2000 LS v8 buildup or 4.6 swap

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Gari2000lsv8

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I'm an ls lover like u are. I have a 2000 ls 3.9. My question is will a jag xjr super charger work on my 3.9? If so what computer changes have to b made. I love this car but need performance, hopefully 375-400rwhp. Should I buy a 3.9 block bore it 30-60 over n build that up, I know I'll have to get cams made. Or should I go w a 4.6 that fits in from above n build on that? My big issue is these computers, I don't understand them yet so I'd like to go plug n play. Building an engine is NP, I had a 71 GS 455 Stage1 for years and rebuilt that. I don't have a lot of $ to put on this issue so I'd like to know my best route since ur all familiar w the 3.9. This is eventually be a charity car to help the homeless in the U.S. and will be auctioned/sold with proceeds going to the charity. I want to build it up and enter it in shows in order to get the car known so it brings in the most $ for this cause.
Any help on my questions is GREATLY appreciated.
 
the money it would cost to complete this would go a lot further just donated, vs completing and auctioning off (as half working, 15 year old car)
 
No one will buy the car for enough to make it worth doing, just sell the care now to someone who just needs a daily then donate that money to the charity..
 
Never understood the logic behind these thoughts. Do people really sit there thinking to themselves... "let me throw $10-15,000 into a 15 year old car rather than buying a used Jaguar for the same price..." If so, there are bigger issues that need to be sorted out than the logic itself, maybe the source.
 
well don't forget, a lot of people still just assume its an easy swap, since its a ford car, any ford engine must just fit right in. hell engine swaps are still relatively easy in GM cars with their Lego land mentality... this car just happens to be one that nobody has spent the money and time (even though a lot have tried) to get all the electronics to play nice yet, and due to its old age and limited production, I don't see many trying any more.

but of course, anything is possible if you throw enough money at it...







also see "Land Speed LS " in HP section of the forum.
 
If you want to push 400RWHP, you're talking about ~480HP at the flywheel. Figure 5000RPM would be the peak of power, and you're looking at like 500 ft.lb worth of torque. The 5R55N in the LS simply won't put up with it. You'll definitely need to contemplate whether you want do swap the transmission before planning it all out. Without forged [insert internal engine component here] parts, and the already very high stock compression ratio of the LS, you'll need a lot of money for these parts. Figure about $15,000 to have a running and semi-reliable car, to which you then have to figure out how to pass the darn emissions people.

What would be a fun proposition is swapping in the guts and stuff out of a Jaguar XFR, now that would be respected everywhere (and more flexible... Well more flexible than stuffing a Modular engine In it).
 
GoFar said:
... Figure about $15,000 to have a running and semi-reliable car, ...
Click to expand...

"running" as in most of the electronics will be dead (climate control, cluster, ABS, AdvanceTrac, ...)
 
Thanks for the reply but any things possible if u don't mind getting ur hands dirty. I was looking for some positive info. Funny I was told the same thing in 1981 when I bought the odd at the time Biuck GS455 Stage1 convertible for $1600. Its been awhile but its now worth 80g and up. I'll take my chances again. Different+Rare=$$$. But thanks for the advice.
 
My take on it is if you want to put in a different engine you will need to make the new engine work with the existing electronics to keep the non-engine electronics working. There is a tuning method via a person named Torrie, so discuss what might be done with the programming with him. The new engine will need to be modified to use the existing sensor suite. If the computer can be made to handle the new engine, and it will require being able to change the MAF, fuel injector and displacement parameters, it should be do-able. Still and all though, there are a lot better candidates for the operation. The electronics are just too tied into the car, and there weren't enough made to make money developing an aftermarket for it.
 
If you're really looking for "performance", yeah, you bought the wrong car. The LS was designed to be competitive in it's era with the 5 series BMW. It was not all that successful. Well... personally I think it was. But Lincoln swaying the minds of the sport sedan enthusiasts wasn't successful enough to continue enough production that would lead to aftermarket performance part production. (Holy hell long sentence)

Yes, with enough money, anything can be done. But this just isn't a practical investment. If you're looking for just a moderate power increase, you should look into what QuickLS had done. And even his supercharger required an extensive amount of custom fabrication and work.

