whats cheaper?

[mjcotroneo]

i got a 97 gmc sierra with a vortec 355, ported and polished vortec heads, with forged flat tops, forged crank and 5.7 rods.but now i was wondering if i should do a stroker you know the basic 383 or my service manager was tellin me to do an lsx motor but he also spent like 6k customizing his 96. so any input would be nice (i.e. cheap price, time, all the good stuff. thanks

[TxStVanWilder]

if you base it on price alone... im pretty sure you can come away alot cheaper with a 383 ..... but then again i would wait for one of the pro's to chime in

[RedHeartbeat]

The final price all depends on how much work you can do yourself and how much you pay for the engine/transmission. I bought a 1998 T/A LS1 and transmission for $1600 and came in under $3000 total for the swap. Then again after the conversion was done I started doing more and more to it and now have a 408 with ported heads so I'm really in debt in this thing now! In the conversion section is an OBS to LSx engine topic with some decent reading and hints for doing a conversion. Wiring harness and PCM is a major expense in the conversion, somewhere around $650 for a nice clean and simple to install harness and then you'll need a PCM that the VATS and some of the emissions sensors are turned off.

[mjcotroneo]

yea but there are also a lot diferent ways to modify the fuel on the lsx motors too. its sux because i would really like to do this and its not the know how thats holding me back, i am a gm mechanic but its the price. i've seen both set ups another one of my friends has a truck just like mine but he did 406ci and a hell of a lot more mods, the only thing he said he regrets is the fast that he cant modify the stock fuel injection without havin to go to a ram jet or a marine intake. my service manager just found a 2001 corvette ls1 got the custom headers, fans, and his pcm has to run off of 4 cylinders in order for his tach to work. but then again he also made a lot of custom shit for his truck. now as yall can see im very indecisive abt the whole thing. i was even thinking if i did do the complete swap for maybe goin with a 422 or something along those lines. but yes any advice would be nice. and as far as price goes its not strictly abt that but i know building a motor especially the way i would want it would cost some serious money. but thanks guys and i guess just keep them comin. oh and redheartbeat how did you get the corvette wheels to work for the 5x5 bolt pattern.

[RedHeartbeat]

2" thick aluminum adapters from motorsport technologies. This is the second set I've owned and had no problems. The manufacturer has a million dollar insurance policy protecting the consumer and guarantying the quality. Both trucks in my sig have the same wheels and adapters.

[mjcotroneo]

hey redheartbeat can you send me some pics of the motor? and another thing did you just stick a fan on that motor or did you get electric fans?

[RedHeartbeat]

It has electric fans. The LS1 doesnt have provisions for a engine mounted fan.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/red...-03-2006013.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/red...-03-2006012.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/red...-03-2006009.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/red...-03-2006008.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/red...-03-2006007.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/red...-03-2006006.jpg

It's a work in progress. Still trying to decide where to mount the PCM and how to fab the radiator mount.

[mjcotroneo]

how did you get the pcm to accept the electric fans? it till looks pretty damn good. oh and one more question my service manager told me that i would have to change out my transmission to a new one, but i just got one and i wondering i could change out the bell housings. the transmission guy at my job said i could but my service manager said i couldn't so im just wondering? and hey if you need anything for your truck just let me knw because i can get a pretty good discount on anything gm. and later on when im ready to do this if you would like to help me maybe i can work something out with my cousins so you could get your truck painted. but thats up to you. thanks, miles

oh and i also know some one who can fab you an radiator mount so if you want to do that then just draw something on a cardboard and ill call him up and see how much he charges to do it. he did it for my s.m. and his just has a bowtie on side and ls1 on the other but it looks pretty good. so let me know