When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
You would not believe how hard it is to find a blown up S2! The one I located was a garage kept one owner with more than 170k on the clock!
So I ignored the 2500 miles between the non-running S2 and myself because fuel/shipping were quoted as super cheap (this was May 1st) and sent the money via Venmo hoping things work out.
For the next 2 1/2 months I could have hung myself with the I told you so’s until it finally made it home.
After which the next jab was it’s too nice of a car for you, you’re going to ruin it.
So, those parts arrived and then I found out why you do not buy a CTS motor for this swap. Dunno what combination of turbos and awd motivated them to do it, but the timing cover on my motor was different so I am in the process of swapping that out now. 10 posts here I come.
not trying to pry, but may I ask how much you paid?
every time I list my S2 car for sale I get tons of flippers and scammers and all these dumb kids offering me 3k to 4k for my mint rx8 with a brand new engine and under 50,000 total miles on the chasis.
i always have to tell them to screw off, lol
also, are you trying to put a cadillac engine in it?
why.... lol
So this was no cream puff: It has ~178k on it, no compression, but it's exactly what I wanted. Color, interior (black cloth), slicktop (no sunroof). You won't like my answer so I will just say it was under 2k with like 100$ in upcoming maintenance parts new in boxes. To make you feel better thanks to COVID shipping cost more than the shell... Less the driveline I am in it under 3k$
Because I bought the Caddy motor for less than the parts to convert a FWD LFX to RWD. It's the same block as the Camaro motor but I paid less than half what the going rate is of a 100k+ mile motor. I just didn't catch the crank pully discrepancy and I also bought the motor ~6 months before the shell for a MX5 swap. Then I spoke to Andrew @ keisler automation and I changed direction.
If the interior looks as good as the exterior I think you did quite well for what you were looking for. Maybe post a build thread as well. I was looking into the LFX swap, would be interested to see costs and work needed to do the swap. You are doing the complete swap correct?
Last edited by CaymanRotary; 11-24-2020 at 11:54 AM.
If you squint you can see the timing set of the LFX out the windshield... I've been bad, I need to get back on this but there's just so many other things going on.
If the interior looks as good as the exterior I think you did quite well for what you were looking for. Maybe post a build thread as well. I was looking into the LFX swap, would be interested to see costs and work needed to do the swap. You are doing the complete swap correct?
Yes, in my home garage on jack stands. So far it's been a breeze. I'm on track for the 12,500$ goal. If I don't get a lift soon I may trailer it out to keisler to do the rear subframe swap. Yes I find the engine easy because of the cherry picker above. Doing the subframe on my back sounds terrible.
Yes, in my home garage on jack stands. So far it's been a breeze. I'm on track for the 12,500$ goal. If I don't get a lift soon I may trailer it out to keisler to do the rear subframe swap. Yes I find the engine easy because of the cherry picker above. Doing the subframe on my back sounds terrible.
Thats awesome. Building something special, hope it works out!
So long as you can fit it, a car lift is probably the best car mod you can get. Taking out an engine/trans used to be a big deal, but now I can go from a running car to taking seals out of rotors within 4 hours. The best part isn't being able to stand under whatever you are working on....it is being able to lean back and recline in a comfy office chair and work on whatever you need to.
A hydraulic pump table pairs well with removing anything from the bottom side as well.
I'm a little spoiled. My father had worked for one brand my whole life in South Florida and probably 25 years ago they moved into an air conditioned shop. Nearly every car I've owned has been modded to double the stock power using those lifts. My last "big" project was a 12 to 24 valve diesel swap in a station wagon that was supposed to be my tow rig but when I moved to the Carolinas I found out how over bearing states can be. My blower car had no cats (sold) my wagon couldn't have a weighed tag (sold) and this swap is questionable. So every car we moved here with is sold. I now have "3" project vehicles and a sport touring bike which is why I've adopted the slogan: junior member of the more money than brains club.
I need the lift for stacking purposes. If I ever edit any of my terrible video I'll upload to my empty channel and it will be a lot shorter than a written explanation...
Like I eluded to, transportation was nearly impossible. I bought the car sight unseen 2500 miles away. At one point I looked into getting it running to drive it home. That was not financially feasible and I would have been better off buying a nicer example I had found in Atlanta (7k asking price) than rebuilding my shell’s motor and then tearing it apart.
Through some horse trading (sold the drive line for more than the “wrong” Cadillac motor) 8k for the swap kit call it 3k for the shell I should be able to drive it for 12.5k if I continue to control costs.
Now that I’m past 10 posts I’ll start a build thread, but “content” has been slow because I’ve gotten distracted by two supporting distractions. (or more)
The next time I take some pictures will be more garage cribs thing. My garage has a classic pickup, the RX8, a Yamaha FZ1, 6 bicycles, riding & push mower, power wheels, etc.
Parents of multiple kids would be impressed. Hopefully I can get the intended lift to stack the classic / RX8 & get the wife’s minivan before it snows.
My wife and I have been shopping for 3-10 ac to build a barndominium on for the last two years. The plan is 50x80x22 where 30x50 drive through shop with oversized doors. Those dimensions were picked to support a big motor coach, I will never own one but people who do have big money and could have a similar opinions to ours giving us an exit strategy. Access to utilities and broadband while not fighting protective covenants (that prevent steel buildings) has been very difficult.
That's some smart thinking. I'd have never considered that but I will now. I just know it has to be big enough to hold at least 4 cars in various states of disrepair....with ceilings high enough for the lift.
Yeah, if you look into it the steel buildings they can be very efficient, come with 40+ year finish warranties, add under floor heating and you can use multiple heat sources (eg: solar, gas, electric) because you're just making hot water (off peak) to warm the space.
Like I said in the days of covid I am full time work from home so reliable broadband is a must, but my employer maintains we are going back to the office some day.
09-18-2020, 11:26 PM
