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Engine swap or top swap

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06PONTGP

New member
ok so i have a 2006 grand prix n/a l26 with 118K well i can get a whole l32 with 96k for about 1000 or a gen v top swap for around 800....if im not mistaken i would need a engine harness for both ways and a pcm. I was curious on what everyone else thought on which is the better way
 


I have a topswap for sale but its for a GenIII but I can make you a deal on it with out the GenIII. So you will have all of the other parts to topswap it you would just need to buy a GenV and if you go that route your topswap will be way cheaper then $800. Just throwing it out there, Id rather topswap because then you have a high compression block already.
 
people always talk about high compression etc.
but will the rods be able to handle the boost? aren't they weaker in the N/A cars?
 


My issue was a misfire but it ended up being plugs which I had bought all brand new including ignition. So I put my old ones in AMD problem soved so far. The l36 block is plenty strong enough if tuned right.
 
if given a choice again after what i've done (both ways), build the motor outside of the car while you drive it and take your time. then swap the entire motor. it's a whole lot less hassle than doing a top swap in the car.
 
Bio248 said:
if given a choice again after what i've done (both ways), build the motor outside of the car while you drive it and take your time. then swap the entire motor. it's a whole lot less hassle than doing a top swap in the car.
Click to expand...

This... All of this.


Don't top swap your car. You have Le ****ty rods.
 


it's not that i wouldnt trust the rods in the L26, it's that it's simply easier doing a full motor swap and it's easier to work on the motor outside of the car, by far.
 
depends if you're gonna run out of headroom to run more boost or not. if you're gonna be down in the 2.6 pulley range on the L67/32 then for sure go high compression. i always like leaning towards more boost, though so i like the 'low' compression blocks.
 


It's because the rod cap bolts are smaller and break easier. The L36 rod cap bolts are a little bigger in diameter.

Even on the stock pulley, the higher compression bottom end will make more power.
 
i look at this in a few ways one,the engine swap is in my eyes easier......but the top swap makes a little more power, the l32 has 96k mine 118k....but from what i read in 05+ the l26 get the powdered metal rod just like the l32 and the difference at stock between the 2 set ups is 5%....not to worried about it im not going super crazy maybe a cam with either swap exhaust and pulley drop prolly the most ill do not looking to buy stock in gm for 4t65hds
 
Running L26 bottom end with supercharger heads, VS cam and gen 5. Been running this way for a year, lots of power! I don't beat it to death but I'm not 20 or 30 something anymore.
 
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