Engine Swaps in Tomball, TX, Near Houston
Want more power, or just an engine you can trust? We do engine swaps in classic cars, trucks and project cars at our shop in Tomball.
Engine Swap Shop Near Houston
An engine swap means putting a different engine in your car than the one it came with. Most of the time that’s a modern V8 in a classic, or a V6 to V8 swap in a truck or a muscle car.
We do engine swaps in Tomball: LS swaps, Ford Coyote swaps and crate engine swaps. The engine is only part of it. Mounts, wiring, fuel system, cooling, exhaust and the transmission all have to work together, and that’s where a swap is won or lost.
We also do EFI conversions, fuel tanks, exhaust and AN lines in the same shop, so the whole build stays under one roof. Looking for an engine swap shop near you in the Houston area? Call 936-661-2675 and tell us the car and the engine you have in mind.
Which Engine Swap Is Right for Your Build?
The best engine swap depends on the car, the budget and how you’ll drive it. Here are the main options and what goes into each one.
LS Swap
The LS swap is the most popular engine swap around: GM’s LS V8s are compact, reliable, powerful and easy to find, from junkyard 5.3s to brand-new crate engines. See our full LS swap page for the engine options.
Is an LS swap kit enough to do the swap?
Swap kits give you mounts, headers and an oil pan sized for your chassis. They’re a starting point, not the whole job.
What harness does an LS swap need?
Every LS needs an engine computer and harness, either the donor’s reworked or a standalone swap harness.
Does an LS swap need a new fuel pump?
LS engines are fuel injected, so the fuel system has to be upgraded on most classics.
LS swaps for S10s, C10s and square bodies
S10s, C10s and square body trucks are some of the most common LS swaps.
Good to know: Engines: 5.3, 6.0, LS1, LS3 and crate LS engines.
Ford Coyote Swap
The Coyote is Ford’s modern 5.0 V8, used in the Mustang GT and F-150 since 2011. It’s a popular swap for Fox Body Mustangs, Broncos, Rangers and classic Fords where the owner wants to keep it all Ford.
Coyote swaps for Fox Body Mustangs
Fox Body Mustangs are one of the most common Coyote swaps. Mounts, wiring and the fuel system are the main work.
Coyote swaps for classic Broncos
Classic Broncos are popular Coyote builds. The engine is wide, so fitment needs planning.
Coyote crate engines and control packs
Ford Performance sells Coyote crate engines and control packs, which makes the wiring side cleaner.
LS vs Coyote: which engine is better for a swap?
The Coyote is a wider, overhead-cam engine; the LS is a narrower pushrod V8. Both make great swaps, and the car usually decides.
Good to know: Wider than an LS, so check fitment early, especially in older Fords.
Crate Engine Swap
A crate engine is a brand-new engine from the factory or a performance supplier. No donor car, no unknown history. They come as LS, Coyote, Hemi and more, some with the transmission and controls in one package.
What is a crate motor swap?
It’s the same swap work as a used engine, but you start with a fresh engine and often a warranty from the maker.
LS crate engine swaps
The most common crate swap. Chevrolet Performance sells LS crate engines in several sizes.
Can a crate engine replace my worn-out original?
A crate engine can also just replace a worn-out original, without a full swap.
How much does a crate engine swap cost?
The engine costs more than a used one, but the rest of the swap is the same work.
Good to know: Some crate engines come with matched controls and harness, which makes the wiring cleaner.
V6 to V8 Engine Swap
Swapping a V6 for a V8 is common in trucks, Camaros, Mustangs and Challengers. It’s more than the engine: the transmission, cooling, exhaust, wiring and often the rear end have to handle the extra power.
How much does a V6 to V8 engine swap cost?
Usually more than people expect, because so much changes beyond the engine. We go through it all before you buy parts.
V6 to V8 swaps in a Camaro
Camaros came with V8s from the factory, which helps, since a lot of the parts already exist.
V6 to V8 swaps in a newer car like a Challenger
Newer cars mean more electronics to deal with, which adds to the wiring and programming work.
How much is the labor on an engine swap?
Labor depends on the car and how much fabrication it needs. We’ll give you a plan before we start.
Good to know: Newer vehicles still have to pass Texas emissions testing, which affects which swaps make sense.
Engine Swap Laws in Texas
Texas doesn’t ban engine swaps. What matters is emissions testing: gas vehicles 2 to 24 years old in counties like Harris and Montgomery have to pass a yearly emissions test, and classics older than that don’t.
Is it legal to do an engine swap in Texas?
Yes, engine swaps are legal in Texas. On newer vehicles, the swap has to keep the car able to pass emissions testing in emissions counties.
LS swaps in Texas classics
Most LS swaps we do are in classics, which are past the age for emissions testing.
What are the engine swap rules for newer cars in Texas?
Federal EPA guidance on engine swaps in newer vehicles is strict about matching emissions equipment. We talk it through before any parts are bought.
Do I need to register an engine swap in Texas?
Ask the county tax office for your situation. We’re a repair shop, not lawyers, so we’ll point you in the right direction.
Good to know: Texas ended safety inspections for most non-commercial cars on January 1, 2025. Emissions testing still applies in emissions counties.
Got a build in mind? Call 936-661-2675 with the car, the engine you want and how you’ll drive it.
What Brix Auto Group Customers Say
“William was fantastic. Super clear pricing and was done with my truck on time.”
“Ms. Sandy and her team went above and beyond to have my vehicle repaired after I was in a collision accident.”
“I am very satisfied with the quality of work 10 out of 10.”
Planning an engine swap near Houston?
Call 936-661-2675 with the car, the engine you want and how you’ll drive it. We’re at 27813 Calvert Rd, Tomball, TX 77377.
Engine Swaps Questions
Costs, how long it takes, Texas swap rules and whether to rebuild or swap.
What is an engine swap?
An engine swap is replacing your car’s engine with a different one, usually something more powerful or more modern, like an LS or a Ford Coyote V8.
How much does an engine swap cost?
It depends on the engine, the transmission, the car and how much fabrication it needs. The engine is often less than half of it once you add wiring, fuel, cooling and exhaust. Call 936-661-2675 to talk through your build.
Is it better to rebuild or replace an engine?
If the car is staying stock and the block is healthy, a rebuild can make sense. If you want more power or the engine is worn out, a swap to a modern engine is often the better buy.
Is it legal to do an engine swap in Texas?
Texas doesn’t ban engine swaps. Gas vehicles 2 to 24 years old in Harris, Montgomery and other emissions counties still have to pass the emissions test, so newer vehicles need more care. Classics past that age skip the emissions test.
Can you do an LS swap and a Coyote swap?
Yes. LS swaps are the most common, but we also do Ford Coyote swaps and crate engine swaps.
How long does an engine swap take?
It depends on the vehicle and the parts. Once we know the car and the plan, we’ll give you a timeframe.
Where is an engine swap shop near Houston?
At our shop at 27813 Calvert Rd, Tomball, TX 77377, northwest of Houston. Call 936-661-2675 to talk through the build.
Engine Swaps for Builds Across Houston
People drive in from all over the Houston area for engine swaps, and the car stays here while we work.
All service areas ↗Typical Google Maps drive times from each town to 27813 Calvert Rd, leaving at 11 am on a weekday.