Gen III 6.0L swap? Opinions please...

[Chevy305]

My buddy has a friend who owns a shop and has a spare 6.0L laying around. It just needs valve springs, intake, ecu, and accessories. I could get it for $300. He also says he can get a hold of another 6.0L complete running with all wiring, accessories, and ecm for $1600 with only 42K original miles on it.

This has me very tempted... Right now I have just enough cash to jump on this, but then I'd have no money left over for the rest of the semester. After the summer, I'd have the cash to do it, but this deal will be long gone. I want to do it soo bad, as my 305 is very tired and has developed a lifter tick recently. The problem is that I want to know from the people who have done this swap, how much was it to convert your truck over to EFI? Also would it just be cheaper to get the Edelbroc carb intake for the LSX engines? Summit lists it as $707 including brackets, harware, and the ignition box. I would be able to retain my carb i have now, just retuned of coarse. With the carb that greatly simplifies the whole swap as far as the fuel system, and wiring.

What do you guys think I should do?

 

[dhcomp]

Good oppertunity, but if its gonna wipe out your Cash, don't do it. Swaps like this will nickel and dime you to death. If your had major engine failure, you could always rebuild yours, or swap an older 350 cheaper.

I've been temped the same. But its all the little things and the effort required that will end up making it not make sense.

 

[Russell]

I agree with Darren, hold off on it for now till you are done school and can afford all the little unforseen costs associated with a swap like this.

That, and it gives you lots of time to do some major readin' to see exactly what is involved with one of these swaps. I can tell you it is definitely doable, and for less than some may imagine if you are good with wiring, but it is important to have a clear set plan and know exactly what you've gotta do to get things up and running.

 

[bigblock72]

Check around, I found several on car-part.com for under $1,000 in Ma.

It's a very doable swap, keep the fuel injection though it's not that hard to wire up.

Check out this thread if you haven't already. http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249014

 

[Chevy305]

Check around, I found several on car-part.com for under $1,000 in Ma.

It's a very doable swap, keep the fuel injection though it's not that hard to wire up.

Check out this thread if you haven't already. http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249014

Ya I've been looking through all the swap threads. Wiring doesnt scare me, I just redid the entire wiring harness in my truck as it is. As far as the fuel injection though theres the computer tuning you have to do that is expensive, plus all new fuel lines, and the pump/regulator.

Basically now i'd just be getting the engine and letting it sit until I have the spare $$ to buy the nickel and dime parts to do the swap.

 

[dhcomp]

I don't see the tuning being that expensive. If you have to eliminiate the electronic throttle, it can be costly, but most guys are just getting a performance tune, and calling it done.

 

[79rustyk10]

If the internals of the engine are stock, why wouldnt an oem ECM work?

 

[Babaganoosh]

If the internals of the engine are stock, why wouldnt an oem ECM work?

It requires a few things taken off to work properly, VATS (vehicle anti theft system) is a big one.

 

[Chevy305]

It requires a few things taken off to work properly, VATS (vehicle anti theft system) is a big one.

Ya and the torque managament has to go. As well as the auto trans controls, rear 02 sensor, cruise control, and more.

 

[79rustyk10]

I should have thought about that one a little more

 

[4X4HIGH]

If you plan to do a swap like this it is worthless to use a carb manifold, keep the EFI. Do you have to pass emissions testing in Ma? If so then you cannot remove ANY of the emissions related components as those are federally mandated and must be there and working.

 

[Chevy305]

If you plan to do a swap like this it is worthless to use a carb manifold, keep the EFI. Do you have to pass emissions testing in Ma? If so then you cannot remove ANY of the emissions related components as those are federally mandated and must be there and working.

Nah I dont have to worry about emissions. But I hear what you're saying about keeping the EFI. More mpgs....

 

[Babaganoosh]

Nah I dont have to worry about emissions. But I hear what you're saying about keeping the EFI. More mpgs....

That and I hear its just as much to run the FI as a carb.