Swap 350 SBC for 92 5.3

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Hi

This is my first post and indeed my first chev truck, OR any truck at all for that matter so apologies ahead of time for typical newbie gaffs !

Its a C20 Silverado Camper top, 350 5.7, TH400 w 4:10 (8 bolt ? ) PDB and drum rear set up, 2WD and I LOVE it !!!!

98k and everything works, AC, power windows and locks etc. the bed has never been used. I want to keep it pretty stock, in fact very stock in appearance but its my DD so mods are acceptable to facilitate better driving. I often lug tools and materials, but not always.
Not after any real performance just dont want to compromise the torque I have now but get better than the woefull economy at present. I guess 19-20 city is my goal if feasible.

Coming off a diesel of course I'm having a hard time adjusting to the MPG !!

So,investigating a 5.3 tbi from a 92 silverado.

There is probably a specific link but as yet I can't find it.

SOO.... what to look for, whats the best trans, 4180 E, easiest most economical adaption ? And is there a link that provides all specific requirements and materials with recommendations on which parts ?
Currently going to upgrade the brakes, I hear that late model Silverado Boosters offer better perform than stock ? Recommends ??
Anything I should know about brake upgrades if considering engine swap in future ??

Well here goes and thanks ahead o time

cheers !

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Originally Posted by rootbeer

Attachment 7627Attachment 7628

Hi

This is my first post and indeed my first chev truck, OR any truck at all for that matter so apologies ahead of time for typical newbie gaffs !

Its a C20 Silverado Camper top, 350 5.7, TH400 w 4:10 (8 bolt ? ) PDB and drum rear set up, 2WD and I LOVE it !!!!

98k and everything works, AC, power windows and locks etc. the bed has never been used. I want to keep it pretty stock, in fact very stock in appearance but its my DD so mods are acceptable to facilitate better driving. I often lug tools and materials, but not always.
Not after any real performance just dont want to compromise the torque I have now but get better than the woefull economy at present. I guess 19-20 city is my goal if feasible.

Coming off a diesel of course I'm having a hard time adjusting to the MPG !!

So,investigating a 5.3 tbi from a 92 silverado.

There is probably a specific link but as yet I can't find it.

SOO.... what to look for, whats the best trans, 4180 E, easiest most economical adaption ? And is there a link that provides all specific requirements and materials with recommendations on which parts ?
Currently going to upgrade the brakes, I hear that late model Silverado Boosters offer better perform than stock ? Recommends ??
Anything I should know about brake upgrades if considering engine swap in future ??

Well here goes and thanks ahead o time

cheers !

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First off, a 92 didn't have a 5.3... Ever.
Second... 19-20 in town? My girlfriends cobalt doesn't get that. You're off your rocker.

If you get 16-17 in town it's a miracle. I barely get that on the highway, with 3.42 gears and overdrive. Do some research, 92 never had a 5.3. If its a tbi, you're wasting time and money. Do some research, read up, learn your stuff and try again.

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Originally Posted by pl4yboy

First off, a 92 didn't have a 5.3... Ever.
Second... 19-20 in town? My girlfriends cobalt doesn't get that. You're off your rocker.

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I thought cobalt were good on gas?

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Originally Posted by canada4g63

I thought cobalt were good on gas?

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Sarcasm is sometimes lost through text.

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Originally Posted by pl4yboy

Sarcasm is sometimes lost through text.

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OKaaaaaaay,
Tough room !

like I said newbie here so go easy. Only asked if 20mpg was "feasible" and judging by the hysterical response its not, so...
Have been reading up, and this site seems to have some knowledgable folks, (and some sarcastic ones too it seems). Due to my inexperience in this field, I really am just going on interweb heresay and we all know how that goes... thats why I've posted here. So why is tbi a waste of time and money and what setup would you suggest given what I've said? Should I be looking at efi and if so what are some good donor vehicles to look for please ? Only going on what I was quoted from owner for the 92 silverado swap, so won't be going back to them for advice.
Like I said total newbie !!
Should I go ahead with the brake booster upgrade (and to what) keeping the disc front drum back set up anyway at the moment as I think the boosters on the way out, or would that depend on which engine set up I use in the future or doesn't it matter or am I just begging for further hazing !!:LOL:?
thanks

Just do a little more research man. You obviously have no idea what you're looking into right now.

5.3 wasn't available until '99. TBI was barely adequate when GM was using it on 4.3,5.0,5.7,7.4. It's incredibly restrictive and inefficient. It's basically an electronic high pressure carb, that you can't tune or setup the way you want. Or upgrade. They are however great paperweights. And since I know you're going to think this but the LS family has nothing in commen with the old SBC. No interchangeable stock parts.

