Thread: Engine swap or top swap

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 22
  1. #1 Engine swap or top swap 
    GT Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Northeast Ohio
    Posts
    210
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    442
    ok so i have a 2006 grand prix n/a l26 with 118K well i can get a whole l32 with 96k for about 1000 or a gen v top swap for around 800....if im not mistaken i would need a engine harness for both ways and a pcm. I was curious on what everyone else thought on which is the better way
    Reply With Quote  
     

  2. #2 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    GT Level Member 01GrandPrixTURBOGT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Decatur
    Posts
    449
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    9
    I chose the top swap route and have problems I thought were major but ended up being simple so far. But I'd rather have the higher compression.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  3. #3 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    GT Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Northeast Ohio
    Posts
    210
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    442
    what were the issues and was the other harness easy to swap out
    Reply With Quote  
     

  4. #4 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    GrandPrix Junkie gtpeddie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    3,890
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    539
    I have a topswap for sale but its for a GenIII but I can make you a deal on it with out the GenIII. So you will have all of the other parts to topswap it you would just need to buy a GenV and if you go that route your topswap will be way cheaper then $800. Just throwing it out there, Id rather topswap because then you have a high compression block already.

    97 GTP DD, 1952 Ford F-1 Resto Project, 2006 Mustang GT "UnDeR CoNsTrUcTiOn", 02 GPGT SOLD!, 98 GTP Parted/Scraped
    Reply With Quote  
     

  5. #5 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    GT Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Northeast Ohio
    Posts
    210
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    442
    what you thinking because you cant find a gen v and lim for under 300 then plus gaskets
    Reply With Quote  
     

  6. #6 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    GXP Level Member ctracer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    new britain, ct
    Posts
    2,295
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    38971
    people always talk about high compression etc.
    but will the rods be able to handle the boost? aren't they weaker in the N/A cars?
    07 Black GXP.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  7. #7 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    GT Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Northeast Ohio
    Posts
    210
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    442
    not in 05+ if im not mistaken all motors have the better connecting rod
    Reply With Quote  
     

  8. #8 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    GT Level Member 01GrandPrixTURBOGT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Decatur
    Posts
    449
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    9
    My issue was a misfire but it ended up being plugs which I had bought all brand new including ignition. So I put my old ones in AMD problem soved so far. The l36 block is plenty strong enough if tuned right.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  9. #9 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    GrandPrix Junkie gtpeddie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    3,890
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    539
    Quote Originally Posted by 06PONTGP View Post
    what you thinking because you cant find a gen v and lim for under 300 then plus gaskets
    PM me and we'll talk about working something out, I have a GenV LIM I can throw in

    97 GTP DD, 1952 Ford F-1 Resto Project, 2006 Mustang GT "UnDeR CoNsTrUcTiOn", 02 GPGT SOLD!, 98 GTP Parted/Scraped
    Reply With Quote  
     

  10. #10 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    DUI BABY Bio248's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    MILWAUKEE
    Posts
    31,340
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    1
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    40479
    if given a choice again after what i've done (both ways), build the motor outside of the car while you drive it and take your time. then swap the entire motor. it's a whole lot less hassle than doing a top swap in the car.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  11. #11  
    I live here. MoarkatsINmuhtrailer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    5,150
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    23141
    Quote Originally Posted by Bio248 View Post
    if given a choice again after what i've done (both ways), build the motor outside of the car while you drive it and take your time. then swap the entire motor. it's a whole lot less hassle than doing a top swap in the car.
    This... All of this.


    Don't top swap your car. You have Le ****ty rods.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  12. #12 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    GXP Level Member GTPpower's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Schuyler, NE
    Posts
    2,973
    Thanks (Received)
    8
    Likes (Received)
    23
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    265
    Top swap it. L26 rods don't have issues until you start making a lot of power.


