[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Thanks for the suggestions lads. Been looking online, theres an LS3 from a wreckers in VIC that comes with harness, computer, all bolt ons, has 39k on it, for just over 8k. Pros/cons between something like that compared to a crate motor? Would one way be potentially cheaper than the other?

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Yeah I’m not expecting anything left out of 20k. Sticking to the entire driveline cause the body is in pretty good nick. Just trying to put together a comprehensive list so I can work out things I’ve missed. I think I’ll start listing everything but the motor to see what I’m left with to spend, might even have to go for an L98, the LS3s are still up there in price

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Thanks Cav, that’s exactly the info I was after. Adding the gearbox would bring it up another 4-5k. Might go with an LS3, not a bad motor to end up with haha.

Plus the engineering costs. Time to write a list and speak to the engineer and see what he’s got to say.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

VRSenator065 wrote:

Looks like you picked a good wife!! Are you engineering it? If not that will make a big difference to cost. Also looks like you are doing most of the work yourself? I reckon you would go close for $20k with the LSA if you didn’t go crazy on other stuff and did most of the spanner work yourself. Have you seen the write up I did a while back, its more VR/S but its at least a bit of a starting point of what you will need. http://www.commodoresplus.com.au/forums/topic/vrvs-ls-engine-conversion-general-information/

I’ll have a read through that when i get a chance. I’ve had the VK for nearly three years now and she always asks when I’m gonna work on it and my response is always “when I’ve got money”, so now I have no excuse, haha.

I’m really keen on the LSA as it has so much future potential. I’ve always wanted a car with stupid power, and a basically stock LSA (intake, exhaust and tune obviously) swap is very close to being viable. I’ve priced up a gearbox already, 1000hp rated TH400 from Paul Rogers, and the adding the crate motor will end up being around 15-16k. It’s all the little costs that add up on top, a CRS conversion kit is $2300 but I’ve read horror stories about the headers, then there’s wiring, fuel system, tailshaft, diff, brakes, engineering plus all the other stuff I’ve missed. I might go for a L98 or LS3 for now, and build up the rest of the car, then a future LSA swap might be easier as all the other gear will already be there, and I could recoup some cost from selling the old motor.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

VRSenator065 wrote:

Nice build, personally I reckon an LS3 is pretty good bang for the buck, and would be a much cheaper and easier swap. That’s going to give you 420+hp straight outta the box which will get a little car like yours boogieing. And not hard to crank that up once you feel the need. Btw say g’day to the crew over at JC, I haven’t been on there for a long long time, and welcome to the forum!

Cheers Gary. Definitely not discounting the LS3, my budget for the build has come up all of a sudden (my wife said I could get a loan jokingly cause she thought I wouldnt be able to. Nekminit, 20k is on the way hahaha) and I’ve got a million questions to try and plan it out properly so I don’t waste cash in the wrong area.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

cava454 wrote:

You will be pushing the $20k budget with the LSA imo

I was hoping you’d chime in. What else is needed with the LSA swap? obviously I’ll need motor and box, but what doesnt come with the crate motors, stuff like alternator, any pulleys, W2A intercooler setup, harness etc.

I read your thread and can see you’re doing a fair bit of work (tubs, ice box etc.), how close do you think I’d get with a fairly standard LSA swap without chasing massive power (for now) out of the $20k?

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

I’m willing to have a crack myself to save some coin, a good mate has done a heap of rebuilds over the years and is pretty cluey. Definitely want it engineered and fully legal, so that’ll eat into the budget as well.

It’s got a VH bonnet on it, one of the previous owners got a bit creative and tried to modify the original bonnet and it ended up looking like a dogs breakfast and was full of bog, so the guy i brought it off chucked on a spare VH bonnet he had lying around.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Any updates Cav? I’ve just read through the whole thread for the second time, I’ve finally got some cash to get my VK happening and an LSA conversion is veeeeery tempting

• This reply was modified 7 years, 8 months ago by  Heron SSV.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

I’d keep the bonnet smooth and do a VCM style OTR with an outlet on each end runing to each airbox. You’ve spent so much time and effort in keeping the car looking stock, I think it’d ruin it by putting some kind of scoop on it

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

I just like the thought of being able to cruise wherever I want without worrying about getting caught by the po po, like the OP can.

It’s also nice knowing if I’m involved in an accident, even if I’m not at fault, it’s less likely I’ll get screwed over by an insurance company, or potential law suits.

Enough doom and gloom though, let’s get back to the thread topic and bask in the glory of a nicely modified  VK 

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

That’s one of the purposes behind this thread. If someone on here has had a good experience getting their car passed, it’d generate more interest and help novices like myself progress with a build, doing it right the first time and minimising wasting money. Any engineer recommendations would help, not just ones from personal experience, and contacts from various states would be great.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Mainly the engineering costs. It seems that the mods essential to get a full engineering certificate can vary depending on what engineer you go to. Take yours for example, he was genuinely helpful in getting it passed and would listen to your reasoning about what you had done and why you’d done it so that the whole car was basically improved to safely handle the engine swap, whereas others wouldn’t even look at a swap of that kind. So the engineer can greatly affect both the cost of parts used (what parts are required), plus the work done by the engineer himself, depending on who you go to.

 

Conversion costs vary mainly cause of the hopes and dreams of the owner lol

 

Is there a thread on here for members to share their own experiences getting various mods passed? It’d be helpful to see what people have had to do to get a variety of mods actually fully roadworthy, not just a quick engine swap into an already rego’d car and hope they dont get caught

 

PS – sorry about the thread hijack…

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

Hows the fitment with the dump? did you have to modify the firewall to get enough clearance? What boost will you end up running, or will you leave it at 13psi?

 

Some in car footage during a drive would be sweet lol

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

TUFGMH wrote:

Heron SSV wrote:

I love how clean this is. Wonder if you could stick an L98 in one under the same regs…. they would fall within the 20% capacity requirements, just.

A guy up that way is currently doing an LS3 conversion into a VH, but the engineer will be involved.

 

It’d be interesting to see what it costs to go through engineering. I’m in the early stages on sticking a LS into my VK, and figuring out the costs is a pain.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

I love how clean this is. Wonder if you could stick an L98 in one under the same regs…. they would fall within the 20% capacity requirements, just.

[Heron SSVParticipant Central Coast NSW2009 Pajero Exceed 84 VK SL LS3 View build HERE Member since: May 5, 2015 Posts: 585]

What a weapon…. More specs on the drive line please

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