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new engine

Jay Bird

Jay Bird

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South Carolina
If you had a nice 89 Blazer with 5.7 and 700r trans, would you rebuild engine, buy new crate, or swap for 5.3 or something else? Can't really do any of this by myself but can get plenty of help with either choice.

Thanks
 
For cost and simplicity, the crate or rebuild works.

Under a time constraint, replacement crate.

For a whole new level of power, driveability, and mileage... 5.3 swap. But not budget or time friendly (depending on how much you can do yourself).
 
Id do the base crate and just swap my intake valve covers and dizzy and such onto it with an sbc crate. But id go BBC crate next time :D but thats just me lol
 
Great information ....
i am new here,i am form California and i am enjoy this forum community.Hopefully you will learn lots and contribute in helping others here
 
miketaylor said:
Great information ....
i am new here,i am form California and i am enjoy this forum community.Hopefully you will learn lots and contribute in helping others here
Click to expand...

Spam sensors are peaking here.... Someone get on this quick.
 
as mentioned I think you need to define your budget first, If your really thinking about a LS swap, read up a few threads here of guys that have done it to see what is involved, create a thorough budget and then double it, and you'll be close.
 
That guy from pirate that muddy sub was gonna get a 5.3 from is a good deal. $1995 ready to go. probably 2500-3000 time the job was done. Thats about the same as a crate engine, and its the best of the options. Just my .02
 
buying a complete 5.3L for $500-900 off ebay is a far better choice IMO. There are several people on ls1tech or other sites that will mod your harness or sell a complete new harness to use. Yates EFI gets my nod if you have any questions about it, they're in iowa. Randy is the owner and helped me on a few questions I had about my swap. Total cost was probably $2000, maybe a little more, the motor is DEFINITELY the cheap part. I paid zero labor for anything. Modded my own harness, built my own exhaust, etc. So your costs may be higher. Feel free to check out my build thread if you have any questions. If you had to farm out some work, wouldn't be out of line to toss at least another $1000-2000 into the final cost. Took me the better part of 6 weeks working on it in the evenings or some weekends after work. The weather held me up as well.
 
Im actually debating selling the 5.3 i have laying around (yea.. im that guy), and swapping a 4bt/4l80e into the blazer. the only reason being the fuel mileage. i could get 16, maybe 18 mpg out of a 5.3, or get a minimum of 23 with a 4bt.

So really it comes down to what you;re doing with the truck.

I use my truck as a DD/ weekend warrior. im tired of my carb'd 350 crate motor and its 6-10 mpg. Granted its fun being able to throw a 6k lb monster sideways, it isnt really practicaL. And I spend $30 a day in gas, so for the longest time i've wanted to drop my 5.3 in, but i got turned on to the 4bt and i'm pretty sure i'm going that route now. i drive a lifted brick, and dont exactly need a peppy go fast engine anyways. Which is exactly what i had planned for the 5.3. Maybe i'll build a little street truck with it, who knows.

And seeing how that got off topic...

5.3 swap $2500+
4bt runs about $900-$1500, and sayyy $500-ish for miscellaneous crap.

i'll save some money on the swap (hopefully), and keep saving on fuel down the road.
 
$3000 should get you in an older drive by cable 5.3. That is what you will need with you 700R4. You will also need to do some upgrade to you fuel systems, TBI runs lower fuel pressure then MPFI. Then exhaust, headers or f body manifolds. Computer tune and wiring harness. You will also need to figure in for air intake system, hoses, fitting,temp sensor, oil pressure sending unit, ect.

I'm doing a drive by wire Gen IV 5.3/4L60E and the motor part will end up costing some between 4 to 5K.
 
CherryK5 said:
i could get 16, maybe 18 mpg out of a 5.3, or get a minimum of 23 with a 4bt.
Click to expand...

Any experience behind those numbers?

CherryK5 said:
5.3 swap $2500+
4bt runs about $900-$1500, and sayyy $500-ish for miscellaneous crap.
Click to expand...

$500 in miscallaneous crap? :haha:

Having put a 6BT in my 84 K30 tow rig earlier this year, it all adds up. LOTS of little stuff. Intercooler, intercooler plumbing, wiring, any little part that's missing from the motor, hoses, any adapters necessary, exhaust, and one of the biggest, transmission and transfer case (and driveshafts of course).

$500 is a HUGE underestimate in the details :doah:
 
there are a couple of guys around me that will rebuild a 350 for around 1400.00. You could add a MPG cam and such and still be around 1500 out the door, and be better power and MPG than you had before. I'm sure you could find near the same in SC. Nice to have it original too :waytogo:
 
I have a 96 5.7 vortec in my 89 K5.I couldn't be more happier.
It came with a TBI to Vortec intake from GM performance it had 65k miles on it.
Ran me $400.00.
 
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