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How cheap can someone put together a top swap?

How much of a budget and how much do you like your GT? If you really want a GTP then it could be cheaper in the long run to sell your GT, buy a GTP then go from there. I know it sounds dumb but doing a swap properly may acutally push you past the price point of just buying a GTP outright.

Parts can be had cheap, yes. But machine shop time to check out heads, repair any damage, coolant elbows, S/C coupler (if needed), gaskets, headers, injector o-rings, a GOOD ECU TUNE, trans. swap (because the GT trans will break eventually under boost- not if, just when) all cost extra $$$ above the actual parts to swap. So say your GT is worth $2K. Say you spend another $1,200 total (including all labor) to accomplish this. Can you find a decent GTP in your area for $3,500?

Just throwin that thought out there.

And DSM?? If your budget is tight now for a GP, then I wouldn't bother with that route, lol...
 


Im thinkin with all that i still would like to keep the gt. I might think about just gtting a gtp though. i know theres. guy selling his buick regal gs for 650 with. Ruff body will that tranny work? the reason i thought dwm was i have. bunch of friends who have them and extra parts. one gave me his 16g setup.
 
Yea even if you dont want to swap the whole motor, you could still use the tranny, and all the parts off the motor to do the top-swap. then part out the rest of the car and make some money back
 
If you can get a GS for $650 with a running drivetrain then grab that, swap it into yours and heck.. labor probably wouldn't be that much and then you have the low compression motor and don't have as many worries about tuning it.
 
Well,isent a message to the guy about the regal but he hasnt responded and ican no longer find his ad. so either it was picked up fast or not even legit. guess igetto keep looking.
 


It all depends if you want to know it'll be reliable, or if you'd like to take a chance. I got a L67 that threw a rod for $200 which provided all of my parts. After that I had my heads completely redone by a local place for $275 + the price of new seals. You also need to factor in the little things, like Gaskets, plugs, T-stat, fluids, all that stuff. That can easily rack up to be over $200. Plus headers so you don't have to up a pulley, that will set you back about $300 minumum (I snagged ceramic coated Togs and a ZZP DP for $400). So right there you are looking at $1000 MINIMUM, but it will be very reliable.

If you go the cheap way and don't get the heads checked out, don't run headers, and find a good deal somewhere, you could probably do one for $600. That would be pushing it though, and I wouldn't feel very confident in my car if that was the case. I'd plan for around $1000. My original budget was $700-1000, but it's now at $950 gaskets and other misc. stuff.
 
i got my topswap from morad for $400 plus shipping. but like said will need about 250-300 in gaskets and fluids to install it. the tranys arent the same actuall like was said... they are the same base trany but the gear ratio are different. so if you keep your trany and swap the l67 or do a topswap on your current engine you will need a tuned pcm that reflects those changes. even if you take the engine and trany from the regal GS i would recomend getting the PCM set for your year GP but with the GTP file as it would better match the harness and body. also will need the map adapter and BBV connector too.
 
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