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#1 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Atascadero, CA
Posts: 1,152
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Is it worth the money and the work?
Before i start i tried using the search feature as much as i could. I didn't get my question answered.
As some of you know i am getting ready to start the resto on my truck. I am stuck on deciding what route i should go for the engine. My budget is about 18k. If i can get away cheaper then that would be great. The truck has a 350 LT1 motor with a 4 bbl carburator. It probably needs to be rebuilt and dressed up a little. I plan on driving the truck ALOT!! I would like decent gas milage 15+ and really reliable. So then i looked at a ls1 engine swap. I asked in another thread about what it involves and they all said it is a decent amount of work and all the little things get expensive. Is it really worth the money to do a ls1 swap or can i get the same reliablity, gas milage, performance out of the 350. The motor is the back bone of the truck so i don't want to be "cheap" in the area that is one of the most important parts. I just don't want to spend extra money for something that wont be a big difference. I plan on driving the car locally (within 45-60 miles of where i live) but would like to take the truck for a 2hr drive if i wanted. I am doing it again. Ramblin. Sorry. Basically can i make my 350 how i like it or am i going to thank myself in the long run and buy a ls1. Sorry if this is a repost but i looked. Thanks Josh |
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#2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Southern Pines NC
Posts: 3,853
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Re: Is it worth the money and the work?
Buy a used ls-1 camaro, strip what you need sell the rest, should come out fairly well. Then do the swap.
I had a 04 Avalanche with a 5.3 a great truck, do even better in 67-72 |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 3,728
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Re: Is it worth the money and the work?
I forget who it was, but a member on here bought a totaled LS1 Firebird at an insurance auction for less than $1000. The car was rolled, but the engine and trans were ok.
That is what I will look for if and when I get to do the swap myself. That way you have everything there that you might need and whatever you don't end up using, you could either part out, or sell for scrap. I would think at the very least, you could recover the $1000 you spent on the car to start with. |
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#4 |
Sb 400 club
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NH / MA
Posts: 2,745
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Re: Is it worth the money and the work?
i agree. What about a MPI lt1 out of a 94 to 96 chevy impala ?
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![]() ![]() 77 K10 Project / daily driver "The Grinch" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=318363 1956 Willys Wagon (327 chevy) Project (Now Buick 225) 1980 Corvette L-48 4 speed 1992 Mustang GT built 5.0 5 speed ![]() 1985 C10 LWB Sold 1982 K10 SWB plow truck Parted out 1986 D30 M1028 fire brush truck Parted out |
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#5 |
67-72 parts finder
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: southeast mo
Posts: 788
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Re: Is it worth the money and the work?
don't want a lt1 out of an impala heads aren't as good as camaro or firebird, the f bodies had aluminum the impala cast iron i had the lt1 and t56 from a 95 z28 in a s10 with a carb and intake made more hp than a stock fi f body and would smoke most of them due to the light weight. a guy i know specializes in swaps like that and has a 71 with a 6.0 vortec and a 66 mm turbo on it i told him about the site hope he joins up so he can inform the ppl who need it
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![]() ![]() 1981 chevy scottsdale lwb 2wd (parts chaser) 2004 pontiac gto (daily driver) 2004 pontiac grand prix gt (the ol ladys car) 1985 chevy short wide 1970 chevy c10 lwb (another parts rig) 1969 gmc lwb (rainy day project) 1968 chevy lwb c10 250 I6 3 spd (soon to be swb) |
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#6 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Atascadero, CA
Posts: 1,152
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Re: Is it worth the money and the work?
JimmyDean That is a great idea. I am going to look into that. Thanks Alot
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#7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: northwestern wi
Posts: 2,111
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Re: Is it worth the money and the work?
personalyi would stick to the simplicity of the hei ignition and carb. that is what i know,it's simplicty and servicability is what makes these trucks so great. 15mpg should be easy to get with the proper cam and gearing from any fresh small block
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common sense isn't so common anymore |
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#8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: daytonabeach
Posts: 22,956
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Re: Is it worth the money and the work?
i had a 300hp crate with a 2004r tranny 4.11 gears // carb hei no bs computer crap didn't even use the lockup on the converter it would cruise open highway fully loaded at 80mph and i still got 16mpg all day long with many 1000 + mile trips no issues// couln't see any advantage to going computered
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71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY |
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#9 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 3,071
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Re: Is it worth the money and the work?
Quote:
![]() ![]() Couldn't have said it better myself!!! |
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#10 |
Happy to be here
![]() Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 39,023
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Re: Is it worth the money and the work?
Even though the price for a modified harness and computer has come way down since I did my LS1 swap it's still rather pricey. If you have a running driving LT1 in your truck, leave it alone. You will gain quit a bit of performance and mileage with the LS1 but the cost to do it are hard to offset.
If you don't have an overdrive transmission now spend your money there. Get a 200 or 700 R4 and have it set up correctly. It will make a difference in low end torque and mileage.
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Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra" |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Georgia
Posts: 42
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Re: Is it worth the money and the work?
I don't mean to hijack this thread or get off topic but I am in a similiar situation with my truck. I am putting a V8 in a 70 C10 I'm restoring and I was thinkg about the ZZ383 crate engine. With 3.73 gears about what kind of gas mileage should I expect? It would nice to get at least 15 mpg like the guy above since this truck may be a daily driver. Thanks!
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#12 |
Happy to be here
![]() Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 39,023
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Re: Is it worth the money and the work?
I doubt your going to see 15 out of that ZZ383 with 3.73 gears. More likely about 12-13 would be my guess. As much as I love 3.73 gears, I would recommend 3.42 or even 3.08 if your looking for mileage. The 383 will have enough torque to pull you out of the hole just fine, and the higher gears will let your rpm drop at highway speeds. Again I would suggest an OD transmission regardless of your gear ratio
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Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra" |
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#13 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Georgia
Posts: 42
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Re: Is it worth the money and the work?
Quote:
Last edited by bazkook; 09-03-2006 at 10:21 PM. |
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#14 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Birmingham,Alabama
Posts: 260
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Re: Is it worth the money and the work?
Quote:
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1969 c10 stepside 250 inline six, 4speed granny tranny, 4.11 posi rear end |
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