bigcountry78
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
- Posts
- 3,708
- Reaction score
- 8,877
- Location
- Hickory, North Carolina
- First Name
- James
- Truck Year
- 1978
- Truck Model
- K10 Custom Deluxe
- Engine Size
- 350
I think I’ve mentioned this truck here before. It’s a pewter 2001 Silverado, single cab short bed 2wd. My grandpa bought it new, and we’ve kept it in the family. Strip down model, only real options are gov lock rear diff, 4.8 v8 and auto transmission. Rubber floors, manual locks and windows, and just an fm radio. Anyway, it’s sitting with 316k on the clock and it has blown a head gasket. We caught it before any damage was done, but now we have a decision to make. My dad has been quoted about 5k to have a new engine installed, but that seems high to me. A junkyard engine is a possibility, but he’s afraid to do the swap himself because of the computer and sensors. I believe it would be pretty easy, just unplug the old one and plug in the new one.
He works part time at O’Reilly so he could get the employee discount on an engine through them. He says he doesn’t want to mess with having the current engine rebuilt. As far as the rest of the truck, it’s solid with no rust whatsoever, but the body has a few dents and dings from farm life. The rear bumper is rusty, but that’s a simple replacement. Also, the transmission is the 4l60e, and it’s all original with 316k. The truck has never been abused at all, it’s just hauled light loads and been a gopher all its life. It’s really a neat little truck to drive, and is snappy with the low weight and small v8. It’s also completely show room stock just like it rolled off the assembly line, except for a drop in bed liner.
So, what say yall? New engine installed? Do it ourselves? Junkyard engine put in ourselves? I think 5k is a bit much, as $1800 of that is labor. My mom says park it, I say fix it. It does have sentimental value, as it was grandpa’s last new truck. And, dad has a lift and chain fall that would make engine removal and install much easier. So, let me know what y’all think.
He works part time at O’Reilly so he could get the employee discount on an engine through them. He says he doesn’t want to mess with having the current engine rebuilt. As far as the rest of the truck, it’s solid with no rust whatsoever, but the body has a few dents and dings from farm life. The rear bumper is rusty, but that’s a simple replacement. Also, the transmission is the 4l60e, and it’s all original with 316k. The truck has never been abused at all, it’s just hauled light loads and been a gopher all its life. It’s really a neat little truck to drive, and is snappy with the low weight and small v8. It’s also completely show room stock just like it rolled off the assembly line, except for a drop in bed liner.
So, what say yall? New engine installed? Do it ourselves? Junkyard engine put in ourselves? I think 5k is a bit much, as $1800 of that is labor. My mom says park it, I say fix it. It does have sentimental value, as it was grandpa’s last new truck. And, dad has a lift and chain fall that would make engine removal and install much easier. So, let me know what y’all think.