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[chrisgixer]

So, on the talk of VXR8's... Are the engine's hard to come by?

Yes. And expensive when they do come up. Very few cars where imported to the uk with this ls1,2 or 3. However there is massive market in the states. So sourcing engines and parts is easy, but shipping takes time and costs a fair bit.

The thrue value of this project is the engine and box. The car is pence in comparison.

[tunnie]

Recall master posting a link for a brand spankers LS1, around ~£4k?

[chrisgixer]

Used your looking minimum 4k for engine and auto box complete. More with a manual. Manual tremac t56 box is difficult to acquire for less than 1k. Although I know somebody who got lucky at £700. But it doesn't actually fit in the omega transmission tunnel without major cutting and welding of metalwork.

[chrisgixer]

Having said all that, I didn't pay anywhere near that much.

With help from slot Al, we picked up a 4l60e for £50

[tunnie]

Having said all that, I didn't pay anywhere near that much.

With help from slot Al, we picked up a 4l60e for £50

Damn that is cheap! No wonder you are going that route. I was about to suggest this:

http://www.lsxp.net/prices/4561262899

[chrisgixer]

Having said all that, I didn't pay anywhere near that much.

With help from slot Al, we picked up a 4l60e for £50

Damn that is cheap! No wonder you are going that route. I was about to suggest this:

http://www.lsxp.net/prices/4561262899

Need to be careful what I say here, as I've not used them, but that particular service relies on taking a large lump sum up front, then they go off and buy an engine in the states, and ship it back. Delivery up to 3months iirc..?

There nothing to stop any joe doing that diy. Whithout the risk of handing over a large lump of cash to somebody you don't know that has to leave the country to fulfil the contract.
 Having said all that, he's knowledgable and helpful, so maybe I'm being unfair. 

[chrisgixer]

Also note the ident no.s. They are truck engines. Different inlet manifolds need to be sourced, and all that missing running gear is expensive stuff.

[tunnie]

Ah I see.

[SimplePingu]

My jaw hit the table at the costs... maybe once the lottery is won and the econ' has picked up... so... when I'm 100, wake me up...

[SimplePingu]

Any more progress?

[chrisgixer]

Any more progress?

Nope, won't be until spring now. Too busy, not enough day light, and the welder is playing up. Exhaust with cats acquired though.


Re costs, all things are relative, as I keep saying. A Holden R8 gts goes for about 7k. Monaro about 10k I'm guessing. Vxr8 your looking at about 12k for something worth owning.

So given the cost/second hand value of engine and box, which bolsters the prices of these cars, you can see the age increasing value as the cars get younger. So knock 4/5k depending on miles, for the engine and box, off the value of those cars above, you get the value of the chassis. Total cost of this project so far is 4k, but I already had the car that I bought for other reasons anyway.

So to sum up, the way I see it, relative to the price of the cars above, this project is a comparative bargain. Arguably better interior than the monaro or r8 with more toys and allegedly better suspension geometry, believe it or not.

I had the car already, and should end up with a better car for between 3k and 8k less money, depending on which option you compare with.

....all being well, it's an absolute bargain. IMO.

[chrisgixer]

That's not to say that a vxr8 isn't still on my shopping list.


...one day.