Poll -Would doing a LS swap in a CLEAN 1987 V10 INCREASE to DECREASE VALUE?

[bucket]

But our last 2 boats have had classy looking small blocks in them!
Long live the 350…You can still buy new boats with new, old school small blocks in them, although a lot are LS based marinazations if they’re GM motors.
Old boat had a LT1 vette motor marinized with a Northstar ignition.
Current boat with the MCX is real perty.

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The Northstar ignition is probably a much better choice than the optispark for wet conditions, huh

I can't remember who it was, but there was a company that sold a complete kit to run those coil packs in the street cars. Iirc, the majority of the kit was stock replacement parts for other GM cars.

 

[Grit dog]

The Northstar ignition is probably a much better choice than the optispark for wet conditions, huh

I can't remember who it was, but there was a company that sold a complete kit to run those coil packs in the street cars. Iirc, the majority of the kit was stock replacement parts for other GM cars.

Idk why they did it actually. It was only for a few years on that and one other model, a LTR.
All the newer engines I’ve seen have gone back to the standard venerable Cap n rotor. Is that Optispark on the red motor?
Honestly I was always a little concerned that the Northstar would have issues and be expensive to fix. But as I understand it was reliable.

oP sorry for the hijack. Back to your regularly scheduled program.

 

[Rusty Nail]

Lt-1s are badass

 

[gotyourgoat]

Idk why they did it actually. It was only for a few years on that and one other model, a LTR.
All the newer engines I’ve seen have gone back to the standard venerable Cap n rotor. Is that Optispark on the red motor?
Honestly I was always a little concerned that the Northstar would have issues and be expensive to fix. But as I understand it was reliable.

oP sorry for the hijack. Back to your regularly scheduled program.

No, neither pic shows an optispark. The top pic is an lt1 but is not using an optispark. There is what looks like an oe water pump that has been modified with extra plumbing and bracketry. It is also painted black, typically raw aluminum. Originally the optispark would of been underneath and behind the water pump.

Lt-1s are badass

stop saying that.

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

If the stock engine runs, run it. as soon as it’s rebuild time I’d LS it hands down.

Now around here people think a 600$ JY engine makes any square worth 10k automatically.
Your location plays a large effect on the value of the swap.

People also think because you have a $600 jy motor, that they did the whole swap for $600. And they also think comparing the price of a 200k mile 5.3 versus rebuilding a sbc is an apples to apples comparison. It's not. Try comparing an LS rebuild to a sbc rebuild, that is more realistic.

I look at the power level vs application. You want a Sunday afternoon cruiser, and are fine with slightly above stock power, stick with the sbc. But if you want a 500hp daily, you should be looking at an LS swap.

 

[cstew47]

My '87 is clean -Im currently doing a restoration on it - interior, rubber, door treatments etc etc…

I'm needing to re-do heads - and it's got a160k miles on it. and truth be known, it seems a little tired too…. I don't want to redo heads and in near future have issue with bottom end.

So, Im considering...

1. Rebuilding the existing 350
2. Swapping for a remanufactured 350 same as factory
3. LS SWAP -

Do you think taking an original 350 and professionaly swapping it to an LS will devalue the truck? My truck is very clean, ZERO rust -

**this is simply a 'whats your opinion' — I understand, it's up to the buyer & or the user - There are pros and cons to everything - basic question if it's positive to value, how much so, and if it's a negavtive to value - how big? in your option of 'course.

Personally, I think it will, but not a lot— but that's just my opinion.

Im just curious what you guys think.


(and should I have posted in a different place?)

I don't understand your concern about devaluing the truck. Any new or rebuilt engine will add value unless you are into the numbers matching world. As far as whether to go with an LS or 350, it really depends on what you are trying to achieve. If you are going old school with carb or TBI, I would never rebuild a 350. Instead go with a 383 stroker kit. If you want to spend the money and go for reliability, an LS is great, but, more spendy.

 

[cstew47]

Yes - I see that. Im so on the fence. May just put a little into the heads and go with back with all new sensors - i do like its all original.

Especially when its clean likw now ...

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Wow, that looks like a really clean truck.

 

[Grit dog]

^yeah thst truck is beautiful!

 

[Rusty Nail]

I would not have imagined the vote would be as close as it is!
What. The. Hell?

Maybe I should change my vote - to decrease by LOTS! That's my second choice.

Yeah sure it's a sharp truck but IF it had a vortexs? I wouldnt even read this thread, much less replied or looked twice.
Don't care - keep the pictures. As a matter of fact - I would probably get sick of driving around it. I really HATE it when people ruin perfectly good trucks that have done fine for themselves all this time without them..until they showed up.

