What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

'91 K5 Four Wheel Camper

This is the build for my 1991 V1500 Blazer, AKA the K5.3. It started out life being sold to the U.S. Government with a 350 TBI/700r4/241 combo. 4 years with a 5.3/700r4 Combo and now moving to an 8.1L Vortec and NV4500 5-speed.
Overview Gallery Discussion
Babaganoosh said:
What you are experiencing with the LS is what it is known for, sense the Diesel engines took off we don't need a low end grunt gasser anymore. This is the same reason I semi talked @Bent77 out of the LS for his application, it just doesn't make sense. Sure a cam will help but is it the correct answer?

That being said my truck empty feels pretty torquey but put a load on it and it's a dog. The only real test I had was about 6000lbs on the hitch and that might not be fair?
Click to expand...
Yep I'm fully aware of the nature of the LS engine family. Going back to the start of this project the 5.3 made sense. I had no problem with the 5.3 as it was strong enough to spin the 35's if I wanted too. Add the load for a week's worth of camping gear, coolers and two big dudes and I started seeing the limits of what the 5.3 could do comfortly. Then the camper was found. That's what shifted things from being ok to not ok. The added wind drag is enough to run a couple hundred rpm higher at highway speed on flat ground. Throw a stiff headwind and the trans dumps to third, again on flat ground .

I'm not knocking the setup as I know the potential if pushed. But pushing with Cam and the required tuning just keeps moving the curve higher. That's going the wrong way for me since my needs have changed.

I'd rather go with an 8.1 but seeing how they aren't dropping from trees cheap this is the next best option. The funny thing is the crazy demand for all things LS has driven the price down on L29's in general as the demand isn't there for them.

This would be a best bang for my buck deal. Plus I can sell the 5.3 complete, intake to oil pan with the controller and harness to offset the cost.
 
ZooMad75 said:
Yep I'm fully aware of the nature of the LS engine family. Going back to the start of this project the 5.3 made sense. I had no problem with the 5.3 as it was strong enough to spin the 35's if I wanted too. Add the load for a week's worth of camping gear, coolers and two big dudes and I started seeing the limits of what the 5.3 could do comfortly. Then the camper was found. That's what shifted things from being ok to not ok. The added wind drag is enough to run a couple hundred rpm higher at highway speed on flat ground. Throw a stiff headwind and the trans dumps to third, again on flat ground .

I'm not knocking the setup as I know the potential if pushed. But pushing with Cam and the required tuning just keeps moving the curve higher. That's going the wrong way for me since my needs have changed.

I'd rather go with an 8.1 but seeing how they aren't dropping from trees cheap this is the next best option. The funny thing is the crazy demand for all things LS has driven the price down on L29's in general as the demand isn't there for them.

This would be a best bang for my buck deal. Plus I can sell the 5.3 complete, intake to oil pan with the controller and harness to offset the cost.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah I know that you knew was just adding in my two cents. I'm a big believer in the LS swap but for the right reasons.
 
beags86 said:
Thought you had a Nova? Seems like the 5.3 would fit well down in that hole....
Click to expand...

I do. It's collecting dust in my garage mid way through a disc brake swap. Then the 91 came and sucked all my fun money into it.

While it would be fun to LS swap the Nova I'd have to start fresh on the fuel system from the tank forward and then move away from the th350 and get something with od. Which means more money to spend.

The current plan for the Nova is finish the brake swap. Swap in the steering gear I have too. Finally install the brand new vortec heads I have been sitting on for a very long time and install the serp drive off the 350 I had on the 75 K5. A gear change needs to happen to rid the car of the weak 2.73 open cogs for 3.42's and some kind of posi. From there I just plan on driving the piss out of it. Melting tires down and hitting the strip a little. Being my high school ride it's kinda nostalgic to see the small block under the hood. It's something my Dad and I did together so unless I blow it up it stays.
 
ZooMad75 said:
So an opportunity has come up that might help the power production in my K5.

Like a 2 liter boost in displacement (more like 2.1, but who's counting). Some things need to fall in place as it's a couple of buddies parting out a truck, but if they don't want the engine I can buy it.

It's the L29 variety, so roller cam, Vortec heads. Swapping into mine would only require a few things, plus a rework of the L29 harness or go back to Howell for a standalone setup.

Now before the LS fans start lighting torches and sharpening the pitchforks let's remember I've been spinning the snot out of this 5.3 all summer with the camper on it just to keep up. Mountain passes suck and I live near a lot of mountains. Had I not thrown a house on the back of my K5 and gave it more frontal area to punch through the air I'd not even consider a change. But underpowered isn't fun.

Now tell me how I can get 410 lb/ft of torque at 3200 with my 5.3 without moving to forced induction and it's cheaper than swapping in a 454 and I might consider it.
Click to expand...


I sure hope you do this! For both of our benefit!
 
Rush4x4 said:
I sure hope you do this! For both of our benefit!
Click to expand...
So you come over from Expo Portal huh? Glad to have you over here! That would make three of us over here with K5/FWC combos.

I remember you mentioning about having a L29 Suburban and thinking about that swap too. It's up in the air if my guy is going to come through on his end yet, but I'm surfing Craigslist for used 2500 Burbs to find a donor vehicle. It's a fairly simple swap once you find the engine.

Stick around here, there's way more info on the Blazer here than over on Expo. Plus you don't have 2 or 3 brand loyal nutjobs spouting BS over GM stuff when they love something else.
 
beags86 said:
Yeah, happiness from that was short lived. Now, i just see more money to get it where it needs to be. Actually, I think I'm depressed.
Click to expand...
Dude, just get it safe to drive for a little while and drive it before you dump a ton of moolah into it. It don't have to be perfect right out of the gate, just safe. Drive the thing!
 
ZooMad75 said:
Dude, just get it safe to drive for a little while and drive it before you dump a ton of moolah into it. It don't have to be perfect right out of the gate, just safe. Drive the thing!
Click to expand...
That's the plan. I ordered some small things this weekend for some instant gratification. But the plan is to just bring the brakes into 2018, wheels and tires. And suspension. I'll have to get that done by may so my buddy can drive it for his wedding. Then EFI and I'm done . Maybe in 2020 it will get a paint job. Or not. Ha.
 
beags86 said:
That's the plan. I ordered some small things this weekend for some instant gratification. But the plan is to just bring the brakes into 2018, wheels and tires. And suspension. I'll have to get that done by may so my buddy can drive it for his wedding. Then EFI and I'm done . Maybe in 2020 it will get a paint job. Or not. Ha.
Click to expand...
Shoot at this point I'd like to finish putting the stock disc brakes and front suspension back under my Nova. But no, I've gone and ripped out the inner fenders to clean up and paint and if that's done the firewall will look like garbage so I need to clean and paint that too. Well, it's easier to do that if I pull the heads since I have the Vortec's ready to go. Since the Vortecs are ready I'll just put the serpentine drive on it I have from the old Blazer. Moral of the story, don't blow it apart or it's going to sit apart for the next 5 years or better. Bolt the stuff on and go. Get it done in a weekend.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom