I agree, the BS meter is pretty high on this one..

Modern 454? = Aluminum block? Steel = too heavy. Carb. or injected?
Carb will not pass compliance in almost all states.

Cost for a new engine like this with trans = $20K+, I wouln't put anything less in the car. Even a used running complete engine start at $12K, most bigblock dropouts start at $18K with trans.

Painless - Last I know they only make harnesses. They are not a engine control company, their harnesses are made to fit stock controllers.
Appears to me he has a naive understanding of CAN control systems.

Over time, if he posts more believable details, and/or he does enough research to articulate what he has to do, then I'll believe he is credible.

I started out planning on spending $30K and am sure I will fall way short before my car is running.

Regarding the CAN converter approach: Designing and building the hardware to do it is straight forward, Reverse engineering and collecting all the codes is what will kill you. You would have to completely decode the S-type, and the codes from the transplant controller. To do it right, you need a running S-type and a running donor car and more hours than I had available to collect the data. (I'm not talking the published OBDII codes.)

If this guy has already torn his car apart and prepped it to fit a new engine, then his converter battle is already lost, unless he has access to another almost exact same S-type that is running.

I have an aquaintence that is one of the 4 top CAN system specialist in the USA and back when I asked him about helping with an automated CAN converter that would collect all the codes without having to do it manually, he said my pockets weren't deep enough. He estimated $50K to $100K and at least 6 months to have one of his junior engineers backwards engineer the codes for one car.

(If anyone is really interested in ECM controllers, talk to Bill at HP tuners. - They take up to a year to release engine tuning for a specific car. Plus they are only dealing with the ECM. They don't even try to work with the BCM or other control modules)

Enough said!

 

Some of what has been written got me going, so I will write a bit more about conversions.
This guy wants to put in an engine that will put out 700+ HP. I don't think the 3.0 S-type body is stiff enough (Body flex) for that much HP and the rear end would never hold up. And to keep it stock looking, meaning narrower tires, he would never be able to effectively use the power.

As an example, I am planning for 600 to 700 HP. After lots of research I decided the existing rear suspension wasn't strong enough. After lots of Solidworks modeling, I figured out what I wanted to do to make the rear end bullet proof. $5k+ and I am still only 80% done with buying and fabricating all the parts! Working on cars these days isn't cheap. Example: $1.5k for a pair 2-piece rotors and Camaro Brembos, pads. $2K for my IRS LSD carrier assembly and build. Another $.5K for Corvette spindles, hubs, E-brake assembly, $500 for 19 x 12 rear rims, $200 for the S-type subframe I am using, $.5K for upper and lower control arm parts, Corvette axles and conversion half shafts - $300, Custom axle shafts $500. At least $100 on paint! On and on it goes.....
I still have to purchase custom coil-over shocks/springs and tires for the rims. $$$ (Forgot, custom sway bar TBD - $$)

 

Actually, the easiest way to do this would probably be to take a drag-racing funny car and stick a molded S-Type look-alike body on top of it. ;-)

 

I guess he means the LSX 454, which is a small block

Chevrolet Performance LSX454 454ci/620HP Engine - Free Shipping on All Orders @ JEGS

There are a few of these here in Oz



780HP is probably a little optimistic, given that the crate motors only make 620HP.

But hey, you never know...

 

In the spirit of the STR, I'd put in this engine.

Edelbrock 46760 Edelbrock Supercharged GM LS3 416ci/ 702HP/ 658TQ - Free Shipping on All Orders @ JEGS - Free Shipping on All Orders @ JEGS

But this engine only has 720 HP!

 

Apparently new meanings of the word "only" that I've not met before.

 

Yes, and it's only $22,459.87.