L33 T56 Swap
03-05-2012, 09:39 AM
#27
one thing to remember guys if the op wants more power then he can yank the L33 out and just drop in an LS whatever later on. I think it will be good staying with the L33 to begin with. That way you will have some money left over ( hopefully) to sort out the issues that are going to crop up.
Myself I would not be agaisnt cutting and redoing the firewall. There is a lot of room to be had with that approach.
Myself I would not be agaisnt cutting and redoing the firewall. There is a lot of room to be had with that approach.
03-05-2012, 09:39 PM
#32
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450hp NA out of an L33 won't be easy and it probably won't be very nice for a daily driver.
I know you can get close to 50 HP on most LS engine from only a cam swap but from what I've been told by friends that have done this is that the engine idles like **** so most guys I know have taken them out and either gone back to their stock cam or a much less aggressive aftermarket cam.
I think if a number like 450hp is your goal you might be better off in the long run to just purchase an LS1 or LS2, I know they'll probably cost you about 3-4K more for a clean one but you're looking at a lot of cash to build an L33 to 450hp. Now if your hp goal is somewhere closer to mid to high 300's then the L33 is an excellent choice for the money.
Good luck getting to the 450hp, I hope you do, it will be interesting to see.
I know you can get close to 50 HP on most LS engine from only a cam swap but from what I've been told by friends that have done this is that the engine idles like **** so most guys I know have taken them out and either gone back to their stock cam or a much less aggressive aftermarket cam.
I think if a number like 450hp is your goal you might be better off in the long run to just purchase an LS1 or LS2, I know they'll probably cost you about 3-4K more for a clean one but you're looking at a lot of cash to build an L33 to 450hp. Now if your hp goal is somewhere closer to mid to high 300's then the L33 is an excellent choice for the money.
Good luck getting to the 450hp, I hope you do, it will be interesting to see.
03-05-2012, 09:48 PM
#33
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one thing to remember guys if the op wants more power then he can yank the L33 out and just drop in an LS whatever later on. I think it will be good staying with the L33 to begin with. That way you will have some money left over ( hopefully) to sort out the issues that are going to crop up.
Myself I would not be against cutting and redoing the firewall. There is a lot of room to be had with that approach.
Myself I would not be against cutting and redoing the firewall. There is a lot of room to be had with that approach.
The L33 is a LS engine and has better heads then the Ls1 and Ls2 (799 casting) only difference between them and the Ls6 is the lack of sodium filled exhaust valves!
03-06-2012, 01:28 AM
#35
My Turbo is in Minnesota freezing it's *** off right now but it will be home soon
03-06-2012, 03:03 AM
#38
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I know you can get close to 50 HP on most LS engine from only a cam swap but from what I've been told by friends that have done this is that the engine idles like **** so most guys I know have taken them out and either gone back to their stock cam or a much less aggressive aftermarket cam.
.
.
Not to mention a tuner isnt a tuner. If you are gonna throw some monstrous, barely streetable cam in the car, the local guy at some random "speed shop" shouldnt be tuning your car. You need a GOOD LSx engine tuner. I've lost count of how many guys were told by their "tuner" they need a hole drilled in the throttle body blade to fix the idle
Looking forward to this completed build
Last edited by Mawnee; 03-06-2012 at 03:06 AM.
03-06-2012, 05:36 AM
#39
All I was trying to say was if you're going to spend the cash right off the bat to get the 450hp out of an L33 you're going to be at similar money as just buying a larger LS engine which will reach your hp goal with less mods to the engine.
I just got lazy with my typing from my previous post because I was doing it from my iphone.
Either way, I can't wait to see you complete this build, after being out in my buddies LS1 Miata this swap is all I can think about.
03-06-2012, 08:53 AM
#40
the L33 is a "sleeper" engine. Aluminum block, aluminum LS 6 heads. If it is the HO version you have flat top pistons with a compression ratio of --I think--9.9:1. It has a higher lift cam with max lift at 12.5. It was the higher compression and bigger cam that bumped the power up from the other 5.3's.
Aluminum block but with pressed in iron liners adds a little strenght. I wouldnt go with the fast intake--its to expensive for what power it brings. Just port your heads and intake better along with a bigger TB. If you are planning on juicing it-then please build it accordingly. Which I think you plan on doing.
It will be a good engine for this swap. 400-450 to the wheels will mean some rear suspension work will definity be needed. Hit up BHR for their axles and do whatever for the wheelhop that will come at some point.
It doesnt sound like you are going to track the car so you really dont need to worry about diff temps?
I really wish someone would cut the firewall, move the v/8 back and be able to use the oem steering.
Aluminum block but with pressed in iron liners adds a little strenght. I wouldnt go with the fast intake--its to expensive for what power it brings. Just port your heads and intake better along with a bigger TB. If you are planning on juicing it-then please build it accordingly. Which I think you plan on doing.
