thinkin about a LSx

[CrazyJesster]

ok ive posted about a million things i want for my 82. ive recently started looking into the ls engines. i really cant make up my mind on what i want. i see alot of things being done to the ls motors. 402s 408s 427s just to name a few ive even seen 383 builds out of a 5.3. and people loved them so at a local wrecking yard. ive found a 5.3 for sale for 500$ its got 160k on it but if im going to rebuild it. that dont bother me at all then ive also found. at a wrecking yard a few miles away a 6.0. for 650$ with 130k on it so its a toss up here. ive spoken to some people on other forums who have 408s. and a guy even has a 5.3 done into a 383 he loves it. he says its alot of fun i myself have always wanted a 383. since i rode in the 81 camaro with one i even had the guy. that had the 408 said the 383 whould present some nice power. but he also stated when worked right the 6.0 could get 550 close to 600hp. boy that whould be a fun street toy so anyway

i have a th350 in the 82 an i whould probily use it for now.

so some questions are what type of pain is it to do this swap
what are we looking at money wise with harness an stuff

i thought of no better place to ask then this site because im sure people have found work arounds. i know there will need some fabbed brackes from what i seen in one thread.

anyway what are some of your thoughts and opinions

[68GMCCustom]

better plan on a few thousand...and watch it just balloon from there!
Honestly, the best way is just to start researching and writing it all down.


My genIV 6.0 with LSX carb intake and holley 750HP Street, L92/LS3 style heads, headers, and a 223/231dur@.050-.610/.617lift-112LSA cam, and MSD 6LS2 firing the coil packs ...and should make a bit over 500hp.

[CrazyJesster]

ive found myself a 6.0 i can buy for 650 so that whould be a start

[tonypaul]

You might be better off trying to find a "complete" 5.3 or 6.0 with the trans with lower miles and pay a little more for it. If you do a rebuild then get all the little things like brackets, accessories, ect, then get a trans, converter, ect- its gonna be alot more money. If your not careful you can get nickeled and dimed to death on these swaps. You should be able to get get a real low mileage complete drop out for $2000 or less. By the time you pay for parts and machine work on just your engine you will be way over that unless you have major hook-ups...

Being a x-west Texas guy, I know theres not alot of options out that way but keep shopping. Look on craigslist in Dallas and Houston, you can even post a WTB add on craigslist and get alot of replies with just these two cities.
What ever you decide- just be ready to dish out some cash, its a great swap but its not a cheap swap......

[68GMCCustom]

keep in mind with some inexpensive adapters you can keep whatever trans is in the truck now...and upgrade it later.

I could hook my 6.0 up to my turbo350 just as easily as my new 200-4r...or even a 4L60. You don't need computer control for these...but as was said...if you plan to keep it efi...you'll want to go ahead and get EVERYTHING with it. Motor, trans, accessories, computer and harness, etc.... maybe even the gas tank!

[CrazyJesster]

i dont plan on it beeing done tomorrow an im still debating on the whole thing. but i dont htink i wanna go 5.3 if i do this it will be a 6.0.

[68GMCCustom]

an iron 6.0 vs the 5.3 or 4.8 is a common route for those looking to do an LSx swap for that little extra bit of power ...although there are also the 6.2L aluminum blocks...

[CrazyJesster]

yeah ive seen the 6.2s even the 7.0 block. or the lsx block for a monster

heck a buddy suggest i go an get a vortec 350 from the wreckin yard an build me a wild 383. and then he said order a block a build what i want here an there. but heck i dunno

[68GMCCustom]

well....if its any indication....I just removed an old school 383 stroker from my truck for the 6.0L thats going in. It was a torquey son of a gun...but didn't have near the power this 6.0L will have with the cam, heads, headers and intake it'll have.

[CrazyJesster]

yeah thats what i know

[team39763]

I swapped a 6.0 into my 82 C10. It's not too big of a deal. Just figure out what your goals are before you buy stuff...that was one of my biggest mistakes. My truck ran 12.8 with that junkyard 6.0L that had a small EFI cam(I converted the motor to carbureted). I think the truck had mid 12's in it if I would have fixed all the problems(low fuel pressure, broke posi, bad driver). If you'd be happy with similar performance, maybe you won't have to rebuild the motor you get. Just go with a better cam than I had and get the heads worked by a pro...you'd be way faster than mine was.

[CrazyJesster]

well im still tryin to decide to take the money towards the 6.0 or. put my 400 sbc the rest of it together which whould cost bout the same. price as the 6.0 im lookin at which is 650$. im going to have to get an engine fastner kit cause the bolts are gone. and have to get a bunch of other stuff fans etc.. im diggin my brain out trying to figure out what to do.

[c10seconds]

Don't know if its of any interest to you but i have a 6.2 l99 complete motor that will be up for sale in the next week or so. You could always go that route

[CrazyJesster]

whats your price ???