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What motor and tranny?

scatfastj

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I have a good running but tired 350TBI with 700R4 Trans and 208 slip yoke transfer. I am looking at rebuilding or swapping. What would be a good motor/tranny combo. I have the D60 Front/GM14 Bolt Rear, 4.56 diffs with front and rear ARB lockers, CV rear driveline, 35" Tires on 16's. I want it for a daily driver as well as towing and off road. I am used to diesels. I have been looking into the 350, 383 stroker, 454.
 
hate to say it anymore but time/money to what you get out of a 350/383/454 anymore = nope.

grab a 5.3 or 6.0 with the tranny on it and bolt that in with few simple mods and get easy stock power over most 350/383 combos and 2x min fuel mileage.

if i didntt have my built 355 for my 1 truck now i would just go 6.0 swap and be done with it.
 
if you like diesels and turbos do what i did and swap in a 4bt cummins, for auto i would go with a 47rh and a 205 tcase. for 5 speed i would go nv4500. or if your after bi power(over 400) i would go 6bt cummins. My little 4bt is way more powerfull than the 350 that was in there and it gets a solid 25 mpg all around... more if i drive 60 mph donwn the hwy.... but if you like gas i would do like sugjected and go with the 5.3 or 6.0.
 
Did you have to beef up your frame for the extra torque?
 
hate to say it anymore but time/money to what you get out of a 350/383/454 anymore = nope.

.

I dont honestly agree with that. I got a fully rebuilt 408 Smallblock for $1200 and that was with the extras like bigger cam, stainless roller rockers, and polished alluminum oil pan.

I dont think you will find a 5.3 or 6.0 setup for that price. Especially one that has low miles on it. Whats the point in buying a 6.0 or 5.3 if its got alot of miles on it and will crap out sooner than a cheaper rebuilt small block??

Im possitive my motor is torqy enough to do everything he wanted to do.

You could also look at crate motors.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-10067353/

Or more power
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-12499529/
 
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didnt do anything for the frame yet... its not any more tourqe than a hopped up 454, or 383, a good built 383 that ive run in my old 86 k5 was a lot more tourque than this 4bt, it was right around 550 hp and 600 ftlbs(it was supercharged and ran on race gas) but i ran the piss out of that one and never had any frame issues(other than a cracked steering area but that was due to my 38" tires i tried to drive like a stock car with..
 
What would be an cheap way to get a 4bt and maybe a tranny?
 
bu ya 80's model step van with the 4bt already in it.....they go from anywhere from 2000 to 3500 and will usally have either a 4 speed manual either ford or chevy or a th475 tranny for the gm autos. You can swipe the motor/tranny out and cut up the alluminum step van body and make about 1000 back in scrap alluminum.... thats probly the cheapest way.
 
Deuling read the rest of my post that you left out of the quote.

2x the fuel mileage that will pay for its self over a carb these days.

all things might be cheep up front. but whats the long term cost to run it ? ? ?

and not sayin 350/383/400/454 bad stuff. had most all of them. but plug/play power and efi and best part fuel mileage is key these days.
 
Deuling read the rest of my post that you left out of the quote.

2x the fuel mileage that will pay for its self over a carb these days.

all things might be cheep up front. but whats the long term cost to run it ? ? ?

and not sayin 350/383/400/454 bad stuff. had most all of them. but plug/play power and efi and best part fuel mileage is key these days.


I didnt mean to be rude, I was just disagreeing with that part because he never said anything about MPG. He just he wanted a motor. Sorry:doah:

I dont dissagree that it would pay for itself in gas, but up front cost is a big limiting factor for alot of people
 
hate to say it anymore but time/money to what you get out of a 350/383/454 anymore = nope.

grab a 5.3 or 6.0 with the tranny on it and bolt that in with few simple mods and get easy stock power over most 350/383 combos and 2x min fuel mileage.

if i didntt have my built 355 for my 1 truck now i would just go 6.0 swap and be done with it.

I'm torn on this whole thing, The out of the box power, efficiency and reliability of the 5.3/6.0 isnt even compareable to any previous generation SBC.

But... I like tuning and messing with carbs and the general hot rodding stuff in general, so I guess I'd better build two old chevy trucks now... One with a tuned 6.0, and one with a gen 1 SBC.
 
understand deuling but if i read the words he wrote correct " I want it for a daily driver as well as towing and off road " this to me and prob most = fuel miles wanted WITH power.

and yes all new things need test and strength testing over a 60+year old engine design for the sbc motor.

wasnt trying to fight copy/paste your screen name come out BIG was all. . just stating my opinion for full info posted.

and in my area there is basicly no good engine builder i would trust to do a motor for me. seen way to much bad from the top guys around here over the years as a mechanic/play toy guy. and crate motors from big name brands get you a nice warrenty cheeper than local most the time. :D
 
I guess it really comes down to your Pocket Book $$$, and how much experiance you have on what you wanna do. If you have the money and know enough about it do the 5.3 or 6.0 swap. But in my case I didnt want to because I had never touched an engine before so a carbed small block is what I chose (went with the biggest small block) mostly for the cheap up front cost and its the easiest swap their is.

Well and also I had a 5.3 in my 2001 silverado 2wd, and I didnt think it was all that awesome. I actually got really mad when one day driving down the road the alluminum water pump actually broke apart when the bearing went and sent the fan right through my radiator:eek1:. Driving about 30mph downtown fremont and BOOM!!! Ill have to get a pic of it sometime, but that really PI**** me off being it was a newer water pump.

Oh and Plus im a fan of old school detroit gas guzzling muscle:thumb:
 
Yea, I am always torn between the efficiency of newer tech, old school power, and all out modified madness. Mileage is somewhat of a concern but I REALLY HATE being underpowered. I prefer to overbuild than always have to watch the edge. I have a tendancy to get caught up in situations much rougher than planned. I like the idea of the 4bt with NV4500. That should give me a balance of power, mileage and the option to upgrade to all out madness, but I am still not decided. All information is good. Thanks for the replies. Keep them coming!
 
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1988 K5 12 Valve Cummins

I'm picking up a built and balanced 12 valve cummins. I know I need the trans adapter plate, rebuilt trans, lift pump and engine mounts. I would like any info you guys can give on a 1988 K5 swap. I have never gotten in deeper than regular maintainance. Any tricks or things to watch out for would be great! I also have the steering reinforcement and brace that I need to put on. What do I need to know about frame welding? I can have my 700R4 build to hold but, is there a better overdrive tanny?
 
Truth is, and I like the 700R4, you won't get it to hold up to the torque of a 12v Cummins.

A 4L80E GM trans swap
or
whatever Dodge used behind those engines swap
or
a manual swap to an NV4500

:waytogo:
 
I think I'll go with the NV 4500. I have been partial to being in control since I got my Dodge with NV5600. Know anybody who wants to buy a 350 TBI and 700R4? I just happen to know someone that wants to sell one.:whistle::D
 
Just so ya'll can see it! This is what I'm working on.

DSC02827-Copy.jpg
DSC02828-Copy.jpg
DSC02837.jpg
t
DSC02826.jpg
 
edit your last post with pics and put a space between the links of the pics to stack them and not be sideways acrosssssssssss the screen. :thumb:

looks good tho . :waytogo:
 
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