y5mgisi
1 ton status
Coincidentally, I just did the math to see how much it would cost for me to drive there and back and I swear it came out to $496... Spooky! 160 gallons x $3.10 a gallon is $496!
CK5
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OFFICIAL* Dante's Peak Suburban Build *
- Thread starter Metrodps
- Start date
y5mgisi
1 ton status
I think it's around $2.75 but I just always add some into the budget.
That sucks. I guess we should have waited. My shop floor goes in tomorrow. Should be signed off in 2 weeks by the county for occupancy. I could have knocked it out.
My place is always here too, motor swap like that is a solid day
Well I was gonna suggest a ft Mac ck5 build get together. Guess not, oh well I guess.
Who'd have thought it would have come to this, guess now we know.
Who'd have thought it would have come to this, guess now we know.
What would make buying it from Lawrence so expensive? Just curious. I have never had to deal with a Canadian border crossing.
Martin
Martin
they pulled me in for interview after answering that my HD used some oil on my bike trip a few years ago.
They are much more thorough than the US side of the crossing.
They are much more thorough than the US side of the crossing.
Dang, that is a setback, but I agree the crate engine will get the job done.
PM sent
PM sent
Yikes! 
Is there any pressing reason that we can't have Lawrence deliver the Burb in person? I haven't asked him, but it seems like he could scrounge up the time to physically accompany the truck across the border. Sounds like he wouldn't be needed for the return trip, just the run up there.
And I think I can find a few more dollars to contribute to this build again. Just lemme know what the expenses are expected to be.
NV4500 is definitely a good idea, regardless of which engine goes in it. I'd been meaning to ask about that, but did not want to add extra work to your plate.
Is there any pressing reason that we can't have Lawrence deliver the Burb in person? I haven't asked him, but it seems like he could scrounge up the time to physically accompany the truck across the border. Sounds like he wouldn't be needed for the return trip, just the run up there.
And I think I can find a few more dollars to contribute to this build again. Just lemme know what the expenses are expected to be.
NV4500 is definitely a good idea, regardless of which engine goes in it. I'd been meaning to ask about that, but did not want to add extra work to your plate.
Does it have to be Lawrence himself? Or would some other American citizen be sufficient?
FWIW, I have crossed from Michigan into Ontario driving a vehicle that I didn't own. Complete non-issue in the border crossing (both ways). But towing a rig might be different.
Given that the rig is somewhat driveable, you could try driving it across the border and loading it up on the Canadian side.
Thinking out loud here...
The cost of buying it and importing it comes up in the importation.
They would expect me to pay market value for the truck in import costs, regardless of what I actually paid for it. Assuming the vehicle is worth around $20k then I'd be looking at $1500 in import fees and another $500 in brokerage fees. I still would not be able to drive the burb unless I ran it through a $250 out of province inspection (plus the cost of whatever repairs the inspection station demands) and registered it for another $100. That's $2400 right there.
If we put another TBI 350 into the Suburban, then Lawrence would certainly be able to drive it across the border himself and drive it up to my place. But the L18 swap would not be quick, it'll take me a month or two working on it after work and on the odd weekend. I am sure he could just fly home in the mean time, but then he'd need to fly back to drive it back home as I am not allowed to drive it on the pavement up here.
The cost of brokeraging a deal for me to bring the truck in as a carrier was a $5k+ thought and definitely not worth it. I'd need to register as a carrier, get all the commercial insurances etc on my truck, get the proper license and a bunch of other crap. Not doable.
So, we have a couple options:
1. Order a GM performance crate engine for $1800+ freight. Comes with a 3 year / 100k mile warrantee. Cole is able to install this engine for him within a couple weeks and home it goes with a brand new heart. No need for wiring, fuel system, exhaust or cooling system changes.
2. I can buy a donor 1990 Suburban for around $500. I can put the L18 into it and get everything all ready to go. Set up the wiring, install a rad, exhaust, fuel system and all that good stuff. Then pull everything out and haul it down to Cole so it can be bolted into the Dante's Peak Suburban. I estimate I'll need approx $3000 to install the L18/NV4500/NP241 into the Suburban but was budgeting $4000 in case something unexpected cropped up. This allows me to test drive the whole thing ahead of time and eliminates all the hard work for Cole. It'll be a bolt in swap this way and shouldn't take any longer than the TBI 350 swap aside from swapping the dash harnesses out and putting exhaust in.
