LS swap ‘63 Impala w/donor on street

Hey guys so I live on the end of a cul de sac . They do street sweeping every 2 months. I have that time window to do an engine swap on the street. I have certain conditions that need to happen for this to happen. #1. My current 327 completely dies. #2. I get a green light from you guys that I can get this done all by myself within 2 months or less. #3. I can find a donor Tahoe 4.8L that runs good with under 200K mi for $4K.
#4. I can get rid of that donor car without the Eng,****** by donating it. Check out the pics and let me know what would y’all do.

 

You need to post this in the off topic section. It will not live here long.

 

Ok sorry didn’t know

 

Using an adapter kit or you using the transmission from the Tahoe? Don’t know your area. Here LKQ will come out and pick them up. The seem the most reasonable when paying you for the vehicle as well.

 

If you have a HOA to deal with, you may have a lot less time then you think. Most HOA watch what happens in their area very closely.

Back before I had a garage 40 years ago, in my town, I had 3 days to strip a car and have it gone! They would mark the tires after 24 hours sitting. If it still looked sort of complete, and I could move it 12" in either direction, it bought me another day. back then the parked car could not sit in one location on the street for more then 24 hours. Once parts started to be removed, you only had 24 hours from the time the tires were marked to remove the car, before the big fines started. That was without a HOA, they are worse then our town was back then.

If you have all the swap parts you need on hand, removing a motor/trans combo out of a car, then pull the motor trans from a different vehicle, and swap the other motor /trans into the body can be done in a couple long days, if you know what you are doing. The first such swap I did like that was a week project, but back then electronics were much more simple. If you need to deal with adapters, motor and trans mounts, electronics, exhaust difference, radiator & ac component, or other parts challenges, the time required multiplies.
Your skill level, available equipment, and qualified help, or not, all have the potential change the time frame.

 

So there is NO HOA. Street sweeping is done every 2 months if there are any vehicles on the street they will get a ticket but not towed.
My ultimate goal is using as many parts from like a Tahoe,truck without cutting the frame.

 

Yea, I’d clean out the garage and do it in there. You’re asking for trouble otherwise.

 

My brother and I swapped the big block into the 59 truck, to replace the Six, in two days. Started Friday morning after fetching a few last minute parts, then had it driving the following evening. Not bad for a couple 17 year old kids. We had to push the truck from the neighbor's 4 acre lot to finish working on it, because that's where the engine hoist was.



If I were in your position, I'd be looking for an old engine...maybe that's because I did my first LS engine swap last year, and I have a good idea what it takes to do them, now. Even if you don't want to go fast, there's a whole lot involved in changing from an early, simple engine, to a modern, electronically controlled one, that uses all different stuff for mounts, cooling, exhaust, fuel, wiring, etc.

 

Based on your previous posts, I would discourage you from starting this project. I would do as Squirrel suggested and find an older small block. You should be able to find one for less than your $4,000 budget.
It then becomes just replacing and not fabricating and wiring issues.

 

Ain’t long enough

 

When you have to ask if we think you can do this by yourself causes doubt that you can do this, I would recommend that you buy a crate engine that will be relatively easy to swap with minimal knowledge.
EDIT; https://xfactorsmotorsports.com/pro...s3hop77rnGeQ5nzY4ASRe_hhLfewNcboaAg1REALw_wcB

 

That can’t be true. How can that be that cheap?

 

The $4000 for the donor is just a start. There will be more money along the way. Just the exhaust will be a bit. Rebuilt short blocks are $2000 or thereabouts. You”ll need to do the heads (probably), buy gaskets, and clean everything. Pan, water pump, etc. Reuse all the accessories.You’ll need the 2 months, and it won’t be a race motor, but a 200,000 mile takeout isn’t either.

Just what’s the problem with the current motor?

 

You could go with this one if that suits your fancy
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hpe-hp99c

 

With your time constraints I would use the engine in the posted link. Transmission and exhaust already in car would need noo changes,

 

Don't understand the Tundra picture.
Do you have the tools necessary to do the engine swap? The Harbor freight
100 tool kit doesn't cut it. A good floor jack and especially good jack stands.
drain the radiator and somehow seal the end of the ****** to keep the fluid off the ground.
Engine puller will cost about $400 but you can rent one but gets pretty expensive if you need it for a week. You plan on putting your tools and engine puller away at night or leaving everything outside on the street. I'm guessing you've never pulled an engine before. You're going to have to get a sling to lift the engine and once the engine is in the air or on the way out, it becomes extremely hard to move let alone guide the engine out by yourself. Remember you have to remove two engines and put one in. The road will be sloped toward the curb and engine hoist will not want to go straight back and forth.
Before we go any further, have you talked to any wrecking yards about buying a LS engine that is still in a car or would they pull the engine from the Tahoe for you in exchange for the rest of the car. Wrecking yards can pull the engine and ****** with the wiring harness in a day and place it in your truck bed.

