Engine Swap in New Orleans
Driving in South Louisiana is special. You love your car. It helps you get to work, drive through Metairie, or head across the Westbank. But let’s be honest: the roads here are tough. We have deep potholes, high heat, and always the threat of a storm. When your motor gives out, it feels like the end of the world.
But it is not.
When your engine is busted, you have a big choice to make. You can try to fix the old one, buy a whole new car, or get a full engine swap in New Orleans. We think a fresh engine swap is often the best choice for drivers in Kenner and all around the city.
We are Armadillo Automotive. We have worked on cars and trucks here for over 20 years. We see engines break down from old age, from hard use, and especially from the water damage that comes with big storms and floods.
Type Of Engine Swaps
Not every engine swap is about fixing a disaster. Many drivers in the New Orleans area want their cars to be faster, stronger, or better on the track. They want a performance motor swap New Orleans can handle.
The LS Swap
This is a famous engine swap for a reason. An LS swap kit means putting a powerful, modern GM LS motor—usually from a Corvette or truck—into an older car or truck. It makes the car much stronger and more fun to drive. You see these kinds of projects all over the city, especially on classic vehicles. They get the power they need to handle the long highway drives out of the city.
Honda Swaps
Many drivers who love imports want to go faster. A honda k24 swap or a full honda civic type r engine swap takes a stock car and turns it into a road powerhouse. We use high-quality performance parts New Orleans shops rely on to make sure the new motor works perfectly with the car’s computer and wiring. This is specialized work that requires expert knowledge. We have that knowledge.
Turbo and Supercharging
Sometimes, you keep your engine but we add performance parts New Orleans drivers want, like a turbocharger. This forces more air into the motor to create huge power gains. We handle all the custom fabrication and tuning needed for this kind of big upgrade.
When is Engine Swap a Smart Choice?
Getting an engine swap is a big decision. It is smart in a few key situations where a simple engine repair New Orleans fix just won’t cut it.
1. When the Motor is Ruined by Water
New Orleans lives with water. We all know how fast the streets can flood. One minute you are driving near Canal Street, the next minute the water is rising. If your car is caught in high water, the engine is in danger.
Here is what we believe: If floodwater has reached your engine, trying to dry it out and run it again can be very risky. That water brings dirt and salt that destroy the inside of the motor.
Instead of hoping for a small fix, we look at the facts. We will inspect your car right away. We use the right tools to find out just how bad the water damage is. Many times, the most honest and reliable way to fix a car that has been flooded is to replace the whole power system. A complete engine swap New Orleans drivers trust means taking out the ruined parts and putting in a healthy heart for your car.
Opinion: It is better to spend money on a good, clean engine swap than to pay for smaller engine repair New Orleans fixes that keep failing because of hidden flood damage.
You can learn more about what to do right after a storm from local officials, like the NOLA Ready website. They have good tips on flood cleanup and how to safely handle a car that has been in water. This is a must-read for everyone living around Lakeview or Chalmette.
2. When the Repair Cost is Too High
Sometimes, your engine has a major failure—like a broken timing chain or a hole in the block. If the cost of parts and labor to rebuild your old motor is almost as much as putting in a quality used or new engine, the swap is the smarter choice. It saves you from worrying about other old parts breaking soon after the repair.
3. When You Want a Big Upgrade
As we talked about, an engine swap is the best choice if you want to add serious power. If you are planning a honda k24 swap or adding an ls swap kit, a full motor swap is needed. This moves your car beyond simple car maintenance in New Orleans to a high-performance machine.
When Do You Need an Engine Swap vs. an Engine Rebuild?
An engine rebuild is taking your motor apart, cleaning all the pieces, replacing the worn-out seals and rings, and putting it back together.
Good for: Classic cars where keeping the original engine number is important, or when the motor has light wear but no major damage.
Downside: It takes a long time. If the motor has severe damage—like a thrown rod or water damage—a rebuild can be very costly and might still fail later.
An engine swap is faster. We put in a complete, working motor.
Good for: Cars with catastrophic damage (flood or crash), or when you want a performance upgrade. It is also often a smarter choice for most modern cars where replacing the complex parts is easier than trying to fix them.
Downside: It costs more money upfront than a light rebuild, but it gives you a more reliable outcome.
Armadillo Automotive: Your Trusted New Orleans Car Repair Team
We are not just a motor swap shop. We are a full car repair shop in Kenner. Our long experience means we know how all parts of your vehicle work together.
When we do an engine swap, we check everything around it:
Wiring and Computer: A new engine needs to talk to your car’s computer. We make sure the engine runs smoothly, with no check engine lights popping up later.
Body and Frame: We handle the body work, too. If the motor died because of a crash, we can fix the frame and the paint before we put in the new motor. We also offer powder coating services to make sure your engine parts or wheels resist the Louisiana humidity and salt. This makes things last a lot longer.
Quality Parts: We only use parts that we trust. Whether we are doing basic car maintenance new orleans locals need, or a complex honda k24 swap, quality is our top priority.
Common Asked Questions
Yes. We stand behind our work. The warranty we offer depends on the type of motor we install:
New Engine: Comes with a full factory warranty.
Remanufactured Engine: Comes with a specific warranty from the builder.
Used Engine: Comes with a parts warranty based on the supplier.
We will talk about the warranty length and terms before we start any car repair in New Orleans work.
No! If your car was in high water, do not try to start it.
Starting a flooded engine can destroy it right away. The water inside the cylinders locks up the motor. You need a professional shop like ours to check it first. If the water damage is bad, a full engine swap is the safest path forward. Trying to force it is the fastest way to turn a wet motor into scrap metal.
We do engine rebuild new orleans services too!
We will look at your engine and give you an honest opinion. If your motor just needs new seals and some fresh parts, and the block is healthy, a rebuild can work. However, if the main metal parts are ruined, especially from flood damage, an engine swap is often the more reliable choice for long-term health. We will give you the facts to help you choose.
Yes, you should.
In Louisiana, the law (Revised Statutes § 32:32:715) gives the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) the power to make rules about changing or substituting one engine for another in any vehicle.
While registration is often simple, you need to make sure the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on your title matches the vehicle’s body, and sometimes, the engine number.