5.3 or 6.0 ?

[4WDKC]

The big one that interests me for my heavy Suburban is an 8.1 496.

Not alot of support. But they are cheaper, and torques monsters.

for low rpm driving not much is needed. Dirty Larry on the 67-72 forums has pretty much become the 8.1 guru with his 2 8.1l squares.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showpost.php?p=7100686&postcount=185

 

[Arkansas_V8]

for low rpm driving not much is needed. Dirty Larry on the 67-72 forums has pretty much become the 8.1 guru with his 2 8.1l squares.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showpost.php?p=7100686&postcount=185

Thank you for that. I am either going 8.1, 6.2, or 6BT.

 

[1979k10]

for low rpm driving not much is needed. Dirty Larry on the 67-72 forums has pretty much become the 8.1 guru with his 2 8.1l squares.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showpost.php?p=7100686&postcount=185

Also posted on CK5.com. This thread should have some good info and plenty of links. It's a rabbit hole.

https://ck5.com/forums/threads/need...tr-engine-in-blazer-1981.283625/#post-2898583

 

[fried_daddy]

I have a guy in Ohio who does them all day for under 1k for engine and trans, he'll ship via Fastenal as well, it's less than 200 bucks there.

You still know this guy? Currently looking for a LS to get prepped to swap into my 87.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

You still know this guy? Currently looking for a LS to get prepped to swap into my 87.

Yep, he's in my Driveway Engineer Facebook group, his name is Jason Brown.

 

[fried_daddy]

Yep, he's in my Driveway Engineer Facebook group, his name is Jason Brown.

I'm not on facebook. Ok. Thanks for the info. I'll keep looking locally.

 

[roundhouse]

I'm not on facebook. Ok. Thanks for the info. I'll keep looking locally.

Find and buy the entire donor car
Wrecked Tahoe’s are plentiful

Do NOT NOT NOT buy a engine that you can’t hear run and do a compression check

I got burned bad buying a engine already out of a low mileage pickup
And whoever takes out the engine will hack up the wires and break connectors

And if you want an auto overdrive trans you need to get the one with the engine , they changed the software so often that you need the trans that came with the engine

I found the VIN on the engine and ran a car fax
It had 278k on it when it got totaled

 

[Camar068]

I have a guy in Ohio who does them all day for under 1k for engine and trans, he'll ship via Fastenal as well, it's less than 200 bucks there.

what part of OH? More info please. Be good info for next swap or when this one goes out.

 

[Camar068]

You will need a tank and a different pump and some expensive fittings and hoses

I found out after the fact that there are cheaper ways instead of using AN fittings.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

what part of OH? More info please. Be good info for next swap or when this one goes out.

New Holland Ohio, but he's really not unique, there are a half dozen guy's parting out GMT800 trucks daily around me in Central Michigan. Two of them I know of will happily load whatever onto a pallet and drop it off at a Fastenal.

Where there's a will there's a way.

I get in my truck and drive 12 hours south to pull rust free panels, I can't figure out why people don't do the reverse, other than they just really don't have the will.

 

[roundhouse]

I found out after the fact that there are cheaper ways instead of using AN fittings.

I didn’t use any AN fittings and it still cost a bundle for the tank and pump and hoses and filters and fittings etc

 

[roundhouse]

New Holland Ohio, but he's really not unique, there are a half dozen guy's parting out GMT800 trucks daily around me in Central Michigan. Two of them I know of will happily load whatever onto a pallet and drop it off at a Fastenal.

Where there's a will there's a way.

I get in my truck and drive 12 hours south to pull rust free panels, I can't figure out why people don't do the reverse, other than they just really don't have the will.

Pick it up in person AFTER you hear it run ,
I’ve bought two engines on pallets and both arrived with missing and damaged parts

One was missing the front accessories and after several phone calls did not resolve it , I had to have my credit card company do a chargeback which magically got my parts delivered the next day

Second place hacked all the wires and connectors and cracked the oil pan, valve covers and smashed the starter and some other stuff
As well as lying about the mileage on the donor

If you have the space , just buy the donor vehicle and pull the engine yourself
Or pay one of your buddies with the space to pull the engine .
If you buy one on a pallet long distance , you’re gonna get ripped off .

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Pick it up in person AFTER you hear it run ,
I’ve bought two engines on pallets and both arrived with missing and damaged parts

One was missing the front accessories and after several phone calls did not resolve it , I had to have my credit card company do a chargeback which magically got my parts delivered the next day

Second place hacked all the wires and connectors and cracked the oil pan, valve covers and smashed the starter and some other stuff
As well as lying about the mileage on the donor

If you have the space , just buy the donor vehicle and pull the engine yourself
Or pay one of your buddies with the space to pull the engine .
If you buy one on a pallet long distance , you’re gonna get ripped off .

I've had fine luck buying them on pallets, I've also sold them on pallets.

You win some, you lose some I guess.

I do agree a total donor is a good way to go if you have the space.

 

[Hugeroost]

Hurricane Harvey ruined 2 of my trucks w LS motors. I bought 2 from Patterson Wrecking at 400ea, both came wrapped in plastic on pallets, one had 70k the other82k. Both still going strong, he is on eBay and guarantees his motors. If the donor truck is not too badly damaged he does a video before he pulls it. He also sells the starters, alternator, etc for 30 bucks each...Roost

 

[Frank albrecht]

What’s the benefits for both I’m thinking about swapping from my worn out 350.

What’s the easiest way donor truck or buying separate?

I would do donor truck. There’s tons of little parts you will need along the way.... I did the LS 5.3 in my 86. I didn’t go for towing I’m shooting for more street in mine. I also did a turbo setup in mine which is farely easy if a guy has a weekend.