Looking to upgrade from a Subaru to an LS1 this summer and wondering which is more cost effective route. Purchase a complete package from someone like CBM or Turnkey $7-8K or purchase a used LS1 and buy all the components seperately? Seems like by the time you get a used motor, computer, harness, adapter, headers, throttle body etc it comes to pretty close what a new package would run.

Anyone done this and actually saved money? If you did this where did you buy the components?

wait till someone sells one here used.

Just curious...

Why the change?
Are you doing a lot at the drags? Hill climbs?
I am wondering if the added weight (not just the engine, but all the extra stuff (transmission upgrade, beefier frame, beefier suspension to hold it all up) required) will be better for duning or worse?

We are running a Subi right now and once in a while I can see the need for more HP, but I really like the light weight and maneuverability of the SUBI powered unit.

I've got one for sale in the parts section.

My brother in law did the buy separate way. It was a pain the butt gathering everything up, calling around trying to grind for best price, and in the end I feel his time was more valuable for the money he saved...

You can save a few bucks buying used and piece by piece but remember also things like a Warranty is a good thing to have we put a 25hr on every engine and will stand behind it.- JMO

Unless you get very lucky and find some parts that someone doesn't know what they have, the small difference you are going to save is a small price to pay to have all brand new stuff, AND these guys backing it up. I've had nothing but top notch service from my CBM motor. I didn't just get a motor with a warranty, I got a couple new friends out of the deal too..win-win all the way around if you ask me.

give us more detail on the subi, maybe the ecu on it could be used for the v8 swap, and don't forget about dyno time, spring rates, shock valve adjustments

ECU for subie is a Haltec E6 I believe. It is a locked unit. Hope to be able to sell the 2.5 to help recover some of the costs associated with conversion.

Have you considered the 6 cyl. Subi?
Just a few pounds heavier than the 2.5 and a whole lot more torque

turn the boost up on the subi and SMOKE the ls1's

Right now I have a aluminum 6.0 and a steel 6.0 the steel 6.0 is $1000 less

Are these carb legal?

If you are doing the upgrade yourself, does it matter if they are carb legal?
What year is your chassis?

It matters if someone like myself is going to be building a buggy and will need a vin.

There's conflictin stories on this. I have asked a few people here at GD.com about this. If they are assembling it they are able to get VIN.

I think one was using Lisa's mobil registration service.

If a shop builds it as turnkey it needs to be carb compliant.

So I have been told. I thought it was for all 2007 and newer buggies until I asked a few people here.

special construction vehicles do NOT need to be carb compliant.


mass manufactored buggies have to be carb compliant

I will have to look into this further.
If this infact proves to be the case, it opens up alot of options.