LS3 Crate 525hp/480hp/430hp... Thoughts and experience?

[kev2769]

I have always enjoyed building my own shit.
If it breaks then you learn what you did wrong and don't do it again.
Plus you wont have to wait on a shop to turn around and say "You didn't use the right oil therefore the warranty is void" or "You didn't have the oil changed by a GM certified shop therefore your warranty is void".
Anytime time a warranty is involved you will go through so much shit and downtime if something was to happen.
You could build a motor twice yourself with better parts than what you would get with the price tag of a crate engine.
As long as you buy all the right parts that are suppose to go together and assemble the engine in a clean dust free room and torque everything to spec and check it twice you should have no problem building your own engine.
I am sure that a friend or a friend of a friend might know something and could give you some guidance or even help you out for the short block assembly or buy a short block assembly from a reputable shop.
Once you have a short block then the rest is easy. No sense in paying for someone to bolt parts on.

[XLR8]

I wanted to say that I added the cost of the crate and GMPP harness together in my original post.  Looking at other options for a harness now, so the crate engines themselves from Jegs with free shipping are as follows:

LS376/525hp - $7552
LS376/480hp - $6530
LS376/430hp - $6196

[largeorangefont]

480 hp is the best deal. Can't beat 50 hp for $334

[XLR8]

480 hp is the best deal. Can't beat 50 hp for $334

Agreed, the Hot Cam is a pretty mild street cam as well, which is what I am after.   If I choose this route, I will likely go with that one. 

Man, there are some good deals out there on built engines though....

[usmcpi]

I wanted to say that I added the cost of the crate and GMPP harness together in my original post.  Looking at other options for a harness now, so the crate engines themselves from Jegs with free shipping are as follows:

LS376/525hp - $7552
LS376/480hp - $6530
LS376/430hp - $6196

Don't get that harness.  It's only a stock harness with a PCM that most likely has some super conservative tune loaded on it.  You'd still need to have it modified//adapted to the rx7.  You can pick up a used harness (or normally they come with pullout engines), have someone such as Blake mod it, and get a real tune much cheaper.

[XLR8]

Roger that.  If I decide to stick with the GM ECU, I am leaning towards a Milspec LS3 swap harness.  I also contacted a vendor on LS1tech for getting an ECU with a modified mail order tune to get me going.  I will finish it myself from there.

http://www.chasebays.com/product/gm-ls-series/chase-bays-products/chase-bays-engine-harness--gm-ls2--ls3

I have a Rywire milspec harness on my rotary setup now, and it's really nice to work with.

[zbrown]

This is lol

Guy wants help. But "has it all figured out"

Stick with the rotary

[ls3_rob]

chase has a bad reputation just warning you

[turbo-civic-si]

I have under 3.5k inside my LS6, not including the block and it makes 570whp, That of course is not enough so plans are in the works.  Making it rain Dollar Dollar Dollar bills in my moms garage.

[XLR8]

This is lol

Guy wants help. But "has it all figured out"

Stick with the rotary

Not sure where that came from.  I ask for opinions, and I am always polite and appreciative.  Yes, I'm learning about this swap.  Should I just do what everyone tells me to do blindly? 

chase has a bad reputation just warning you

Thank you!  I will look at other options. 

[zbrown]

I can tell you one thing. Tech is the wrong place for advice FACT


Then spend money on a universal harness that is no better in quality than what blake does which is custom fit for the FD chassis

Then spending money on a mail order?

Like I said getting advice from the wrong places and it is lol

[XLR8]

Really?  I see many folks asking questions about particular parts or options.  I guess I can direct most of my "advice" questions to my build thread.  Yes, I'm "new", and  excited to get started on the build.  Definitely don't want to come across like I have all the answers because it's pretty obvious that I don't.  I really appreciate everyone's advice.  It's been awhile since I was the new guy, so I recognize that I have a lot to learn about the V8 world and the swap. 

In any case, thanks for your input.  The link with the stroker engine was sweet and has had me thinking for sure.