Is 5.3 swap to much money and work?

[MARKDTN]

Originally Posted by weq92f

Once you successfully go EFI over carburetor on any engine, you'll likely find you don't want to go back just the same, no LS needed.

With these systems available today, even old school hardware can be brought to the level of "twist the key and it fires right up and it runs as smooth as butter!!"

-klb

Absolutely! Carburetors are no fun, especially with todays fuels that eat them up. If you like a Gen 1 350 then a fuel injection conversion makes them so much easier to deal with. A TPI swap on a stock bottom end will really wake up a lazy 350. Lots of low end, and the TPI is the best looking induction system Chevy has ever made IMHO. For serious power you have to have improved runners and do some porting. There are other turn-key FI systems also. I like the stock GM systems because they are very reliable and parts can be bought in any parts store-or junkyard- in the country.

But to the OP question again. If you don't have an engine LS is almost a no brainer. If you want to show it and care what the engine looks like, maybe old school is better-maybe. But I happen to like the way an LS looks over an orange carbed small (or big) block. But if you want to drive it, if you want mileage, if you want reliability; then an LS swap is a great way to do that. Dollar for dollar you will be hard pressed to beat an LS swap for power. A complete bone stock small block rebuild done right will be $2500 or better with doing the heads right and build the carb etc. You can buy the LS engine AND transmission for less than that. A performance build can easily double that. But, there is no universal wrong or right answer. You have to figure out what is right for you.

[palallin]

Originally Posted by MARKDTN

A complete bone stock small block rebuild done right will be $2500 or better with doing the heads right and build the carb etc. You can buy the LS engine AND transmission for less than that.

A mystery engine/tranny out of a junkyard, maybe, but not a fresh set ready to go.

[MARKDTN]

Originally Posted by palallin

A mystery engine/tranny out of a junkyard, maybe, but not a fresh set ready to go.

Quick Ebay search found several 5.3/4L60E for under $2000 with trans, computer, all accessories. 160K or so miles. Most guaranteed 6 months. Several without trans for around $1200. You can go mystery at Pick-a-part for way less, but I'm talking running pullouts with warranty. If I dig I can find less miles or less money. These 5.3s will go 300k easily. So for a weekend machine I would have no problems with this.

You can buy a new basic crate 350 for less than you can rebuild it-if you do it right. And have better heads and less leaky.

Again, I'm not against gen 1 small-blocks. I have 2 running. But the OP question is an LS swap worth it, I say yes.