For you speed freaks out there.

[PM80]

If anyone want to have the ultimate LS. The best way to go is to get an 03 cobra motor and tranny. I was talking to my buddy a while back and he told me he can wire it up no problem and that the computer in the 03 cobra will actually talk to the LS's computer with a little repinning. If anyone is serious about doing this I can put you in touch with him. I wanted to do it myself first, but the money just is not there so figure if someone else with the money will want to do it. It is going to cost you probably a little over 10-11grand when all is said and done from what I figured. That is with you putting in the motor and tranny. It should be putting down around 450 which the motor can put out more, but that is all the rear end can handle.

 

[torquemonkey]

Good to know!!

 

[segxr7]

And I've got this great bridge to sell...

 

[mholhut]

A while back, three engineers from Ford had an idea about throwing a supercharged Roush motor in an LS just for giggles. I wonder whatever happened to that

Anyways, it's alot more than just a little repinning. The OLOA LS was running two PCM's... one for the motor and one for the rest of the car that was still LS. Fabbing up custom motor mounts and mating it to a drivetrain was probably a snap too. Then there were overheating issues...

These guys were only engineers... But hey, if you're buddy can do if for 10-11 grand... rock on.

 

[PM80]

There is more wiring then just repinning but the two will talk together. As far as the motor mounts the car was designed for the 4.6 to be installed so the motor should drop in since it is a 4.6. The only mounts you will need to fab are for the 6-speed. I have no doubts in what my guy is saying cause he has done stuff ford said was impossible. He is also the guy who created the sct tuning program, but if you want doubt his skills go ahead.

 

[Quik LS]

PM80 - not sure where all this info came from - but there are pages and pages of issues that the OLOA car worked through to get the car running - and (as Mike said above) the two PCM angle was the only way they could maintain the FEM, REM, ....extra. At the end of the day they couldn't even get the dash cluster to work.

They felt it would be much more likely that working with the newer mustangs (who use very similar PCM and bus) would be possible for an engine swap. The issue with using the newer mustangs is that they do not use all the components the LS does....

I guess anything is possible with time and money - what does your buddy do that he would understand the complexity of what would be involved?

 

[2001LS8Sport]

Well...there is a flaw in your logic. First, it won't fit the LS...not without some serious modifications. That's the reason the 4.6 isn't in the car to begin with. You can make it fit...but that's the deal...you would have to do the work to shoe horn it in there. The exhaust system might be a real headache. Next, you will need to find a transmission that will work. Since the Cobra never came with an AT, the ECM isn't set up to control one. You would need a stand alone controller, an AT that isn't computer controlled, or switch to the T56. That's doable..but very spendy..and again you would be required to fabricate all the mounts and clutch system. You would need serious fuel system upgrades. The Terminator comes with dual fuel pumps. Believe me...there is a lot more than repinning involved to get the Cobra ECM to interface with the LS. They are two totally different systems and architecture. I really don't think it's possible to use the Cobra ECM (which is OBD II) and get all the functions of the LS...especially if the LS is running a CAN buss. I just don't see it...and I've done a LOT of this sort of thing. I really think you would be better off trying to control the Cobra engine with the LS ECM through flash tuning. Of course, you would probably lose some really good features of the Cobra engine that way such as both IAT temps, boost bypass, etc. But since the 03/04 Cobras do not use a knock sensor, and the LS does, maybe you could incorporate one as a failsafe since the LS ECM has that capability.

I own an 04 Cobra. I'm very intimate with it's features and what can be done to it. What you are saying can in fact be done since it's been done in the past. But the cost would be astronomical. If your buddy has a plan, I would love to see him post it up here.

 

[PM80]

My buddy works for superchips and he is the creator of the sct tuning program. He has done mods on the new mustang that ford engineers said was impossible.

I would use he same 6-speed that is mounted to the current 03 cobra.

