Budget 4.3 to 5.3 swap

[robm-951]

I thought I would post up my budget swap to show how cheap and easily this swap can be done for with a little time and planning.

My truck was a 2000 Silverado ECSB with the 4.3 and a 5 speed It was basically the truck I wanted but I wanted the 5.3 which they didn't make with the 5 speed. The 2wd ECSB with the 4.8 and 5 speeds are super hard to find.

So I bought a 1999 Silverado with a 5.3 and a 4L60E as a donor truck. The body and interior were pretty bad off, but the truck ran and drove great, had 134k miles on it and was inly $1300.

I kept everything I needed for the swap plus some and sold off everything left over. I still need to get a tune done on the ecu to get rid of the SES light for the missing trans components. Without the tune, my total cost into the swap is less than $200

Purchased
truck - 1300
intake, oil pan, RMS, and valve cover gaskets - 100
a/c accumulator - 26
spark plugs and flywheel - 120
clutch kit - 150
fluids - 80
Ebay Intake - 60
FPR - 50
total spent = 1886

Sold
camper shell - 200
transmission - 300
4.3 engine - 450
fender and door - 150
Tailgate - 75
rear differential - 200
scrap metal - 150
seat - 50
rims - 75
y-pipe - 50

total sold = 1700

[robm-951]

This is a picture of the parts truck I bought. It was soo nice to have everything I needed for the swap right at my disposal.

left-rear.jpg
front.jpg
right.jpg
right-rear.jpg
left.jpg

[robm-951]

Here is my truck after completing the swap.

my truck small.jpg

[Chevy-Art]

Good job and the finished product looks good. Was the truck a salvage or where did you buy it?

[robm-951]

Thanks! the donor truck did have a salvage title but was still being used by the owner. I found the truck about an hour and a half from me on Craigslist.

[Botlfed]

Damn some sucker got nailed on that v6 hahah, wnat did you do with that camper bed cover?

[Chevy-Art]

, wnat did you do with that camper bed cover?

Hey G, fast trucks don't need camper shells.

[Frenchy]

Damn some sucker got nailed on that v6 hahah, wnat did you do with that camper bed cover?

I sold my 4.3 for $600 and the guy even took notice of the bottle in the bed...

[robm-951]

Damn some sucker got nailed on that v6 hahah, wnat did you do with that camper bed cover?

I had numerous people lined up for the 4.3. It had 70k miles on it and had a new updated injector assembly on it and all new ignition.

I sold the camper shell.

[Paulster2]

Good deal and nice upgrade to your truck! Especially when you consider you spent (net) $200, lol!