What is Best match engine & suspension for my 82 k5 5.7

[mcee]

I recently bought a blazer k5 1982 5.7 automatic and I just want to purchase an accident truck preferably a reliable truck and move everything to my k5 with the minimum new holes to drill and less welding to do
I'm not into speed
I just like the style of the k5 and a bit of light off road in a daily driving vehicle
That's reliable and not consuming alot of gasoline
So the question is
What is the best match for all this dreams to come true
Witch truck or suv should I get to finish it

 

[Bent77]

What’s wrong with the one you have?

 

[mcee]

Fuel consumption is high
Ride quality isn't comfy
Pick up compared to the cylinder capacity is really low
I just want the look of the k5 and the features of the relatively new truck's

 

[Bent77]

So the only thing you like is how it looks?

Not much bolt on to make that better. You need to drop the body on a Cadillac CTS

 

[ZooMad75]

Well I would cut to the chase and put a modern LS or LT based engine to get the power you want. Sadly, the fact that the engine makes better power doesn't overcome the fact it's gonna use some fuel. With more power typically comes more happy right foot action and obviously crappy fuel mileage.

These are not fuel efficient trucks at all. They can be better, but by the time you factor in all the other inevitabe changes like larger than stock tiresand added weight the power helps but it won't use less fuel. The only K5's that got decent fuel mileage was the 6.2L diesel variety but that comes with a serious lack of HP.

 

[Wes Harden]

Welcome to CK5 @mcee
As said above modern LS drive line will help. As for gas mileage, it is shaped like a brick, don't lift it, don't put larger tires on it, don't add weight, no bug shield, light bars or roof racks.
Comfy ride, Use C load rated tires at lower recommended tire pressure, (might want to check your current tire and lower the air pressure) get good shocks, no off road lift kit shocks. Bilstein 5100 are well liked by many members here. If your trucks springs are after market go back to stock.
If you really want a good riding Blazer look for a 2 wheel drive version they have double wish bone suspension, and coil springs. Can be made to ride and handle like a slot car, lowered though.
Best gas mileage improvement ? Always drive down hill with the wind at your back

 

[mcee]

So the only thing you like is how it looks?

Not much bolt on to make that better. You need to drop the body on a Cadillac CTS

I actually have to keep the original chassis as per the traffic department requirements
So engine transmission and suspension dif's and shaft with electric harness ecu will move out and replace it with cadi cts
Right..!

 

[mcee]

Welcome to CK5 @mcee
As said above modern LS drive line will help. As for gas mileage, it is shaped like a brick, don't lift it, don't put larger tires on it, don't add weight, no bug shield, light bars or roof racks.
Comfy ride, Use C load rated tires at lower recommended tire pressure, (might want to check your current tire and lower the air pressure) get good shocks, no off road lift kit shocks. Bilstein 5100 are well liked by many members here. If your trucks springs are after market go back to stock.
If you really want a good riding Blazer look for a 2 wheel drive version they have double wish bone suspension, and coil springs. Can be made to ride and handle like a slot car, lowered though.
Best gas mileage improvement ? Always drive down hill with the wind at your back

Is there a specific truck model equipped ls that it's engine gearbox and suspension
can Fit right in my k5 without chassis modifications

 

[Bent77]

Is there a specific truck model equipped ls that it's engine gearbox and suspension
can Fit right in my k5 without chassis modifications

The short answer is no. The only stuff that will bolt in will be the very early fuel injection stuff and it is not much of a performance upgrade from what you have.

In order to gain a lot of engine performance, you’re gonna have to mix and match the parts to get the transfer case sort it out because it will be on the wrong side in the newer trucks

The suspension components you may be able to bolt on some newer stuff that is better but if you want to make it a lot better, you’re gonna have to invest in some aftermarket engineered parts that are no longer directly bolt on

 

[Blue85]

You should be able to get something like 5.5km/l. If it's way worse, then it probably needs a tune-up or other work. Keep in mind that gas is cheap and you will probably never recoup the money you put into improving fuel economy. For example, if you drive it 10,000 miles per year at 12MPG and $3 gas, that's $2500. If you're lucky, swapping to a 5.3l with the same combination could get you to 15MPG, or $2000. That's like 5 years until you break even - assuming you do all of the work yourself. A shop LS-conversion can't be less than $5k (I have no idea how things work there or how hard it is to get parts), so it takes 10 years and 100,000 miles, by which time you may have grown tired of the vehicle or crashed it.

Do you have a 3-speed or 4-speed transmission? What size tires and what differential ratio does it have? Is diesel fuel readily available there?

Being that the chassis has to remain original, you can have custom leaf springs made that will improve the ride a lot (search here, it's been discussed a ton). You may want it to sit an inch or two higher just to give the suspension some up-travel.

 

[imiceman44]

Well some might not have noticed OP is from UAE, regulation there doesn't allow for frame modifications but they can still modify engine mounts to LS swap, they also have decent shops there so they re capable of doing the swap.
But for simplicity and ease of swap, I would go 5.7 or 7.4 vortec from 96-2000 truck. Roller engine and EFI for good fuel economy.
And on the suspension, new stock springs and bilstein shocks should do it.
You could get custom springs from ORD but I don't know if they will ship internationally

 

[Wes Harden]

I thought the UAE had cheap gas. Maybe range is the need? Bigger gas tank ?