Ls1 Swap on S14

[wa-chiss]

no it was the 5.6L not 4.5

[fijianrocket]

Must have a hell of rear end to make that thing stick. I wonder if there are any pics. It would be very interesting to take a poll and see how many people here would consider the ls1 swap.

[superDorifto]

In a few years import and domestic will mean nothing, world cars are already in dealerships, hell almost all of the toyotas, nissans, and hondas in the dealerships right now are built right here in america...speed is speed, i dont hate on a great piece of engineering just because of where it was built, except for kias and hundyias. i will take my pushrods now please, with and order of sixspeed to go...

[the_momo]

ls1 swap is bada$$. a dude in my club has an fc rx-7 with the ls1, also a kid around the area has an ls-1 in an s13 hatch. both are mean and fast, the hatch is getting a vortec intercooled sc kit. should be sick. i have a 92 coupe with a carb'ed sbc. you can all hate all you want, it cost me 2500 including cost of the car and a built motor. sounds bada$$, runs strong, RELIABLE(not so much for my ka-t setup) and different. i understand its not for everyone, but a car is a car and doing something different doesnt make someone less of a person for disgracing the sacred japanese engine bay of a 240. fyi, our car was americanized from the factory. an american motor isnt so much different from what we were given to start with. i just took it where most of us really want to be anyway, with a car that can actually move. i like the ka, but my motor sits further back, weighs about the same (with aluminum heads) and makes what most built ka-t systems make. not to hate, but i think some people need to think before they hate on someone's originality and above all, their love of their car. im sure we've all put in countless hours, some just in different ways than others.

[S14toRPS13]

Well anything with the LS1 is going to be a beast and I respect the LS1. But if I'm not a true automotive enthusiasts for hating this idea then so be it. I'm a true 240 enthusiasts. To me nothing nothing beats the sound of 7000 rpm with the turbo spooling. Even an LS1.

[wa-chiss]

Their still concidered "imports". What i like about new nissans is the stickers they put on the windows that says what % of the car was mad here and what % was made in japan.

[fijianrocket]

Well said! I think we all share that sentiment. That great engineering is great engineering. After all really its not about winning races- its reall our love for cars. Okay so it does feel good to blow by a corvette every now and thenHEHEHE.

[fijianrocket]

Hey i respect your deep love for the 240. Turbo spoolin at 7g rpm. Damn that does sound nice. Damn all of these choices. I gotta admit I have owned a bunch of different vehicles. I have never really loved a car until i got my 240sx. Its the only car that i have kept through 7 different wrecks and accidents. And i have only had it a year or so. The first time I accidently fishtailed that car I got hooked. Nicest balanced vehicle for what I have been able to have. So i dont blame your lvoe for these cars. Because they are awesome.

[wa-chiss]

go to the classic z section and look for it. It might take a little searching but he does have pictures of the engine bay

[Kenrik]

LS1 transmission weighs more... so the KA and LS1 are about the same in weight overall.

[wa-chiss]

I too like cars. Fords and Nissans mostly. I plan on doing a 2000 mustang project. I'm sure if i had an ls1 in my garage i'de put it in the 240 but don't.

[fijianrocket]

I probably sound ignorant but can you bolt on an adapter to a 5speeb sr transmission. I know its down from 6 to 5 but is that even possible. Plus the lighter weight push more of the center of gravity towards the middle of the car. It screws up the drifting idea but would that make it more balanced.

[S14toRPS13]

I'd imagine the gearing in the SR transmission to be waaaay to short for the torque monster LS1.

The video of the 240 running with that LS1 just don't sound right. It looks like a 240 trying too hard to be a "muscle car".

[superDorifto]

I probably sound ignorant but can you bolt on an adapter to a 5speeb sr transmission. I know its down from 6 to 5 but is that even possible. Plus the lighter weight push more of the center of gravity towards the middle of the car. It screws up the drifting idea but would that make it more balanced.

go to their website, it actually improves the overall weight balance of the car with the t56

[egan]

somewhere along the line i just lost the enjoyment for the sound of the american v8. and when i watch that video i keep looking in the backround for the muscle car. haha

as much as i hate to say it, the ls1 is a good motor. mainly because of how its packaged. the pushrods, large displacement per cylinder and low rev dont attract me at all. but it has instant torque and it weighs less than my ka cause its so compact. compare it to any dohc v8 and its tiny. it cant be wider than my ka with intake mani and turbo. about as long too. and theyre low cause the cylinders go out, and the intake mani just sits right between the banks of cylinders. to turbo one ruins the advantage of the v8's natural design.

so +1 im forced to admit chevy did something right with the "anti-technology" ls1.

-10 because i straight dont like them. ill argue their good for a purpose all day long, but id never put one in my s13. or an fc/fd. id consider a drysumped NA ls1 in s14 though, cause s14's are fatties.

[superDorifto]

isnt the LS7 just a bored out dry sumped LS1 with titianium rods from the factory...checked the prices, ouch 13k for only 505hp....ill stick with the LS1

[fijianrocket]

Hey come on. Would it not be great just to say that you spent 13k on an engine. It will go something like this: " So yeah, like my engine makes 505hp but I paid 13k for it....arent I kewl." I spent money I didnt have to impress the people I dont like and bought what I didnt need,

[kclo4]

I have been looking into this swap and I am lovin the idea. Lots of power, lots of torque, either the same or less overall weight, and as good or better balance and placement of that weight.

