Sourced a 5.3L Is this a good idea?

[Sturvin]

I'm thinking of swapping a 5.3L into my truck. Having never swapped over a computer controlled engine, I have a few questions.

Found this on craigslist. Since I have a limitied idea what the going rate for a 5.3L setup is and I don't know what is all involved (yet) my question is:

Is it a good idea to grab an engine out of a car that has already been swapped?

On the plus side, it includes the computers and it is easy enough to test to cooling system.

On the bad side, I'm not sure if they cut out something I might need?

[preciador6]

gread idea easy swap.

[ls1nova71]

You could be buying someone's problem that way. It could be done pretty nice, but for that price, if I was going to bet on it, I would say its going to be a hack job. Personally think you'd be better off getting an engine out of a truck that hasn't been messed with so youre starting with a clean slate.

[mongocanfly]

Are you buying the whole car just for the engine and trans? Thats not a terrible price for a engine and trans..if your looking for manual shift..I would have to wonder with that being a "drift car" just how hard its been run..high revs,,speed shifting a "truck" transmission..I don't know...if your just looking for a engine you can buy complete engines around here for around 800 bucks or so..

[Sturvin]

I was looking at getting the whole car for $1500 ish

The car looks trashed in the pics.

The trans is probably not the greatest. Like you said, "drift car" probably means "beat to ****"

But front accessories, radiator, electric fan, maybe the fuel pump, ecu already flashed to run in a swap car, supposedly 65000 miles and everything else?

Most donor trucks I have been looking at with these engines go for around 1800-2500 and they have 200k+ on them.
Ideally I'd like an all aluminum block HO 5.3 out of a 2005-2006 but good luck with that.

Worth it?

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by Sturvin

Most donor trucks I have been looking at with these engines go for around 1800-2500 and they have 200k+ on them.

And this guy only wants $1500 for the whole car? And it only has 65,000 miles on it? If it sounds too good to be true...........

[mongocanfly]

What ls1nova says..18-2500? Not around here where I live..I know the price of ls engines is going up due to the popularity of the swaps but if I give that much for a engine its not going to be a run of the mill 5.3..I gave under 1800 for my 6.0 lq9 and a whole bunch of swap parts..

[preciador6]

Its a great deal Ive done it twice jump on it.

[MalibuSSwagon]

Wow around here I can pickup rotted but running Silverados for $500 any day of the week. Most I've paid for a truck is 800. Those are just 4.8/5.3 trucks, have to be patient to get a deal on a 6.0L truck.

[LS short box]

Good way to check pricing and availability is on car-parts.com.

[Clyde65]

since you havent done an swap before, i would either take someone who has with you when you go look at it or i would pass and get one from a reputable place where if something is jacked up, you have someones neck to squeeze!

[Wgesnerjr]

Two words of warning---"drift car"

YouTube some drifting and then decide if you want that engine or not.

[Sturvin]

Originally Posted by MalibuSSwagon

Wow around here I can pickup rotted but running Silverados for $500 any day of the week. Most I've paid for a truck is 800. Those are just 4.8/5.3 trucks, have to be patient to get a deal on a 6.0L truck.

In the past few months, a rusted out beater truck with an LM7 or better seems to be around $1800-$2500

An LM7 engine already pulled goes between 800 and 1200
800 for a bare engine (no ECM, harness, or front accessories)
1200 with that stuff

Transmissions are all over the place. An NV3500 is in the $500 range

If so thats 1300-1700 to buy them separately, no clutch, a locked ECM, and no test drive. Just "ran before it was pulled" slapped on the sales pitch.