The LS is not a racecar. It comes with luxury, comfort, inovation, and enough power it was intended to have. To each his own... but good luck on your venture.
 
Gari2000lsv8 said:
Thanks for the reply but any things possible if u don't mind getting ur hands dirty. I was looking for some positive info. Funny I was told the same thing in 1981 when I bought the odd at the time Biuck GS455 Stage1 convertible for $1600. Its been awhile but its now worth 80g and up. I'll take my chances again. Different+Rare=$$$. But thanks for the advice.
Click to expand...

don't worry, your only about the 1,000th guy to come in here saying "im looking to get her up to 400hp...I know what im doing...swaps aren't that bad..." There's a common since level here at LVC... not a lack of desire. AS STATED ABOVE, its apples to oranges comparing the "do-ability" of 80's or older box (with endless bolt on/aftermarket abilities) to a 2000's computer on wheels with ZERO aftermarket options.

That said, you'll get a ton of support once you get going (you wont). And we're all happy to help once you jump in (you wont).....Gut it, drop in, one off EVERYTHING, and get her going. IF your that capable AFTER our advice, you won't need any of us anyways. Put up or shut up / prove us all wrong....PLEASE

Somebody (or i will later) can list the most successful swaps... All seemed to have been abandoned at some point (no where near auction-able status). LSX was passed around like (insert your own joke here) because no one could deal with its ****ty electronics.
 
did anyone watch the fast and loud episode last night ? 2015 challenger running gear, in
a 71 challenger body.

no thanks on the labor to accomplish that feat.
 
Hey thanks! So far u have given me the most decent honest answer w out any sarcasm. I joined this forum in hopes to get info like this.
Thank You Again.
 
elephantrider said:
did anyone watch the fast and loud episode last night ? 2015 challenger running gear, in
a 71 challenger body.

no thanks on the labor to accomplish that feat.
Click to expand...

normally I Like resto-mods, but that was an awful lot of work to devalue a pair of cars!
 
It's "easy" to swap a computerized drivetrain into a computerless body (such as that Challenger or the guy who put an 05+ GT500 drivetrain into a Foxbody),compared to getting two computerized systems to communicate.

You need to do all your own research and testing to make it happen. No one (that I know of) has successfully gotten a high powered alternator to work on Gen 1s, let alone a full blown engine swap. Whether you decide to build up the AJ or swap in a Modular, you'll probably want to find a junked AJ (from your generation LS) to tear down and record every dimension and every sensor output it has. Sure, it sounds easy to "just" find stronger bottom end parts from other cars that take the power and lower the compression, but I don't think it's been done yet. IIRC CammerFE found Chevy rods that may be able to be machined to the right size, but I don't think it's happened yet.


Moderately successful 4.6 2V swap with an odd lack of updates http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/forum/showthread.php?74682-4-6-2V-Swap-Progress

Not really interested in finding the threads for the LSx or the pushrod 5.0/302, but check out my favorite "I'm serious about modding the LS" thread, Dustin's LS500: http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/forum/showthread.php?91493-Ls-500
 


how-to-buy-used-cars-advices.jpg​



how-to-buy-used-cars-advices.jpg
 
There are actually two different aspects to the modification/engine-swap process at work in this thread. The first part, the idea of raising money for charity, is for all the reasons offered, a non-starter.

However, I must admit to getting a little bit tired of the nay-sayers who'll tell you an AJ engine-swap process can't be done---it can, and within a reasonable $$$ framework.. Please be aware that the solid parts don't know what sort of label has been placed on them during the manufacturing process. Although an engine assembled in Ohio as a 3.9 litre and an engine assembled in the UK as a 4 litre (or even a 4.2) are not entirely identical, they are, in most respects so similar as to not create any insurmountable difficulties in substitution.

