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Easiest engine swap LS or ?
- Thread starter markrazz
- Start date
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Least headache? Buy a factory sbc rebuilt long block.
Otherwise LS swaps are pretty simple these days. Mounts, harness, etc,etc are all available. Tons of information out there. Just do some googling.
Otherwise LS swaps are pretty simple these days. Mounts, harness, etc,etc are all available. Tons of information out there. Just do some googling.
Putting back what was there to begin with is hard enough IMO--
LS swaps might be popular,but there are SO many things you must modify or change,then deal with the wiring,ECM,etc,I don't see myself ever getting involved in that..
The motor mounts are not in the same place,so you must buy adapter plates,that is just the beginning..things snowball from there--sure there are "kits" now to buy that has all the brackets,etc,but those parts all add up fast..
Replacing the original engine with one like it,or a big block VS SBC,that
has been hopped up some is much easier --I know others here will disagree and say go LS or nothing,but personally I dont see the big benefit--I'd buy a later model truck with one already in it if I wanted one..
LS swaps might be popular,but there are SO many things you must modify or change,then deal with the wiring,ECM,etc,I don't see myself ever getting involved in that..
The motor mounts are not in the same place,so you must buy adapter plates,that is just the beginning..things snowball from there--sure there are "kits" now to buy that has all the brackets,etc,but those parts all add up fast..
Replacing the original engine with one like it,or a big block VS SBC,that
has been hopped up some is much easier --I know others here will disagree and say go LS or nothing,but personally I dont see the big benefit--I'd buy a later model truck with one already in it if I wanted one..
Big Blocks drop right in too
No matter what you do, remember that it's the little stuff that gets you. Start adding up a hose clamps and rtv and nuts and bolts and gaskets that don't come with the engine and fluids and new mounts and etc and you can be several hundred dollars more than you expect in no time.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
I'd say a 383 is "better" than a 400 SB,due to the fact the 383 doesn't have siamesed cylinder bores and the cooling issues many 400 SB have..
But a 454 is hard to beat too..
But a 454 is hard to beat too..
Easiest swap with lots of benefits is the first generation vortec 5.7 or 7.4
Bolts up the same and self contained.
vandelay industries
1/2 ton status
Does big block use the exact same mounts and frame perches as small block? i thought BB was wider?
No,you can swap the engine mount brackets off a SBC and bolt them to a 454 and bolt it in,the engines are the same width in that area--some trucks may need the motor mounts moved to another set of holes already in the cross member--none of the BB swaps I did required that though..
A 6.2 diesel will bolt in place of a gas engine too,but I think the engine mount brackets to the block are "diesel only",I never swapped a 6.2 in anything,I just own two trucks that came factory with one..
A 6.2 diesel will bolt in place of a gas engine too,but I think the engine mount brackets to the block are "diesel only",I never swapped a 6.2 in anything,I just own two trucks that came factory with one..
Yeah the bracket on the engine is different but the mount is the same and location is the same as well.
vandelay industries
1/2 ton status
So then, this should/would apply to other cars as well----g body etc.?
vandelay industries
1/2 ton status
P.S.
i have NEVER had a big block. The only time i have ever driven a big block was in a U-haul medium duty truck---it was a 366.
i have NEVER had a big block. The only time i have ever driven a big block was in a U-haul medium duty truck---it was a 366.
The 366 is a BBC,but probably the least desirable one in the eyes of performance enthusiasts..they are basically a heavy duty medium truck engine,that has the taller deck height like the 427 large truck & bus engines,they had 4 rings on the pistons --they were not that powerful,(the 366 ) but had torque and hold up well in highway use..
GM made things so any of their vehicles that had a small block could accept a big block too,they made the mounts the same,and the bell housings,etc,to make swaps easier and save them money on tooling costs..certain models might need a special valve cover (Corvettes had to have a special one with an angled end to miss the power brake booster),and some had special exhaust manifolds,but for the most part on older vehicles before 1986 the big blocks fit right in and don't need any special parts..
Many guys here want a 454 but the supply of good running older ones are about dried up,the few left bring big money even if they need work or a rebuild..about the only way to get a decent low mileage one around here is to search craigslist--every so often you see a motor home being given away that sat and rotted in someone's yard for decades..
