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305 replacement Options

E

Eugene

Registered Member
Joined
May 16, 2006
Posts
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Location
Yellowknife NWT, Canada
I've had my 84 k5 Blazer 305 automatic for quite sometime now, and shes getting tired.

I'm pretty much asking for any realistic options for replacement. I've been considering a 5.3 from a newer silverado, a 350 with tbi, and I've also been accepting suggestions from all around. Figured I'd run it past some people here and see what other options I may have been ignorant of.

I've also set a mild buget for this project, $2500 -/+ $300

If you have a suggestion, or have gone through this decision before, it would be great if you could provide maybe a link to some more info, or maybe even to your own build thread, highlighting the swap, and all items that I would need to complete the swap!!

thanks for the help here guys!
 
Well first off, budget 25.00 for membership (great investment). For ease of doing the swap. A crate engine would be a good choice, swap over acc, brackets and whatnot drop her in and go. Injected would be great but you will need the wiring harness, correct fuel pump, sensors and all that good stuff. If carbed about 2,000.00 to the door, 260 horse 350.
 
or any old 80's camaro with the crossfire injection, lt1, ect can be had for $1000 with every thing needed and drive it home. just another option a newer k5 with the 350 tbi would be good too. then you got it all and other spare parts
 
shady said:
or any old 80's camaro with the crossfire injection, lt1, ect can be had for $1000 with every thing needed and drive it home. just another option a newer k5 with the 350 tbi would be good too. then you got it all and other spare parts
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:eek1:

NO! Swap in crossfire injection!? Are you nuts? That was like the worst thing GM ever made, well next to the ignition design on the LT1 which I also dont recommend especially considering the fact that they have water contamination issues in camaros let alone a wheeled truck.
 
oh, I thought everyone loved em. never heard anything bad:dunno: never owned one though. glad I never bought one. thats what I always planned to do. I'm liking the 6.0 after hearing what daves did haulin the iron maiden out to moab
 
Find a rotted out 87+ Blazer or Burb w/350 and let the swapping begin. You can`t go wrong w/the ease of a factory TBI.
 
Well I have tracked down a used 5.3 from a 2005 silverado, comes complete with all accessories (a/c, p/s, alt, starter, etc) the original wiring harness, WITH all sensors, the ECM and there were a few others.. for $1500 158,000kms on the engine shipping will run me about $450.. still debating if it's worth it.. maybe someone here can chime in..
 
Stomis said:
Find a $800 junkyard pull 5.3, get $450 stand alone harness and be happy.
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Not sure If you know where Yellowknife is, but there isn't much here for a junkyard I have to have everything shipped up to me.. one of the curses of living past the 60th parallel, besides the artic winters..
 
Eugene said:
Not sure If you know where Yellowknife is, but there isn't much here for a junkyard I have to have everything shipped up to me.. one of the curses of living past the 60th parallel, besides the artic winters..
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Yeah I here ya everything is very location specific price wise. Still and all I think you'll be tons happier with a GEN III/IV motor.
 
Stomis said:
IMO with how cheap the 5.3s and 6.0s have gotten and the fact that you can find them dressed I dont think converting to SBC fuel injection is worth the money IF you need a new motor at the same time.
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Unless you have everything but the bottom end already. I personally like the iron blocks better anyways
 
I like the regular gen III/IV SBC's better than the LS motors. I have plans for a TPI roller 383.
 
Z71paramedic said:
I like the regular gen III/IV SBC's better than the LS motors. I have plans for a TPI roller 383.
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FYI regular SBCs are Gen I. Gen III/IV is the first and second draft of the "LS design".

To each his own but from a performance standpoint theres really no advantage of a SBC. It used to be price but the LS motors are getting cheaper every day.
 
I'd go with a 454 !!...older carbed one from a big truck,those may be more common in remote locations...and maybe cheaper??..
 
Stomis said:
FYI regular SBCs are Gen I. Gen III/IV is the first and second draft of the "LS design".

To each his own but from a performance standpoint theres really no advantage of a SBC. It used to be price but the LS motors are getting cheaper every day.
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My bad, maybe I was thinking about big blocks (?) but I thought the one piece rear/roller blocks were noted as Gen (x)... Either way, I like the older motors better from an owning standpoint. The new stuff runs great and can now be had cheap but there's a lot of very expensive parts ON them, not just the cost of a used motor. My dad has an 02 3/4 ton burb and when the water pump on the 6.0 went it was close to $600:eek1: The water pump on my 355 is $29.95

I know that's not that big of a deal because you don't need a water pump all that often, but in my opinion the newer motors (and new cars in general) have premium priced parts even though everything still wears out some times. I realize everyone who does an LS swap loves it, I just don't see one in my immediate future because there are still so many good things you can do with a regular small block.

Hijack off....:D
 
For the budget youre working with, I would stay with gen 1 SBC.

A TBI swap might be a good upgrade that isnt all that expensive.
 
I vote for the GM performance parts 290 hp crate 350, Summit sells them for roughly $1900 plus shipping. Slap on all new alternator, water pump, etc. and drive the snot out of it. My last few full rebuilds have cost nearly as much all said and done... Since you live out there on the edge of civilization, I'd assume dependability is a concern? I'd love to swap in LS or a diesel motor, but by the time you add up all the little stuff and modifications involved, I don't see you staying under your budget.
 
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