Does A LS Swap Now Make Everything More Valuable?

Brett_Murphy said:

As others have said, having a running, driving sorted swap done counts for the most.

Since this is not going to be original, I suspect keeping 4WD and having it be operational will matter more overall for resale than what power plant it ultimately winds up with. At least where I am, somebody on the Outer Banks would gobble it up, because there is currently some kind of contest to have the most oddball vintage 4x4 out on the beach. Woody mentioned the Suburban on the chopping block- that seems like a winner to me.

Beyond that, I'd wager that putting an old diesel system and a manual trans could appeal to somebody who wants a SHTF truck.
 

I'm done with 4wd.   I've built a bunch of them, and I really don't have an interest anymore.   And for me, a 4wd would have to have solid axles F&R.  Which would rule out Woody's brother's rig (though not for the engine)  I would actually be more interested in it if it was 2wd, TBH.


What I am looking to make me happy for is more along the lines of these-

I'm not strictly building it for resale, but I don't want to be buried in it, either.
 

Honestly, going from 4WD to 2WD will kill the value far more than any swap you do.

Deutz air-cooled diesel or nothing - hey you asked....

An out of the box option, and it might be tough to find, would be 6.5td with mechanical injection. 

Simple electrical, auto/manual options with 2wd or 4wd, and it’s V8. 

While they don’t have the best reputation on the internet, they are reliable if you keep an eye on the harmonic balancer and don’t try to reach Cummins power levels. 

Robbie said:

Indy-Guy said:

Cooter said:

 

......  I see the orphan swapped stuff languishing on the market for months, and even years.  .....

 

Like the RX8 with the Ford 300ci. Inline 6 swap (recently posted here.)

But even that is probably because of the general swap quality and not the swap content. Orphan swaps tend to be hacks since there are very few options other than Jimbobs stick welder.

The 'general car people' population actually have a chance at pulling off a nice LS swap in most cases by buying all the parts and just assembling them. 

I'm trying to echo that quality = resale more than anything else. There is a very small market for anything swapped anything to begin with.

I had a Jeep Scrambler that I owned since before Scramblers were cool.  I planned a SBM 360 swap for it, and was able to pull it off with all factory parts, no welding or cobbled pieces whatsoever.   Much cheaper, easier, and more effective than a SBC swap, and was excellent on the trail.   Still couldn't sell it when the time came recently until I pulled the drivetrain.

In the meantime I sold two cobbled SBC swapped CJ6s, and a really bad 4.3 swapped CJ7.   

Because everyone loves a Chevy swap.  I'm not bitter, but I do know it is the truth.

No Time said:

An out of the box option, and it might be tough to find, would be 6.5td with mechanical injection. 

Simple electrical, auto/manual options with 2wd or 4wd, and it’s V8. 

While they don’t have the best reputation on the internet, they are reliable if you keep an eye on the harmonic balancer and don’t try to reach Cummins power levels. 

I had a 6.2 in the Suburban I got from Powar, and while it was even more hated than the 6.5, I had no issues with it, and what it did. (Reliable, great fuel MpGs) I wouldn't kick a 6.5 out of my (truck's) bed.   Though I think it would be as expensive and more difficult to find than a 7.3.   I could also do an IDI, but don't know if I dare to be that different.  

93gsxturbo said:

Deutz air-cooled diesel or nothing - hey you asked....

You have NO IDEA  

I'm still upset that I let a late '80s F series swpped with one of those air cooled monsters slip through my hands about 7 years ago when it was listed on the Chambana CL for under $2K about 7 years ago.  But I had forgotten about it until now...

Been trying to find one cheap ever since, BTW.
 
 

Indy-Guy said:

Cooter said:

 

......  I see the orphan swapped stuff languishing on the market for months, and even years.  .....

 

Like the RX8 with the Ford 300ci. Inline 6 swap (recently posted here.)

I would have considered an injected 4.9 inline six for it in my younger days.   I loved that engine when we had the carbed version backed by the OD manual trans and the Stoker McGurk floor shifter.  Greal mileage and torque.  

That little 5.3 got stuffed in a lot of Chevy trucks, so it shouldn't be completely at sea in the IH and I suspect it would outperform the original drivetrain quite nicely while making decent noises. I do think the diesel option makes a lot of sense for a truck, a 5.9 would suit that thing to a tee and you make a good case for the 7.3. But you've got to want to go there, and good lord are they heavy.

One of the big advantages of the LS engines is power density - it's amazingly compact for what it does. Thank the pushrods for that one. So maybe going with something just a little different might be rewarded. There are a lot of people who want to see Coyote swaps because the LS based engines are so common, but Coyotes just don't fit in the same hole. But in a truck, you're less constrained there.

