various questions with engine swap

[stngh8r]

if i wanted to build a hot 1/2ton street truck with a 6spd trans, that would actually retain "truck" abilities (i.e. pulling, lots of torq), what would be the BEST way to go about it?


1. buy a high mileage truck, completely remove stock motor/trans and start fresh with a donor 5.7LS1/6spd?

2. buy a 5.3 based truck, mod the engine and adapt a 6spd?

3. buy a 1/2ton truck and install a "truck" 6.0, then try to adapt a 6spd to it?



misc. questions
-are the electronics compadable from 5.3 to 5.7, 4.8 to 6.0, 5.3 to 6.0, etc........ you get the idea?
-will the stock gauges work if a motor swap was done, being as all the motors are in the Gen III family?
-will a 6spd simply bolt up to a 5.3 or 6.0?
-would it benefit to use a LS6 style intake on a 5.3 or 6.0 Gen III engine?

Thanks Very much for any valuable information
eric

[Domeskilla]

For towing and all of that, I'd use the 6.0 engine. We have a video in the multimedia section that is of a 4x4, i believe he is running a 6.0 in his ext cab 4x4 and smoking ppl and the motor has tons of tq. The 6-speed will bolt up (i'm 99% sure of that)..

The mileage really isn't a concern, seeing as 60-100k motors are still running strong, but if you are going to abuse the piss out of it, you might look for lower milaged motor.

The 5.3 trucks are nice, if you like the looks, get a v6/5-speed and swap to 6.0/6-speed, but if you are doing it to save a little in wiring/mounts than an older chevy, the price difference will more than makeup for the price of those small parts.

Now I would do this option, altho I like the 99 and ups, but here they are still a pretty penny (about 13-15K for a ran down 5.3 RCSWB). I like the older chevy's personally (well, 95-98).

By compatable do you mean will a truck PCM run a camaro? If so, yes.. but will have different tables, etc. on it. But yes. all the ls1 and ls1 variants all share wiring.

The stock gauges will work as far back as 94, later than that, not sure. Allens (fartruc) used all ls1 sending units and his 94 gauges work. The temp gauge is 1 line off, but nothing big.

Yes, the 6-speed will bolt up.

The ls6 IM will only help you if you are looking for speed. The 6.0 intake manifold has longer runners, making it produce more low end torque. Altho, Allen said in a post under ls1 conversions i believe, that the ls6 and 6.0 manifold doesn't show THAT much difference up top. Just the 6.0 has more bottom end.

I'll throw this in.. the 6.0 exhuast manifolds only flow slightly less than shortie headers for the trucks.. so if you do that route.. save some cash and get those instead of spending 400-500 for shortie headers.

[Sleeper]

Originally posted by stngh8r@May 11 2003, 11:11 PM
if i wanted to build a hot 1/2ton street truck with a 6spd trans, that would actually retain "truck" abilities (i.e. pulling, lots of torq), what would be the BEST way to go about it?


1. buy a high mileage truck, completely remove stock motor/trans and start fresh with a donor 5.7LS1/6spd?

2. buy a 5.3 based truck, mod the engine and adapt a 6spd?

3. buy a 1/2ton truck and install a "truck" 6.0, then try to adapt a 6spd to it?



misc. questions
-are the electronics compadable from 5.3 to 5.7, 4.8 to 6.0, 5.3 to 6.0, etc........ you get the idea?
-will the stock gauges work if a motor swap was done, being as all the motors are in the Gen III family?
-will a 6spd simply bolt up to a 5.3 or 6.0?
-would it benefit to use a LS6 style intake on a 5.3 or 6.0 Gen III engine?

Thanks Very much for any valuable information
eric

1. yes and no. 6.0 if you want truck abilities, but no m6 if a majority is towing. the t56 will bolt up, but isnt all geared to pull.

2. that would also work, only auto will do better with towing.

3. that gets my vote, well except for the t56 and towing but by now, you knew that.

