First track day after finishing my LS swapped G35.

37

God damn, I could listen to an LS all day!

22

u/SenorCardgay 9d ago

That's exactly why I did it. Didn't even want the power, just got sick of listening to the trumpet v6.

6

u/Stock-Reporter-7824 9d ago

Sick run too my G! Let those bald eagles scream!!

2

u/Sharpymarkr 9d ago

sick of listening to the trumpet v6

Preach!

How was the swap?

12

u/SenorCardgay 9d ago

Honestly way easier than I thought it'd be. Id been doing research and buying parts for like a year beforehand, but once I finally pulled the trigger I got it done in like a month. I just posted all my notes and parts on the LSx Z/G group on Facebook if you're interested

2

u/ThorceGod 8d ago

Definitely need that link!

1

u/sendlewdzpls 9d ago

I could only imagine the work it took to get that engine in that bay 😂🤣

3

u/SenorCardgay 9d ago

Honestly not bad at all. It's a little close front to back, but side to side fits way better than the vq. And it's such a common swap that there are plenty of parts you can buy, the only thing I had to fab was mounts for power steering and the alt, but that's because I'm cheap.

1

u/jakobsdrgn 9d ago

How’d the electronics go? How well integrated into the factory system is it (or isn’t it)

4

u/SenorCardgay 9d ago

I spent $100 on a generic ls swap harness from ebay and it worked out great. Just have to run power to the pcm and tap into keyed power. The only things that dont work on the dash are tach and water temp, but that's because I'm pretty sure the only way to do that is with a $400 wiring specialties adapter, and I wasn't paying that, so I just put tach and coolant on separate pods on the pillar. Everything else on the car works as it should and I didn't have to touch it.

2

u/jakobsdrgn 9d ago

Really? Wasn’t even aware that was an option, sweet, i’ve got a project car 06 Z, and my shop just picked up an 03 G35 (can check my post about it, quite amusing) so i’m sure the info will come in handy

2

u/SenorCardgay 9d ago

Hell yeah. If youre going the LS route, join the LSx z/g Facebook group. They got a lot of info over there, and I just posted all my notes, resources, and parts list I used

2

u/jakobsdrgn 9d ago

Will do!

8

u/EmzyisErock 9d ago

Lanier?

4

u/SenorCardgay 9d ago

Yessir. Gotta love fnd.

1

u/EmzyisErock 9d ago

I’ve been a couple times before. I drift on simulator, maybe one day IRL. V8 sounds sick, weird hearing that while seeing the legendary infinity clock on the dash

1

u/SenorCardgay 9d ago

Lol same, it's still kinda surreal to me. Hope you do get out there bro, there's really nothing like it. And Lanier is such a good place to learn since it's so open.

2

u/EmzyisErock 9d ago

My only concern is money, I have a wrx I’d literally sell for something I can drift. Preferably NA v8 for simplicity. Something I can slap a few mods on and go have fun!

3

u/SenorCardgay 9d ago

True, it ain't cheap, but also not as expensive as you'd think. I cannot recommend a 350z/g35 enough, as awful as they sound, they really are the best seat time car. Super reliable and stupid easy to fix, and there's tons of aftermarket support, and you don't really need much to drift them. I drove this car to and from the track for 2 years without a problem, stock motor, only mods I have are coilovers, lsd, and a cheap angle kit. And then it's not that bad to V8 swap it down the road if you really want it, but the V6 is plenty.

2

u/Archie_Money 9d ago

Damn.. great moves man! I bought a G last year and I'm looking to go the LS route one day. I have a single turbo kit and a rev-up. with or without the kit installed I'm gonna try to go to as many drift events with it.

After it blows up I'm looking to LS swap for sure, I want my G to sound like that!

Which LS do you recommend?

What did you all buy to LS swap it?

When it comes time for it I'm probably gonna go to one company and buy it all at once. The LOJ or Sikky kit seems tempting to make it easier.

