Motor choice?

[ClassicDreamer]

What are your personal likes and dislikes of engime swaps. What motros do you guys like to use and why?
What are your ideal engines?
What are your fantasy engines?

Building my 54 pickup now and the truck already has a 4.3 s10 carbed motor in it. Not sure if I should keep it. I would love to put a TT big block in it, but not really practical, plus the wife plans to drive the truck.
If I keep the 4.3 I plan to turbo it in a year or so.

Will the stock 4.3 be powerful enough to move the truck?

[63 & 64 Bowties]

There are several builds here that have chosen to keep the 4.3 and a couple with the 2.8 and they seem to be happy with them. Kinda keeping it simple.
I'm gonna be starting my 53 / S-10 swap in about a week, but I chose to go with a centerbolt head 350 (for the semi-modern look) and a 700r4.
Just my personal preference, I want that v8 sound.

[OrrieG]

I'm a 283/327 fan. But I upgraded to a 350 for my truck because I wanted more low end torque than a winder. I'd love to build a salt flat roadster with a high winding 283 and high rearend ratio.

[robin58]

Will the stock 4.3 be powerful enough to move the truck?

Considering how few HP the stock engine has, yup that 4.3L will move the truck.

Mine had a SBC in it when I got it and is probably the basic choice because of ease of getting parts and the large number of hints, how-to's, parts to make it work.

My son is planning on putting a Caddy 500/TH400 in his 51 Suburban.

It really boils down to how much you want to spend, what you have around you, how "different" you want to be, etc.

If I had a choice and money no object, I've always wanted to put a 1970's 6.9L Benz in something (286HP/400ftlb torque, 12500 miles between oil changes, 50000 between maintenance). For a more modern powertrain, I think 90's Lexus V8's look great and have seen them in some rods.

[blackdiesel]

If your wanting a easy driving fast truck, you need to look into the LS swap.

[ClassicDreamer]

I have thought of the LS1, may be an option.
Also thought about doing a police package lt1 motor or a chevy impala ss motor. How do you guys like the LT1 motors? Cheap enough. Want to build the truck on somewhat of a budget. Seen complete lt1 swaps for $1000 and LS1 swaps for $3500 and up
Always been into VW's. Used to have a vr6 with a GT35/40 pushing 480whp at 462ft of tq. Toyed around with that idea of stuffing a vw motor in, but want to keep it kind of original.
Future plans are to do a charger or turbo on it. Would like to keep it around 3-400 horse. Drivable and powerful but not ripping the tires on every accelaration.

[50adrod]

I think LS is the way to go thats what i am doing. you can get a 5.3 truck motor with a harness and computer for probably less than 1 K. very good drivability and 300hp stock, much better than a LT1. they also respond very well to mods. with a cam swap headers and tune mine should be close to 400 hp.

[Tater]

Originally Posted by ClassicDreamer

I have thought of the LS1, may be an option.
Also thought about doing a police package lt1 motor or a chevy impala ss motor. How do you guys like the LT1 motors? Cheap enough. Want to build the truck on somewhat of a budget. Seen complete lt1 swaps for $1000 and LS1 swaps for $3500 and up
Always been into VW's. Used to have a vr6 with a GT35/40 pushing 480whp at 462ft of tq. Toyed around with that idea of stuffing a vw motor in, but want to keep it kind of original.
Future plans are to do a charger or turbo on it. Would like to keep it around 3-400 horse. Drivable and powerful but not ripping the tires on every accelaration.

Not sure how much hp your planning on making,but something to keep in mind if you gou with an LT1.The LT1 from the Impala is a 2 bolt main.

[blackdiesel]

i put an lt1 from a 96 or 97 vette in my '38 chrylser. Yeah its a good motor, but an ls is still the way to go IMO. next rod i build is getting a ls1.

[hotrodrookie]

Look into the 5.3, 6.0 ls motors. I might be a little bias because Im putting a 5.3 in my 59. I paid 850 for the running engine and all the wiring. With this you can use any style trans as well with an adapting spacer.

[bensimmons_05]

a 4.3 with a pro charger or turbo on it is not bad at all, and in my opinion it definitely has the "different" factor with one of those on there.

Price has a lot to do with my decisions. I wanted a 350 but settled for a 305. To be honest I wouldnt ever want to take it down a drag strip anyway so whats the difference for a cruiser?

[Laid_Out_50]

i have a 350 SBC and a 390 Cadillac engine to pick not sure which one to use yet

[ClassicDreamer]

i found a 5.3 vortec motor with trans wiring computer etc.. for $600. Good, bad? Sounds very reasonable. How difficult is this swap into a 85 s10 chassis? v8 motor mounts?

[hotrodrookie]

If its in running condition then it sounds like somthing to buy before anyone else get the chance. Motor mounts can be made fairly simple so you can put the engine where ever you want, theres a diagram for the plate that bolts to the engine, just use the 4 that make a rectangle and overlook the 2 that form the top of the triangle of the sbc mount.

Your gonna have to most likely have the ecm reprogrammed which will will run a couple hundred dollars on average and your gona need to upgrade the fuel system to accomodate for the 55-60+ psi fuel pump that you'll be installing.

[Atomsplitter]

I love my LT1 but that was a personal and financial choice at the time. I had the luxury for having a friend that's swapped at least a dozen of these motors (94-96) as well as building these up to take over 500hp and the used Impala SS motor cost me $500 complete with wiring harness and ECM. By the way the Corvette 94-96 LT1 has 4 bolt mains.

If it wasn't for my buddy and his laptop to program my ECM, I would have gone old school with a carburator. The cost of rebuilding a 94-96 LT1 is very expensive too if you pickup a high miler. Up here in Canada the Opti-Spark distributor is about $700 and the Water pump is about $500, never mind the $300 for injectors etc, etc. I was lucky to buy my parts out of the US from Dallas Salbaugh........cheap, cheap, cheap.

I have never looked into what other parts are required to install an LS1 but that would be the deciding factor to me.

LS1 vs a Crate Motor = Whats the final cost?

[50adrod]

Originally Posted by Atomsplitter

LS1 vs a Crate Motor = Whats the final cost?

you dont have to go with the LS1, they are still overpriced. the 5.3 truck motor can make as much power as the LS1. it is basicly a iron block LS1 with a little smaller bore, and the truck intake makes more low end power than the LS1 intake. I built a LT1 in my 93 Vette, very expensive to build.

cost to swap a 5.3 LS motor
cost of motor with harness and PCM 1K max
rework harness for stand alone operation and reprogram PCM $350
new fuel pump and corvette filter with built in regulator $150
engine swap motor mount conversion brackets $100

I may have left out a few small items but you wont find a crate motor with 300 hp and this fuel mileage and driveability for $1600. and if the Government ever comes down on us about our old vehicles this one will pass emission testing. something to think about.

[ClassicDreamer]

Very true to think about with the LT1. Did not realize they were so expensive. Thank you guys for your patience and advise. I am still very new to the american car world. The last american car I had was a 1988 jeep cherokee limited. I hated it. a real POS.
I will check into the 5.3 LS motor. Any years better than others?