Domeskilla answered the other questions but....
-yes
-yes
-yes
-I'd stick with the 6.0 intake due to the more torque factor

Brandon

[stngh8r]

Towing: i only mentioned this because it may see a trailor from time to time, but this would definetly NOT be the primary purpose of the truck.

i really like the 6spd simply for the great MPG and more fun. Not to mention how much more gear i could run and sill retain wonderful highway RPMs, putting less wear on the motor and fuel pump, hahaha.

[Domeskilla]

The only thing i have against the auto is the fact that if you dont get it nicely built to tow after you take off the Torque Management (if you do) is it will shell shortly. We've went through 3 4l60e's in the EXT b/c of towing and other hard work on it. GM Warranty work ownz, but still not the BEST thing to use.. i doubt the t-56 is either, but it depends what exactly you want. Get a 4l80e a a new drive shaft (i hear they are physically shorter tranny's) and maybe it will hold up.

edit- i just read your post above.. the t-56 would be great, still stay with the 6.0 IM b/c of the low end tq and i dont see you having a problem with towing.. hell the granny geared 5 speeds in the trucks tow shit.

[stngh8r]

Originally posted by Domeskilla@May 11 2003, 10:26 PM
The 5.3 trucks are nice, if you like the looks, get a v6/5-speed and swap to 6.0/6-speed, but if you are doing it to save a little in wiring/mounts than an older chevy, the price difference will more than makeup for the price of those small parts.

Now I would do this option, altho I like the 99 and ups, but here they are still a pretty penny (about 13-15K for a ran down 5.3 RCSWB). I like the older chevy's personally (well, 95-98).

Thanks Domeskilla for all the very helpful info

as far as the 99up body style, well i think i like it better, but like you said they are still pretty pricey. i'm having a hard time deciding on this part, because i have owned several of the 88-98 body style trucks and really like them as well, but my dad recently bought a 01GMC Vsick(6)/A4, and i really enjoy driving it and also love the looks inside and out.

[Sleeper]

Originally posted by stngh8r@May 11 2003, 11:49 PM
Towing: i only mentioned this because it may see a trailor from time to time, but this would definetly NOT be the primary purpose of the truck.

i really like the 6spd simply for the great MPG and more fun. Not to mention how much more gear i could run and sill retain wonderful highway RPMs, putting less wear on the motor and fuel pump, hahaha.

i guess it depends on how much you wanna tow. keep in mind that t56's ARE NOT cheap to fix, parts are very expensive and labor for digging into em isnt cheap either. my buddy replaced his output shaft on his t56 for $500 and wont tow a damn thing anymore, and i wouldnt either. as for being more reliable, i ve heard somewhat different. the LS1 t56's are more delicate, you miss a shift it is very easy to bend pushrods and other internals(so i've heard). that tranny isnt very forgiving at all. these are apparently common problems that are brought up over on LS1tech.com, my buddy sent them to me....i missed a shift in his truck on his t56(the LT1 t56's are a bit more forgiving)

and dont get me wrong....mine outside is a 6 speed waiting to be swapped so i like them for the same reasons you do, but i will never tow a damn thing with mine. as for the gears and highway rpms....tell me about it, im gonna run 3.42's on a double OD ...woohoo! talk about gas mileage, he he

if you go auto, go 4L80E, itll hold better and longer than a 4L60E will for ya.

Brandon

[Domeskilla]

Originally posted by stngh8r+May 11 2003, 11:56 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(stngh8r &#064; May 11 2003, 11:56 PM)</div>

<!--QuoteBegin-Domeskilla

@May 11 2003, 10:26 PM
The 5.3 trucks are nice, if you like the looks, get a v6/5-speed and swap to 6.0/6-speed, but if you are doing it to save a little in wiring/mounts than an older chevy, the price difference will more than makeup for the price of those small parts.

Now I would do this option, altho I like the 99 and ups, but here they are still a pretty penny (about 13-15K for a ran down 5.3 RCSWB). I like the older chevy&#39;s personally (well, 95-98).

