Need some engine ideas....

[ain't_done_yet]

Hey guys!!! It's been a little over a year since I've been on here, but I'm finally getting the fever to do something with my '82 SWB. I bought it with no motor and have really been contemplating dropping a 12V Cummins in it. But for now, I may go a more simple route and just put a gaser in it. I've thought about a 5.3L fuel injected motor. I'm just wanting something that runs good and smooth...no racing...just a great highway driver that gets some decent fuel mileage.

Not really sure what shape the tranny and rear is in, but I do know the truck was drivable when the engine was pulled (the guy couldn't pay for the motor, so it was pulled and he sold the truck.)

I know I'll get a whole slew of opinions, but shoot 'em to me!!

[glock35ipsc]

I'm definitely biased to the 5.3/4L60E combo. Great city driving manners, 20+ mpg on the highway, and can still shock the crap out of a ricer or Mustang at a light.

[82swampthing]

i'd go witha quadra jetted 350 witha 700 r4 trans or a turbo 350 with a higher rear gear. stay away from 4l60's their all garbage got one in my 94' and its blown up 3 times first it was the servos, then it was the clutches, then it was the torque converter.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by 82swampthing

stay away from 4l60's their all garbage got one in my 94' and its blown up 3 times first it was the servos, then it was the clutches, then it was the torque converter.

There's most of your problem. Otherwise, there are millions of them on the road with hundreds of thousands of miles on them running just fine. Sounds like you need to find a different trans builder!

[clinebarger]

Either one whould do what you want. Im biased to both. The 6BT is too heavy for a 1/2 ton truck in my opinion (1100 pounds dry) & will need a heavy duty transmission & at least a dana 60 or ford 9" rearend. The 5.3 will be a more straight forward swap.

The 4L60E is a good transmissions when taken care of & not abused. Ive seen hundreds go past 200k,

[Restrorob]

Originally Posted by 82swampthing

in my 94'

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

There's most of your problem.

. Heeey nooow.....Let's not get dirty here !!! . .

[glock35ipsc]

Hey, I shower at least once a week! Lol, what I meant was that it seems like the earlier 4L60 and 4L60E's were indeed dreadful. But later versions will hold up just fine, even with a lot of TQ and HP in front of them. And if they have been rebuilt correctly, will handle quite a bit of power.

[Pyrotechnic]

I know a guy that had a 94 that went through rebuild after rebuild. Finally, he scrapped the original trans that came with the truck and got trans out of a later truck and had that rebuild. No problems since.

Those early years just had some issues, but they were long worked out by the time 1999 and the LS engines came along. I'd honestly trust a newer 4L60E more than a 700R4 because of the computer control. No TV cable geometry or adjustment to go wrong and the computer can really make the engine and trans work together as well as possible.

[ain't_done_yet]

Thanks guys for all the info....i knew the weight of the Cummins (that's my daily driver now) and is one of the reasons i'm holdin' off on that project for now....lots of mods to make that happen. What year 4L60s should I stay away from?

[glock35ipsc]

Stay with the 99 and newer ones.

[ain't_done_yet]

Thanx glock35

[fpjr0]

I second glock's first post..... 5.3 5.3 5.3 or even if money permitting 6.0 ... do it , do it , do it