Budget LS Swap questions

[Caleb]

So i got im 17 and i got a 1986 GMC K1500 ive been building lately. My 350 is getting terrible mileage and i always planned on putting an LS in it just never knew it would be so soon. either a 5.3 or a 6.0 but im leaning 6.0. So i just have a few quick questions. all of this is self payed by me. i payed for my truck and everything on it so im on a tight budget. im saving up and i wanna know what a complete build usually adds up to. maybe for a 500HP motor N/A. possibly more if i work more hours. i want to know what to expect. i need to know where to find deals and best combos with parts performance and money wise. so any experience and advice i would love to hear. been reading up a lot but i cant get everything i want to know by reading others questions. Thanks guys!

[nekkidhillbilly]

500 hp and budget dont go together at all. to make that power na you def want a 6.0 at least. a 6.2 or aftermarket block is more idea. figure about 6 grand to make that get up and dont think it will be any cheaper on gas than the 350 you have now.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Also do not forget the 5 or so thousand dollars you will need to make a K10 live with 500hp.

I am new to having a 4x4, and wouldn't dream of anything more then 350hp in my K20. For fear it would start finding weak links when I bump over a rock or two.

[Malo83]

The Nov 14 issue of Classic Trucks has an article of putting an E-Rod LC9 in an 85 Squarebody, gives some good info on the installation

[ridingreiss16]

I dont agree with Nekkidhillbilly, I have read other forums and articles of LS's capable of 600rwhp making 20mpg, I would say $4500 on the cheap end up 6k for a all stock 6.0. Just depends how you gear it, trans, etc on your gas.

[Caleb]

Thanks guys for all the info. I'm still doing research and finding what's my best route. I've also seen these BD turn key motors. Not exactly the power I want from my engine though. The 6.0 on the "low end" runs about 3k. Do you guys think it's worth it for 375hp or so at crank. You think with 3k I can pull a little more from it if I do it myself?

[BigBlocksRule]

Too bad you're so far away, I have a complete 6.0 that I'm gong to sell. I'd start with the 6.0L at stock stroke, just a hone with new pistons and rings, have your machinist clean up the heads a bit and add a smalish cam. It'll be plenty to get you started and if you get really serious with it later, you'll have a foundation that can take just about anything you can throw at it.

[Desert1957]

Originally Posted by Caleb

Thanks guys for all the info. I'm still doing research and finding what's my best route. I've also seen these BD turn key motors. Not exactly the power I want from my engine though. The 6.0 on the "low end" runs about 3k. Do you guys think it's worth it for 375hp or so at crank. You think with 3k I can pull a little more from it if I do it myself?

Considering your worn out 350 is making maybe 150 HP and 5 MPG, seems like a good deal for twice the horsepower and four times the gas mileage.

The Gas savings alone would offset the cost of the swap in a hurry...

Desert

[Caleb]

i found a set of 317 heads for 100 with valvetrain (gonna need upgrade anyway with a cam. looking at a FAST intake for 800. and a cam kit around 700 or so? i think thats all im throwing at it for now. also need to consider head studs, oil pump, gaskets, motor mounts, TB harness rework and find a dang motor. think i would have any luck selling parts off it i dont need?

[Caleb]

while im thinking about it. the cam im looking at is 585 lift. what are some good decent priced valve springs i can buy. also will i need new rockers and push rods with my new cam. 30602003. that is the cam part number. thanks again guys youve been very helpful.

[Orion88]

Best article I've found so far on LS swaps. I agree that 500 hp is probably overkill in one of these trucks but to each their own. You can find a complete 5.3 or 6.0 for well under $1000 if you look in the right places and be patient. Just make sure you get the wiring harness, throttle setup, computer, etc.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/spe...und-1125469009

[Orion88]

Or if you feel like working your ass off:

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/how...ree-1131506504

[Caleb]

I can get a 5.3 for about 500 and a 6.0 for about 800-1000 on the low end. Is the power trade off worth the saving money. Or is that extra 500 or so worth the extra power from the displacement and all the add ins multiplying on it. Because it is really hard to find a 6.0 where I live. So if I where to do the same modifications With either engine would it the power difference be substantial? Also and recommendations on harness rework, ECM reflash?(whichever is needed to work In a swap with cam, intake, etc)

[Skunksmash]

No not really. I can't speak from experience, but from what I've read I don't really see why anyone builds 6.0L LS engines. Not when people are making 700hp on a stock 5.3 with a turbo. That setup seems to be the way to go these days. Just youtube turbo 5.3, you'll see that they're all largely stock. A 5.3 is a 323 ci engine, a 6.0 is a 366. So 43 cubic inches difference. And they both have good heads which have room to grow so that's not really an issue. Junkyard turbo setup, with an inexpensive 5.3 sounds to me like your way to go for a small budget.

However like others have said, these old trucks aren't built for that kind of power, you're going to break a lot of stuff and spend a lot of money getting the truck to be ok with big power.