flandersander
Newbie
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2011
- Messages
- 26
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Hi all. I've got a 1997 gmc sierra with 257000km. It's getting tired and has the infamous intake manifold gasket leak. Dumping coolant into the oil.
So here's my question. I would like to know which would be the better option.
A) build the 350 up a bit. Bore it out, new pistons, head job, cam yadda yadda yadda. Looking at around 2500 for the engine doing the work myself.
OR
B) buy an LQ4 and 4L80E out of a 2003 ish 2500 gasser and swap it out.
I found a local pick n pull where I can get a complete engine from intake to pan for $225. Any engine I want in any truck. Plus a 4 speed tranny goes for $125. $350 for the pair. Plus ECM, wiring, motor mounts and all the miscellaneous parts I'm thinking I can get away at about $1500 beans.
I'm a large truck (semi) tech and know my way around a motor, but haven't swapped a motor before. Rebuild a few times but never anything like the 6litre swap.
So with that all in consideration, which direction shall I go? This truck is mostly a putt around town truck. Will be lifting it 6" and 35s eventually. I hunt with it, tow the boat, etc. kinda an all around truck. I'm looking for some get-up-n-go but with decent mileage as well.
I imagine the 6.0 with the 80E would be more durable. Better for towing, more power and better mileage. And as I type this it makes me even wonder why I'm asking, but swapping motors scares the heck outta me. I hate electrical gremlins. I understand Nelson's makes a stand alone wiring harness that allows me to darn near plug n play. I would need the ECM from the new truck, but other than that its just hooking up plugs, supplying a ground, constant and switched power and away I go? Seems too easy. Anyway, looking for a little insight to the difficulty of the swap vs just building the 350 and the price of each. Seems like the swap is my best option for what I want and would be the least costly of the two. Dollar wise anyways. What do you think?
Edit: oops guess spell check didn't realize top isn't the word I wanted there. Haha
So here's my question. I would like to know which would be the better option.
A) build the 350 up a bit. Bore it out, new pistons, head job, cam yadda yadda yadda. Looking at around 2500 for the engine doing the work myself.
OR
B) buy an LQ4 and 4L80E out of a 2003 ish 2500 gasser and swap it out.
I found a local pick n pull where I can get a complete engine from intake to pan for $225. Any engine I want in any truck. Plus a 4 speed tranny goes for $125. $350 for the pair. Plus ECM, wiring, motor mounts and all the miscellaneous parts I'm thinking I can get away at about $1500 beans.
I'm a large truck (semi) tech and know my way around a motor, but haven't swapped a motor before. Rebuild a few times but never anything like the 6litre swap.
So with that all in consideration, which direction shall I go? This truck is mostly a putt around town truck. Will be lifting it 6" and 35s eventually. I hunt with it, tow the boat, etc. kinda an all around truck. I'm looking for some get-up-n-go but with decent mileage as well.
I imagine the 6.0 with the 80E would be more durable. Better for towing, more power and better mileage. And as I type this it makes me even wonder why I'm asking, but swapping motors scares the heck outta me. I hate electrical gremlins. I understand Nelson's makes a stand alone wiring harness that allows me to darn near plug n play. I would need the ECM from the new truck, but other than that its just hooking up plugs, supplying a ground, constant and switched power and away I go? Seems too easy. Anyway, looking for a little insight to the difficulty of the swap vs just building the 350 and the price of each. Seems like the swap is my best option for what I want and would be the least costly of the two. Dollar wise anyways. What do you think?
Edit: oops guess spell check didn't realize top isn't the word I wanted there. Haha