I put an LQ4 4L80E in my son's '86 El Camino. Planned on going for quality parts, but when I went to buy the planned Hooker Blackheart headers I learned Holley quit making/selling them... Ended up with some Speed Engineering for an older G-body / 3d gen F -body that I knew I'd have to clearance both the headers and the frame/suspension. Otherwise the headers fit, look, and feel pretty good. One spark plug wire boot is close, but after several thousand miles, it hasn't burned or gotten crispy. Used a Terminator Max, Hooker Blackheart dual 3" exhaust, Hooker engine mounts and trans crossmember, Holley fuel tank and EFI sending unit, new crossflow aluminum rad with dual electric fans, etc. We probably have about $8,000 into the swap. From taking a running, stock, carbed 305 with 200R4 to the current configuration. It was my first swap, and I was surprised how quickly it added up. I think I'm glad we went with the Terminator Max, because we plan to continue to mod the engine/car. Cam, maybe heads, etc. Definitely worth paying (crying) once on many parts, especially if you want reliability and don't want to handle the labor multiple times.
Great video man! I have gone the cheap route on some of these and 100% regretted it. I think the only thing I would add to this list would be sensors. I had a ton of issues with cheap amazon sensors and ended up getting AC Delco for everything with no issues since.
I definitely vouch for 100% of this video. I definitely tried to go budget with my '84 monte carlo and man did I buy and cried. So much so that it definitely pushed me to get my '87.
Pretty cool video. We all tried to cheap out at some point and it was not worth it. I went back to the drawing board and started spending real money on my swap. Holley sniper retrofit tank on my 66, Holley terminator x max, Dakota digital gauges, etc. It does add up but when you look at the end result, it becomes a piece of mind.
You say fake part and rock auto has been busted faking parts off as well so instead of doing all that stuff what I did cause I work on cars all the time is I opened an buisness account with an autoparts store that's an cash only account so you don't need an buisness license to charge parts you just pay cash upon pickup but with the discount for an buisness! You'll get around normally 30-40% off parts and won't have to wait for every part as they will have a lot in stock. I love this video cause your 100% right you should use oem that's recommended by dealer depending on make and model! I belive the injection and coils are definitely some of the most important to me like you said for tuning cause that throws off the mas/map sensors and much more if not right.
cheap headers fit much better when the motor and trans mounts aren't worn out. Also back in the 80s I "adjusted" more than a few headman or hooker headers to fit.
You seriously think someone is putting a LS engine (new or used) into a vehicle and using old/worn out motor mounts? You need to find a new mechanic if thats the case.
Hoping to swap mine soon, and with everything I've seen on YT real auto diagnosticians I watch the injectors and coils are the biggest problems. Cheap ass chinese junk. Thanks for pointing it out
I am doing a Ls3/6L80E SWAP in a 03'Crown Vic Police Interceptor. It's a project with my grandkids. First swap, bot my first engine lol. I couldn't do the $90 harness so I got a stock harness out of a 09' Yukon. Depinned it and used a decent fuse/relay box. Not that cheap 4 fuse doorman garbage lol. I cat do the cheap cheap. I've had ro many issues. And the counterfeits are real all over EBAY and Amazon lol. I've seen them. Quality is not heap. And I want my junk to last lol.
Dope to see Pro Touring Store in your advertising. Great company that saves people thousands!
I put an LQ4 4L80E in my son's '86 El Camino. Planned on going for quality parts, but when I went to buy the planned Hooker Blackheart headers I learned Holley quit making/selling them... Ended up with some Speed Engineering for an older G-body / 3d gen F -body that I knew I'd have to clearance both the headers and the frame/suspension. Otherwise the headers fit, look, and feel pretty good. One spark plug wire boot is close, but after several thousand miles, it hasn't burned or gotten crispy. Used a Terminator Max, Hooker Blackheart dual 3" exhaust, Hooker engine mounts and trans crossmember, Holley fuel tank and EFI sending unit, new crossflow aluminum rad with dual electric fans, etc. We probably have about $8,000 into the swap. From taking a running, stock, carbed 305 with 200R4 to the current configuration. It was my first swap, and I was surprised how quickly it added up. I think I'm glad we went with the Terminator Max, because we plan to continue to mod the engine/car. Cam, maybe heads, etc. Definitely worth paying (crying) once on many parts, especially if you want reliability and don't want to handle the labor multiple times.
Thanks
Great video man! I have gone the cheap route on some of these and 100% regretted it. I think the only thing I would add to this list would be sensors. I had a ton of issues with cheap amazon sensors and ended up getting AC Delco for everything with no issues since.
Totally agree!
First time watching your channel. Good stuff!! Thanks for telling it like it is.
Cracked me up. Subscribed for sure brother.
I definitely vouch for 100% of this video. I definitely tried to go budget with my '84 monte carlo and man did I buy and cried. So much so that it definitely pushed me to get my '87.
Asking about their goal is important! 👏
Pretty cool video. We all tried to cheap out at some point and it was not worth it. I went back to the drawing board and started spending real money on my swap. Holley sniper retrofit tank on my 66, Holley terminator x max, Dakota digital gauges, etc. It does add up but when you look at the end result, it becomes a piece of mind.
You say fake part and rock auto has been busted faking parts off as well so instead of doing all that stuff what I did cause I work on cars all the time is I opened an buisness account with an autoparts store that's an cash only account so you don't need an buisness license to charge parts you just pay cash upon pickup but with the discount for an buisness! You'll get around normally 30-40% off parts and won't have to wait for every part as they will have a lot in stock. I love this video cause your 100% right you should use oem that's recommended by dealer depending on make and model! I belive the injection and coils are definitely some of the most important to me like you said for tuning cause that throws off the mas/map sensors and much more if not right.
cheap headers fit much better when the motor and trans mounts aren't worn out. Also back in the 80s I "adjusted" more than a few headman or hooker headers to fit.
You seriously think someone is putting a LS engine (new or used) into a vehicle and using old/worn out motor mounts? You need to find a new mechanic if thats the case.
Hoping to swap mine soon, and with everything I've seen on YT real auto diagnosticians I watch the injectors and coils are the biggest problems. Cheap ass chinese junk. Thanks for pointing it out
I am doing a Ls3/6L80E SWAP in a 03'Crown Vic Police Interceptor. It's a project with my grandkids. First swap, bot my first engine lol. I couldn't do the $90 harness so I got a stock harness out of a 09' Yukon. Depinned it and used a decent fuse/relay box. Not that cheap 4 fuse doorman garbage lol. I cat do the cheap cheap. I've had ro many issues. And the counterfeits are real all over EBAY and Amazon lol. I've seen them. Quality is not heap. And I want my junk to last lol.
I've seen MSD coils drop left and right lol
sick cars!
Can i ls swap my 2018 camry le?
Great info!
I have a gen 3 5.3 bore to a 383 stroker. What size injectors I need to run.
Hey what headers would u recommend when building a single turbo set up. Would you consider using stock manifolds and flipping them?
I didn’t go cheap and I still had problems, I can’t even imagine what it would have been like with cheap parts !!! Haaaa haa
Yea let one of those cheap injectors stick and you will bend a rod or break a piston lol
Buy once cry once a dyi commandment !!!
Yea I bet those $90 harnesses won't last a year or 2.
@Rolli49, great information , I’m using this for my next project
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
@@Latinayogaflow 🫶🏼🫶🏼