Was there anything you would've done differently with the things you bought for the swap?

Thanks for sharing

2

u/SenorCardgay 9d ago

Brother do I have some good news for you. Join the LSx z/g group on Facebook. Not only were they a huge help for me, but I just posted over there a Google doc of all my notes, resources, and a parts list I used for the whole swap.

As far as what ls motor, youre asking the wrong guy, I just found a $200 5.3 Facebook motor and went with it. Seems like Gen 3's are more common and easier to work with.

I went with the isr trans adapter and loj pan, but that's all in my notes.

As far as what I'd do differently, really the only things would be just buying the isr driveshaft, I had one made locally and it ended up being more expensive than the isr one. And the tach I chose kinda sucks, but still works. Other than that I'm super happy with it. In total, cost me around $6k or so, might be the cheapest z/g swap I've seen. Price is gonna start going up quick if you go sikky or loj.

Also I'd skip the turbo kit and just drift it as is for now. You'll just end up making the rev up less reliable with the turbo. You don't need it to have a good time in these cars, I drifted mine for 2 years on a stock non rev up and never had a complaint.

1

u/Archie_Money 8d ago

Thanks for the advice, I'm so stoked to drift. But 6k Isn't too bad to LS swap!

I have to disagree on the turbo kit part. I have a bunch of bolts on my G and just feel like that's the finish line, the final stage to finally complete the build.

I never installed a turbo and want the experience. I know it will inevitably blow up, I'm on my second DE as it is. I put a DE short block on my rev-up engine.

But after the engine gives up I'm keeping the chassis and going LS

I also have a 350Z HR that I'm going to drift as well. It's got an open diff so it's gonna be easy to weld.

Any other pointers are welcome man. Thanks!

1

u/EmzyisErock 9d ago

I’ve heard a lot of good things about the z, inciting.

6

u/Randomhero-40 9d ago

Which LS did you end up going with? I’m really tempted to swap to an LS3 instead of supercharging the HR.

Lanier is a fun track. I go with a buddy to the Friday night drift events they do to help him with his Z if he needs it. I’m gonna take mine up there for some of the autocross stuff they do once it warms back up.

5

u/SenorCardgay 9d ago

Its just some 5.3 Lm7 I found on Facebook for $200. Of course I'm biased to the LS just because I love the sound, and hate the sound or the vq's, but even just from a price and reliability standpoint, LS still seems way more practical.

3

u/Killua_Zoldyckx 8d ago

Lanier raceway is where I hope to run my car after I finish it, hope to still see you out there 🫡🫡

2

u/Reason408 8d ago

Can't wait to do this to my g35 coupe! Sounds amazing dude! Definitely gonna check out your swap log

2

u/Spacekook_ 8d ago

Awesome slides man

2

u/chuckymead420 8d ago

She sounds beautiful

2

u/SenorCardgay 8d ago

Thanks homie. I'm kinda surprised at how good it is, it's still on the vq exhaust lol

2

u/3driftyZ 7d ago

What a pussy. VQ’s rule

1

u/SenorCardgay 7d ago

Say what you want, but that ain't gonna stop your doors from being caved in

2

u/3driftyZ 7d ago

I’ll be waiting hahaha

1

u/SenorCardgay 7d ago

😘

2

u/Weird_Expert_1999 6d ago

Hell yeah bro, thought it looked like Lanier- went a few times this year. Did you get any drone footage? I think they only allow 1 group to run the drones but didn’t talk to them myself

1

u/SenorCardgay 6d ago

I wish. I don't think I even saw anyone flying that night, it was pretty empty. But that's alright, I plan to be out there a lot more this year

1

u/Almighty_Cock_Man 6d ago

bro is at west coast arena from carx drift

1

u/WhatThe_uckDoIPut 1d ago

Ls, cheap reliable, sounds awesome, and easy power haha

Video First track day after finishing my LS swapped G35.

You are about to leave Redlib