Every supplier I buy from I WANT them to make a profit because if they don't they won't be around the next time I need their product. Lately it seems more and more that there is no correlation between value and price. We hardly ever put in 350 Chevy engines anymore; it seems everyone opts for the LS series engines and to compact the front accessories (a/c, p/s, alt.) one uses after market brackets. These brackets are being priced from $1000 to $2500 which really inflates the swap cost. If you are thinking about doing something like this get a forty dollar 2ft square of 1/4" steel plate and carry it to someone with a plasma table. Take along the bulky factory cast aluminum brackets for them to trace around and for about $50 they will cut new ones out for you. Total cost <> $90. We do them six at a time and use them up in a couple months.
Coilover's, a.k.a. LS Brackets R Us............. You ever thought about selling those and putting some of that profit back into your pocket.
Great idea! Evan, I,ve noticed EVERYTHING "LS" is high priced compared to Gen 1 & 2 small block stuff. Engine acc. drive kits, hot cams, headers, etc. Probably because of research/development costs being re-captured. But, I also noticed if a guy is buying a new crate engine, it seems to me you can buy more horsepower for a little less $ and have better street manners. Plus, burn pump gas and maybe a little less of it. PS, How do you guys mount the AC compressor? The low mounting position does not look like it will work.
A/C mount Steve, A company called KWiK Performance Inc (www.kwikperf.com) manufactures brackets to relocate the A/C compressor on LS engines. They have different brackets for Corvette, F-Body/GTO and Truck accessory drives. I think this bracket may be what is included in an aftermarket A/C system (you need to specify what engine you have of course). The high/outboard relocation may interfere with the inner fender. I'll know pretty soon. Stay tuned! And I concur, "LS" (technically Gen 3 or 4- determined by 24 or 58 tooth reluctor) stuff IS pricey, BUT a huge technological leap beyond the SBC, -lighter, -more power, -better fuel economy. And while the SBC (Gen 1) had a run of around 40 years to amortize tooling costs, the Gen 5 motors are already here! But they are ugly. Ask me. They power my entire fleet.
