First Time Swapper

[Billett]

I've called a couple places from there as well as checking CL farther away from me. Haven't found anything completely amazing yet, but it takes time. Did just find this. Think I'm going to give him a call too.

http://lancaster.craigslist.org/pts/3678266741.html

[Billett]

Sorry for posting so many ads. Got a little carried away. I'll keep you guys posted when I do finally buy though. Thanks for all the help! Keep it coming!

[Wasted Income]

That last one looks perfect for you. Good price too. don't be scared by the miles. Every one of my turbocharged and nitrous LS swaps have been on 100k+ blocks

[Billett]

yeah I'm really hoping that one works out. Great price and a pcm to boot. It's a bit of a haul from me but definitely worth it. As for the miles, from what I've read many of these blocks last for 300k plus if they are taken care of and not beaten on. So like you said, 100k is fine with me for a regular drop in. 200k makes me think it needs a rebuild first.

[Billett]

Found a couple good deals on 4l80e's too. I know they're heavier, but I'd feel better with one as opposed to the 4l60e. 3 on CL near me. 1 for $200 which has to have problems, but none listed, 1 for $420 with a converter which looks decent, and one for $375 that looks good with only 89k on it.

[Billett]

Got a call back about the lq4 at the top of this page. Guy was a mechanic and seemed really genuine. Said he got the engine sort of last minute and didnt really have a use for it at the moment. Said he was thinking of buying a 68 camaro in the future and dropping it in but if it sold, it sold, if not he'd keep it and use it. Used to be in a church van like the ad said and apparently it was hit in the rear pretty hard so it was totaled. Complete pull out with pcm, but i think the harness has been cut. He mentioned that he usually keeps them but since it was from a van the harness is much shorter so it wouldn't be useful in a swap. I'm going to take a look at it this Saturday. Anything in particular to check for? Seems to be worth it to me even if I have to buy a separate harness. Add another 150 for that and it still comes to $900 for an lq4 with low miles, before I haggle him that is

[Wasted Income]

BUY IT.

Also take a look at that $200 4L80E. If the fluid looks good, buy it and run it.

[Jon01]

What Jeff said. Both screaming deals.
I've seen LQ4's with 300k+ on them run like striped ass apes.
I would change the oil pump in it though just for good measure, they are a known weak point.

[thotfulspot]

I'll take it if you don't want it. I can run over anytime. I won't steal it from under you though. I'm only 3 hours away.

[Billett]

Haha don't worry, I'm 2 and a half hours away. Seems my brother thinks it's too far of a trip though, so here's my list of things to check on this engine. Please let me know if you would check anything else before buying a used LS.

-Pull off and cut open oil filter to check for metal or anything else odd
-bring a magnet to check for metal in the oil pan
-pull off valve covers
-pull spark plugs and crank by hand
-make sure there are no outward signs of oil/leaks
-leak down test if he has the lines for it

[Jon01]

I've yet to be burned on any of the LS motors I've bought/sold over the years. If the oil looks decent buy it.
You're going to be hard pressed to find a seller willing to go thru all of that.

[Billett]

I was kind of wondering if that was overkill, but there is nothing I hate more than getting burned on CL... I think at least I'll pull the oil filter and the spark plugs. I don't want to take a leap of faith on an engine that seems like its too good to be true.

[thotfulspot]

Since one of the pictures shows the motor disassembled you won't learn much by pulling the valve covers since if there was anything in there it would have been cleaned out. The oil filter might show something if it wasn't pulled. If he hasn't pulled the plugs you can check them but at that mileage I'd be surprised to see anything.

I'd be more worried about missing or broken sensors. In the FAQ there are some pictures of where the sensors should be. If it doesn't have the harness I'd use that as a bargaining tool.

You can also sort on car-parts.com by price to give you an idea of the low end. Like someone said, they are just a listing of salvage yards and what they have. Car-part doesn't actually sell anything. It's usually used by shops and insurance companies. A lot of them will deal on cost especially if you are there or have them on the phone.

Out of curiosity, what were your search terms you used in Craig's list? I haven't done much searching in parts and it all comes down to using the right search terms.
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[Billett]

Different engine. I'm going to look at the one on the top of this page in Elizabethtown. If you want that other one it's all yours. I don't have it in the budget right now to build one up.

When I search craigslist I'm basically on a hunt. I use everything and anything I can think of because you never know what other people will put down for their car parts. Generally speaking I search "lq4" "6.0l" "5.3l" "lm7" "l33" things like that. I make sure its under the auto parts section and I have the "entire post" box checked, otherwise you just have a ton of vehicles for sale popping up. That said, I also type those things in CL without specifying what section and check the "title only" box. A fair amount of people put parts in the cars and trucks for sale section. Another good thing to search is "wrecked". You'll have to sort through all the cars but you might find one that's useful to you.

[thotfulspot]

That's the same way I search. I was just wondering if you did anything different.

