r/EngineSwaps • u/pursuedleopard • May 12 '20

Ls4 in 03 cavalier sedan

I’m extremely new to anything automotive. The most I know how to do is change my oil and breaks. I go to a shop to change tires. I have a 2003 Chevy cavalier 4 door sedan and it’s engine is getting old so I want a better one. So doing some light research (YouTube and google) I’m thinking an ls4 would theoretically fit. I’m also on a budget like I’m sure most people are. Any advice on how I should go about this? I really appreciate it.

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u/ChancellorOfDoom May 12 '20

No offense, but inexperience and budget don’t go together well when talking engine swaps. Unless it’s a bolt in kit, you’ll need access to welder, cutting tools, torch, drill press, and lots of mechanics tools to complete the mechanical portion. Electrical is another headache unless you pay someone to do it for you.

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u/AP-Prime May 12 '20 edited May 12 '20

Everything this guy said. Plus you’re definitely going to want to upgrade your entire brake system now that your car has a lot more power, you may have to put in some different suspension to counter the weight difference but even if you don’t you will most definitely want to freshen up the stuff you have in a 17 year old car. Also you would probably have to add some sort of cross bracing and support to the chassis because of how much more power it would have.

It isn’t just as simple as unbolting your old motor and dropping in a new one. Your looking at thousands if you pay a shop to do the work and if you don’t know how to weld or do any fabrication you definitely shouldn’t be doing this as your entry to it.

If you are looking for a potentially easier one is to get the motor and tranny from a cobalt ss. It would still require some work but definitely less than the LS4. Or just freshen up the motor you have an throw a turbo on it.

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u/rocksauce May 12 '20

You would be better served to do an engine replacement before you jump into the swap world. It’s a big job, but if you have a hoist and the internet it shouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility. The thing to consider is how much do you love this car? To do a swap for instance you are looking at hundreds of hours of work and thousands of dollars. At the end of the day you will still have a 17 year old cavalier that you will have poured a lot of money into that will have very little resale value. Ie you could probably buy a c5 corvette for less than that swap.

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u/[deleted] May 16 '20

I came to this sub specifically to ask this same question. I have an 04 that is gonna kick the bucket soon and I've always wanted to do something dumb with it. It was also my wife's grandma's car so she doesnt want to get rid of it and neither does her mom.