305 vs 350 vs LS? Value?

[stomper]

The original 305 in my 1983 stepside is making a noise. I'm afraid it could be terminal. Which option would be most 'worth it'? I have a local shop that will rebuild the 305 for under $600. I could order the Jeg's 350/290 for $1200. or... find a junkyard LS motor which I'd probably be in at least $2000.

If you were buying a squarebody, all other things being equal, would you pay more for a truck with one of the last two options (+$600 and +$1400) over a 305?

[csdineley]

This month I just finished up putting a vortec 350 in my truck to replace the old 350. Engine was right under $2000, Total about $2800. Well worth it, my butt dyno is very happy with the results.

[Zane M]

My shoot from the hip answer is I would pay more for the 350, just because there would/should be paperwork showing it is new, and the 305 to 350 swap is a no brainer.BUUUUUUUT, if I spent a lot of time looking over the LS conversion and felt 100% sure that everything was done right, I would rather have the LS.

[andrewmp6]

If its a daily driver go ls if its a weekend toy i would build like a 383 or something fast for it.

[MylilBowTie]

Good 5.3s are getting dirt cheap to find like 500.00 in good shape and complete.

[Pop's C-10]

crate motor..i wouldn't trust a $600 rebuild..that sounds fishy

[izzy_Britton]

in todays economy the almighty dollar dont get ya as far as it used to. i would trust a rebuilt motor from a reputable shop for 600$, but if you can afford it go with the 350.

again, if you can afford it go with a 4.8/5.3/5.7/6.0 LS. they are getting cheaper. I recently picked up a 5.3 with only 11,000 miles on the clock for 450$. because i am smog exempt i intend to carborate it and toss it in my truck later this year. carb, intake, and ignition box puts my motor swap at 1500$, less odds and ends and motor mounts, but worth it in my opinion. i can line you up with a shop that has aluminum 5.3's for around 500$ not too far from you. PM me if interested.

[parrisc19844x4_468]

You want to be realy happy...go with the big block.

[cadillac_al]

The LS is just so darn homely under the hood. The performance and economy would be nice as long as you don't open the hood in public. A 350 with a little chrome and aluminum will look very nice in there.

[rusty76]

I'm curious as to start to finish prices on LS swaps. This includes everything, carb (if staying with carb), intake, ignition, exhaust, engine mounts, accessories and so on. I know these motors are getting cheaper but I'm wondering what is say a finished price would be with a 500 dollar engine for start. Any thoughts? Not trying to hijack the thread just thought it would be nice to see a real price range. Is it possible at say $1500?

[nekkidhillbilly]

you could buy a ls 4.8 for a for less than a grand with the matching 4l60e.

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by rusty76

I'm curious as to start to finish prices on LS swaps. This includes everything, carb (if staying with carb), intake, ignition, exhaust, engine mounts, accessories and so on. I know these motors are getting cheaper but I'm wondering what is say a finished price would be with a 500 dollar engine for start. Any thoughts? Not trying to hijack the thread just thought it would be nice to see a real price range. Is it possible at say $1500?

well if you use the stock ecm and the harness out of the truck you get the engine out of the cost is basically your mounts and the efi fuel pumps. if you get a 03 up you will need the pedal due to drive by wire. 99-02 back still has cable. if you want ac you need a custom bracket but theres cheap ideas for that if you search around on here. it would honestly cost just as much to carb one as it would to keep the stock efi. me i would find a 4.8 or 5.3 ls1 4l60e combo complete get the ecm harness and pedal if you have an 03 up.

[stomper]

I've discovered www.car-part.com and www.lt1swap.com. Leaning toward a 4.8 or 5.3 with the trans. If I can get a good price on the engine and trans I'm sure I can come in under $2k. I'm building a truck for my daughters to drive and a big block or flashy 350 will be lost on them.

[nekkidhillbilly]

just need a wrecked 99 up truck. 00 up is a better idea cause the 99s had a horrible cam. easiest swap is the cable driven ones. but its not that much more to swap in the pedal and wires for it.

[izzy_Britton]

Originally Posted by cadillac_al

The LS is just so darn homely under the hood. The performance and economy would be nice as long as you don't open the hood in public. A 350 with a little chrome and aluminum will look very nice in there.

