 engine...i get so many messages from people dreaming and asking about doing the conversion and who knows how many go ahead with it ...wardy...

As stated previously $15 grand for a stocko conversion really. I thought about it and when I had things priced (I live in Qld) I wouldn't have gotten much change out of $10,000 just for the motor and box(6spd) from a wrecker up here with less than 40,000 k's on the clock. $15,000 and then what. You pull up at the lights next to a 6pack Vl turbo and then woooooosh your looking at tailights and thinking S#@t if only I had spent it on my turbo that I had. Trust me with a stocko conversion you will be wanting more. I had a VX SS 6spd which was great but had to sell for property settlement. Out of my half of the car I bought a VLT Berlina stock except small cooler and boost adjuster. It is off the road atm as I am doing a complete rebuild as up to my ownership it has had a hard life. Even as it was, before I embark on this rebuild I loved driving it and yes probably more than my SS although being 87 the old suspension was showing its age. After I get the engine rebuilt(Around 10 g's) and spend about what you are contemplating (on paint, stereo etc) I will be enjoying looking at the faces of Ls1 and Boss owners seeing my 87 3.0L Turbo zinging past and going "What the F$#@ was he packin" and then taking the next turn available to pick up what manhood they have left . That to me is worth more than a stocko 5.7 conversion. Dont get me wrong the Ls1 is a good engine and with the twin turbo and supercharger kits going, they go like a Zertek but unless you go the full hog you will not be happy. I'd stick with the "legendary six". Most of the people I have observed talk the talk but can they walk the walk and afford this conversion. Cheers Imtorqing Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: Originally Posted by Imtorqing As stated previously $15 grand for a stocko conversion really. I thought about it and when I had things priced (I live in Qld) I wouldn't have gotten much change out of $10,000 just for the motor and box(6spd) from a wrecker up here with less than 40,000 k's on the clock. $15,000 and then what. You pull up at the lights next to a 6pack Vl turbo and then woooooosh your looking at tailights and thinking S#@t if only I had spent it on my turbo that I had. Trust me with a stocko conversion you will be wanting more. I had a VX SS 6spd which was great but had to sell for property settlement. Out of my half of the car I bought a VLT Berlina stock except small cooler and boost adjuster. It is off the road atm as I am doing a complete rebuild as up to my ownership it has had a hard life. Even as it was, before I embark on this rebuild I loved driving it and yes probably more than my SS although being 87 the old suspension was showing its age. After I get the engine rebuilt(Around 10 g's) and spend about what you are contemplating (on paint, stereo etc) I will be enjoying looking at the faces of Ls1 and Boss owners seeing my 87 3.0L Turbo zinging past and going "What the F$#@ was he packin" and then taking the next turn available to pick up what manhood they have left . That to me is worth more than a stocko 5.7 conversion. Dont get me wrong the Ls1 is a good engine and with the twin turbo and supercharger kits going, they go like a Zertek but unless you go the full hog you will not be happy. I'd stick with the "legendary six". Most of the people I have observed talk the talk but can they walk the walk and afford this conversion. Cheers Imtorqing 10g for engine and box?! shop around u can do a lot better. And its not fair to compare them, obviously an rb30 doesnt hold **** to a ls1 and why would it? its 1.7litres and 2 cylinders smaller lets be fair... a stock ls1 in a vl is going to cream 99% of vlt's out there, they are 200rwkw STOCK, just change exhaust get a cold air and tune and the power just climbs and climbs, thats why they are so popular. THEN you start changing heads and cam, and add forced induction and it gets recidulously quick. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

for those who run ls1's, i just saw a program about the drift meet at oran park. CAPA entered a SS ute running 1000rwhp. y'no, just in case you had plenty of dollars...

Dont forget a re - engineered fuel system , the LS1 afaik doesnt run a return fuel system , so add new lines/pumps/relays to that cost. Custom lines 700-1k , pumps 500 ( assuming it was a v8 originally ) and associated wiring. All for what , 250 rwkw , yes thats nice and its an alloy engine . I just finished rebuilding my orig VL V8 and just put out 200rwkw and spent 5k . Im all for conversions but its got to be reasonable 10k for 50 more rwkw is not. adam

Quote: Originally Posted by exec5ltrvl Dont forget a re - engineered fuel system , the LS1 afaik doesnt run a return fuel system , so add new lines/pumps/relays to that cost. Custom lines 700-1k , pumps 500 ( assuming it was a v8 originally ) and associated wiring. All for what , 250 rwkw , yes thats nice and its an alloy engine . I just finished rebuilding my orig VL V8 and just put out 200rwkw and spent 5k . Im all for conversions but its got to be reasonable 10k for 50 more rwkw is not. adam *nods head* agreed

What did you do to get 200rwkw for 5k?

yeah 5k for 200rwkw in the vl??? that ust be a fairly wild head and cam combo or stroker

not really, ive seen a vn calais witrh stock manifold, come cam and very basioc head port mkaing 189rwkw...

5k budget included , rebuilt ( ACL race kit) , balanced , new std oil pump and water pumps . Ported heads , std VL black motor valves , crane 272 solid camshaft , rollers and dbl valve springs . Nothing out of the ordinary . Motor is used for a track ( circuit)VL but is street registered but really goes to the track and back . Uses a supra 5 speed with 3.45 diff gears and dyno runs are in 4th gear. adam Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

adam is that a carby or injected motor?

you guys who are saying it can be done under 15k...I'm not saying it can or it cant. I will say this though. Cars cost alot of money. Mods dont come cheap, and u always end up paying alot more than you first thought. lwardy has done the conversion, he has the best idea imo.

Carby , for ease of use its a 650 DP using a 1 inch spacer and performer manifold. Its jetted at 71's for the secondarys . Electric black carter using a reg and std fuel lines is used but a surge tank is fitted ( standard commo l/range tank is a shocker around the track ) adam

I am putting a chev in my car and i optd for engine plates.... and dry sump...it solves the major problems... however in a street car which is turn key everyday youll have problems with the starter motor and stuff being on the wrong side and all..... castlemain rod shop sells a full conversion kit for like 1200 including pipes and stuff!!!!

sinister is on the money i got a vl bought a gen 3 that was a front cut of a vx ss paid 3200 which included box loom computer motor the rest castlemaine rod shop which i have priced is as follows left hand starter kit 990 extractors 700 engine mounts 220 rubbers 39 each all based around a vn v8 k frame wiring obviously auto elec but my price i got quoted was around 1100-1500 exhaust aint that expensive its called shoppin around like sinister said stainless who cares ya dont see it but it still makes a noise and im sure when done a very tidy one brakes natural upgrade and space well theres a vl floating around on the web somewhere a yellow one with walky kit with corvette 6 litre and judging by the pics still had plenty of room so it aint hard its just a matter of shopping around and doin it smart never settle for the first price you get so a more realistic conversion price would be like 8g 9 tops Some original photos have not been recovered yet.