 

[SoonerLS]

Well...there is a flaw in your logic. First, it won't fit the LS...not without some serious modifications. That's the reason the 4.6 isn't in the car to begin with.

It will fit, but it has to be top-loaded. That's why it wasn't an option; the assembly line is a bottom-loading operation when it comes to the driveline.

 

[Fla02LS]

I think i'd rather take that 10-11 grand and buy a mustang or f-body and work from there. Lets say the final cost is around 15k for the entire swap and it works like its supposed too, isnt that a ridiculous amount of money to spend? I love my LS but dont like it that much. But i guess if someone wants it bad enough it can be done. Saw on TV a guy put a jet engine from a helicopter inside a new VW Beetle. Still had full use of the factory engine but could kick on the jet engine for a "boost". If a dude can do that then i'd say its entirely possible to shoe horn a cobra engine inside the LS. But the cost is way out of line on my opinion.

 

[postalUT]

But wouldn't it be f**king awesome to see an LS with a 4.6? Hell for that matter I'll just take the 5.4 Triton out fo my expedition and put it in there. Of course I'm being sarcastic. Really the only good option for V8 owners to boost their HP is a turbo and a tuned ECM. And for V6 owners, go back to the dealership and trade in for a V8.

But if you can get it done, do it. Maybe they'll invite you to SEMA!~

 

[mholhut]

but if you want doubt his skills go ahead.

OK, I will.

 

[lifer@writeme.com]

Hey, I put a '56 Buick Roadmaster mill in a '56 Ford Tudor Ranch wagon running on snow tires, mating the column shifted FOMOCO three-speed box through a Shiefer clutch and an Offenhouser bell housing, with hand-made exhaust. Ran like a bat out of h**l until the tranny gave out. I was 18, had $100.00 to spend, and made the fastest, flame-throwing car in Springfield Ohio in 1963.

So, anything is possible.

 

[T_Man]

I was 18, had $100.00 to spend, and made the fastest, flame-throwing car in Springfield Ohio in 1963.

So, anything is possible.

Yeah but that $100 in 1963 is now equal to $10,000 in 2006!
:biggrin:

 

[teh_milz]

OK, I will.

me too!

 

[chriswells78]

Yeah but that $100 in 1963 is now equal to $10,000 in 2006!
:biggrin:

Not nescessarily. My buddy just took a '93 3.8L Tbird and put a '76 (I think) Olds 455 Big Block/T400 trans in it. He's got less than 2000 in the actual swap project. He has since added about 1500 in upgrades (cams, new carb, new intake, etc.) His final issue is getting a hood to fit. LOL

 

[torquemonkey]

Not nescessarily. My buddy just took a '93 3.8L Tbird and put a '76 (I think) Olds 455 Big Block/T400 trans in it. He's got less than 2000 in the actual swap project. He has since added about 1500 in upgrades (cams, new carb, new intake, etc.) His final issue is getting a hood to fit. LOL

Pictures please!! Maybe a video too !

 

[Quik LS]

it's not the ability to wrench and fabricate anymore - it's the electronics.

The factory PCM can handle about 25% variance - then it's out of range.

So that's where re-programming comes into it. With the SCT software we can adjust the standard stuff - bigger injectors, larger MAF, ...etc - but we cannot get to every little setting - for example - we can't tell the car that it is SST when it didn't come that way. There is a bit to be turned on - Ford can do it - but SCT never reversed engineered it - so we can't....

So we can't change the range of some sensors, we can't add new sensors (before and after SC IAT), we can't eliminate sensors (knock sensor), ...etc

so matching unique clusters too different PCMs, adding on FEM module to a PCM that doesn't support it - is very difficult.

 

[chriswells78]

Pictures please!! Maybe a video too !

These are pics from our last ohiocustomz meet. Sorry, no video.