I totally disagree!




not a square but that looks

[izzy_Britton]

Originally Posted by rusty76

I'm curious as to start to finish prices on LS swaps. This includes everything, carb (if staying with carb), intake, ignition, exhaust, engine mounts, accessories and so on. I know these motors are getting cheaper but I'm wondering what is say a finished price would be with a 500 dollar engine for start. Any thoughts? Not trying to hijack the thread just thought it would be nice to see a real price range. Is it possible at say $1500?

It is my opinion that if you had a engine for around $500, you could pick up a carb and intake and ignition box from summit or another vendor for around $1000. then the next expenses would be motor mounts (if purchased, fabricated would be less expensive if you have the ability), fuel pump, transmission, and engine accessories.

just as an example. I am planning:

5.3 (paid $450)
700r4 (existing in truck $0)
intake and carb (summit racing $700(ish))
ignition box (summit racing ($300(ish))
motor mounts (dirty dingo $105)
fuel pump(s) (because i have dual tanks i am probably going to use 87 - 91 tanks with sending units and updated vette? pumps and regulators - not sure yet)

my plan is to be into it for less than $2000. ultimately because i work in the wrecking yard industry i plan to be into the whole thing for about 1500$ cash and scrounge the rest.

[MylilBowTie]

Forgot the exhaust side of things will bring cost up some depending on what route is taken.

[izzy_Britton]

good point. I am shooting for SS trailblazer exhaust manifolds (i hear they hug the block so no need to notch the frame rails) and I have a recent 3 inch exhaust under my truck that will take little modification to tie into, from a friend that owns a muffler shop.

[MuscleCarDynamics]

I have been doing LS conversions on muscle cars for several years and they are unreal engines. I would love to never touch a small block or big block ever again after experiencing the power, fuel mileage and practicability of the LS engine. I've currently Pulled my all aluminum fuel injected 540ci big block to replace with an 440ci LS7 and am in the process of doing an L92 conversion in my 1977 C35.

[beamn7]

Originally Posted by stomper

I'm building a truck for my daughters to drive and a big block or flashy 350 will be lost on them.

Then I would just overhaul the 305 or toss in the 350. Call me ol' fashion but I like first gen smallblocks (or stovebolts for that matter!) in a square. Nothing wrong with the LS. I have one of those too but it's in the proper gen truck....

[MylilBowTie]

Nothing wrong with the old school sbc v8s but the LS has so much more to offer carbureted or fuel injected. I do understand the purists side of things but once you step over to the new stuff it's great. One way to help put things into perspective is for the cost of a retro fit roller camshaft setup. You can have a LS series engine with 6 bolt mains and roller cam setup already standard parts.

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by MylilBowTie

Forgot the exhaust side of things will bring cost up some depending on what route is taken.

not really. could get headers for cheap or just put collectors up to oem manifolds. few hundred bucks or so.

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by izzy_Britton

It is my opinion that if you had a engine for around $500, you could pick up a carb and intake and ignition box from summit or another vendor for around $1000. then the next expenses would be motor mounts (if purchased, fabricated would be less expensive if you have the ability), fuel pump, transmission, and engine accessories.

just as an example. I am planning:

5.3 (paid $450)
700r4 (existing in truck $0)
intake and carb (summit racing $700(ish))
ignition box (summit racing ($300(ish))
motor mounts (dirty dingo $105)
fuel pump(s) (because i have dual tanks i am probably going to use 87 - 91 tanks with sending units and updated vette? pumps and regulators - not sure yet)

my plan is to be into it for less than $2000. ultimately because i work in the wrecking yard industry i plan to be into the whole thing for about 1500$ cash and scrounge the rest.

it would have prob been as cheap to not carb it though. that 1k would buy alot of other stuff if you have a complete engine.

[stomper]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

not really. could get headers for cheap or just put collectors up to oem manifolds. few hundred bucks or so.

I not looking to spend much over $1000 for the engine/trans so a 'few hundred' for exhaust would be a significant portion of the swap. Considering the truck has good original exhaust on it already, new exhaust would only be required for the LS.

[Skunksmash]

Originally Posted by MylilBowTie

Good 5.3s are getting dirt cheap to find like 500.00 in good shape and complete.

How much for a good low mileage one with good transmission attached?