Bench Building

[CG]

I have a 72 K20 Burb converted to K10 just sitting in the wings. I don't really need anything for it but my nephew and I were talking about all my junk, sort of what would we do with this or that project, and the drive train came up when we were talking bout the burb.

Im happy with the stock 350 and auto set up. He was asking what sort of modern engine trans set up could we use. Nothing diesel, nothing high horse, just a good reliable modern drive train we could pull from a newer 4x4.

My wife had an 07 Trailblazer with a six in it. That thing was reliable, smooth and quiet. Towed my 41 Cadillac home like it wasn't even behind us. Has anyone ever put that combo in one of our trucks? I cant believe a 72 Burb is any heavier that the Trailblazer.

I suppose most any low mileage engine trans out of a late standard 4x4 would work. Some day I need to get versed in this stuff I guess. But like I said we were just doing a little bench building.

[abig84]

ive wondered the same thing, i think most people figure if they are going to go through the work of doing a newer motor swap might as well do a V8. also maybe the length of it might cause some issues.

ive contimplated it too for my 52 as it originally had a straight 6 in it anyways and trail blazers for dirt cheap seem to pop up now and then.

just googled it and looks like people are putting them in all sorts of stuff



someone stuck one in a older camaro with a turbo. im sure they would fit in your truck no problem

['63GENIII]

I had a 4.8 in a 2001 Silverado extra cab work truck. That little engine got great mileage, was pretty good on gas and took an absolute flogging for its entire life. Picture towing a 5000lb boat with 3 of the kids and ALL of their stuff for camping in 114 deg weather, ac on the whole way for 4 or so hours. That was when it had one 150k on the clock. That little LS earned my respect over the 5 years that I drove it.

[Zoomad75]

I own a Trailblazer. Bought mine new in 04. Had the 6 blow a rod out of the block over a year ago at 230,000 miles. Not sure of the root cause, but I got another out of a Bravada and it's still running. I'm not sure I'd put one in a old burb though. The same 6 was used in the larger Trailblazer EXT and the larger body really strained the engine. I had a choice between the ext version with the 6 and a regular one with the same engine and I went with the regular one.

Sure you can throw a turbo at it, but there isn't much performance support for it. You'd be better off getting a 4.8 or a 5.3 for cheap in a half ton. 6.0's are nice but are commanding a premium. I'm running a 5.3 in my 91 Blazer and LOVE it. Way more power than a 350 tbi and dead nuts oem driveability.

Buying a wrecked truck is the way to get in cheap. Take what you need, part the rest and scrap the shell. At minimum you offset some of the cost of the swap.

[HO455]

If I'm not mistaken the 4.2 sixes had some real issues when they first came out. And I have heard parts are unreasonably expensive when compared to an LS.

[CG]

I just know our 07 Trailblazer with the six is still going strong up past 200K with no problems and a lot of flogging. Family member has it now.

Trailblazers weigh in the 4500 lb range. Not sure on weight of a burb in our style but Im pretty sure it cant be any more than that. Performance wasn't a thing I was even considering, just reliability and the possibility of a little better gas mileage.

[andyh1956]

My son's Trailblazer has a 6.0 in it, with a blower!

[HO455]

Originally Posted by CG

I just know our 07 Trailblazer with the six is still going strong up past 200K with no problems and a lot of flogging. Family member has it now.

Trailblazers weigh in the 4500 lb range. Not sure on weight of a burb in our style but Im pretty sure it cant be any more than that. Performance wasn't a thing I was even considering, just reliability and the possibility of a little better gas mileage.

My bad! I caught up with the friend who had all the issues with his 04 Colorado and it was the I-5 engine. One rebuild and one replacement engine in 27k miles of new. He sold it just after the new engine was installed by GM.