350 or ls swap?

350 sbc or 5.3 vortec


  • Total voters
    30

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Treyes

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Got a 1992 c1500 4.3 and i want to swap it but i don't know what would be better a 350 sbc or a 5.3 vortec the factors are im 17 so money is low but i should have enough for either but whats easier and more worth it for the mean time. Not looking for huge horsepower with later mods like cam
 

Raulfelix24

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I vote ls swap as that is what I did. I swapped in a lm7 5.3 from a 2005 suburban. I paid $500 for engine, transmission, drive shaft, wiring, computer, Exhaust, and complete coolant system. I probably spent another $700 on miscellaneous parts that I needed. So far I have put about 10k miles on the truck with zero issues. Drivability is great and have everything working like if it was factory down to the cruise control. I went the ls route because of the added horsepower although it’s still not a race at its enough and also for reliability and gas mileage. I know the old 350 are also reliable but wanted something newer.

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Treyes

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I vote ls swap as that is what I did. I swapped in a lm7 5.3 from a 2005 suburban. I paid $500 for engine, transmission, drive shaft, wiring, computer, Exhaust, and complete coolant system. I probably spent another $700 on miscellaneous parts that I needed. So far I have put about 10k miles on the truck with zero issues. Drivability is great and have everything working like if it was factory down to the cruise control. I went the ls route because of the added horsepower although it’s still not a race at its enough and also for reliability and gas mileage. I know the old 350 are also reliable but wanted something newer.

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Did you do the swap yourself?
 

Treyes

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Unless there is something wrong with the 4.3L, neither. There should be plenty else to fix on a 28 year old truck to use up your money and keep you busy.
There is something wrong with the 4.3... it has 160 horsepower and I’ve spent a year restoring everything else so this the next step
 

letitsnow

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I voted 350, but would only do that if you are going to stick with the current rear end. If you are willing to go up to say a 4.10 gear in the back, then i'd put an LS in it.
 

Madscientist

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I did a 5.3 swap in my crew cab. Love it. I have some performance stuff done to mine too but everything is hooked up to factory gauges and switches. Getting ac to fit is a little pain with off the shelf motor mounts but lt1swap.com has a pile of information if you go that route.
 

Dahead76

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I’m currently swapping a 4.3 to 305. It’s mostly been a straight forward swap. There are a few things you will have to get off of a v8 truck that you aren’t able to swap over from the 4.3. The guys at the u-pull it know me well now.
 
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