--I recently saw one 30 miles away for free ,on a P-30 chassis,that had only 11,000 miles on it!..but after sitting that long ,it is likely it would need a overhaul,even if you got it running..
The cost to have a semi with a flatbed haul a 30+ foot motor home 30 miles,then tear the engine out "somehow" won't be a simple chore,neither would dismantling the rest of the motor home--none of the salvage yards here want RV's or motor homes,even if you gave it to them with the BBC still in it,they charge up to $200 a ton if they have fiberglass bodies..its a tough job scrapping all the metal siding,wooden framing and interior..
I have a friend who got two 454's that way,another guy he knew had got hold of two motor homes and stripped them,then let the engines sit in his shop about 4 years--one has a brand new short block with under 5000 miles on it,the camper threw a rod in NV and the owner had no choice but to get it fixed--he soured on owning it after that,let it sit 3 years,then gave it to that guy..then he came across another RV with a 454 with 35,000 miles that was started and run monthly,but sat in someone's back yard 10 years and the frame rotted out..my friend bought both engines for $700...
GM made things so any of their vehicles that had a small block could accept a big block too,they made the mounts the same,and the bell housings,etc,to make swaps easier and save them money on tooling costs..certain models might need a special valve cover (Corvettes had to have a special one with an angled end to miss the power brake booster),and some had special exhaust manifolds,but for the most part on older vehicles before 1986 the big blocks fit right in and don't need any special parts..
Many guys here want a 454 but the supply of good running older ones are about dried up,the few left bring big money even if they need work or a rebuild..about the only way to get a decent low mileage one around here is to search craigslist--every so often you see a motor home being given away that sat and rotted in someone's yard for decades..
--I recently saw one 30 miles away for free ,on a P-30 chassis,that had only 11,000 miles on it!..but after sitting that long ,it is likely it would need a overhaul,even if you got it running..
The cost to have a semi with a flatbed haul a 30+ foot motor home 30 miles,then tear the engine out "somehow" won't be a simple chore,neither would dismantling the rest of the motor home--none of the salvage yards here want RV's or motor homes,even if you gave it to them with the BBC still in it,they charge up to $200 a ton if they have fiberglass bodies..its a tough job scrapping all the metal siding,wooden framing and interior..
I have a friend who got two 454's that way,another guy he knew had got hold of two motor homes and stripped them,then let the engines sit in his shop about 4 years--one has a brand new short block with under 5000 miles on it,the camper threw a rod in NV and the owner had no choice but to get it fixed--he soured on owning it after that,let it sit 3 years,then gave it to that guy..then he came across another RV with a 454 with 35,000 miles that was started and run monthly,but sat in someone's back yard 10 years and the frame rotted out..my friend bought both engines for $700...
8.1 
While it is just as easy to put as a 5.7 vortec, it is not as easy to find.8.1
You are probably right about that
I swapped a 6.0l LS along with a 4L80e in my 91 blazer and it wasn't as easy i thought, though this was my first engine swap
The big things you need are:
Just an engine swap you could get away with spending a bare minimum of $2000 assuming you get the engine for $1000 with the harness and ecm
The big things you need are:
- 1991 K5 Gauges or other aftermarket options (ie. Dakota Digital) - Only if you're using the 4l80e
- NP241c out of a 90 or 91 K5 or suburban - Only if you're using the 4l80e
- Engine mount plates from Tejas Steelworks, i had a not so good experience with dirty dingos
- Schoenfeld Headers (I think you can use manifolds from a tbss?)
- Either buy a new ls swap harness OR rework/have someone rework an OEM harness
- Reworking the harness is not hard at all, LT1swap.com has a 3 part walk through on reworking the harness and a pinout sheet for everything you need to remove/keep
- 454 Radiator
- Custom driveshafts - Only if you're using the 4l80e
Just an engine swap you could get away with spending a bare minimum of $2000 assuming you get the engine for $1000 with the harness and ecm
T
tenderfoot
Guest
Dang it, this makes me want to investigate a little. Down the street from me is a '96 GMC 3/4ton 4x4 for sale. That's all it says on the window. I have to drive by it everyday and wonder, does it have a big block? What tranny & TC? What's he want for it? Dang it!
