might go ls!

[StarDust]

ok well yesterday my transmission went out on me on the free way it literally blew a hole in the back of my trans and i started looking into trans and man those figures scare me!
i figured id check this forum for the cost of a ls swap and its not that bad! i need new everything basically my motor has 300k plus miles and it barley got its first oil change 2 months ago after having it for 5 years (4 1/2 years sitting and half a year of driving lightly) lol i don't know if the previous owner took care of the motor but i need a new drive shaft and transmission and my drive shaft is pretty beat up since i was going 70 and hit pavement..
any tips on what i might get myself into? i have all the tools not the experience i'm 16 lol plus on a tight budget!
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[Roostboy102]

Totally cheap you probably can do it for $1500 - $1800

Cheap/neat/reliable - $3,000?

Awesome? Well... the sky's the limit

Figure a built driveshaft at $300 engine at $600 mounts, exhaust, radiator, intake, fuel system...

Find a wrecked donor it will save you a lot in the end

[truckdude239]

5.3 with 4l80e
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[StarDust]

ok well i was talking to my friend who owns a transmission shop and i told him about my plans for going ls and he told me his uncle has a 6.0 that came from an ss silverado and an aluminum block that he is selling it for 900 no problems with under 100k miles and that ill get warranty most likely it comes with wires and everything that i just need to let him know so he wont sell it and that i will just have to buy motor mounts lines and all that stuff need to go ls.
he also told me that if i go help him i might even get a discount. he gave me a rough estimate of no more 3000 that its not even going to reach 3k including labor work and stuff.
good deal??

EDIT: with transmission

[BR3W CITY]

Not terrible pricewise, assuming you plan on paying him (or someone either way) to do the labor since you said it was included in the price.

You can do it cheaper yourself, essentially combining the parts he's got for you....but the thing that I caution you (and the thing that would make me ask a lot of questions about what he's including in the "total" price)...is that the little stuff really really adds up. The wiring harness, drive by wire stuff if you need it, tuning, fittings, hoses etc is often an equal majority of the cost. Stainless hose alone can be a few hundred or more on some of these swaps.

If he does it for you, but starts to lose his a$$ on the job, it won't get done right.

[StarDust]

oh i forgot to say this he also said that i need to buy the adapter wiring hoses fittings so i can either go cheap on that or get the good stuff like braided hoses and stuff im assuming thats what you meant and he wontlose his ass at his shop he has 3 old schools no square bodys just the round bodys c10s i think 72s and he swapped an ls into those one has a 6.0 turbod on billets i might take a few pics just because they are reaaaal nice rides lol but ill talk to him today if i can to find out everything.
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[mooseknuckles]

what are you waiting for?...go for it!

[StarDust]

aaaand talked to him today not good news either he said he decided to keep it and put the 6.0 into his GTO :/ although he did tell me he has a 5.3 that he has and he can install it for 2,500? is that a good deal also on the 5.3?

[Jon01]

If 2500 is you drop the truck off and pick it up running/driving with the 5.3 I think that's a great price.
If it's 2500+you supply all the wiring and misc BS parts then it's only a marginal deal.

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by StarDust

aaaand talked to him today not good news either he said he decided to keep it and put the 6.0 into his GTO :/ although he did tell me he has a 5.3 that he has and he can install it for 2,500? is that a good deal also on the 5.3?

I don't trust your friend anymore, and thusly, I would pass on the second offer.

Bait and switch; I've got this thing you want at a great price.....oooh wait no I don't, but you can have this other random thing for about the same money.

Walk away, do it yourself.

[StarDust]

so i guess its time to hit CL or junks for deals lol def not going 6.0 no more too much i see them going for 2k just motor
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[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by br3w city

i don't trust your friend anymore, and thusly, i would pass on the second offer.

Bait and switch; i've got this thing you want at a great price.....oooh wait no i don't, but you can have this other random thing for about the same money.

Walk away, do it yourself.

x2

[truckdude239]

Try and find one with the harness and send it out to have it cut down its cheaper then a aftermarket harness
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[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by StarDust

so i guess its time to hit CL or junks for deals lol def not going 6.0 no more too much i see them going for 2k just motor
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car-part.com

6.0's go around $6-900 motor only (usually a complete long block with some of the "plastics" like hoses or mounts or engine covers left on.

craigslist is useful if you really scour, but salvage yards are a better bet because of the exchange warranties many of them give you, meaning you don't walk home with a junk motor.

[StarDust]

alright i guess semi good news i just talked to my dad if he will let me spend the money to buy a new engine and trans he kind of told me yes basically told me he doesn't know y i want to change motor but to do what i want so im guessing thats a yes? lol oh well im going to bite the bullet time to scour around car-parts for a deal!

Edit: well i talked to him to be positive he supports my decision lol

[mooseknuckles]

get yourself a 5.3/4l60 and you can tell him how much better it will be...more power, less fuel, and he'll want to drive it all the time...

[StarDust]

5.3 vs 6.0? im not really too worried about fuel consumption more about performance wise and i bet he will, everytime my sister or dad use my truck they always punch it..right now i am going to look at prices and see how good my check comes out this week should have enough money by this week or next week!

[mooseknuckles]

I meant the ls compared to what ever carb'd, small block junk that was previously in your truck....

[Matt Cramer]

Originally Posted by StarDust

so i guess its time to hit CL or junks for deals lol def not going 6.0 no more too much i see them going for 2k just motor
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6.0s are the most expensive of the truck motors (other than the aluminum block ones). I paid $460 for a fully dressed 4.8 I found on Craigslist, everything but the ECU and a couple little parts, and 5.3s aren't much pricier.

[Clyde65]

I would go 5.3 with a 4l80 trans, then next year throw a cam and a turbo on her, you would not believe the power then.

A 5.3 with a cam, headers, cai and good tune can lay down 350hp at wheels. I guarantee your square has never seen that!
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[ghettoluxury]

I paid $1200 for a complete wrecked truck with 120,000 miles. I then sold parts on craigslist and scrapped the rest, now I have $300 in the motor/tranny and extra parts for my 2000 Z71. These deals are out there if you are willing to do some work.

[StarDust]

ok well i have been searching craigslist and other sites for a donor and its harder than it seems to get a deal! but my boss from work just sent me a text saying he will sell me a vortec 350 with trans for 1000 flat? i heard vortecs weren't really great motors but he said motor and trans have 80,000 miles? is it worth it

[Pop's C-10]

what year in tha motor from..cause they call tha ls style motors in vortecs too..if its tha other version..that's too much..

[StarDust]

it is from a 99 chevy
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[truckdude239]

Id would weather have a 5.3 before a 350 vortex
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