I've done a bit more research on this Gen IV concept. Seems like an L33 ("5.3HO") as used in '05-'07 full size half ton 4WD pickups would be the money. It's all aluminum, 310hp/335lb ft and uses the same high-flow heads as the LS6. A few bolt on upgrades can unlock 100hp easy. I don't need that, but sheesh! The only useful transmission option are T5 or the various T56-related transmissions. T5s are cheap but may not put up with that engine for very long... although most of that feedback comes from people building cheap drag racers and that's not my thing. T56/TKO/etc. transmissions are nice, but expensive and may not fit in the XR's tunnel. Definitely not a "rev 1" approach. All the Gen IV blocks use the same mounts, so there is an endless selection of "universal mount kits" that could facilitate an install, and there is a T5 mount available for the XR. My T5 XR has a Ford Racing aluminum driveshaft, but using that requires an adapter that is no longer in production. I have read about some alternatives - modified shafts from other cars and even piecing one together... not sure of the approach here. Probably depends a bit on where the transmission ends up sitting. Lots of options for running the fuel injection but it sure seems like the best option is a reprogrammed factory ECM for maximum drivability and reliability. There is very little cost variation between carbs and most aftermarket solutions... the modified factory system prices in square in the middle.
The hard parts here represent somewhere around $2500, more or less depending on how I come into the engine & electronics. A few hundred dollars in variation depending on the transmission mount and driveshaft. The big variation ends up being what I end up paying someone to fabricate the mounts or how much I fuck up trying to do it myself.
The alternative would be to do something with the engine, basically following the same recipe as I've done in my XR. Shedding several hundred pounds of interior would get a lot more out of the same mods. An intercooler, radiator, modified intakes, replacement ECM... it does start to add up. It's an easy $1k, and if anything like a turbo is needed the price goes up dramatically. Still, I suspect I could get some good use out of a less extensive build - throw on an intercooler, run in the 200hp range, focus on the chassis? Maybe worth it.
The good news is that the car came with a bunch of stuff in the trunk:
There's a gutted upper & lower intake (which I actually gave to the previous owner in 2008... ) as well as an 8UA computer (later, 32-bit part) and matching VAM. It's a start!
Finding that stuff in the trunk reminded me I also gave him a pair of brackets for a rear disc conversion, and I was happy to find he'd actually done that work:
It's something. The stock front brakes are unwhelming, but I'm sure will feel better after some weight loss. Certainly if I'm keeping the Lima for a little while.
Short term plan is limited to replacing/upgrading the fuel pump, changing the gas, and deleting the cat somehow.
Then a diet, suspension & tires. Fortunately it's got 16x7 wheels already - they weigh a ton, but they fit well and can take a good tire.
Then I'll need to figure out what's going to power it.
I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I'd really like to get it to that point by the end of September. Hopefully the rest of the SPG build goes quickly... not only does that clear my work plate, but it also means I can sell Charlotte and put those funds into this XR. I should probably let Anne know she needs to be prepared for that!
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I will definitely keep those Motegis on the top of the list. That's a quick, easy solution.
Originally Posted by TheBenior