 

[decibels5]

Problem solved, even comes with the computer for you. just mount it in the glove box. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-F...tegoryZ33615QQihZ008QQitemZ180048282897QQrdZ1
Just kidding guys, dont get upset. the biggest engine swap i ever did was a 350 small block chevy and put it in a chevette. Oh yes, it possible. with a saw, and a torch anything is possible. the great thing was, no computer. i can almost count the wires that were associated with this. alternator wires, distributor wires, this includes the tach and plug wires, temperature wire/sensor, an oil pressure line. oh yeah the electric choke on the carb. (sometimes used a different carb with out it) I think two vacuum lines, and that was about it, oh yeah the starter and battery wires. Ill see if my friend still has some pics of it. You could always just put an older engine in the car change the tranny, mounts and wires and youll be good to go.

 

[RollinLS]

Shed a little light on the topic. I have experience in doing swaps that people say can't be done. I did a 3800sc/auto swap into a '91 Chevy Beretta GTZ. The original motor was a 3.1/auto. I have about an inch of clearance from each strut tower. The radiator had to be moved forward to make room for the headers. The frame had to be cut to make to custom mounts for the 3800sc. The mounts had to sit low enough for the hood to close. Due to the fact no hood existed to cover the supercharger. I had to run a stand alone management unit made by Simple Digital Systems to run the 3800sc. I still have the factory cumputer in the car running everything expect the motor. The SDS unit does that. The BIG benefit of the unit allows me to do a bolt-on mod and have the computer reprogrammed the same day. No pulling it to send it off somewhere or having to hook-up a laptop. I can reprogram it in minutes. I am surprised the engineers didn't try to isolate the motor on a se[erate unit and let the factory unit manage the car functions. but then again maybe they did and just couldn't get it to work. With the amount of electronics in the LS anything is possible to cause the problem.

BTW a few pictures of my swap. Note the hood. One off fully functional. I made it myself. Molded fiberglass hoodscoop to new hood. Had to make two of these. Some scumbag thief helped himself to the first one. $100 reward for leads to its return. Will only fit a Beretta.

 

[SoonerLS]

I have experience in doing swaps that people say can't be done.

I don't think anyone is saying it can't be done, just that it's not as simple as it's being made out to be. And even a torch, welder, JB Weld, and duct tape won't help with this swap; physically mounting the engine isn't the big problem. Integrating all the electronic systems is the big hairy freakin' deal.

It's like the deal with the THX/Nav retrofit--it can be done, but you're probably better off doing something else. F'rinstance, if you take the price of an LS and add the $11K being bandied about, you're probably not too far from the price of a nice eqivalent S-Type, or maybe even an older S-Type R, which will have non-jury rigged performance.

 

[RollinLS]

Quote SoonerLS "Integrating all the electronic systems is the big hairy freakin' deal."

That is what I am talking about. Instead of the wiring nightmare of running to different computers. Or trying to splice the two wiring harnesses together. Wire a stand alone unit to run the motor. While isolating the factory unit to run the everyday functions of the car. The tranny would have to run off a piggyback system. You would need stand alone unit for the 4.6 motor and tranny. As for cost. If you know what you are doing, you could do most of or all of the work yourself. The motor and tranny would be your biggest expense.

 

[pbslmo]

I was 18, had $100.00 to spend, and made the fastest, flame-throwing car in Springfield Ohio in 1963.

Ahhh, a time when cars were so easy to work on. Not all this new fangled stuff you have to scratch your head andlook at. LOL

My first car was a 72 Cutlass. Ahhh the memories. .. . ... ..

 

[2001LS8Sport]

That is what I am talking about. Instead of the wiring nightmare of running to different computers. Or trying to splice the two wiring harnesses together. Wire a stand alone unit to run the motor. While isolating the factory unit to run the everyday functions of the car. The tranny would have to run off a piggyback system. You would need stand alone unit for the 4.6 motor and tranny. As for cost. If you know what you are doing, you could do most of or all of the work yourself. The motor and tranny would be your biggest expense.

That is what Ford tried to do with theirs...and they couldn't make it work.