Need advice on powerplant for my 1968 GMC fleet

[tonypaul]

Im hard and heavy back on my truck after teating it down for restoration, I tore it most of it down and started prepping it for paint in the fall. I found a old drag car during that time and stop working on the truck and started building the drag car in the spring and just finished it a few weeks ago. So now Im at a major crossroads on what to do with the engine/trans setup.

The truck is an orginal swb big block truck (396), it doesnt have the orginal big block in it. It has a 1969 or 1970 big block in it now. It runs and drives but I have no knowledge of how good it is. I do know that it has a carp Carter carb on it with a adapter on a stock intake. I only drove very little as I knew I was going to replace it during the build. Its still currently mounted in the truck as I am going to put it on craigslist this week. I wanted to leave it in so I can start it up for interested parties. The truck has a very good built th350 transmission in it now and I have the th400 that was in it but it needs a rebuild. It is the pic with the engine sill in the truck.

My choices are as follows below and Im trying to do the most simplist and dependable. The main use for this truck will to be tow my drag car to the track and weekend cruiser. So towing power is the main focus, gas mileage is NOT a concearn. The most easyist and cost effecent is what Im after..


Option #1 - Second pic- I have a brand new 8.1L -496ci crate motor that I orginally got for the truck. I traded a sbc 383 drag motor for it. The downfall to this engine is:
It has no affordable aftermarket parts.
It has no acessory brackets for the power steering, alt, a/c, ect. (have to purchase)
It has no engine harness ($600.00), I do have a computer for it and a dbw petal, and some new oil cooler lines for it but that it. But needs everything else. I would need to get a harness done, a tune in the computer, plus alot of a little $100.00 parts for it..... I figure $1500- $1800 for everything...
Its good thing: Its brand new, lots of power

Option #2 I just got this COMPLETE 1998 454 7.4l Vortec with a 4l80e, with everything but the A/C. It has the computer, orginal harness up to the bulk head connector. It only has 57k miles on it. It came from a city owned 1 ton bucket truck that was used to trim trees. It was hit by a falling tree and sent to the auction.
All I would need to do is get a new harness ($400.00) and the computer reprogramed and a good tune (maybe another $200).

On the flip side I might be able to use the brackets off the 7.4L and everything else like alt,starter,ect for the 8.1, all but the flex plate.Im not sure if the bracket will inter change or not since the 8'1l is a tall deck..???
I can used the 4l803 on the 8.1L.

Either of these options I have to do a whloe new fuel system, new fuel lines, new fuel tank, ect. And then still figure out what to do about all the gauges.... More money....

Or I can take off all the fuel injection, wiring harness, ect, off the 7.4L and buy a $200.00 intake. I have extra distributors, lots of carbs (a brand new bbc quadrajet) and use the built th350 thats in the truck now, thats it, done. Everything else is will be easy.... No harness's, no reprograming computer, no new fuel system, no new drive shaft, no new gauges, the list goes on and on.... It will have the classic old bbc look.... But on the flip side- all the above things (fuel injecton,ect) woud be nice to have.....

I was thinking just pull all the fuel injection off the 7.4l engine put it after I finish the paint and then start geting all the stuff for the 8.1L over time. Use the 4l80e with it and put it in when I get everything finished maybe like next summer..????

I dont know what to do... which motor, do the fuel injection now and just take longer on the whole project or do the carb swap on the 7.4l...?????
Help Im Stressed!!!!

[1967swb]

Hi Stressed out. Here is my 2 cents....

First and foremost...your truck should bring you joy. It is a personal project, reflects your personal choices and speaks volumes about your personality

So what does that mean? How important is fuel injection? Well how much money and time you wanna put into that set up? Sounds to me like you know what is involved with the correct install.

Would a stone simple carb and putting fuel injection/tune money into making the body nicer make you less stressed...?

For my money, I would just swap the carb on it and get down the road. One of the coolest things about my truck (1967 short fleet with small block carb and 700r4) is how simple it is. My life is too dam complicated.

I am amazed how my simple truck simply gets me down the road and makes me smile Do what makes you stressed the least.

[Racie]

Carb swap and nice cam and be done! It won't take much to put a smile on your face with that 7.4! But hey what do I know I'm kinda bias I'm running a carbed 502 bbc in my 68' and a bbc LS6 4545 in my 72'. Wouldn't trade neither love the sound torque etc...