It will be equally fun putting the hurt on JDM "keep it all Nissan" weenies in addition to the rednecks in mustangs and F-bodies.

I never paid any attention to the American V8’s because most of the cars they put them in are poo, but from the research I have done so far, domestic or no, the LS1 is one of the best motors that could go into my S14.

Kenrik, hinson weighed the KA w/ auto vs. the LS1 w/ T56 and the T56 came out 128lbs less. Just curious if you have either motor plus transmission weights, or before and after car weights that say different. How much does the KA 5 speed weigh compared to the auto is that the difference?

[Mez_DK]

do what you want, but id rather stick this motor into something classic like a chevelle.

for some reason this whole idea isnt right to me.

[Dookie]

LS1 transmission weighs more... so the KA and LS1 are about the same in weight overall.

The LS1 + transmission actually weighs less than an n/a KA.AFAIK, Hinson's mounting kit is garbage. Mike Peters has the kit in his s13 and he says it poop. Youre better off getting the crossmember from an R33 skyline and fabbing motor mounts from that.Thats the biggest issue with the LS1, making motor mounts that wont interfere with the exhaust manifold.Check http://www.ls1tech.com there are some guys with 240's with LS1's

[superDorifto]

what do you mean its garbage? i would like some definate reasons why...is the crosmember porely welded? are the manifolds touchning in places? what EXACTLY does your friend not like about the kit, and why would an R33 crosmember be a better choice over a modded KA xmember. Im not trying to stick up for the kit, its just that im one of the people that is very interested in actually trying this swap. i would love to hear some first hand experience from your friend, someone who has actually installed the kit. just posting that the kit is garbage and not really giving any first hand info as to why isnt helpfull at all...cause hell, there are a lot of products that i havent actually purchased, that i will bash simply because i think its a bad idea/poor decision. Its my opinion and everyone is allowed to have one, but its just that ONLY an opinion....awaiting a reply
Modified by superDorifto at 1:06 PM 7/28/2006

[wa-chiss]

read his post a little better. the mounts interfere with the manifolds. that is why he said it's crap.

[superDorifto]

oh...i so didnt get that from his post, sounded more like straight opinion than anything, either way, i would like more info from anyone that has tried the kit.

[fijianrocket]

Like I said, I have seen this in operation and I personally think their fabricated cross member looked awesome. The welds were clean and looked like a professional install. Fi your looking for a kit build it would be the way to go. There are two kinds of people in this world. The ones that would fabricate stuff themselves and others that like to buy kits and put them together. I dnt see anything wrong with both.However, if you can weld a little you can make you custom exhaust. If I can get my hands on a good LS1 I will try this on on my vehicle. If I dont like it i'll get the turbo setup. Hey if you ever do the swap let me know ho its going. As soon I can convince my wife to let me do the LS1 swap I'll do it.

[Dookie]

I guess if you got the money go with HSC's kit. I plan on fabricating my stuff whenever I get the funds to go LS1http://ls1tech.com/forums/show...240sx check this thread on LS1 tech, its pretty informative and tells you all about the R33 x-member.

[superDorifto]

hearing that the stock manifolds dont fit fazes me 0%. i know a very good custom exhaust place here in CT that will fab up an engine back custom exhaust for under 800...like i said it wont happen until at least feb when i get my tax refund...but i might buy the motor soon if i can find a good deal on one.

[superDorifto]

you are my hero...awesome info, the fact that drawings are so accurate makes me almost want to build my own.

[dfw240_EE]

I have no real clue what motor I want to put in my car now. The LS1 sounds like a good idea, and so does a VQ35. Plus they are smog legal. However, I have always felt that the SR20DET fits the S13 body like a glove. It seems to be just right, not underpowered, not "madman" over-powered, but just the right engine for the car. However, it isn't smog legal, though I don't think that is too big of a hurdle since I am pre-OBD2.

[k6kicker]

People who loves this idea needs to go back to driving mustangs and camaros. Doing this swap just tells all the import hating muscle car guys that they're right!!!!

I know that is just your opinion and I only have mine....But the way that i see it is that muscle cars are pretty much useless besides the great motors....the 240 and other nuimble imports have everything else set besides huge power (compared to the v8's from the factory)....Why not make a hybrid and have the best of both worlds...Besides who cares HOW the thing makes powerm hp is hp regardless of the gadgets used to do so...and how great would it be to have a 240 that would not hjust own the autoX meets, but the drag strip and some full sized track work as well (mullet be damned)

[240wootie]

shoot, why is every one arguing over what engine in what car?!?!? just take a pratt and whitney turbine engine from a Pilatus pc-21 and drop in in a 240. you have 1600HP (yes 1600) and find some rediculously gear-down transmission and there you have a super car

lol, but seriously, do we care about true "JDM-ness" or performance? i love japanese cars as much as any one, and i love good old american rumble. mixing them isnt a bad idea when you get beautiful results. the ls1-powered FD in the newest SCC is freakin sweet. and no, you cant get much better than a t56 transmission. dang, if i had the money i would drop a viper engine in my s13