Mark IV big block VS 6.0 or 5.3?

[1965C-10]

Hi, my name is Mike, this is my first post here.

Anyway I have a 1965 Chevy truck shortbed fleetside, it's a real fixer upper with rust and lots of body damage, it had a small block and TH350, I put in what I thought was a 454 but turned out to be 396 and TH400 over 4 years ago.

I've been thinking of a 6.0 and 4l60-E, or even just a 5.3 & 4L60-E, I like power, but reliability and MPG are very important to me.

By the way, the big block is'nt that great, as far as I know it's stock, and it really made the truck front heavy.

I'm debating whether to keep the 396 and get a rebuilt 700-R4 to get better MPG and hiway cruising than the TH400 (3.73 rear gears), or swap out to a low mileage Vortec 6.0 or 5.3 and 4L60-E.

I've been searching craiglist for 6.0 amd 5.3, but everybody wants big bucks for stuff with high mileage, maybe that's the wrong place to look.

Hmm, how much should a late model engine/trans with all accecories, with computer and harness cost?

[farmtruc]

You should be able to get a complete 5.3L for under $1500, easily.
I picked up two slightly damaged 5.3L HO aluminum complete engines for cheap!!!
Just had to weld the aluminum a/c mount boss back on.
The other had a damaged head, but i have plenty of those here.

Keep looking, call Snyders, they have good deals.

[1965C-10]

Who is Snyder's, do you have a contact for them?

Thanks, Mike

[GasGuzzler]

I'll broker you an LS and you give me the 396. No one here likes them anyway.

[farmtruc]

1-800-460-8025 ext.115

[Lsx10]

you should be able to find a complete 5.3 with acc and trans for between $1000 and $1500, the 6.0 will cost you around 500 more, though some people thing the extra 40 cubes makes the value double. just keep looking, it too me a while to find my 6.0.

oh and a cam/head combo on that 6.0 will put you at more hp/tq then the 396, with double the mileage and more reliability.

[banker099]

5.3's are cheap...i got mine with the harness and pcm for 750...dakota auto parts in arlington

[Justin_Inc]

5.3's are cheap...i got mine with the harness and pcm for 750...dakota auto parts in arlington

dammmn wish i could get deals like that locally, everyone wants an arm and a leg around here for 5.3/6.0's....

[Lsx10]

dammmn wish i could get deals like that locally, everyone wants an arm and a leg around here for 5.3/6.0's....

there is a 6.0 by me for 1400 with acc, harness, and 4l80e with 21,000 on it

there were 4 5.3's in pheonix for under $500 when I was looking for my engine.

[k10shortbox]

I got my 5.3 with computer harness and all of the accessories for $300 and it only has 75,000 miles on it so deals are out there just have to look around for awhile.