Talk me out of using an LS engine vs. 60*

[nonhog]

OK I'm pretty sure the LS will fit w/o major surgery. However I do like the idea of a smaller engine as its a very small car (66 Volvo 122 wagon). The V6 wins on balance and fit hands down.

The problem is I'm feeling a bit uneasy about resourses on the V6. This site often leaves me hanging, as well as others. Not trying to bash. I think its sheer numbers thing.(?) Where LS info is overflowing.

Cost should (but I'm not 100% about this) favor the 60*.
Things like mounts, rerouting water pipes, modifying timing covers does not intimidate me. EFI from the ground up does.
I think my best bet is finding a decent used LX9 add a Turbo then it gets fuzzy.
Do I port the LX9 heads or use LZ4 heads (if that works)
I've still got time to plan this as I am finishing another project (V8 Volvo swap)
But I have to get my head around this so I have a clear plan and don't wander.
LOL

Thanks for your honest response.

[nonhog]

My goal is a 11 sec. 1/4 in a car my wife could hop in and drive to the grocery store.
In my case N20 is fine if needed to save drivability.

[young gun]

Turbo 60*.

65mm or bigger TB, Ported intakes, Ported head with a cam, ARP rod bolts and all the necessities for a turbo. Good power right there. If this will be driven alot or ragged on then consider this aswell.. You have until friday to get payment in on a rare limited product!!.

Considering this is going into an old volvo why not make it more interesting with a 60*. These days LSx's go in everything, except go karts/dirt bikes/ atv's

Still not convinced? check out Mars's turbo 3500 in a 3rd gen camaro. Ran 11.x. He is now going to do a turbo 3900!!

[young gun]

My goal is a 11 sec. 1/4 in a car my wife could hop in and drive to the grocery store.
In my case N20 is fine if needed to save drivability.

How much does this volvo weigh? RWD? What trans are you using?

[nonhog]

If this will be driven alot or ragged on then consider this aswell.. You have until friday to get payment in on a rare limited product!!.

Considering this is going into an old volvo why not make it more interesting with a 60*. These days LSx's go in everything, except go karts/dirt bikes/ atv's

Still not convinced? check out Mars's turbo 3500 in a 3rd gen camaro. Ran 11.x. He is now going to do a turbo 3900!!

I have read Mar's thread as well as others. Since I'm starting fresh, no existing engine(donor car) I really like the 60* idea but don't want to go down a bumpy road if a known smoother road is available. Been there, doing that.
My other Volvo swap is a 5.0 Explorer engine/trans which is turning out to be much more work than the tried and true Mustang 5.0 swap. (hence my questions)

How much does this volvo weigh? RWD? What trans are you using?

About 2500 lbs. Yep RWD. Thinking 200R4 but 700R4 from a S10 bolts up? Might consider that.
Its actually my wifes car, so no stick.

Click for bigger picture. Next to a Scion its still pretty small.

[nonhog]

Turbo 60*.

65mm or bigger TB, Ported intakes, Ported head with a cam, ARP rod bolts and all the necessities for a turbo. Good power right there. If this will be driven alot or ragged on then consider this aswell.. You have until friday to get payment in on a rare limited product!!.

Considering this is going into an old volvo why not make it more interesting with a 60*. These days LSx's go in everything, except go karts/dirt bikes/ atv's

Still not convinced? check out Mars's turbo 3500 in a 3rd gen camaro. Ran 11.x. He is now going to do a turbo 3900!!

True about LS going into everything. Getting old but would still get me 11's w/o much drama.

Oh whats "tce drtc"?

[unchained01]

Double roller timing chain We have a group buy going on now for another production run Look in the "For Sale" section

[Superdave]

In a 2500 lb car with an auto trans, a stock 3500 with a good set of valve springs and mild boost levels would run 11's easy. Mars's is probably around 3K lbs, maybe a little more.


Keep in mind you're going to need a rear end that'll handle that kind of power as well as suspension work and chassis work, plus improved brakes to be able to slow down from 120+mph in a short distance.

[nonhog]

Double roller timing chain We have a group buy going on now for another production run Look in the "For Sale" section

Just a good performance upgrade(adj.?) or are there issues w/stock?

In a 2500 lb car with an auto trans, a stock 3500 with a good set of valve springs and mild boost levels would run 11's easy. Mars's is probably around 3K lbs, maybe a little more.


Keep in mind you're going to need a rear end that'll handle that kind of power as well as suspension work and chassis work, plus improved brakes to be able to slow down from 120+mph in a short distance.

Yep the Spicer (Dana) 23 not going to take much. Besides I wont need 4.56 gears after the swap. Probably go with Explorer 8.8 but not 100% sure yet. Brakes are well proven disc front but I'll likely upgrade to match the new rear brakes when I upgrade the diff.

Thanks for all the reply's so far!

[pocket-rocket]

Explorer 8.8 gets disc too, that's another reason the Ranger guys sometimes get the Expoder rear over the Ranger. The other difference is the spring perches (Ranger leafs sit on top, Explorer is axle over spring) is the shock mounts, but if you check around on www.therangerstation.com you can buy shock mounts and put them wherever you want.

[caffeine]

Explorers got 31 spline axles, rangers I think we're available with either 28 or 31. I think that's why explorer rears are preferred. I've been thinking about eventually going 8.8 for my Firebird. After the 9-bolt blows up of course

[Mars]

I have an L33 alum. block 5.3L V8 sitting in my garage since 2010. Since then I've swapped in a 3500 and now a 3900 into my Camaro while the V8 sits there. I will eventually swap the 8 into something but these 3500's are nice motors ! I can't really sit here and argue that it's a better swap then a lsX, cause I know what "cam only" LSX's can do and they are powerful !! but, the V6 is something different, and for the $$ invested it works.

[Z26-T]

Just a good performance upgrade(adj.?) or are there issues w/stock?

The stock isn't bad. They don't have a high fail rate. But if you plan on swapping in a 3500, I would highly recommend buying the DRTC. If you plan on going with an aftermarket cam, or higher RPM the DRTC will just be insurance for the extra stress put on it. The main reason I recommend buying one now, is because they very likely won't be available again. Also, imagine how much it will cost if you do break your timing chain. Used heads + time + gaskets is well over the ~300 the DRTC will cost.

When it comes to swapping an LSX over a 60* it's a tough choice. You will, without a question, make more power out of the LSX. But a 60* is a relatively cheap engine to build. It is easier to swap in. You will be different. You will probably have more fun and learn more with using a 60*. And what's better than beating a 10k+ v8 with a ~5k turbo v6?

[pocket-rocket]

Explorers got 31 spline axles, rangers I think we're available with either 28 or 31. I think that's why explorer rears are preferred. I've been thinking about eventually going 8.8 for my Firebird. After the 9-bolt blows up of course

Yes. I forgot about that one. The 4.0 Rangers got a 8.8, 3.0 4x4 too. Level II off roads were the 31 spline axles (with torsen LSD).

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[LZeppelin513]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7167[/ATTACH]
I really like the 60* idea but don't want to go down a bumpy road if a known smoother road is available. Been there, doing that.

Might want to check out 3800 SC. Check over at Fiero.nl. With just a 3.4 pulley, headers, cam and tune you could get deep into the 12s with probably more reliability, good mpg, and cheap. Not my cup of tea but its done by the hundreds over on the Fiero forum. That set up on a 2900 lb Fiero is about a 12.5 sec car.