toss up for a motor in my 54, need your help

[ClassicDreamer]

well as the 54 chevy pickup project advances it time to make a concrete decision on a motor set-up.
The frame is a 87 s10 chassis. Currently has a s10 4.3 and 700r4 trans. Now for the options
Lt1 96 or 97 (5-1000 dollars)
ls1 swap (3-4 grand here in the NY area)
4.3 Twin Turbo (why? just like the idea of being different and love turbo) Would do a standalone wiring system.

Wiring issues on either swap?

I know many guys like the ls1 swaps.

Power? Seems from just reading that the 96-97 lt1 motors had 330hp and the ls1 motor has 350hp. Is it worth the extra money for the swap and why?

One more reliable than another?

I know ls1 is alum and the lt1 is iron block.

I am a newbie to the American car scene. Thank you in advance for any info!

Andrew

[msgross]

wow, I guess your budget and dreams could lead the way on this one.

Lots of guys have sone the LS1 swaps on here, very good power and dependability. Hart_Rod has one with a turbo charger on it too..

I guess the big question is FI or carb, the year one crate engines have some decent power for the money.

I like the idea of a junkyard FI 5.3 or 6.0 build...

[ClassicDreamer]

I would like to keep it moderately priced, but also dont want to skimp out on this point in the project where I would kick myself later on. Would like to stay in the 2-4k dollar range for motor and wiring needed to make it run.

4.3 TT would take about 7-8k to build, but would be much different and fun. Man I love boost.

How reliable is a LT1 vs LS1?

[msgross]

Originally Posted by ClassicDreamer

How reliable is a LT1 vs LS1?

bascially a corvette vs. camaro right? tons of aftermarket support, good MPG and reliable as far as I know.

I have a 2005 Tahoe with a 5.3L and love it. 19MPG and good power. The LQ9 6.0 is a popluar truck motor as well..

http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78998

[blackdiesel]

get the benifits of a ls1 for the price of a lt1. go with the 5.3 or 6.0 out of a chevy truck. i have an lt1 in my '38, its a good motor, but the opti spark in them are trash.

[50adrod]

Originally Posted by blackdiesel

get the benifits of a ls1 for the price of a lt1. go with the 5.3 or 6.0 out of a chevy truck. i have an lt1 in my '38, its a good motor, but the opti spark in them are trash.

I agree with the 5.3 you can get a complete engine trans wiring an computer for 2K or less. avoid the opti spark LT1. you can check my build thread for my 5.3 install

[blackdiesel]

agreed 50adrod. i picked up my 50k mile 5.3 with all accessories and tranny and computer/wiring harness/accelearator pedal for 1500 bucks

[dwcsr]

I just picked up a complete 2003 80K miles 5.3/4l60 iron block with the computer and the entire front harness and all the accessories for $750.

Stay away from the early LS1's with aluminum block. My machinist tells me that they had a problem with some of the main bolts pulling out. I think thats why they went back to cast iron for trucks.

[hotrodrookie]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

I just picked up a complete 2003 80K miles 5.3/4l60 iron block with the computer and the entire front harness and all the accessories for $750.

Stay away from the early LS1's with aluminum block. My machinist tells me that they had a problem with some of the main bolts pulling out. I think thats why they went back to cast iron for trucks.

AHh I envy your amazing deal! I picked up a 2001 5.3 with all the wiring and computer on craigslist for 800 bones. It seems like a great way to go for reliability and cool factor. Theres alot of info and products on swapping these engines into about any vehicle.

[dwcsr]

I got mine of craigslist also. If your willing to wait you can get some very good deals.

[ClassicDreamer]

I have all the time. Well kinda of. Just need to mock up the chassis for the motor install. A new 5.3 wont bolt in the same place as a 4.3 s10 motor, will it?

[msgross]

I know the 67-72 C-10 guys have to change out the oil pans to get them to fit.

[ClassicDreamer]

thats all? they bolt up in the stock location?

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by ClassicDreamer

thats all? they bolt up in the stock location?

No a 5.3 will not just bolt in. Im not sure about the oil pan mods in a 54. I dont think any LS-series pan will fit a S-10 chassis with out mods. It whould be way easier to go the LT1 route

[clinebarger]

There are two different LT1 optisparks non vented & vented. The vented distributor fixed alot of the problems. they came out in 94 B-bodys, the Camaro and corvette got them in 95. LT1 & LT4s are great engines with a torque curve you can play billards on. made alot of money off them putting them in Jaguars

[mg98ta]

The LS1 is the best bang for the buck. Power, reliability, and great mpg for the power. The aluminum block LS motor's are fine. I've never heard of a main bolt coming out. You just can't bore them out. They have thin sleeves in them that can't take an overbore. The 5.3 is the most common and easiest to find LS motor and usually cheapest. Good luck on the build and keep us posted.

