budget swap?

[68c10owner]

Been looking for LS info and just noticed this little forum. Anyone got a low buck build? I`m thinking about a 4.8 or 5.3 for my DD 83 chevy but dont have alot of money to spend and dont need all the fancy stuff on there. Just looking for the cheapest way to do a swap. Thanks.

[Clyde65]

4.8 will set you back $500-1000, depending on where and the mileage on it.
tune/harness will set you back around $450.00 ( waitformeperformance.com)
fuel pump/filter and regulator will set you back around $150.00
you can use the TH350/700 with an adapter from Transdapt ( flywheel) under $300.00
add another couple hundred for misc stuff

Hope this helps.

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

4.8 will set you back $500-1000, depending on where and the mileage on it.
tune/harness will set you back around $450.00 ( waitformeperformance.com)
fuel pump/filter and regulator will set you back around $150.00
you can use the TH350/700 with an adapter from Transdapt ( flywheel) under $300.00
add another couple hundred for misc stuff

Hope this helps.

Yes it helps but I was also someone would be able to say get this, dont get that, do this, dont do that. you know what I mean? I have a 700R4 in my truck now but its a 83 model and as far as I know never rebuilt. I`ll have a motor/trans ready to swap when I`m ready to do it.

[heeroyue2002]

hmm. i may do an ls swap in my 68 in the future.

[Clyde65]

68, what's the fun in having all the PN's and directions?


1983,huh? you would need mounts, Dirty Dingo ( the flat plate to attach the motor to your mounts), Walbro 255 fuel pump, corvette pre filter and filter/regulator( this depends on year of motor)
tune/harness,

You could also get a FI tank for an 87 and put the pump in there.

what else would you need to know?

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by 68c10owner

Yes it helps but I was also someone would be able to say get this, dont get that, do this, dont do that. you know what I mean? I have a 700R4 in my truck now but its a 83 model and as far as I know never rebuilt. I`ll have a motor/trans ready to swap when I`m ready to do it.

DON'T get a 4.8 - for the money, you can get a 5.3 and you'll be happier should you decide to start pushing the performance end of things

DON'T re-use a transmission of unknown quality. you don't wanna put it all the work, and smoke a 700r4 on the third time round the block. Also, if your motor is DBW, you have to change to DBC to use any of the cable transmissions

DO get your harness re-worked or have a custom one made. If your confident and have time, you can save money modding your own harness, but usually for the cost of the stock harness + mental sanity you can have one done for you. Some companies also include stuff like a fuse block etc that makes wiring easier.

DO try to get the motor as complete as possible. Makes tracking the "little things" easier when they all came attached to the motor.

DO be realistic about budget. Even on a tight well controlled project, there are always some hidden costs. Don't strand yourself.

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

68, what's the fun in having all the PN's and directions?


1983,huh? you would need mounts, Dirty Dingo ( the flat plate to attach the motor to your mounts), Walbro 255 fuel pump, corvette pre filter and filter/regulator( this depends on year of motor)
tune/harness,

You could also get a FI tank for an 87 and put the pump in there.

what else would you need to know?

Well it makes it easier for us guys who haven`t ventured into the late model stuff before. I guess that pretty much covers it except the actual install itself but shouldn`t be too dificult. The fuel system and electrical is whats going to take me some time.

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

DON'T get a 4.8 - for the money, you can get a 5.3 and you'll be happier should you decide to start pushing the performance end of things

DON'T re-use a transmission of unknown quality. you don't wanna put it all the work, and smoke a 700r4 on the third time round the block. Also, if your motor is DBW, you have to change to DBC to use any of the cable transmissions

DO get your harness re-worked or have a custom one made. If your confident and have time, you can save money modding your own harness, but usually for the cost of the stock harness + mental sanity you can have one done for you. Some companies also include stuff like a fuse block etc that makes wiring easier.

DO try to get the motor as complete as possible. Makes tracking the "little things" easier when they all came attached to the motor.

DO be realistic about budget. Even on a tight well controlled project, there are always some hidden costs. Don't strand yourself.