    2001 GTP Drag Car - XPZ, Tischler heads, Upsidedown M90 IC'd, e85, Gen V, 2.3 w/ 5%OD
    2005 F350 6.0 - studded, deleted, tuned
    2001 GTP - cam, headers, nitrous, stock trans - 11.83 @ 116 <$2k in mods - sold
    Reply With Quote  
     

  13. #13 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    I live here. Slick2500's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Rapid City, South Dakota, United States
    Posts
    7,463
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    2
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    50094
    Yup ^^^ and the vast majority of us will never make that much power in our cars to matter anyway.
    2003 Redfire Metallic Chevy Tahoe Z71 - Airaid Modular Intake Tube, Flowmaster Exhaust.
    Quote Originally Posted by The Sunfire Guy
    Superchargers take away horsepower
    Reply With Quote  
     

  14. #14 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    DUI BABY Bio248's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    MILWAUKEE
    Posts
    31,340
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    1
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    40479
    it's not that i wouldnt trust the rods in the L26, it's that it's simply easier doing a full motor swap and it's easier to work on the motor outside of the car, by far.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  15. #15 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    GXP Level Member GTPpower's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Schuyler, NE
    Posts
    2,973
    Thanks (Received)
    8
    Likes (Received)
    23
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    265
    Then pull the motor and do the swap. High compression>Low compression with the M90.


    2001 GTP Drag Car - XPZ, Tischler heads, Upsidedown M90 IC'd, e85, Gen V, 2.3 w/ 5%OD
    2005 F350 6.0 - studded, deleted, tuned
    2001 GTP - cam, headers, nitrous, stock trans - 11.83 @ 116 <$2k in mods - sold
    Reply With Quote  
     

  16. #16 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    DUI BABY Bio248's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    MILWAUKEE
    Posts
    31,340
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    1
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    40479
    depends if you're gonna run out of headroom to run more boost or not. if you're gonna be down in the 2.6 pulley range on the L67/32 then for sure go high compression. i always like leaning towards more boost, though so i like the 'low' compression blocks.
    Reply With Quote  
     

  17. #17 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    GXP Level Member GTPpower's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Schuyler, NE
    Posts
    2,973
    Thanks (Received)
    8
    Likes (Received)
    23
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    265
    It's because the rod cap bolts are smaller and break easier. The L36 rod cap bolts are a little bigger in diameter.

    Even on the stock pulley, the higher compression bottom end will make more power.


    2001 GTP Drag Car - XPZ, Tischler heads, Upsidedown M90 IC'd, e85, Gen V, 2.3 w/ 5%OD
    2005 F350 6.0 - studded, deleted, tuned
    2001 GTP - cam, headers, nitrous, stock trans - 11.83 @ 116 <$2k in mods - sold
    Reply With Quote  
     

  18. #18 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    GT Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Northeast Ohio
    Posts
    210
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    442
    i look at this in a few ways one,the engine swap is in my eyes easier......but the top swap makes a little more power, the l32 has 96k mine 118k....but from what i read in 05+ the l26 get the powdered metal rod just like the l32 and the difference at stock between the 2 set ups is 5%....not to worried about it im not going super crazy maybe a cam with either swap exhaust and pulley drop prolly the most ill do not looking to buy stock in gm for 4t65hds
    Reply With Quote  
     

  19. #19  
    LaBarge Supercharged sseilmnop's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Mercer, Pa
    Posts
    1,766
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    9
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    10
    Running L26 bottom end with supercharger heads, VS cam and gen 5. Been running this way for a year, lots of power! I don't beat it to death but I'm not 20 or 30 something anymore.
    Adapters, Phenolic Intercoolers, Supercharger Parts & TVS2300
    http://stores.ebay.com/QualitySuperchargers
    Reply With Quote  
     

  20. #20 Re: Engine swap or top swap 
    GT Level Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Northeast Ohio
    Posts
    210
    Thanks (Received)
    0
    Likes (Received)
    0
    Dislikes (Received)
    0
    Chats
    442
    do you know about how much pwer your making and have you done anything to your trans?
    Reply With Quote  
     

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Engine Starts then dies after L36 Engine Swap! Help needed!
    By millertime2800 in forum 3.8L V6 Naturally Aspirated (L36)(L26)
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 01-18-2012, 10:50 PM
  2. Fuel gauge dosnt work after wireing harness swap and motor swap
    By guimond47 in forum 3.8L V6 Supercharged (L67)(L32)
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 06-02-2011, 06:01 PM
  3. engine swap 3800 sc to same but not burned engine
    By roger7 in forum 3.8L V6 Supercharged (L67)(L32)
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 03-10-2011, 01:59 PM
  4. Spartans Engine Swap (Engine Damage Pics on Front Page!)
    By Spartan GL in forum Off Topic Discussion
    Replies: 140
    Last Post: 05-05-2010, 12:50 AM
  5. Engine swap
    By BankRupt in forum Off Topic Discussion
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 07-19-2008, 11:06 AM
Tags for this Thread

View Tag Cloud

Bookmarks
Bookmarks
Posting Permissions
  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •