2 into 1: Rebuilding an LX wreck?

[roadwarrior]

Hey Gang,

Wild hair thought, but as I see damaged LX R/T cars with an asking price of less than $8K, and nice looking base V6 LX cars going for about the same, or lower, does the group here think that by 3-5 years time, one could buy a damaged V8 and a decent base V6 for a low enough price that switching systems from the (usually) nicely optioned V8 wreck into the V6 tub would be cost effective?

Buy a complete, running but wrecked R/T (write-off) and a base car for under $6K and end up with one nice (stealth) car. Will these cars reach this point before the V6’s are so trashed one wouldn’t want to mess with them as a parts receiver? Would moving whole systems from one car to another be doable without an assembly line equipped garage? I know such a project would be huge, but doing something like this doesn't phase me, if the prices are right. It would be another cool gearhead experience.

Just something I have been thinking about, not really looking for another project… yet.

Best regards,
Tom

[Cam]

Totally doable bud. You won't need much more then some good basics and an engine hoist.

[Tbird100636]

Hey Gang,

Wild hair thought, but as I see damaged LX R/T cars with an asking price of less than $8K, and nice looking base V6 LX cars going for about the same, or lower, does the group here think that by 3-5 years time, one could buy a damaged V8 and a decent base V6 for a low enough price that switching systems from the (usually) nicely optioned V8 wreck into the V6 tub would be cost effective?

Buy a complete, running but wrecked R/T (write-off) and a base car for under $6K and end up with one nice (stealth) car. Will these cars reach this point before the V6’s are so trashed one wouldn’t want to mess with them as a parts receiver? Would moving whole systems from one car to another be doable without an assembly line equipped garage? I know such a project would be huge, but doing something like this doesn't phase me, if the prices are right. It would be another cool gearhead experience.

Just something I have been thinking about, not really looking for another project… yet.

Best regards,
Tom

Doable BUT........ the VIN in the car's computers will not match the car's actual VIN. The car would run but you would have to swap ALL of the wiring and modules in the car. This may end up being a major legal issue.

[02Max4Me]

Doable BUT........ the VIN in the car's computers will not match the car's actual VIN. The car would run but you would have to swap ALL of the wiring and modules in the car. This may end up being a major legal issue.

as long as he is the owner of both vehicles he'll be fine

I know in NY, you are "supposed" to report engine swaps if changing a different liter/cylinder amount, but i think that's more for insurance reasons. I mean, in theory, he'd be taking a v6 chassis and doing a motor swap ya kno?

[schexy1]

After swap is completed you will say:
wrecked RT, 5K
clean SE, 7K
labor 10K
Knowing you built a stealthy SE/RT with the value of a SE for the price of a used RT, Priceless!

[Cam]

I guess you na-sayers hay never torn into your rides??. 2 days and the swap could be completed without any issues at all.

Remove the driveshaft. The engine and tranny will come out in one piece. Drop the rear cradle in tact......4 bolts and swap in complete. Install driveshaft. Replace the radiator, AC condenser and tranny lines. Swap out the PCM, ECM, FMC and engine wiring harness. You may need to change the fuel pump (not sure) and lines. No biggie. Replace the shifter and cable. I would highly suggest you swap suspension parts up front and add the front sway.

I may have missed a couple things, I'll come back to it if I remember.

But this is no big deal.

[Cam]

Or better yet.......hehehe.


Drop the entire front cradle with the motor and tranny attached and swap in........OMG, this is getting easier by the minute.

[Tbird100636]

I guess you na-sayers hay never torn into your rides??. 2 days and the swap could be completed without any issues at all.

Remove the driveshaft. The engine and tranny will come out in one piece. Drop the rear cradle in tact......4 bolts and swap in complete. Install driveshaft. Replace the radiator, AC condenser and tranny lines. Swap out the PCM, ECM, FCM and engine wiring harness. You may need to change the fuel pump (not sure) and lines. No biggie. Replace the shifter and cable. I would highly suggest you swap suspension parts up front and add the front sway.

I may have missed a couple things, I'll come back to it if I remember.

But this is no big deal.

Of course no big deal, but I was looking at it as a legal issue down the road if something happened unrelated to it. (Lets say an insurance company tries to deny a claim based on different VIN in computers and different option then car was originally built with). What else to convert... ABS module (you'll have an ABS light on for VIN mismatch if you don't), TCM(If it already has one it's possibly different programming between V6 and HEMI), cluster (are you really going to keep a 140MPH cluster?) , the EVIC console and headliner harness if the new cluster is EVIC, the EVIC switches and wiring, possibly the dash harness (definetely if converting a 42RLE car) interior harness (with the exception of the one coming from the rear PDC). Oh wait!!! Airbag module would have to be swapped too!!! (No swap, airbag light on for VIN Mismatch.) the OCM too. Oh don't forget the WCM, keys and lock set from the wreck (Skip this and the car won't stay running). Really depends on what the wreck has, the more options the more swapping. But doable. Much easier to do with a lift.

