Are all non-Mopar engine swaps equally evil?

[Mike DC]

I was thinking about this after the Rat Muscle 'Daisy' LS discussion.  An LS or SBC in a Mopar is the least-popular choice for sure. 

Is it any less bad to do Pontiac motor? 

Cadillac? 
AMC? 

Straight-6 Jeep?

Flathead Ford?

DeSoto Firedome?

BMW? 
Toyota? 
Lambo?

Daimler/Benz?


What if there is an engineering justification for a foreign engine?   Tight fits, light weights, drivetrain layouts, etc.
What if it's done to compete in a certain racing series (besides just saving a few bucks)? 

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Yeah, I know, it's ALWAYS better to keep it Mopar.  That's not what I'm asking.

           

[70 sublime]

On a Dodge Charger forum it would always be mopar or no car

If you were on a race car forum and asked the same question it would have a different answer

Just depends who you are standing in front of when you ask

[tan top]

 the price of mopar engines  , compared to Chebby stuff , makes it very tempting , if you are not brand loyal    

https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/mll-ps6320ctc/overview/

https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/dcc-5153526/overview/

looking at these two engines above & even looking at all the GM crate motors compared to mopar , kind of makes me wish I was a chebby guy  ,  

[cbrestorations]

from a circle track standpoint which im a part of no one i know of or even seen runs a mopar engine and very rarely a ford. its all GM engines because they are lighter and make power much cheaper. when cornering the heavier the engine the more it wants to understeer and burn the font tires off faster. the first time i had to race against a ls3 crate motor in a circle track car i damn near said f*** it and loaded up because he blew by me on the outside and pulled hard down the straight. its amazing what just 100lbs can do off the nose.

from a drag racing standpoint its different...that nose weight doesnt affect the car as much. but i do know alot of street racers who run LS engines in any make or model car because they can run a stock engine, put 25-30psi to it and make 1000hp with it lasting along time. instead of spending thousands on a race motor and taking a chance on all that money going down the drain if it blows up. the 5.3 LS engine cost maybe $500 off craigslist or pulled from a junkyard

[JR]

I think it definitely depends on who you ask. And if they get their kicks from looking at their car, or driving it.

I'd wager that most of the "I'd walk before I drove anything that wasn't a MOPAR!!!1!1!!!" crowd aren't experienced with many makes and models beyond a small spectrum, and don't know what they're missing.

I used to think like that, but after trying out as many flavors of cars as I could (American, German, Italian, and Japanese), I soon realized the blind brand loyalty is ridiculous, and until FCA starts sending me checks, I could care less about brand loyalty.

I'd love to build a pro touring 67-69 Barracuda fastback with a BMW S54 inline six. That'd be an awesome combination.

[XH29N0G]

Prius or Tesla engines?   

[polywideblock]

Cummins diesel 

[Ryan.C]

Good topic. I have often thought about engine swap the other way around. For instance dropping in a mopar engine in non mopar vehicle (big block Chrysler in a willys truck or something like that).

[Back N Black]

I would not swap another brand engine but I would install a non Mopar transmission. I wish there were more choices for transmissions, getting really tired of the 727 three speed.

[cbrestorations]

Use a a518 trans...overdrive and lockup converter. It's a Mopar trans from 93-95 it's basically a 727 with overdrive

[charger_fan_4ever]

For car a car show goer or a weekend cruiser cant see where it warrants the swap. But anything performance based tan tops 2 links summarizes it well. Do you want a 600 Ci 815hp BB chevy for 12k or do you want a sb mopar 330hp for $11,500 lol sad actually.

As stated those LS engines are bad a$$. basically a Cam headers and a $100 mail order tune and your running 11's in a F body. Drop that same mill in a fox body mustang coupe with a carb intake and run 10's with a 350Ci NA stock long block. Equivilent SBF stroker 302 based engine your looking at atleast $7k for 500hp.

[6spd68]

As stated those LS engines are bad a$$. basically a Cam headers and a $100 mail order tune and your running 11's in a F body. Drop that same mill in a fox body mustang coupe with a carb intake and run 10's with a 350Ci NA stock long block. Equivilent SBF stroker 302 based engine your looking at atleast $7k for 500hp.

Agreed, that's about what my 347 Stroker cost me all in

[Charger-Bodie]

If you pay 11.5 for a 330 horse small block. You got raped

[cbrestorations]

its $4300 for a bare 6.1 hemi aluminum block or $6500 for a turn key aluminum 6.2L ls3. both make the same HP, thats my point right there....

[Charger-Bodie]

its $4300 for a bare 6.1 hemi aluminum block or $6500 for a turn key aluminum 6.2L ls3. both make the same HP, thats my point right there....

I hear ya.

[Baldwinvette77]

idunno man, cost is a very real factor for any build. and if you can make the same power for half the money, i cant really argue with it, im not going to hate somebody for making a more logical choice, people have bills to pay....

[Back N Black]

Use a a518 trans...overdrive and lockup converter. It's a Mopar trans from 93-95 it's basically a 727 with overdrive

Any modifications to the trans tunnel?

[cdr]

Use a a518 trans...overdrive and lockup converter. It's a Mopar trans from 93-95 it's basically a 727 with overdrive

Any modifications to the trans tunnel?

Yes a lot.

[RCCDrew]

I'm jealous of the LS. Cheap power. Throw a couple turbos on a stock LS and have a real monster. That being said, if I was going to run an LS, it would be in a Chevy, not a Mopar.

[ACUDANUT]

If you want fuel/gas mileage Fiat/Dodge has a four banger Diesel option in it's 1/2 trucks. BTW They charge an Extra 4K for this option. 

[Rolling_Thunder]

I personally dont care too much what people do with their cars....    but IMO if you're going to do a swap to a non-Mopar engine...   then go Exotic...    swap a Ferrari V8 in...   or a twin turbo Maseratti engine...       something like that I would love to see....        LS and GM engines are a dime a dozen -

[marshallfry01]

I know a guy here in town that built a 440 and has a Chevy 700r4 bolted up to it. It's sitting in his shop. No idea if he's ever going to put it in anything.  I'm curious if it would fit in my 70 charger without hacking up the floor...

[Mike DC]

         
There's no debate about the LS & SBC swap question.  Even a lot of GM guys groan when they see those things in Mopars.

 

[Homerr]

If you need to be different with an LS or SBC then go put one in a Corvair.   

I'm even a bit put off by modern Mopar swaps though.  I can appreciate them if they're for a DD (driveability/reliability/mileage) more than the 'just to do it' swap.

[Bronzedodge]

I'm jealous of the LS. Cheap power. Throw a couple turbos on a stock LS and have a real monster. That being said, if I was going to run an LS, it would be in a Chevy, not a Mopar.

I'll bet putting a couple of turbos on a stock 5.7 or 6.4 Hemi would give similar power.  I know it wouldn't be as cheap for the Mopar specific parts but....