Thanks Domeskilla for all the very helpful info

as far as the 99up body style, well i think i like it better, but like you said they are still pretty pricey. i&#39;m having a hard time deciding on this part, because i have owned several of the 88-98 body style trucks and really like them as well, but my dad recently bought a 01GMC Vsick(6)/A4, and i really enjoy driving it and also love the looks inside and out. [/b]

yea, but i&#39;m still partial to the older chevy&#39;s b/c if something breaks, i.e. a-arm, you can get one from 10+ years worth of trucks, where as the 99+ you are stuck wit hthat generation. I do like the looks no doubt, i drove a v6/auto one, it sucked ass, gas pedal took some time getting use to, but it did its job..

You just have to see your price range and go from there. Myself will just wind up getting another s-10. i wrecked my last one and with the price of trucks here in oklahoma so high, an s-10 is about all that is in my price range. (yes, its getting a ls1, most likely a boosted one at that&#33

Just have to look at your cash and the future mods you want and everything. Its sad when a 4000 dollar 95 v6/auto with a 3000 dollar swap spanks a 15K dollar 5.3 99+ truck.. its cool to be different and make an ls1 88-98 truck.. but its up to you..

Now that we are WAY off topic.. What exactly is the trailer you are pulling?

[stngh8r]

honestly, i really cant even think of anything i would be pulling with it at the moment, but if the need arose to tow my car a short distance for repair or maybe a boat a few times a year, i would want to be able to latch on to it and go. 99% of the time, it would not be hauling anything.

Wouldnt a 6.0 into a 99+ model be much simpler than a 88-98? That was one of the main factors i was looking at as far as going with a 99+ body.

Where in Oklahoma are you from? i also am from Oklahoma, Broken Bow area to be exact (SE corner). I&#39;m temporarly living in Dallas going to school

[Domeskilla]

I live in Muskogee, i&#39;ll be going to school at ITT-Tech in Richardson this fall.

Well, if that is all you are wanting, is the occasional tow.. then i&#39;d deffinitly go with a setup like Allen&#39;s.. ls1/with truck IM, exhuast manfiolds, mildly built tranny (built by www.jagperformance.com shamless plug ) and you will be able to pull just fine. Especially since it isn&#39;t anything major, like everyday.

Yes, it is easier in the 99+ trucks.. the 88-98 trucks you&#39;ll need mounts, custom AC bracket (or cut the crossmember) truck accessories (or use the ls1/ls6 IM and use car accessories), wiring..

Allen can build you mounts and is in the process of designing an AC bracket and you can modify a 99+ truck harness or get a painless one.. Read in the "easiest way to swap ls1" or something topic below this one, Allen got a little more detailed with things that would be needed.. infact.. lemme go get them for you...

Originally posted by Allen@Another Thread
There&#39;s a little more involved, it your&#39;re talking about something like what i have a 94 model. Well, any 98 and older truck would be pretty close to mine.

You&#39;ll have to buy a harness from painless or similar or mod a stock one. I chose to mod a stock truck harness. You&#39;ll have to fab some brackets, install a secondary fuse box, and that&#39;s about it, not too much more. The hardest part is the harness becuase it takes so long, at least for me, i like to solder all my connections.

I would definitely consider the swap instead of nos or forced induction on that vortec. They are nice engine, hell, i have one in my 99 tahoe, but they aren&#39;t as good as the newer vortec engines. I know &#036;&#036;&#036;&#036; makes power, but we&#39;re talking about daily drivers and fuel economy, the newer ones just do it better. I&#39;ll be putting a 6.L in my tahoe when the wife lets me, probably when she gets another vehicle, until then i don&#39;t expect a lot of power out of it. It is fun in the dirt though.
I don&#39;t remember any vortec trucks going very fast with a procharger or similar.

I&#39;m not downing the tbi vortecs, i have one, but you&#39;ll start off with a lot more with the ls1 variant,

any more questions, ask away, it is NOT annoying to help and learn... (some ppl think its annoying when they ask questions.. hell no&#33