Advice on LS Swap

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Erik the Awful

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Part of my reasoning for possibly doing it that way is knowing the history of the truck and knowing I have everything I need from the donor. Thought it might be easier. This will be my first engine swap where I wasn't putting the factory intended engine back in so I'm trying to keep the number of headaches down as much as possible. I know I will still probably spend a lot of time trying to get it going.

I want a 6.0 and 4l80 but I also never pull anything that the 5.3 can't handle with ease and I in Oklahoma so no mountains to worry about. I've been driving the 09 with the 5.3 for a few years and never felt like it didn't have enough power. The extra expense up front and the hit on gas mileage doesn't seem worth it. If I needed a tow rig I'd step up to a 3/4 or 1 ton. This is going to be mostly a daily driver, light offroader. I bought the 92 when I was 17, I'm 38 now, and they'll bury me in this truck. But it does need some love. She's all original and showing her age. When I priced out everything to rebuild, roller cam, ebl flash 2, throttle body stuff, etc.. to get her a little more pep you're spending as much as an LS swap. That's not even including new heads. I don't know. Hard to decide. The TBI is certainly simple and reliable, but it just feels like such a dog I don't know if I'd be happy with the results after doing all that.
Knowing the history is a selling point. You might save yourself $2000 parting out the '09, but if you can sell it for $6k you're $4000 ahead. $4000 will make up for a lot of headache. Also, you're in Oklahoma where trucks are worth money, so if it's pretty clean and runs and drives well enough to be a daily driver, it's worth $6000.

Hit up Pull-A-Part. They have so many 5.3s that you almost can't walk down an aisle without tripping on one. Every now and then they even have a 6.0. You'll have to hit up Marketplace to find a 4L80. Prefer a wrecked donor? Hit up CoPart - but don't bid any more than half what you want to. Their fees are high and what you get is usually worse than it presents.

I also agree that 5.3s are fairly gutless for towing. They'll get the job done, but I'd rather have the old small block or a 6.0.
 

TonyM

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Regardless of history I would go through any engine and at least replace gaskets, have injectors cleaned, replace any questionable sensors, ect. All that takes some cash
This where I have to politely disagree. If you find an engine that runs, (even at the junkyard, the truck drove to the accident scene) and it doesn't have any leaks, why take it all apart? I understand the peace of mind thing, or the whole " while you're in there" thing,,,,yet sometimes I don't. Thee engines can run for 3-400,000km with out issues
 

0xDEADBEEF

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This where I have to politely disagree. If you find an engine that runs, (even at the junkyard, the truck drove to the accident scene) and it doesn't have any leaks, why take it all apart? I understand the peace of mind thing, or the whole " while you're in there" thing,,,,yet sometimes I don't. Thee engines can run for 3-400,000km with out issues

Here's one reason why

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TreeGeared

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To each their own. Original poster asked for advice. I gave it based on my experience. I have been burned enough that I am less trusting of people now days. This is also why I try to do most work myself. I also have no one to blame but myself if there is a premature failure.

If you or anyone else is fine with dropping in an engine of unknown previous use and sending it that is your business. Sometimes situation and budget necessitate that. The engine I used in my swap was from a family member's vehicle. It ran great when pulled and had good compression, but was 20 years and 200K in. I wanted my truck to be reliable enough to jump in and drive without a second thought and not have to reconsider taking it on a multistate trip with a trailer in tow. To get that reliability it was worth breaking open an otherwise good running engine. But that is me and not everyone else.

To the original poster. Consider what you plan to use the truck for and what you want when it is all said and done. That and your budget should be your compass. And no engine will be perfect. There are days that I wish I had a big block when I am towing, other days that I am cruising that I think I would have been just fine with a 5.3, and then there are times I miss the sound of the old 5.7.
 
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