[Cam]

Of course no big deal, but I was looking at it as a legal issue down the road if something happened unrelated to it. (Lets say an insurance company tries to deny a claim based on different VIN in computers and different option then car was originally built with). What else to convert... ABS module (you'll have an ABS light on for VIN mismatch if you don't), TCM(If it already has one it's possibly different programming between V6 and HEMI), cluster (are you really going to keep a 140MPH cluster?) , the EVIC console and headliner harness if the new cluster is EVIC, the EVIC switches and wiring, possibly the dash harness (definetely if converting a 42RLE car) interior harness (with the exception of the one coming from the rear PDC). Oh wait!!! Airbag module would have to be swapped too!!! (No swap, airbag light on for VIN Mismatch.) the OCM too. Oh don't forget the WCM, keys and lock set from the wreck (Skip this and the car won't stay running). Really depends on what the wreck has, the more options the more swapping. But doable. Much easier to do with a lift.

SEE!!..........it's a piece of cake!!

[roadwarrior]

yeah, I was thinking swap everything good/cool/neat from the ruined car into the nice tub.

I have done this on older Chevys, and have upgraded a 79 GMC Van from 6 cylinder boredom to V8/EFI/Overdrive/1 ton happiness. No stranger to such a project, know it is quite bit of work, just wondered what I might be missing in the overall scope of such a project. The thoughts about the various computers "talking" to one another was something I had not considered. Are there and body differences (reinforcements or added mounting details) between the V6 and V8 cars? Also, don't know what different DMV's would say about a project like this, but if both cars were legally obtained, and all safety and smog systems were intact and working correctly, should be good, no? The idea that R/Ts or SRTs in clean but high mileage condition may continue to hold higher resale values, but a V8 wreck/lo-po V6 combo may be really cheap (especially a V6 with a blown motor, tons of miles, and a clean body/chassis) has certain appeal. Like I said, I have plenty of projects right now, but was wondering.

I don't know about others here, but it seems that people find out what I am into, through friends or neighbors, and say, "I have <freind, neighbor, uncle> with a ??? that he wants to sell cheap". Every dang car I have owned has led to other cars and parts for them. Don't see any reason why LX's won't be the same. Think what you would do if in a few years you could get ahold of a bent SRT for $200. Be tempting to find a cheap 100K mile body to put all of those goodies into, wouldn't it?

[pgcharger]

You know road i was wondering the same thing. I found a backend totaled RT for 5500 front end motor fine. Was thinking the exact same thing. HUMMMMMM got the few lil gears in my head grinding. And after that part out what ever is left for some more mods on my own.

[Tbird100636]

yeah, I was thinking swap everything good/cool/neat from the ruined car into the nice tub.

I have done this on older Chevys, and have upgraded a 79 GMC Van from 6 cylinder boredom to V8/EFI/Overdrive/1 ton happiness. No stranger to such a project, know it is quite bit of work, just wondered what I might be missing in the overall scope of such a project. The thoughts about the various computers "talking" to one another was something I had not considered. Are there and body differences (reinforcements or added mounting details) between the V6 and V8 cars? Also, don't know what different DMV's would say about a project like this, but if both cars were legally obtained, and all safety and smog systems were intact and working correctly, should be good, no? The idea that R/Ts or SRTs in clean but high mileage condition may continue to hold higher resale values, but a V8 wreck/lo-po V6 combo may be really cheap (especially a V6 with a blown motor, tons of miles, and a clean body/chassis) has certain appeal. Like I said, I have plenty of projects right now, but was wondering.

I don't know about others here, but it seems that people find out what I am into, through friends or neighbors, and say, "I have <freind, neighbor, uncle> with a ??? that he wants to sell cheap". Every dang car I have owned has led to other cars and parts for them. Don't see any reason why LX's won't be the same. Think what you would do if in a few years you could get ahold of a bent SRT for $200. Be tempting to find a cheap 100K mile body to put all of those goodies into, wouldn't it?

No extra reinforcements I know of. All you have to do is unbolt the craddles and drop them out engine, trans., diff, suspension and all. Wiring swap involves some more disassembly, as do all of the modules. If you document everything you should be good.

[Tbird100636]

I guess you na-sayers hay never torn into your rides??. 2 days and the swap could be completed without any issues at all.

Remove the driveshaft. The engine and tranny will come out in one piece. Drop the rear cradle in tact......4 bolts and swap in complete. Install driveshaft. Replace the radiator, AC condenser and tranny lines. Swap out the PCM, ECM, FMC and engine wiring harness. You may need to change the fuel pump (not sure) and lines. No biggie. Replace the shifter and cable. I would highly suggest you swap suspension parts up front and add the front sway.

I may have missed a couple things, I'll come back to it if I remember.

But this is no big deal.

You would. Tank on RWD vehicles is one gallon bigger.

[Cam]

Welp, I've done the major swap routine before and kept 100% above board. At the time I did it, the requirements were that which ever was the latest (most recent) model year. IE: car or motor. All the smog requirements had to be meet for that year. And as a matter of fact, it just happened to be a 6'r to a 8'r swap.

Anyhow, IMO it's very doable and since your my neighbor and all. If you have any issues or problems get a hold of me and I'll come over and see if I can be of any help to you. I can honestly say that the only couple of items on my car that I have not removed and played with is the gas tanks and the steering rack.

[Fargo59]

gas tank doesnt look that scary if youre doing a full swap, (body swap in this case), and racks are easy as pie (2 or 3 bolts, 2 lines, a column bolt, and 2 tie rods.) patience would be a plus.