Junkyard LS Swap, The Cheapest Solutions

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L31MaxExpress

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I've thought about learning things myself. It's not the computer part that scares me, as I work IT down here in Dallas. It's the math behind the tuning itself and, again, the wiring. I'm sure if I sat myself down with a couple of books on tuning and experimented on it for a weekend or so, I could probably get a decent base line tune setup for the truck. If/when I bring nitrous into the equation, it'll be conservative. Maybe 100 shot. Something small just for a little bit of fun. Definitely not trying to melt the engine.

I do most of my VE and MAF table tuning with a simple Excel spreadsheet.

I wouldn't go with a 4.8 unless I were putting a turbo on it. The 4.8s are gutless excuses for a V8.
 

df2x4

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I wouldn't go with a 4.8 unless I were putting a turbo on it. The 4.8s are gutless excuses for a V8.

If you do want to put a turbo on it though...

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Ed_P

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cheap and LS shouldn't be in the same sentence.
 

Dave454ss

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cheap and LS shouldn't be in the same sentence.

Not so sure...I get what your saying, but IMHO its because of "Wants" not "NEEDS"... and again, probably depends on your area...here in New England I can have my choice of complete running rotted out trucks for $600-1k. Honestly I cant see why you couldn't do a complete LS Drop in for less then 2k if you WANTED To (Around here).

I think what happens (speaking for myself for sure) is its just too easy to say, well while i'm at it I'll do the headers, custom radiator, etc.. **** now i'm getting ready to pull the trigger on a new T56 Magnum from American Powertrain...Might as well...LOL.
 

RDF1

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cheap and LS shouldn't be in the same sentence.

It is very possible.
Bought a 1995 Regular cab 2wd for $1000 with a "500HP 350", We lauged and bought it anyway. I think the guy meant 150hp. It was patheticly weak.
Then we bought a 2005 Silverado that was wrecked for $500.
Used everything off the 2005 and made it work in a 1995 Regular cab.
We even made the engine mount adapters with a torch and drill, It looked horrible but worked.
Used the 2005 fuel pump with some 1999-2003 return rails and the 1995 Gas tank.
Did our own harness and everything.
Lincoln Locked the rear end and ran a set of used Drag radials. It was a very fun truck that was cheap.

Worse part is the nitrous kit cost more than the 2005 truck did.
Fluids and all the little stuff plus the 1995 truck we were $2400 in it including the nitrous kit.

It was no show truck or anything but it ran great for a whole year of getting beat on and ate bottles of nitrous with 250 shots at a time before killing the crappy 4L60E.
 

NightRunner

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here in New England I can have my choice of complete running rotted out trucks for $600-1k.

That sounds like the dream honestly. Here in Dallas, most people are asking a premium for their beat up, rusted out 2000+ year model Chevrolet/GMC truck. "It's got the LS in it so it makes it worth it." But the racing scene down here is pretty active so everyone's looking for LS engines and parts. But that also works on the flip side for me as well, because that means less people are trying to hold onto the old school SBC ways so old school parts go for dirt cheap.
 

Woody94lsx

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Well I just went through my first swap and it seems very confusing at first but its alot easier then you think and you can by pass the security pretty easy and will run fine
 

Dave454ss

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That sounds like the dream honestly. Here in Dallas, most people are asking a premium for their beat up, rusted out 2000+ year model Chevrolet/GMC truck. "It's got the LS in it so it makes it worth it." But the racing scene down here is pretty active so everyone's looking for LS engines and parts. But that also works on the flip side for me as well, because that means less people are trying to hold onto the old school SBC ways so old school parts go for dirt cheap.

I let my 01 go last spring for $1k, ran like an absolute dream, I bought it new ran it till the frame was so rotten it was not funny. Had I known I was gonna find my 98 RCSB, I woulda kept it for the powertrain.
Big issue up here is there are little to no 2wd Trannys...finding a 2wd 4L80 is impossible....been looking for 2 years...nothing. I did find one in RI a while back but it was steep money for a questionable trans.
 
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