With this project I`m not nessicarily looking for performance but a reliable drivetrain that has more power than my smogged out 305 and gets decent economy. I figure I should be able to get close to 20mpg with either set up. I seem to find more 5.3`s for sale than 4.8`s anyway so I`ll probably go that route. As for the tranny, they usually come with some sort of a 30 day warranty from the yards but my friend is a GM tech with 30yrs of building transmissions so I could have him freshen it up pretty cheap.

[Clyde65]

Originally Posted by 68c10owner

Well it makes it easier for us guys who haven`t ventured into the late model stuff before. I guess that pretty much covers it except the actual install itself but shouldn`t be too dificult. The fuel system and electrical is whats going to take me some time.





With this project I`m not nessicarily looking for performance but a reliable drivetrain that has more power than my smogged out 305 and gets decent economy. I figure I should be able to get close to 20mpg with either set up. I seem to find more 5.3`s for sale than 4.8`s anyway so I`ll probably go that route. As for the tranny, they usually come with some sort of a 30 day warranty from the yards but my friend is a GM tech with 30yrs of building transmissions so I could have him freshen it up pretty cheap.

I understand where you coming from
I am a computer tech, so if I can doit....ANYONE can!

I will agree with BR3W, if your going 4.8, then a few hundred more for a 5.3 just makes sense. I got my eng/trans combo with 9K miles for under $1200, you just cant find them that cheap anymore.
This was my exact reason for jumping onto the LS bandwagon. IF I did the crate motor and or a rebuild, I would be at least into it $3500, so this was a fun/frustrating attempt for me.
Just 1 word of advice, get the performance tune and the custom harness, it is very much so worth the headache of doing it yourself. Having the stock converted is not going to be as visually pleasing as the custom, just doing the VATS removal and rear O2's is about all that the cheap tuners do, if your in a pinch, go ahead, but when $ allows, go performance tune. I know, I just did it, love it!

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

I understand where you coming from
I am a computer tech, so if I can doit....ANYONE can!

I will agree with BR3W, if your going 4.8, then a few hundred more for a 5.3 just makes sense. I got my eng/trans combo with 9K miles for under $1200, you just cant find them that cheap anymore.
This was my exact reason for jumping onto the LS bandwagon. IF I did the crate motor and or a rebuild, I would be at least into it $3500, so this was a fun/frustrating attempt for me.
Just 1 word of advice, get the performance tune and the custom harness, it is very much so worth the headache of doing it yourself. Having the stock converted is not going to be as visually pleasing as the custom, just doing the VATS removal and rear O2's is about all that the cheap tuners do, if your in a pinch, go ahead, but when $ allows, go performance tune. I know, I just did it, love it!

I`m not too worreid about the harness since I`m not the one thats going to be doing it, lol. I just need to keep it within the smog laws for cali so if a performance tune smogs ok then I`m ok with it otherwise a stock tune will do as well. I say 4.8 or 5.3 because either one will serve the purpose. I just don`t want or need the 6.0 with the 4L80E. Just a simple install for me. I`d even consider a Vorted 5.0 or 5.7 engine. I had the 5.0 in a old ex-cab and it actually ran better than any other 350 I had at the time.

[harnalien]

I would go with a 5.3 just so you get more displacement and don't regret it 2 months after your swap. Budget, what's that? I had a budget of 3K for my 6.0 swap, but rapidly surpassed that. It's the little stuff that gets you (o2 sensors, block off plugs, various nuts and bolts, etc.). I just got my wiring harness in the mail only to find out that the o2 sensors and iac motor i ordered are different than what the instructions say i need. hopefully i can get those returned and get the right parts. Frustrating, but hopefully it'll all be worth it.

[Clyde65]

I am not sure about Cali law but if I am not mistaken, you have to follow the year of the motr for smog and junk. a 4.8 will get you about 300 horse at the flywheel, a 5.3 will get you about 350 or so. 4.8's can be had around here for $500-750 depending on mileage. 5.3's will set you back 1500.00 plus depending on mileage.

If you go local, ask for the entire exhaust from the rear o2's forward, when you get a tune, tell them the cats and rear O2's are there, this is a reasonably easy swap. your right the electronics( harness) and the fuel sys is the hurdles but it isnt that bad. Good luck 68c10.

[LostMy65]

Anthony;
Are there any do's or don'ts or "budget" things you've learned since starting your search on this topic?