I'm still trying to decide wether to use a pull or start with everything new. I know there is a big difference in price, but I don't want to skimp on this build. It will probably be the last truck I build and I want to build it to last. A brand new block is less then $1000. Add some L92 heads and a LS3 intake from GMPP and you only have about $3000 invested. It sounds like a lot but if I spread it out it isn't all that bad. Keeps me out of strip clubs and other money waisters.
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[tinydb84]

$3000 goes a long way at the strip club as long as it want in Vegas.
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[Billett]

$3000 for an engine isn't terrible especially for the horsepower it would put out with this platform, but I'm on a much stricter budget. If you're looking for a bare 6.0L block there is one listed near me for only $250

http://delaware.craigslist.org/pts/3571323410.html

[ls1nova71]

The 6.0 at the top of the page looks like a decent deal to me. If it has a flexplate on it, one of those 4l80's you have found will bolt right up. 2 1/2 hours is a nice road trip for a saturday, good luck with it.

[thotfulspot]

Originally Posted by Billett

$3000 for an engine isn't terrible especially for the horsepower it would put out with this platform, but I'm on a much stricter budget. If you're looking for a bare 6.0L block there is one listed near me for only $250

http://delaware.craigslist.org/pts/3571323410.html

That's not bad if he kept the mains numbered so they go back in the right place. You also have to keep the couple hundred in shipping if he knows how to ship it correctly. I've seen some pretty amateur palleting that causes more harm then good. There is a vendor on eBay that sells used blocks (cores) with all the machining except decking (bored and honed) for around $500 with $120 shipping if I pick it up at the depot. Doesn't have the covers or oil pan though. Depending on the front end crossmember you are using dictates the type of oil pan you use. If you go low it sounds like the F-Body is the way to go.
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[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by thotfulspot

A brand new block is less then $1000. Add some L92 heads and a LS3 intake from GMPP and you only have about $3000 invested. It sounds like a lot but if I spread it out it isn't all that bad.

LOL WUT?

I hate to say it, but if you buy a NEW block, NEW complete L92s, and a NEW intake, you're gonna be way deeper into the engine than $3000. Way deeper.

What about the 90mm TB, fuel rails, injectors, oil pan, crank, rods, pistons, cam, valve covers, front and rear engine covers, valley cover, sensors, crank pulley, accessories (power steering, alternator, water pump), flexplate, starter, etc?

All that stuff adds up incredibly fast, especially if you're buying it all new.

My blazer build is a NEFA build (Not EVEN Fuggin Around) and my motor is built of all used stuff, including a junkyard LQ4.

A thrifty shopper can make stupid amounts of power for a relatively small outlay of money if you do your homework, and spend your money wisely.

[Billett]

That's why I'm super excited I found the deal on this lq4. With a mild cam, l92 heads, and ls3 intake I should be getting significantly more power for used part prices and all of it will still be reliable. Granted that's all an eventuality and I know you can still swap parts on a 5.3L, but as the old mantra goes, no replacement for displacement. That's why the LS platform is so great. No need for aftermarket stuff to make decent street power, just swap from other ls's.

Also, I know where you're coming from and agree wasted income, but I believe thotfulspot was just talking about a new block and not brand new everything.

Any other thoughts on what to check for? Are the LS's really so reliable that I shouldn't be that worried unless something very obvious appears wrong?

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by Billett

Also, I know where you're coming from and agree wasted income, but I believe thotfulspot was just talking about a new block and not brand new everything.

I understand that, however as someone who's been down the road a few times, it is always cheaper and less headache to start with a complete junkyard engine. That's why guys preach it so much.

Originally Posted by Billett

Are the LS's really so reliable that I shouldn't be that worried unless something very obvious appears wrong?

Yes. Absolutely. I have bought and swapped 5 junkyard LS engines. As long as it was running fine when pulled, turns over fine, and has compression....it will run.

The first 5.3 I swapped sat in a barn for 5 years before I bought it. I did not take it apart after I got it...I simply stabbed it in the truck, and it fired up on the first shot. That same motor held up to a couple years of nitrous abuse with 150 hp hits, and then a few years of turbo abuse before it finally lifted the heads at the track (got greedy with the boost and timing with stock head bolts and graphite head gaskets). Still pushed my barge into the 11s with a hurt motor. That made a believer out of me.

[Billett]

wow, well that's good enough for me. I may try to talk him down to $700 because of the cut van harness, but even if he won't take less than $750 I still think it's a bargain compared to everything else I'm seeing. Most junkyards around me are selling the 5.3s for closer to a grand.

As for replacing the harness, like you mentioned I definitely do not plan on getting a custom made one. I have no problem trimming the things I don't need and there just happens to be a harness up on CL now for $150. I'm hoping this one isn't a van harness too.

[Jdubs71]

I have 2 harness' one is cut at the ecm connecters and the other is complete. If it will work for you i'll let them both go for $125 shipped. You will have plenty of spare connecters. Let me know. They're for sale in the 67-72 truck parts section with pictures.
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[Robznob11]

I have less than 3g's in my 6.0 80e swap
Motor tranny harness and puter 48000 mi pull out 1900$ delivered from aaa recycle dallas tx
Rewired harness my self 50$ lt1 swap directions
Puter tune 75$ wait for me performance
Camaro tank with truck pump local salvage 100$
Used hose ends from stock trucks in local salvage,borrowed double flare tool from auto zone to adapt to stock lines ends 5$ each and about 10$ brass fittings
Homade mounts with 1/4 plate and clam shells ,welder free used scrap metal
Drive shaft made 150$
Tranny mount made from scrap metal as well
Headders 4th gen camaro 200$
3 in exhaust kit and mufflers about 150$
Ofchorse i have some other goodies but that just the stuff you have to have!
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