5.3l into a k20 or k30

[chevyman95]

What do you guys think about this swap? Will it be too hard on the motor? I can get a 5.3l relatively inexpensively from a friend. I wish it was a 6.0 or 8.1 but for mileage concerns the 5.3 may be the best bet. I don't really tow that much weight just occasionally one car trailer. I'm looking at a k30 right now that has a 454 in it but the owner says it gets about 8mpg which wouldn't be very doable for me in the long run. Looking for 12mpg, diesel swap is out of the question for me right now. Thanks

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

I think it will be ok, but at least you'll be in place for a 6.0 swap later down the road too.

A K30 is probably is only slightly lighter then a CC that it would likely be in anyways, but with a decent increase in rotational mass.

Just give it deeper gears, and it will still be fun.

[ghettoluxury]

The 5.3 will be fine in a K30. My K30 crew cab was powered by a 350 and got over 250,000 miles out of her. The 5.3 is way more reliable and makes more power. My cousin is running one in his 85 K30 dually with 35" Pitbull Rrckers and she has plenty of power to move it down the road.

[chevyman95]

Thanks guys, probably a moot question at this point. Went and drove the truck today and it was much rougher than I anticipated. Pretty chewed up interior It was an old ambulance at one point, someone stuck a big block in it which ran pretty well until you tried to accelerate and then there was a loud knocking/clacking sound. It had a 3 speed w/granny. Good truck for someone and the parts are worth it but I had to pass just because I'd rather have a nicer k10 or k20 than a k30. I don't haul much anyways.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/3962167852.html here's the truck