Most, if not all, of the sensors are, if not identical, adaptable by replacement. Relatively close displacements are substitutable without causing massive puzzlement within the ECU, and SCT have advised me that their program is so adaptable that tuning IS possible.

The formula then becomes to take an entire British engine and swap such details as are necessary to be able to do the complete installation. Work with SCT and individual tuners to get inputs that will work within the original ECU parameters.

Enjoy!!!

KS

(I just added several paragraphs to this to explain how to proceed if you were about to try to do a mod-motor swap based on my observation of how McLaren went about the process. However, the !@#$%^%$#@! website swallowed what I put down---and just tried to do the same thing to this note as well. If you care, I'll do it again, but right now my fingers are tired.):(

(A couple of hours later) The 5R55X trans has a history behind the Mod motors in the Mustang. The last time I looked it was possible to order a trans from one or more of the transmission specialty purveyors that has been advertised as being good to 700 or more ft/lbs of torque. I have been assured by a local specialist that it's possible to go past that by a fair margin. Instead of talking about what can't be done, let's just do it!

KS
 
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There's a lot of Parrots on here..

O.k. OP lets sum it up plane and simple. Electronics are going to be your biggest issue. Find a way to make the electrics work, and anything is possible. So instead of asking these guys "what CAN i do" ask them "What has ALREADY been done". And here is what I know:

1) One guy dropped a GM LS1 engine into his LS. This one is famous as its been sold person to person and pops up on here every now and then.

2) A user named Quick LS supercharged his (2001?) LS to put down 400+ HP. His LS bit the dust when he was merging onto the highway and his rear tire caught wet and slipped, tore apart the "30 spline axle" in the rear, causing it to spin out of control and crash into the guard rails, totalling his LS. As I understand, the second Gen, particularly 2005/06 have a sturdier rear end and improved transmission.

3) A personal friend of mine dropped in Fords 4.6L mustang engine. Took him over a month working on it on his spare time, but he got everthing working. This friend owns his own mechanic shop and has access to his massive supply of tools and machines.

4) Land speed LS. I know nothing of it other than it goes fast.

5) Custom headers, exhaust, X pipe, Tune, CAI, Ford GT fuel pump, Diff locker, Stall (torque) converter, Tranny cooler, Intrax 1.75 lowering springs, PnP throttle body, PnP Intake manifold, 275/30 Rear Toyo Proxy T1R + Running 125 wetshot Nitrous - an older LVC enthusiest SPSully did this. These are upgrades to the stock 3.9L He clocked in the 12 seconds without NOS.

As far as I know, No One has tried boring the motor. However, its worth noting that Jaguar still used the motor and bored it themselves to 4.9L and turns something like 375 HP, and around 480HP with turbo on the bored motor. Jaguar XF was it? It might be worth your while looking into THAT motor and if you can grab one from scraps. It might (I have no certainty) give you an easier time hooking up to an LS.

Alternatively, you could bore the motor yourself and use parts from a scrap yard XF bored motor, including the turbo. I have zero experience in this, and I dont know what is cheaper, first option or this. Either way, I wont discourage you. Just be prepared for the headaches, as mentioned earlier this is a daunting task.

My only main advice is, use the 2005 LS for this. It has a 32 spline axle which I understand is stronger, and its got a supposed sturdier transmission. I would also highly advise a tranny cooler.
 
OP:
If you look at those options, the most reliable of them would have been SPSully's. Its a lot of custom fab work, but on a dyno he was putting down 420HorsePower. Gettin an LS to 400HP+ cannot be done under 10 grand. SPSully's LS was a 2001 Sport.

On a good day, WITH his 125 Wetshot, I would bet on SPSully's LS in a race over the 4.6, LS1, and even Quick LS's supercharged LS.
I hope I was helpful to you.
 
we also had a turbo LS I think it was ALEXLS. as far as I remember the turbos was mounsted at the rear since the LS didn't have any room in the hood.
 
alex's snail was mounted under the front pass side bumper.

Rob's snail was remote mounted under the back bumper.
 
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