[ClassicDreamer]

As for the motor. Think I am going to stick with carbed 4.3 and build the motor. Since the rest of the truck is getting a makeover , may as well build the motor too. Have 2 4.3's, going to send one out to the machine shop and try to get some power out of it. Plan to stay normally aspirated. Any suggestions on how to get some power out of the 4.3? Bore?
4.5 v6. Talking to a bunch of people. I think my original plans of 500hp in a pickup are a bit extreme for a truck to cruise in. 300 should be nice.
Going to stay carbed to simplify the wiring harness and keep it clean.

Thank you guys again for all of your help. I really appreciate it!

[50adrod]

Originally Posted by ClassicDreamer

As for the motor. Think I am going to stick with carbed 4.3 and build the motor. Since the rest of the truck is getting a makeover , may as well build the motor too. Have 2 4.3's, going to send one out to the machine shop and try to get some power out of it. Plan to stay normally aspirated. Any suggestions on how to get some power out of the 4.3? Bore?
4.5 v6. Talking to a bunch of people. I think my original plans of 500hp in a pickup are a bit extreme for a truck to cruise in. 300 should be nice.
Going to stay carbed to simplify the wiring harness and keep it clean.

Thank you guys again for all of your help. I really appreciate it!

you can get a carb intake for the 5.3 to keep it simple and be at 300hp bone stock. add a cam a tune and headers and be close to 400

[ClassicDreamer]

50. Do you have a link to the carb intake. Please excuse me, I am new to american cars, I know of jegs and summit.

[50adrod]

Originally Posted by ClassicDreamer

50. Do you have a link to the carb intake. Please excuse me, I am new to american cars, I know of jegs and summit.

here is the intake
http://www.sdparts.com/product/88958...arburetor.aspx

[blackdiesel]

300 hp is actually quite a bit. my 38 chrysler has a 97 vette lt1 in it with the alumnium heads and it is near that mark. it will smoke the tires through 2nd gear very easily. it is a very quick car. any more hp and you'll have a hard time planting it on the pavement.

the biggest benifit of a 5.3 is the fuel injection. better reliabilty, better fuel milage, and it will start in a second or two after its been setting for months. vs a carbed engine where you have to roll out the battery charger just to get fuel to the float bowl.

FI is not hard to set up. just a few plug in's and a computer. even if you cant make over the stock harness yourself, you can buy one already made for the cost of a carberator alone.

and you can pick up a low milage engine/tranny with all accessories for less than you can build a 300 hp carbed 4.3. much less

[ClassicDreamer]

Black diesel. I got quoted about $2500 to build a 4.3 to about 300 hp. I can find swaps for less than that I understand, but never know what your buying unless it is heard running. I like the idea of having a freshly rebuilt engine. I will look into the FI motors too. I like carbs for the simplicity of limited wiring. I have a carbed cb750 honda motorcycle and it runs off 7 wires. Including lights. Its so simple. The carbs themselves were a bit of a pain to get going at first. Then after taking them apart 10x I can do it pretty quickly now.

[blackdiesel]

Originally Posted by ClassicDreamer

Black diesel. I got quoted about $2500 to build a 4.3 to about 300 hp. I can find swaps for less than that I understand, but never know what your buying unless it is heard running. I like the idea of having a freshly rebuilt engine. I will look into the FI motors too. I like carbs for the simplicity of limited wiring. I have a carbed cb750 honda motorcycle and it runs off 7 wires. Including lights. Its so simple. The carbs themselves were a bit of a pain to get going at first. Then after taking them apart 10x I can do it pretty quickly now.

i think your driveability will go down the tubes. if i were to guess, it will idle and drive about like a 500 v8. which, isnt very good. to each his own, hope it all works out well! good luck

[ClassicDreamer]

Somemore great info. never drove a 500v8 or really many american cars at all besides my dads 04 yukon (5.3) and his LS2 vette, not impressed. The 5.3 is a nice set-up. Some more to think about.

[50adrod]

Originally Posted by ClassicDreamer

Somemore great info. never drove a 500v8 or really many american cars at all besides my dads 04 yukon (5.3) and his LS2 vette, not impressed. The 5.3 is a nice set-up. Some more to think about.

if the LS2 vete (400 hp) did not impress you the 4.3 V6 will surley not