It will be a good engine for this swap. 400-450 to the wheels will mean some rear suspension work will definity be needed. Hit up BHR for their axles and do whatever for the wheelhop that will come at some point.
It doesnt sound like you are going to track the car so you really dont need to worry about diff temps?
I really wish someone would cut the firewall, move the v/8 back and be able to use the oem steering.
03-07-2012, 11:06 PM
#41
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This. Post the total bill on that engine build, and then we'll see good how that LS3 looks.
03-08-2012, 05:35 AM
#42
Either way you have to spend the cash on a custom air intake and exhaust for the swap so the difference in price is really just for the engine. Will it cost less then $3-4k to add all those parts listed, not to mention the time involved with the labour.
Now as I said before, if your goal is to swap in the L33 stock and then over time upgrade the motor to your power goal to make it easier on the wallet then it's hard to argue against the L33 swap.
Good luck either way. I'm following with much interest.
03-08-2012, 08:33 PM
#43
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That's all I'm trying to say, you can get a new LS3 crate engine for $7k plus tax. Now that's a little expensive but I'm sure you can find a used LS2 engine for around the $4k mark and that engine still makes 400/400 hp/tq. Add to that an aftermarket intake as well as a full header back exhaust plus a mild cam and you're at your hp goals with mininal labour and pretty mild bolt-ons.
Either way you have to spend the cash on a custom air intake and exhaust for the swap so the difference in price is really just for the engine. Will it cost less then $3-4k to add all those parts listed, not to mention the time involved with the labour.
Now as I said before, if your goal is to swap in the L33 stock and then over time upgrade the motor to your power goal to make it easier on the wallet then it's hard to argue against the L33 swap.
Good luck either way. I'm following with much interest.
Either way you have to spend the cash on a custom air intake and exhaust for the swap so the difference in price is really just for the engine. Will it cost less then $3-4k to add all those parts listed, not to mention the time involved with the labour.
Now as I said before, if your goal is to swap in the L33 stock and then over time upgrade the motor to your power goal to make it easier on the wallet then it's hard to argue against the L33 swap.
Good luck either way. I'm following with much interest.
Machine shop (Bore, hone, line bore, valve job) 320.00
Engine kit (Gaskets, bearings, Oil pump) 422.00
Cam Kit (Cam, lifters, springs) 700.00
Pistons (Wiseco 3.905 bore with rings & pins) 580.00
Porting 799 heads Free!
ARP studs and bolts 400.00
Total 3072
So I can have a built fresh l33 5.7l long block for thousands less then a rebuilt LS1,LS2,LS3,etc. and make close to the same power! The l33 block is also 20lbs less then the LS1 block.
03-09-2012, 05:32 AM
#44
L33 68k mi 650.00
Machine shop (Bore, hone, line bore, valve job) 320.00
Engine kit (Gaskets, bearings, Oil pump) 422.00
Cam Kit (Cam, lifters, springs) 700.00
Pistons (Wiseco 3.905 bore with rings & pins) 580.00
Porting 799 heads Free!
ARP studs and bolts 400.00
Total 3072
So I can have a built fresh l33 5.7l long block for thousands less then a rebuilt LS1,LS2,LS3,etc. and make close to the same power! The l33 block is also 20lbs less then the LS1 block.
Machine shop (Bore, hone, line bore, valve job) 320.00
Engine kit (Gaskets, bearings, Oil pump) 422.00
Cam Kit (Cam, lifters, springs) 700.00
Pistons (Wiseco 3.905 bore with rings & pins) 580.00
Porting 799 heads Free!
ARP studs and bolts 400.00
Total 3072
So I can have a built fresh l33 5.7l long block for thousands less then a rebuilt LS1,LS2,LS3,etc. and make close to the same power! The l33 block is also 20lbs less then the LS1 block.
Are you planning on contacting Hinson about their mounting equipment?
You may want to contact V8 Roadsters about mounting equipment as well. They haven't updated their webpage yet but my friend was speaking with them in December when he was doing his MX5 LS1 swap and they mentioned that they are working on a kit for the RX8. Originally they had told him they wanted to have info on their site by Feb 2012 but the last time my friend spoke with them they said they are a little behind since the winter is their busy season with customers wanting to have the LS swap done.
They might not have anything yet but a phone call could make your life a little easier.
Next time I speak with my buddy I'll ask him if he has spoken with them recently.
Their website is http://www.v8roadsters.com/ and they have a really good reputation in the Miata community.
06-09-2013, 09:11 AM
#46
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Ok so after a year of no progress I’m going to get started on this swap! The engine is here the heads are off and I will begin porting next week. I did also decide to go with the tr6060 instead of the typical t56 since I was able to get a new one from the dealer for under 2500.00. Once the transmission arrives the first week of July I will begin fabricating the mounts, for now I will be building the engine cleaning up the engine bay and working on the wiring. I will have this car completed this summer!
06-11-2013, 10:38 PM
#50
The X is silent
I hope to see this finished soon!