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Engine choices

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skark_burmer

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San Jose, Ca
So for the 91 crewcab im building to be an off road beater i am wondering where to go with the power plant.

crew.jpg


Currently it has a 350 TBI that was just installed by the previous owner before i bought it. It has roughly 2000 miles on it and came with the dyno sheet showing 8.75:1 compression ratio and around 200 HP and 250 Ft Lb of torque. It is a fresh motor, but kinda weak and i want to make lots of smoke on a whim.
The transmission is a 4l80e. I have a Turbo400 available in the parts bin to use if i so desire.

I need more power and i figure i have 2 choices.

1: Yank the motor and rebuild it with go fast goodies. Then i know the trans and accessories will bolt up no problem but lifespan will probably be shortened.
Cost = $2-3k??? (heads, pistons, crank, cam...)

2: Buy a LQ4 / LQ9 and swap it. Get more power from a stock motor and probably have a longer lifespan than a hopped up 350. Plus the FI system is better. Unfortunately i will probably pull my hair out trying to get everything bolted back up. Transmission fitment?
Cost = $1300 - $2500 for complete running motors with wiring, ~50k miles. Plus $??? for any other parts needed. Then sell the 350 for a few hundred bucks or keep it around for the next stupid project.

With the above in mind the LQ4/9 sounds like the hands down winner with roughly 350 Hp and 400 Ft Lb torque stock, but im new with this kind of thing so i turn to you guys for guidance.

What do you guys think? I am not worried about smog compliance and the idea of more power out of a reliable 6.0 sounds appealing.
Will it fit to the 4l80? What about electronics on the trans?
Should i just install the turbo 400 behind it?
Or will the swap be such a headache i should just hop up the 5.7?
 
You have a 4l80E...Equal to a TH400 in strength.... Simple.... just drop in a TBI big block with a few performance goodies and a chip. Or build your 350 into a nice running 383. You can get 350 HP 400 tq out of a TBI 383 with the right parts/tuneing. Lots easier than swapping in a newer style engine.
 
Even better, How about a 8.1 vortec L18 motor complete with all wiring and the 4l80 trans it came with for $1500.

I spoke to a friend of mine and he has been trying to sell it for a while. He pulled it out of a Silverado to use for a street rod project but that idea got scrapped so he had it sitting around. Unfortunately shipping is $400, but even spending nearly $2000 for the motor and trans and all the parts for a swap i think im getting a pretty sweet deal.

Now i need to start learning about these motors. I want to keep it relatively stock with the OEM fuel system but help it breathe a little better. Headers, maybe a cam, not much else i should need.
 
Build up the 350, you can get a lot of cheap reliable power out of it. Also, from what it sounds like, it is a relatively fresh block requiring minimal machining. Bolt on and go! There shouldn't be an issue getting 300-350 ponies with bolt on stuff for a minimal amount.
 
manchildau65 said:
Build up the 350, you can get a lot of cheap reliable power out of it. Also, from what it sounds like, it is a relatively fresh block requiring minimal machining. Bolt on and go! There shouldn't be an issue getting 300-350 ponies with bolt on stuff for a minimal amount.
Click to expand...

Yeah but only at 8.75:1 compression ratio will be the expensive part to change. If it was 9.5 or more id likely run it and have fun.
but now its 8.1 time baby!!!
 
Babaganoosh said:
Was this truck just on ebay?


You may want to check this out for the interests of a 8.1 swap
http://www.hotrodlane.cc/Streetstories/81 swap.pdf
Click to expand...


Hey, where did my picture go?

I picked it up from a guy down in LA while at a friends wedding. He had a whole fleet of them but the rest were standard cabs.
Thanks for the article, thats one i have scoured a few times already. I am wondering what to do about the frame, and considering cutting it off by the firewall and build it new from there forward. All it will need to hold are the 2 motor mounts and 2 front clip mounts. 8.1 liters of goodness are due to arrive tomorrow and i was planning on running the 350 for a month or so, but i may just swap it in now while i am doing the rest of the build. The front clip is off already... so i might as well just do it now.
 
I'll want to see that one installed for sure. Maybe a nice youtube video to go with it, pleeaase! I would give one of my nuts for that motor you know.

By the way shark burmer I'm actually following your build on Pirate and it's turning out b!tchin, I dig it:bow:
 
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