Best LS Option For "new" Build?
 

I am weighing the option of converting my Ford 5.0 converted Miata to an LS powered conversion.

Things I do not need to "replace" are the rear diff and front cooling.

I would be using the long tube header version of the LS swap and the V8Roadsters mounting kit.

So, not being a "chevy" guy...

What would be the best LS motor to select? Availability, cost, etc. should be factors. I'm talking about a salvage yard buy or private sale part out for the source. Ideally, for example, the accessories that come on the engine can be retained along with the intake, etc.

Any suggestions?

Usually it's best to start with a crashed donor unless money is no object. F body, GTO or vette if you want aluminum or any number of trucks if iron will do. Typically the most bang for the buck is 2000 to 2002 Camaro or Firebird but 98 and 99 will also work they just didn't' breath quite as well. If you can swing it the LS3 in the GTOs with a bit of a cam is would make better use of the headers you want to use. But power wise with a cam and tune any LS can exceed 400 hp with out cracking a sweat. So it kind of doesn't matter...

But since you are asking for suggestions... I have not done the math but it seems to me if you put even half of what you would spend on an LS swap into that SBF you would have more power (and of course better sound) than the LS. So I gotta ask a couple questions if you don't mind.

What are the $$ numbers you are looking at? What do you expect to spend on the LS and what do you think you can get out of the 5.0? (Not to encourage you but I might be interested in the 5.0 stuff)

And probably the biggest question, if you don't mind, why? What's to be gained and is the goal of doing this?

I think you mean ls2 for the gto part. They never had ls3s. Also, have you seen swap prices for an ls1/t56 dropout recently? They are north of 5k for a 15 year old engine. It's getting to the point of ridiculousness. I'd go with a gto dropout for simplicity. Make sure it come with the ECU, harness, and throttle pedal. All you'd have to do is change to an f body shifter for the t56 which is simple enough. If you're wanting to piece things together let me tell you from experience, its not cheap and you'll likely end up spending more than if you bought a dropout. For example, a t56 alone is going to cost 1700-2200 used or 3k new. Then after you get an intake manifold and all the other parts you'll need it just really adds up which is why I'd recommend a dropout unless you're wanting to buy a new crate engine and transmission.

Sorry my bad on the LS2. I really have not looked in a while but just a quick search on sub 5 grand Camaros has a ton of hits.

http://bham.craigslist.org/cto/5285474923.html

wrecked 2002 camaro Z28 LS1/6 speed

This would be the same price after parting it.
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/5284451999.html

I didn't look at drop outs because usually the whole car is cheaper but for sure you are better off to get it all in one package.

I know in my area you'll never find anything like that on Craigslist. There's too many salvage yards that buy them. It all depends on the area I suppose.

Bummer. Interesting market you have down there!

I am "knee jerk reacting" (envy) to that 176 MPH post! But maybe more than that too. Resale is way more than the 5.0 but potentially the investment to get it there may net the same result so that may not be a good reason either.

It is looking like another $10,000 to put in an LS after all is said and done. $6K or more of that would be in pieces outside the engine and trans itself. Yeash...

Jim, you are most likely right, I can maybe spend a fraction of that to improve the 5.0 performance. May not get to 176 though! Right now I have the car totally blown apart for paint.

Like I said... weighing the option but

How much spray can a stock block 302 hold before there are issues? Or a better question is at what power level does the block become unreliable?

For cheap LS mills to make top end runs a iron 4.8 is stupid cheap and you could either spray or boost until it gives up and grab up another. I picked one up complete pan to intake and some accessories for $350 (I think...somewhere around there...I forget). Easily make more HP than you can run tire to hold.

I have silly thoughts of pulling that 4.8 crank and making my LS3 a 8k rpm screamer. But I have silly thoughts all the time. Whiskey does that...

Thinking about this a bit more. Considering where you are and that you are admittedly not a GM guy I think my first step would be to reach out to Tbone. My hunch is a full cooler and a couple hours kicking around ideas with him would save many thousands of $$ and much surgery but still get you 176mph capabilities.
https://www.v8miata.net/attachment.p...ine=1446047094

If I ever run across a "deal" on a GTO or GTO drop out I may have to snag it. Other than that, maybe a rear turbo setup or 5.0 Joe is working on a Vortec setup that may just work.

I do like that tbone setup though. Wicked nice. Those blowers are getting hard to come by now...