Comparison
New or used? Pricing a modern drivetrain swap: Summit crate vs eBay pullout
We priced LS, Coyote and HEMI swaps new from Summit Racing and used as pullouts on eBay Motors. Used saves $5,000 to $12,000, but here is what it costs you back.
A modern fuel-injected V8 and an overdrive transmission is the upgrade that changes a classic the most. There are two ways to buy one. You can buy it new from a retailer like Summit Racing, with a warranty and a parts list you can trust. Or you can buy a used "pullout", the engine and transmission lifted out of a late-model car and sold on eBay Motors, often with its computer and pedal, for a lot less.
We priced both in October 2026 for the three swaps people ask us about most: GM's LS family, Ford's Coyote and Mopar's 392 HEMI. Every number below came from the listing or product page on the day we checked, and every one of them will change, so click through before you budget.
The price gap at a glance
| Swap | New | Used pullout on eBay |
|---|---|---|
| GM 5.3 LS with automatic | Summit 5.3 long block: $3,949.99 for the engine alone, with no intake, computer or transmission | 5.3 and 4L60E: sold for $2,350 (189k-mile donor) to $6,500 asking (49k miles, with computer) |
| GM LS3 with automatic | Chevrolet Performance Connect and Cruise LS3 and 6L80E: $20,662.18 complete | LS3 and 6L80 from a 2010 Camaro SS, 46k miles: $9,855 asking |
| Ford Coyote with manual | Gen 4X crate, control pack and Tremec TKX: $17,063.97 before bellhousing and clutch, or the Coyote Power Module with T-56 for $20,262.99 | Gen 3 Coyote and 6-speed from a 2022 Mustang Mach 1, 65k miles: $12,150 asking |
| Ford Coyote with automatic | Coyote Power Module with 10R80: $21,174.99 | Gen 4 Coyote and 10R80 from a 2024 Dark Horse: $16,200; Gen 1 and 6R80 from a 2013 F-150: $8,000 |
| Mopar 392 HEMI with T56 | Direct Connection crate, controller kit, T56, bellhousing and crossmember: $15,363.89 (dealer prices) | We didn't price a used HEMI this round |
The gap is widest on the complete LS3 and Coyote automatic packages, where a used pullout runs roughly half the price of new. It's narrowest on the 5.3, because Summit's own 5.3 long block is already cheap.
What a used pullout really costs
The asking price is only the start. Every pullout we found came with the same fine print.
- Wiring and tuning. Even the listings that include the factory computer say you'll still need a new or reworked standalone harness and a tune. The tune also has to remove the factory anti-theft (VATS) so the engine will run. A standalone LS harness from PSI Conversion was $589 to $649.
- Freight. Expect about $350 flat, or $500 to a freight terminal, and usually only to a business with a forklift or a loading dock. Delivery to a house costs extra. A few sellers include free freight to a commercial address.
- Returns. Many sellers take no returns. The rest offer 30 days, with you paying the freight both ways.
- History. Mileage is whatever the seller says, and "certified recycled" is a salvage-yard program, not an inspection. A run video helps; one seller had posted one.
- The small print. Read the item specifics. One listing gave two different mileages, and one paired a 2014 Camaro LS3 (which came with a manual) with a remanufactured 4L60E automatic.
None of the eBay listings we checked mentioned a core charge.
What "new" doesn't include
New isn't always complete either. Read what's in the box:
- A long block (like the Summit 5.3) has no intake, throttle body, computer, harness, oil pan, valve covers, timing cover, water pump, balancer, flywheel, plugs or wires.
- A dressed long block (like the LS3 19540155, $10,755.99) adds the intake, throttle body, coils, injectors, oil pan, water pump and balancer, but still needs a controller kit ($2,320.95 for the LS3).
- Transmissions are usually sold without a bellhousing or yoke. The Tremec TKX and T56 listings we checked included neither.
- The warranty can depend on how you buy. Mopar's 392 HEMI crate carries its 3-year, 100,000-mile warranty only when its controller kit is on the same invoice. Without the kit, coverage drops to 90 days.
Which way to go
Buy used when the pullout comes with its computer, pedal and transmission, it has a believable history (a run video and low miles), and you're comfortable paying for a standalone harness and a tune. The savings on a complete LS3 or Coyote package easily cover those.
Buy new when you want a warranty and a known-good parts list, when you need a specific spec the junkyards don't have, or when you're building a car you'll sell and the paperwork matters.
Either way, you'll still need engine mounts, an oil pan that clears your crossmember, headers, a radiator big enough for the new engine, an EFI-ready fuel system, a transmission crossmember and a driveshaft. Our Powertrain & Fuel Delivery and Transmission pages list who makes them for your car.
The details for each swap: LS swap, new vs used, Coyote swap, new vs used, and our own '61 Corvette drivetrain plan.
Prices checked October 8, 2026, on Summit Racing, dealer sites and eBay Motors. Listings end and prices change, so check before you buy.