Ls swap opinion

[Wgesnerjr]

My reasoning was a little different.

I bought my truck (85 long bed, 305 4BBL, 7004R4) with no engine or trans. besides the missing engine and trans, this also means I was missing:
Carb and fuel pump
Intake and distributor
Exhaust Manifolds
Front accessory brackets
Alternator
PS pump
Water pump and fan
A/C compressor
All nuts bolts, brackets, dipsticks, valve covers, oil pan, Battery cables, torque converter, etc.

I did have the radiator, driveshaft wiring.

When I started adding all this up, it got expensive real quick.

so I starting looking at a complete LS pull out at the local yard. It took me a while to find one (they go quick in Atlanta) and I had to jump on it right away.

The 2003 Tahoe was in the yard less than a day and I was the first person to come look at it. 178K but oil and trans fluid looked brand new and, as the guy at the yard explained, it was running when it hit the pole, so it could be that bad. It could not be started as the frame smacked the starter and broke it in half. I made the deal that the yard will pull it complete, engine, Trans, PCM, accel pedal, TAC, wiring, air cleaner, fan, exhaust pipe stubs, all front drive accessories and fuel lines for $1400. (they had to get me a starter, air cleaner and a fan from another motor to complete the package with a 3 month warranty)

Probably have just at $2500 in swap parts, incidentals and such. I did use cheap eBay mounts, shopped Amazon and Rock Auto for cheapest costs on small items. Redid the stock wiring harness like Brendan on LT1swap.com instructed. Used as much as I could from the LS. Alternator, PS pump, water pump, belt driven fan, fuel lines, air cleaner, etc. I even used the Tahoe oil pan. It hangs down below the frame but wanted to save some cash. Had to get 2010 Camaro manifolds as the Tahoe came too close the frame. I did use cheap eBay mounts, redid wiring harness like Brendan on LT1swap.com Used the Tahoe battery cables and got a new 87 TBI tank and pick up with a 95 Camaro in tank fuel pump. (mine was rusted out)

It has been almost 7500 miles and runs like a champ. I cannot believe it has so many miles on it as it drive very well. Starts right up and purrs like a kitten no matter what the weather. does not use oil, trans does not slip; just runs. very reliable

So in all, my decision was based on overall cost. I could have done a stock used 350 SBC / 350 Turbo trans much cheaper. But to get the power, overdrive and reliability of an LS out of a SBC would have been more than $2500.

[bigmoe]

My reasoning for going LS:

1. I've done a lot of v8 swaps over the years. Being budget conscious in the past I've always sought out wrecked vehicles to be drivetrain donors. Insurance auctions are a good source. Sources for used carbed engines are getting pretty slim these days and LS engines are plentiful.

2. Horsepower ratings for LS engines in stock form are higher.

3. Reliability

4. The challenge. My current project has really stretched my abilities but what seemed daunting at first has worked out mostly due to the amount of info and support on line.

[WunTon]

I just sold my brand new never had fuel in the carb 350 that came with my truck when I bought it to go with a 6.0 LS. I have everything I would have needed to bolt and wire it up and go including 4l60E trans, trans controller and speedo converter but I am going LS for future power upgrade abilities. I want to go twin turbo so I bought my already mildly built (460hp at the crank) 6.0 with about 9k miles on it complete with the entire wire harness and ecm for less than it would have cost me to convert the 350 to accept a turbo. The turbo setup is roughly the same cost between the two motors but needing a blow through carb and intake then trying to tune it to not explode on itself with turbos is very expensive. The LS on the other hand with handle the turbos and tuning is far easier with all of the sensors for the tuner to tell what is going on with the motor. I'm going t56 for my trans instead of an automatic as well. I've been daily driving a manual for most of my adult life and when I drive an auto it just doesn't seem right to me and I am constantly reaching for the clutch and shifter.