Cooter said:

In reply to Appleseed :

It certainly appears from the advertising I hear for new vehicles that you are completely incorrect.  

 

Those are faceless corporations, not people.

Perhaps we are *all* thinking about this wrong.

Does the motor fit the car?

From looking at the picture, it seems like the travelette is going to be a big ole' "do Errythang" kinda project car- upgraded to a newer suspension and engine to literally upgrade *everything*, and be capable of taking on any number of loads and jobs. You're already on the path for a Crown Vic structure, but it is completely understandable why you don't want the Ford modular engine (8 Different heads but only 3 can work with this block- thanks ford!). You can get Iron block or aluminum- and while it will take work to fit, the LS is smaller than the modular and FAR easier and cheaper to upgrade if you want power.

It all sounds well and good, but again- it might not *fit* the car itself. Personally, I say a simple 5.3- maybe hunt for the Aluminum blocks and hybridize an LS with a 6.0 LQ4 crank- would fit it just fine, especially if you gave it just a mild bump in power but kept it junkyard stock otherwise.

Keith Tanner said:

That little 5.3 got stuffed in a lot of Chevy trucks, so it shouldn't be completely at sea in the IH and I suspect it would outperform the original drivetrain quite nicely while making decent noises. I do think the diesel option makes a lot of sense for a truck, a 5.9 would suit that thing to a tee and you make a good case for the 7.3. But you've got to want to go there, and good lord are they heavy.

One of the big advantages of the LS engines is power density - it's amazingly compact for what it does. Thank the pushrods for that one. So maybe going with something just a little different might be rewarded. There are a lot of people who want to see Coyote swaps because the LS based engines are so common, but Coyotes just don't fit in the same hole. But in a truck, you're less constrained there.

That's the big reason why any diesel swap is a tough sell for me- sure, the potential is huge, but even the "little" 4bt is over 800lbs wet and dressed for the party. Few vehicles are built to take that, and fewer still would still handle decently.

And man, "DO A COYOTE SWAP!!!! WHY DIDNT YOU DO A COYOTE?!?!?!1?!1". They're like twice the size! They're the reason why the newer Mustangs are so W I D E !

Cooter said:

No Time said:

An out of the box option, and it might be tough to find, would be 6.5td with mechanical injection. 

Simple electrical, auto/manual options with 2wd or 4wd, and it’s V8. 

While they don’t have the best reputation on the internet, they are reliable if you keep an eye on the harmonic balancer and don’t try to reach Cummins power levels. 

I had a 6.2 in the Suburban I got from Powar, and while it was even more hated than the 6.5, I had no issues with it, and what it did. (Reliable, great fuel MpGs) I wouldn't kick a 6.5 out of my (truck's) bed.   Though I think it would be as expensive and more difficult to find than a 7.3.   I could also do an IDI, but don't know if I dare to be that different.  

I have an IDI and no, you don't want to be that different.  I've hardly driven the thing and I'm already looking at pricey turbo kits.

In reply to Appleseed :

Run by people...

You're doing the Crown Vic frame swap, so the value of the vehicle is already affected by that (if resale is the prime concern, restore it to original.)  Since it will have the Ford frame, the Ford engine is the best choice.

Cooter said:

What I am looking to make me happy for is more along the lines of these-

Patina (i.e. faded original paint) is one thing, sanding it off so the truck rusts and adding faux service station lettering is another.  If the truck's exterior is in decent condition but just old and worn, I'd leave it that way.

Ian F said:

Cooter said:

No Time said:

An out of the box option, and it might be tough to find, would be 6.5td with mechanical injection. 

Simple electrical, auto/manual options with 2wd or 4wd, and it’s V8. 

While they don’t have the best reputation on the internet, they are reliable if you keep an eye on the harmonic balancer and don’t try to reach Cummins power levels. 

I had a 6.2 in the Suburban I got from Powar, and while it was even more hated than the 6.5, I had no issues with it, and what it did. (Reliable, great fuel MpGs) I wouldn't kick a 6.5 out of my (truck's) bed.   Though I think it would be as expensive and more difficult to find than a 7.3.   I could also do an IDI, but don't know if I dare to be that different.  

I have an IDI and no, you don't want to be that different.  I've hardly driven the thing and I'm already looking at pricey turbo kits.

I had a friend with a 6.9, and he towed my '02 Wrangler from my avatar and this Unimog swapped YJ Wrangler on a agricultural style deckover gooseneck tailer.  It was far from quick, but it always did the job.