 

Just a couple of random thoughts.
While there have been some photos posted here of guys “back in the day” doing engine swaps in the street I’ll take a SWAG that once you try that you’re going to get a visit from Code Enforcement, a letter/visit from the HOA (if applicable) and the ire of your neighbors. And the inevitable oil/coolant spills that might depending how *****y the powers that be a visit from the environmental end of the Code Enforcement about potential pollution in nearby storm drains. That was a different era and is never to come back. You might get away with it for twenty four hours on a weekend but I seriously doubt anyone is going to look the other way for two months. Add into this project weather delays, life delays, unforeseen incidents in your helpers lives, might want to double the time your budgeting for this swap.

On the Code Enforcement rat packing, never say never. Our previous residence had a storm water runoff into our front yard that was caused by the city. Three other neighbors were affected, the squeaky wheel gets greased, I was the spokesperson for the group. You could say we “won”, it became a band-aid on an amputation. Because we had a city councilman on our street (he was not affected by the problem) I had to get him involved. As a result about a year after all the dust settled I was on the receiving end of two ordinance violations, both related to landscaping in the Right Of Way. Anonymous complaint, according to the Ordinance Officer this was not normally the way things were done. But I had a trick or two up my sleeve, knew a lot of people in the administration and found out who made the complaint, yep, the councilman, And while others in the neighborhood had landscaping in the Right Of Way, none of them received violation notices. Oh, I won after appealing the B.S. tickets to the Zoning Board Of Appeals and to the City Council. And the best part, five years later I received another violation, this time because “our” house that we sold a month prior did not have a address number on it! I had fun with that ticket when I called the Code Enforcement office and told them where to put that violation notice. Just a little selective enforcement…..

if you are serious about the LS swap prepare to do some fabrication. Even if someone makes engine mount brackets I’d be surprised if they are all a drop in fit. Prior to retirement I worked in a dealership that sold GM Performance Parts and just because a aftermarket supplier says “This works” it’s more often than not the other way around. Not to mention the inevitable modifications to the trans tunnel, driveshaft fabrication, etc.

Also, the electronic engine controls, there are aftermarket parts out there to put a conventional camshaft driven distributor (small block Ford style) and intake manifolds to use a carburetor that could simplify the whole swap. Someone made a comment about how ugly the LS is, can’t disagree with that and the electronics hanging all over the engine and underhood. Holley used to make a engine dress up kit to hide some of the ugliness, make the LS look more like a old style engine, you might look into that also.

Not trying to dissuade you but you may be further ahead to get a small block Chevy (350/383) crate engine from GM, Summit, JEG’S, a local builder as that’s doable for a weekend swap.

 

The t.v. shows can do it. Everyone has a ls today. Nobody runs a "old " engine.
If he had to ask you know it's not going to happen.

 

I have also changed out a 6 to 8 in a day. Had my brother to help. We also had plenty of parts and new what worked.
I have changed efi engines. More time consuming.
If you have to ask if possible then you don't have what it takes to do it.
Please don't let this be a project for sale half done.

 

I had a buddy, well actually he was a **** so I will refer to him as Richard. Richard had a built 427 in a 71 street Camaro. Richard left the car in his driveway one day rather than the garage and went to work in his daily. Richard's Camaro was sitting in the street and engineless when he returned home. Richard's neighbors didn't see anything out of the ordinary. They did a nice job of it, hood was lying on the roof, bolts on the fender, no blue tip torch evidence. It's amazing what guys can accomplish when properly motivated.

 

I talked to some LS swap forum guys and they’re dissuading me from doing it. I’ve been mislead by the Amazon books and YouTube raving LS swaps are easy and cheap. My next post will be SBC Eng removal in the street.

 

TWO THUMBZ UP !! Smart move.....
6sally6

 

Good move.

 

Yeah what the ls fanboys don't like to acknowledge is how many ls swappers regret going ls.....even long after it's running and driving down the road.

 

I’d still like to hear about the state of the current engine. There’s a lot of knowledgeable people here about doing a good “rebuild” for street use that isn’t an expensive race motor.

 

The current motor is original to the car . It smokes and burns oil. It runs good I wish I could get the gas mileage of a Honda.

 

Ls engine isn't going to get you Honda mpg....or anywhere near. Does the engine smoke all the time or just on startup?