how to find the right motor for an engine swap?

[ashman]

at some point I want to put a modern fuel injected motor in my 1st gen '72, but I'm not really sure how to pick a motor.

I see a lot of 5.3L and 6.0L motors around, but there seems to be a lot of different VIN codes (8th digit) and I don't know what they mean, or if it makes a difference.

what is the biggest problem with doing this swap? would you guys try and adapt the wiring harness that comes with the engine, or buy a whole new one? if a new one, from who?

I've seen several threads from guys doing this swap into 80's and 90's trucks, any reason mine would be significantly more difficult than those?

obviously I'm still very much in the information gathering stage, and a noob, so any hints are appreciated.

 

[ashman]

also, since I'm assuming this is something that will take me a long time to get right, I was considering setting up a run stand so that I can work out all of the kinks before I take my blazer out of commission. good idea?

 

[4X4HIGH]

You should contact Kevin at www.pacificfab.net Kevin has been doing these exact type swaps for a bunch of years now and they can supply you with a standalone harness to make things alot easier for you.

 

[Russell]

These swaps are pretty straight forward. No black magic involved. Just involves having your PCM re-programmed and either buying an aftermarket wiring harness or re-working the factory harness yourself.

Bolting the engine in is just a matter of buying adapter plates. F-body manifolds means you don't have to notch your frame for exhaust.

There is a huge ton of information out there on these engine swap for these trucks

 

[Chaddy]

Why not a 5.7 TBI? simple and relatively cheap.

 

[ashman]

F-body manifolds means you don't have to notch your frame for exhaust.

oh yeah, I'd forgotten about that. aren't first gen frames more narrow than 2nd gen and up? does that still apply?

 

[4X4HIGH]

I know that the oil pans on the LS engines can get real close to the diff if you wheel hard enough. You can ask RyanB about that one as he has punched a hole in his oil pan a couple times before figuring out a solution.

 

[ashman]

4x4high: I highly doubt I'll be wheeling that hard, but I'll certainly keep an eye on it. I've got 6" of lift also, so I hopefully should be good.

chaddy: I'm looking at different options, but I like the idea of a modern computer controlled engine for the reliability. I'll probably mate it with the automatic it came with as well. I do some wheeling, but honestly am more looking for ease and comfort while driving it.