They would expect me to pay market value for the truck in import costs, regardless of what I actually paid for it. Assuming the vehicle is worth around $20k then I'd be looking at $1500 in import fees and another $500 in brokerage fees. I still would not be able to drive the burb unless I ran it through a $250 out of province inspection (plus the cost of whatever repairs the inspection station demands) and registered it for another $100. That's $2400 right there.
If we put another TBI 350 into the Suburban, then Lawrence would certainly be able to drive it across the border himself and drive it up to my place. But the L18 swap would not be quick, it'll take me a month or two working on it after work and on the odd weekend. I am sure he could just fly home in the mean time, but then he'd need to fly back to drive it back home as I am not allowed to drive it on the pavement up here.
The cost of brokeraging a deal for me to bring the truck in as a carrier was a $5k+ thought and definitely not worth it. I'd need to register as a carrier, get all the commercial insurances etc on my truck, get the proper license and a bunch of other crap. Not doable.
So, we have a couple options:
1. Order a GM performance crate engine for $1800+ freight. Comes with a 3 year / 100k mile warrantee. Cole is able to install this engine for him within a couple weeks and home it goes with a brand new heart. No need for wiring, fuel system, exhaust or cooling system changes.
2. I can buy a donor 1990 Suburban for around $500. I can put the L18 into it and get everything all ready to go. Set up the wiring, install a rad, exhaust, fuel system and all that good stuff. Then pull everything out and haul it down to Cole so it can be bolted into the Dante's Peak Suburban. I estimate I'll need approx $3000 to install the L18/NV4500/NP241 into the Suburban but was budgeting $4000 in case something unexpected cropped up. This allows me to test drive the whole thing ahead of time and eliminates all the hard work for Cole. It'll be a bolt in swap this way and shouldn't take any longer than the TBI 350 swap aside from swapping the dash harnesses out and putting exhaust in.
I like option #1, nationwide engine warranty, reliable and easy to service, less cost, better MPG etc.
Tough call. I know the 8.1 has cool factor, but the crate engine makes more sense if you're not able to get it up there. Either way, I vote for the NV4500 swap, since the 4L80 isn't happening. Lack of O/D has been one of Lawrence's complaints all along.
What would be the cost of flying Lawrence up & back? I assume that he is only needed for the border crossing, that the swap can be done without him. Would he be needed for transporting it after the border crossing, or can he simple cross back into the states once it's across?
If it's a matter of getting Lawrence to and from the border, and Alberta is still the easiest & best place to do the swap, we should be able to arrange for that. Thoughts?
Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention. I think the crate engine would be a better match for how Lawrence drives this truck. He hasn't been one to mash the pedal (when I've been around), and he has expressed concerns about fuel mileage. So I think that mileage will be appreciated more than power.
Paying extra for more power, less mileage, and having to get it up to Canada makes the 8.1 seem like the less viable option. The cool factor is probably not worth it, especially when the border crossing is troublesome.
I always thought the 8.1 was a little extreme, especially with 1/2 ton running gear, but Lawrence is an egg on the gas kind of driver. A healthy 350 and the NV4500 would be a better setup anyways for him, especially as that would be more "correct" for the truck.
I think the crate motor is a great idea.
8.1 cool but a brand new crate motor should serve Lawrence well for a very very long time
8.1 cool but a brand new crate motor should serve Lawrence well for a very very long time
Just caught up on this whole - story. You guys are fantastic for trying to make this happen! Way to represent the CK5 Brotherhood!
Excited to see the next chapter!
Excited to see the next chapter!
If I had more time I could do the 8.1 swap. Currently with my house falling apart I have some huge winter projects I have to tackle if I feel capable haha I turn wrenches, I don't pound nails.
I can get a crate swapped in in a weekend by myself and have no problems doing that.
I can get a crate swapped in in a weekend by myself and have no problems doing that.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
I still don't understand why an American can't drive the truck across the border and then load it on the trailer a few miles into Canada. Certainly the motor in the burb now would last a good 100+ miles before it blows. Unload it a few miles from the border on the America side, drive across border, load onto trailer a few miles into Canada? Why won't that work?