Rootbeer where are you located?

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Originally Posted by Frenchy

5.3 wasn't available until '99. TBI was barely adequate when GM was using it on 4.3,5.0,5.7,7.4. It's incredibly restrictive and inefficient. It's basically an electronic high pressure carb, that you can't tune or setup the way you want. Or upgrade. They are however great paperweights. And since I know you're going to think this but the LS family has nothing in commen with the old SBC. No interchangeable stock parts.

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Cool. Thank you, really good to know, its the kind of info I need, so I should be looking at compatible swaps with EFI in mind ? if so I'll check for threads where they have done this on C20's from 86.

I'm here in Shakey Town CA.

C-20 is a 3/4 ton,very heavy and not likely to get any where close to 20 mpg ever.
When I was a kid my dad had a C-20 (1974) with a 454 and turbo 400 & 4:11 gears it got about 6 mpg in town and 8 mpg hwy.

Well I was gonna say im here in central Oklahoma and would swap in a ls motor for you. I've done 2 trucks now. I get 18mlg with my 1/2 ton 5.3

Well thanks for the input venom and daytripper. i'm not sure how but its been construed that I'm desperately after 20mpg, originally only asked if that were feasible. Its not, so moving forward.... I actually just want better than the 10-11 I'm getting now. 15+ avge would be a good result.

Venom if you could provide me links or info relevant to your LS conversions that would be much appreciated. i'm looking round auctions, sites and wreckers for donor vehicles and trying to narrow the field. Is a 5.3 efi, 4L60E and regular rear end gearing an appropriate combo, again I'm all at sea here and seeking wiser counsel. Thanks again

Dirty dingo mounts.
I use a guy in Arkansas for my harness and computer tune since im only doing a stock swap. If i wanted Performance i would use nelson.
Shoenfield headers.
salvage yards are your friend.
I run 3.73 in one truck and factory in the other. seem to do great.
Make sure u know how to crimp wires or solder them

Oh also Craigslist. I've used it for motors and trans on both trucks and saved a lot of money. Maybe I got lucky that they worked. Well 1 trans didn't and I had to rebuild it. But it was still cheaper then buying a whole doner vehicle or salvage yard prices on some stuff.

[QUOTE=rootbeer;497339]Well thanks for the input venom and daytripper. i'm not sure how but its been construed that I'm desperately after 20mpg, originally only asked if that were feasible. Its not, so moving forward.... I actually just want better than the 10-11 I'm getting now. 15+ avge would be a good result.

Venom if you could provide me links or info relevant to your LS conversions that would be much appreciated. i'm looking round auctions, sites and wreckers for donor vehicles and trying to narrow the field. Is a 5.3 efi, 4L60E and regular rear end gearing an appropriate combo, again I'm all at sea here and seeking wiser counsel. Thanks again[/QUOTE


A stock 5.3 might not be enough motor for a C-20,I would look for a 6.0 if it were me.

yeah i agree. a c20 need a 6.0. or bigger lol. i like duramax.

If you are looking into 5.3, I've got nearly everything you'd need for the swap.. thread in the FS section. A properly built 5.3 will put out substantially more power than a factory C20 made..

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Originally Posted by rootbeer

Well thanks for the input venom and daytripper. i'm not sure how but its been construed that I'm desperately after 20mpg, originally only asked if that were feasible. Its not, so moving forward.... I actually just want better than the 10-11 I'm getting now. 15+ avge would be a good result.

Venom if you could provide me links or info relevant to your LS conversions that would be much appreciated. i'm looking round auctions, sites and wreckers for donor vehicles and trying to narrow the field. Is a 5.3 efi, 4L60E and regular rear end gearing an appropriate combo, again I'm all at sea here and seeking wiser counsel. Thanks again

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For the platform you are working with, a tuned duramax or 6bt will get you closer to ur mpg goal. or keep that truck stock and pick up a cheap 80's model s-10 and drop that 5.3l in it (since the truck is light and you dont really use it). but its ur money im not ur mom to tell you what to do with it!

Read this for a starter. Will tell you what basically this whole site is about.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_LS_engine

You can also read my thread.http://www.ls1truck.com/forums/lsx-t...zer-build.html
I swapped out a 92 TBI 350 for a 2005 323 (5.3l)
TBI means Throttle body intake, they basically replaced the carb jets with two fuel injectors. TBI is crap in short. So EFI or nothing to answer your question.
Read my thread, This is probably close to what you will be doing if you decide to go with a swap.
Btw, welcome to the site! Feel free to PM me any questions you might have! Cheers!