Hey, I'm just looking for some opinions on which j-body engine i should build(ld9 or l61. This will be my first one. im really into the whole idea. I work as an automotive service tech and i currently own a 97 LN2 2door. I want to take a year or maybe 2 to bulid an insane engine and after im done then i'll decide what i will do with it, either buy another car and drop it in or do a swap. So any info on the pros and cons of a particular engine build and what to do with it will be greatly appreciated as i plan on purchasing an engine soon. Thanks.
you'll have an easier time with the LD9 2.4 IMO. im not really sure about allot of things from teh 95-99 j cars, but i think ecotec swaps into 3.1 gen cars need you to swap the body harness and gas tank.... i think. 2000+ cars dont, i know from experiance. as far as which engine to build (should you decided the body harness/gas tank is no big deal) its really a matter of preferance. what do you want from the car? drag? track? really, i hate to beat a dead horse, but if you use the hell out of the search button and research the 2 engines on this site, you should be able to come to a decision on your own. thats what i did.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike wrote:The auto to manual swap is not as involved as you would think.
Get all the parts you need in a pile, and drive the car into it.
They will find their way into the correct places.
ok, thanks for the info. will do some searching around this evening after work. so far i learned (from this site) that the ld9 is probably the easiest swap for my 97 cav but anything is possible i guess if i put my mind to it. as for what i want i still want to be able to use the car on the street but i also want to be able to maybe run it on track. i want a lot of get up and go out of the car if you know what i mean. im not looking for someting that rides like a cadillac or so hagoing tine that just ngomething like that . i want to bulid an eve insane power..for a cav that is..lol..anyway..i will do some more research and see if i can reach a decision..any more info will be also be greatly appreciated.
Ecotec has more aftermarket support, and will probably yeild you higher numbers, but is a pain to swap into your car. You had said something about transplanting into another car, I would recomend this for the eco.
If you really plan on throwing it in your cavy, the 2.4 will be an easier swap. The eco is not impossible, and has been done by several people, but it is a long and tedious process.
Poser wrote:you'll have an easier time with the LD9 2.4 IMO. im not really sure about allot of things from teh 95-99 j cars, but i think ecotec swaps into 3.1 gen cars need you to swap the body harness and gas tank.... i think. 2000+ cars dont, i know from experiance. as far as which engine to build (should you decided the body harness/gas tank is no big deal) its really a matter of preferance. what do you want from the car? drag? track? really, i hate to beat a dead horse, but if you use the hell out of the search button and research the 2 engines on this site, you should be able to come to a decision on your own. thats what i did.
your post is confusing as hell.. let me clarify for the OP
to swap an eco into a 95-99 jbody is a lot of work. the electrical systems are different, and a majority of the wiring must be swapped from a donor vehicle for a trouble-free install.
furthermore, the transmission used on the ecotec is a getrag.. the older j-bodies use isuzu transmissions, so you'd have to grind out the old trans mounts and weld in the correct ones for the ecotec getrag.
an ecotec swap on a 2000+ jbody is a direct bolt in... everything bolts right up, you just need the correct laundry list of parts to get the engine in.
between the 2.4 and the eco... I'd go with an eco.
but if you plan on using your 97, a 2.4 swap would be a hell of a lot easier.
dosnt everbody wanna "build" or have a "built" motor..
they all talk but never follow thru
Built&Boosted moar
04 Cavalier Turbo r.i.p my baby
2nd place 2009 GM tuner bash qwick 8--holla
thanks for the help..and ECOjunkk, im already started. picked up an engine at the junk yard today with 86,000 kms on it,no tranny or anything tho ill pick that up another time. i decided on eco after. it will be a year or more before its finished probably but i wanna take my time and get it done right and done the way i want it. as for the swap. ill make my decision as i research and learn more about it.i know a 2000+ swap will be a hell of a lot easier like you said DaFlyinSkwir , but maybe just maybe, i might take the chance and try it out on the ol 97..lol..ya never know.
