LS engine options

[Try2paz]

Hi guys,
Looking to go the LS route with my 67 Nova. I'm going to be doing a T56 Swap at the same time.

Options:
Looked at Wegner and Don Hardey so far they are roughly the same price for the 416 (620ish hp) motor. The thing I like about them estically is they use the Wegner front drive setup, Holley single plane with throttle body and Holley efi.

I really don't want to go the plastic intake route I want it to look like an old car.

Any other builders I should look into?

[rustomatic]

Mast and Lingenfelter are both popular, and given the conversations I've seen/heard, they stand behind their products pretty strongly (in other words, they know what happens when you race). There are tons of good crate setups out there, including the GM PowerParts stuff that many guys on here have used. You would of course have to source your own TB-style intake that way . . .

For some odd reason, I like the big plastic box sitting in my car's engine compartment. It barely fits under the hood, and it so isn't supposed to be there . . .:disgusted:

[Air-bender]

Chevrolet! Check out the LS3 connect and cruise kit. You can buy that front drive separately and get rid of that plastic intake for the look you want. Good luck!

[6D9 Matt]

I got my engine from Billy Briggs at Motorcity Speed. HIGHLY recommend him and his team. Top notch product and service.

https://www.motorcityspeedonline.com/

Others off the top of my head...

Kurt Urban
Thompson Motorsports
Nelson Racing Engines

[71RS/SS396]

What's the intended use for the car?

[tubbed69]

Call Shaun Carter at SMC Performance,his plug and play kits are great,nice clean wiring harness

[glassman]

Since your kinda local, RPM (Rohnert park machine) is where im getting my LS7 from (a ways out). They have an excellent build out on it. Also some other options, contact is Jason. They did my final tune (dyno) on my blue car and made it sooooo much better.

I believe they can do the whole enchilada. IF you not takin it too Sac....

[Try2paz]

Well things change like they often do in life... I blew up the motor in my mustang on the track this weekend so the LS swap is on hold.

Mike, I spoke with RPM today about doing a motor for the Mustang. I also spoke with Kevin from Precision Machine in Lodi and I've also got a call into Elliot at Mustang Corral to figure out next steps. I will keep everyone posted.

[craig510]

Well things change like they often do in life... I blew up the motor in my mustang on the track this weekend so the LS swap is on hold.

Mike, I spoke with RPM today about doing a motor for the Mustang. I also spoke with Kevin from Precision Machine in Lodi and I've also got a call into Elliot at Mustang Corral to figure out next steps. I will keep everyone posted.

Oh snap. You blew up your motor? How bad. Rods sticking out of the block or just plumes of blue smoke?

Good luck with the rebuild or new mill.

[Solid LT1]

You might want to talk with Mike Maier about engine shops....he uses Bob Wirth R&D for his bullets. Bob can build anything...has done the CP Boss 302 ex-T/A motor and the Rousch Yates NASCAR motor refresh for Mike. Bob builds lots of USAC midgets/Silver Crown motors and has a $300K engine dyno....if he isn't too busy....I'd use him. Bob has built SCCA road racing championship winning motors since the 70's

[GregWeld]

My engines are built by TONY BORELLO --- 590 hp (110 octane) Old Edelbrock ported heads (not the latest tech) but they were ported by Mike Chapman (famous porter).

They have been 100% trouble free since I switched builders to Tony. Conversely I had the motor out three times using Tony Odo (the supposed top builder in the area). Trust me -- I run them HARD and track often compared to most here.... Just sayin'

Lisa - his wife - answers the phone.... she's a hoot.

(530) 333-4752

[Try2paz]

Oh snap. You blew up your motor? How bad. Rods sticking out of the block or just plumes of blue smoke?

Good luck with the rebuild or new mill.


I melted down a piston ring / popped head gaskets..It still runs just coolant in Oil. I've been fighting fuel / motor issues the last two track days it finally had its day.

I'm going to call Tony Borrello and Bob Wirth today.. problem is i'm now in the middle of everyone's busy season... IE: I've got 15 motors in front of you or 11 etc.

[cjsgarage]

We've used RPM in Rohnert Park for a number of our builds. They're about a theee months turn around. Sometimes four. But they're VERY meticulous. Totally top notch.

Mike's talked with them about an LS3 based 427. It was 650hp and smog legal. If you're. It needed smog, they can obviously stuff a better cam in there and make some other tweaks for good reliable horsepower. They build a lot of road race engines for a couple programs, so they know how to make them last.

707 584 8230

Greg, I thought you had RPM do something? I saw you chatting up their main engine builder on Instagram. Maybe I jumped the gun.

[GregWeld]

We've used RPM in Rohnert Park for a number of our builds. They're about a theee months turn around. Sometimes four. But they're VERY meticulous. Totally top notch.

Mike's talked with them about an LS3 based 427. It was 650hp and smog legal. If you're. It needed smog, they can obviously stuff a better cam in there and make some other tweaks for good reliable horsepower. They build a lot of road race engines for a couple programs, so they know how to make them last.

707 584 8230

Greg, I thought you had RPM do something? I saw you chatting up their main engine builder on Instagram. Maybe I jumped the gun.




Another VOTE for RPM --- and if I wasn't happy with BORELO I'd take the motor to RPM..... I've watched their work for 2 or 3 years now and have seen nothing but EXCEPTIONAL machine work.

[rustomatic]

For logic's sake, there's always the junkyard (my preference for replacement engines, partly due to a machine shop allergy). Sacto has some of the country's biggest recyclers, so on any given day, you could find a nice pullout LS3 with (or without) a TR6060, along with all of the stock goodies, and short of a little work on the harness and a computer re-set, you'd have a pretty nice (reliable and fast) setup. You could always re-cam later . . .

The need for a 700-horse engine is not unlike the "need" for a liter sportbike . . .