It still would be a rocket ship compare to the original drivetrain.   However, the original drivetrain is gone, and I can't see the point of searching for a difficult engine just because I can.

stuart in mn said:

Cooter said:

What I am looking to make me happy for is more along the lines of these-

Patina (i.e. faded original paint) is one thing, sanding it off so the truck rusts and adding faux service station lettering is another.  If the truck's exterior is in decent condition but just old and worn, I'd leave it that way.

I'm talking about the height.  And if you clicked the link in the OP, you would see the condition the Travelette is in.  But I really don't have time to be upset about what other people choose to do with how their vehicles look.  

But I probably will add lettering to it for my vintage furniture business and maybe even "age" it, even if that isn't okay with you.

stuart in mn said:

You're doing the Crown Vic frame swap, so the value of the vehicle is already affected by that (if resale is the prime concern, restore it to original.)  Since it will have the Ford frame, the Ford engine is the best choice.

I have said that I am not using the Ford frame.  Only the front suspension and crossmember.




Resale compared to how much I have sunk into it is my concern, as I have stated several times.  

And if I wanted to really lose the most money you just stated the best possible way to do it.   Those lowered Travelettes sell quicker and for far more money than amateur restored ones do.

The simple addition of a CV front suspension (and lowering the rear) to a Ford pickup will add a couple grand to the sale price.

GIRTHQUAKE said:

Keith Tanner said:

That little 5.3 got stuffed in a lot of Chevy trucks, so it shouldn't be completely at sea in the IH and I suspect it would outperform the original drivetrain quite nicely while making decent noises. I do think the diesel option makes a lot of sense for a truck, a 5.9 would suit that thing to a tee and you make a good case for the 7.3. But you've got to want to go there, and good lord are they heavy.

One of the big advantages of the LS engines is power density - it's amazingly compact for what it does. Thank the pushrods for that one. So maybe going with something just a little different might be rewarded. There are a lot of people who want to see Coyote swaps because the LS based engines are so common, but Coyotes just don't fit in the same hole. But in a truck, you're less constrained there.

That's the big reason why any diesel swap is a tough sell for me- sure, the potential is huge, but even the "little" 4bt is over 800lbs wet and dressed for the party. Few vehicles are built to take that, and fewer still would still handle decently.

And man, "DO A COYOTE SWAP!!!! WHY DIDNT YOU DO A COYOTE?!?!?!1?!1". They're like twice the size! They're the reason why the newer Mustangs are so W I D E !

Coyotes aren't cheap, and they aren't cheap or easy to swap.

And since I'm not planning to ever tow anything even as big as my enclosed trailer with this, I don't see the need for the cost, weight, or aggravation of a diesel.   I honestly would love to swap the 5 cylinder out of my rusty Sprinter into something smaller to ger decent mileage from a van or truck, but that would be the biggest headache/worst chance of selling of all.

In reply to Cooter :

This entire thread is full of you stating or explaining the reason's an LS is the best swap candidate, and I agree.  So... Where's the build thread already?

Title suggestion: L(et)S Travel(ette)

Keith Tanner said:

That little 5.3 got stuffed in a lot of Chevy trucks, so it shouldn't be completely at sea in the IH and I suspect it would outperform the original drivetrain quite nicely while making decent noises. I do think the diesel option makes a lot of sense for a truck, a 5.9

 

would suit that thing to a tee and you make a good case for the 7.3. But you've got to want to go there, and good lord are they heavy.

One of the big advantages of the LS engines is power density - it's amazingly compact for what it does. Thank the pushrods for that one. So maybe going with something just a little different might be rewarded. There are a lot of people who want to see Coyote swaps because the LS based engines are so common, but Coyotes just don't fit in the same hole. But in a truck, you're less constrained there.

I agree about the 5.3.  Heck, one of my many crew cabs over the years had a tired 318 2bbl.   And even that did okay for what I am looking to do with this truck.  The 5.3 could run circles around it.  With the e-brake on.  I already have a 12 valve in a crew cab Dodge (and another one in the middle of a swap), so if I really wanted to tow something, I would go with the vehicle that already has the 5th wheel hitch and 100 gallons on board.







I just don't want to spend the extra money or the time learning to swap a Coyote when I can get an LS for under a grand pretty easily.

And as far as people wanting to see things, as the owner of many station wagons over the years, I can tell you that doesn't really equate to them wanting to pay money to own one.  There just isn't a demand for it.

You need to put a Ford V10 in that thing.  One for sale $600 locally with trans, it only has 336,000 miles on it still runs good.