MY interest level would be ZERO and the truck would have no value at all - TO ME.
**** it, i'm changing my vote pliz.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

^ also from 1987* and as usual, Public Enemy has already answered this query in detail.

Made with musicians playing instruments.













*Yes, really.

 

[Salty Crusty]

Lt-1s are badass

The new ones, absolutely.
The 90's version, not so much.

 

[Shorty81]

For what it's worth....I grew up with these trucks. We farmed, hauled our dirt bikes, tailgated, drive in movies, sled pulls, studied anatomy, ect. I don't get the allure of modern engines and amenities. I love my old carbed truck with manual choke and v-belts. It's not a daily but still gets worked pretty hard. Maybe it's a generational thing, I like my old truck to remain a old truck!! Maybe I'm just an old grumpy bastard....

 

[Grit dog]

The new ones, absolutely.
The 90's version, not so much.

Maybe compared to 15-20 years later, but in the 90's the LT1 was a 30% bump over a TBI 350 and as tuned by Indmar in our boat was 330hp, vs 285 in a car vs 255 for a Vortec 350 vs 200hp for a TBI 350.

 

[Grit dog]

For what it's worth....I grew up with these trucks. We farmed, hauled our dirt bikes, tailgated, drive in movies, sled pulls, studied anatomy, ect. I don't get the allure of modern engines and amenities. I love my old carbed truck with manual choke and v-belts. It's not a daily but still gets worked pretty hard. Maybe it's a generational thing, I like my old truck to remain a old truck!! Maybe I'm just an old grumpy bastard....

I get the nostalgia and simplicity, but beyond that, apples to apples an old stock, carbed small or big block is less powerful, less efficient and arguably less durable.

Like many (who are not mechanically challenged) I have multiple vehicles ranging from 70's technology/era to essentially BAT (new/best available technology). Sure my '74 Jeep runs like a top, fires up in any weather, any time, whether it has been started yesterday or last year. Rebuilt the carb for $27 about 10 years ago and been great ever since. And the carbed big block in the '86 is also very user friendly. Compare that "stock" 7.4L boat anchor to the wifes car (6.4 Hemi) or our diesel (6.7 Cummins on stock power) and it's a fuel sucking slug.

 

[eskimomann209]

People also think because you have a $600 jy motor, that they did the whole swap for $600. And they also think comparing the price of a 200k mile 5.3 versus rebuilding a sbc is an apples to apples comparison. It's not. Try comparing an LS rebuild to a sbc rebuild, that is more realistic.

I look at the power level vs application. You want a Sunday afternoon cruiser, and are fine with slightly above stock power, stick with the sbc. But if you want a 500hp daily, you should be looking at an LS swap.

Shoot. I installed a low mile LS for not much more than 600.
These swaps aren’t that bad. And the comparison price wise isn’t that far off.
I think you’re looking at it different. The price for an average bear to install a JY LS is roughly what it would cost to rebuild the 350.
This is only a cost comparison not an engine/ performance or even work comparison.
But once the LS is installed and running upgrading it to a built engine is simple. The number of LS swap takeouts on the market are high. Basically people getting the job done, running it a while and deciding it’s build up time.

My best advice to people is build what you want how you want. Who gives a damn what others think. If you’re going to sell it hopefully someone likes what you did.
Big thing is, do it right make sure it looks nice.

 

[Raider L]

@Jwernatl,

I spent 25K on my '74 C10. I could have done more on the engine but I never planned on racing it, there's the big money. But it has plenty of power for what I need it for, but I went all the way on the rest of the truck. I added a complete polyurethane suspension bumper to bumper, new interior, expensive paint and body, all kinds of this and that like stainless steel screws and bolts every where it was practical and tons of other stuff you can't see but preserves the truck for a long time to come. Could I have sold it for 25K when I was through? Probably not. Maybe half that.

So as far as increasing the value, yeah, but it's all about 1) what's it worth to you, and 2) what could you get for it when you're through? I for one would rebuild the 350 and do all the latest stuff to it, even if you have to get a new block. And if you did all you could with it you still wouldn't spend as much as a new LS would cost. I know because I have the latest Chevy High Performance Parts catalog with all the LS engines in it, and other small blocks i.e. 350's, and big blocks i.e. 427's, 454's and then you get to LS and it takes a big leap in cost.

Just remember this, once you get a motor you still have to maintane it and good 'ol 350 parts are a dime a dozen and LS parts cost an arm and a leg. And that's not even counting all the electronics and computer programs to continue to update it, you buy a LS you might as well buy a lap top for it to. And do you want to race the truck, or a daily driver and take it out on the road from time to time? One engine will cost less to take it out on the highway and the LS engine would cost much less in gas. Other considerations would be spliting hairs. So it's up to you at that point.