Unless you want to dump that cash into an LS swap I would leave it alone and do maintenance only items (other than the TBI swap itself).
CK5
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73 K20....crossmember time
- Thread starter wetoolowdingbangow
- Start date
^^^agree
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
yeah i suppose so. I think i would skip the ls route. The torque is unempressive until about 4000 rpm unless were talking 8.1l lol.
Id probably build a 383 before an ls swap.
I could live without the cam and intake but ill need to get a whole new exhaust.
with the gearing you plan to use I wouldn't be too concerned with engine torque numbers with the intention of using this rig for crawling. My concern would be reliability and the ability for the engine to run in situations where a carb fails.
GEN III > 383
Martin
Martin
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Yeah the thing is though i could ride these 4.10s out a bit more if i had a a motor that made good torque down low. Ls motors are great and all but i think there powerband is lacking down low...i think that its the lack of stroke.
The other issue is price. I could build 2 383s for the price of one lq9 with 100k on the clock. The EFI options for anything gen 1 is expensive too. I guess ill know better which route im heading if the motor check up is good or bad.
You could buy multiple 5.3 setups for the price of building one 383.
Martin
Martin
You could always find a used EFI system like I did. I had a few bugs to work out, but over all I am happy with my decision. Plus I got to keep my nice running motor.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Yeah i know. The gen 3 reliability cant be beat but were talking peak torque difference of 1000rpm. Im worried id be dissatisfied with a 5.3l I had a truck with one and it was no screamer. Ive ridden around plenty of times in a 6.0l truck too, which is better but with the LS craze they seem extremely over priced...
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Thats true but they wouldnt be new. I could get a 5.3l for $500 but its got 100k or more on the clock...
with the right gear reduction you don't need to worry about engine torque for your application. IMO your going about it ass backwards trying to put money in an engine for torque when it's accomplished more reliably through proper gearing. Aren't you going to do the 241/205 setup behind the 4spd?
You run TBI for reliability not performance.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
I must have worded it wrong. I'm not trying to make my ol 350 a fire breather but I was more just saying I think it's a shame that the ls series motors make their torque so high up in the power band. Compensation of torque through gearing can be looked at as ass backwards too.
I guess if my motor is ok I'll just leave it and throw tbi on it.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Thats what ive heard. I know people can run quite a bit more hp with but it comes with cost and headaches.
I was just figuring i could get away with a few bolt ons...maybe not so.
At some point i have to get realistic about this current rebuild. I do want to wheel it this coming year so i dont want it down forever. This weekend will tell me whether or not the motor is done so ill go from there.
I would run a Megasquirt system on it because it will work for either engine you decide to go with. Just have to reflash it and some wiring and your ready to go. Plus finding a 6.0L without a computer should be alot easier than finding one with and cheaper.
Plus with the Megasquirt it won't care what size of motor or what cam you decide to put in it. There are a ton of chevy maps out there to get you going so the tuning aspect of it will be very minimal.
Plus with the Megasquirt it won't care what size of motor or what cam you decide to put in it. There are a ton of chevy maps out there to get you going so the tuning aspect of it will be very minimal.
Keep it stock with the TBI.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Yeah the more i read about MS the more i want it. Im more than capable of building it so that will save me some money over the PNP setups. Having the ability to change settings instead of having to get new chips burned seems like the way to go.
Mega squirt is mostly self learning but there is some tuning involved. Ask @Blue85 I know he is running mega squirt. I remember Luke telling me he still hasn't got the hot restart quite right yet.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Scored some free parts. I should be able to make some money on flipping these. Might even try the black headers to see if theyll fit.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Well I made a little bit of progress this weekend. Finally got the motor pulled. Motor mounts were definitely shot!
I got the 2klb engine stand from hf...its actually pretty decent. After nearly flipping a 350 with a regular engine stand I went to this larger foot print one. Well worth it! !
Up, up and away! I lifted the motor up and then just rolled the truck away from it. Life would be hard without chainfalls.
Figured out the flex plate needed to come off before going on the stand lol.
Now time to do some tests on the motor to see where it's health is at. After that ill know which direction im heading. If its smoked ill build a 408 stroker lq9 haha.
I have a 4 or 5 day weekend this week so im homping to gut the crossmembers and fix the frame crack, then ill be on to boxing the thing in.
I got the 2klb engine stand from hf...its actually pretty decent. After nearly flipping a 350 with a regular engine stand I went to this larger foot print one. Well worth it! !
Up, up and away! I lifted the motor up and then just rolled the truck away from it. Life would be hard without chainfalls.
Figured out the flex plate needed to come off before going on the stand lol.
Now time to do some tests on the motor to see where it's health is at. After that ill know which direction im heading. If its smoked ill build a 408 stroker lq9 haha.
I have a 4 or 5 day weekend this week so im homping to gut the crossmembers and fix the frame crack, then ill be on to boxing the thing in.
