Which engine did you swap to and why?

[Grumpy old man]

Originally Posted by old51sedan

Grumpy,
I bet you didn't leave that compressor bracket on there, do you have anymore of those laying around?

I only have ever found one , I also have the only stock factory 6 cylinder TACH I've ever found both will be be going on the parts board tonite

[Arnulfo]

1970 C 20. Was considering an ls swap until i took the truck up to 80 mph. Does not drive well at anything higher than 70 mph. Thats slow lane speed here in socal. I use my truck for work so original suspension needs to stay on it.

[garyd1961]

I removed an old 307 with a worn out cam and installed a GM L31-R crate engine. I have a summit intake, 770 Holley(already had it new from another project), long tube headers, 2 1/2 exhaust out the back, MSD distributor, 6al box(left over from the same other project), new TCI th350 trans. I left the factory cam, looks like a hotrod but it's all factory inside.
The reason I chose this motor is because I thought it was the best deal on any crate motor I could find and I had done had enough of the big cam hot rod motors. I know the 770 carb and 6al box is over kill for this motor but I already had them so I figured might as well use them. The motor runs great, I couldn't be happier with it.

[OARNGESI]

350/700r4 good mileage and I can do 85 all day long on the freeway but all I wanted was a good reliable cruiser

[3757chevy]

Bought my '67 20 yrs ago with 250 6cyl and a granny 4spd , put a car 4spd in and drove it for 10 yrs 'til I swapped in a 350 with a th400 automatic. Because : 6 cyl quit in the '67 and the rearend went out on in my 69 c10 so the engine, trans, headers ,exhaust and power steering went to the '67 .

[rjs53]

Bought mine a few months ago with a 350/350. When I'm done with a couple suspension things and fix the vacuum leak, I'll drive it till I make up my mind. I have a gen vi BBC I had rebuilt a year ago that was in my 65 el camino with a th400. It has excellent grunt. I also have a small block 396 that run 11:30's in mu 67 Chevelle but I really want an ls motor. If I don't find one to long after I'm up and running, ill probably go with the small block. The BBC was getting around 8-9 mpg might have done better with an OD trans.

[Greasey Harley]

Haven't actually swapped yet, I am currently collecting parts.

The 68 c10 will go from:
327 2bbl points w/ 4 speed, and 3:73:1 gears
to
396 Q-jet HEI TH400, 3.36:1 gears


K20 Will go from:
350 (not original) Q-jet, points, w/ 4 speed - Rockwell TC, and 4.56:1 gears
to:
383 stroker, Q-jet, HEI, w/ 4 speed - 205 TC, 3.73:1 gears

Why?
because they will be driveable, fun, and easy to work on. I like torque and simplicity.

[hamjet]

I always wanted a 348 or 409 'W' engine when I retired, but I also wanted an old chevy pickup to drive daily. So, to be different I thought it would be a challange to stick the engine in my pickup. but also went for an automatic with overdrive, (2004r). Needless to say I like it, but I do plan on upgrading to power steering.

[ZEKE68]

Pulled the 250 six out and am putting in a 454 with a 4L80E. I had a 70 Nova with a 402 when I was 19, and I wanted just one more big block. I also like the classic look, and 1968 was the first year for the big block in the pickups ( 396 ). This is the forth time I have pulled a straight six chevy out and installed a V8. The Nova started out as a six as well.

[71sierragrande]

Id put back the original 400 if I had it

[1972RedNeck]

478 build is underway...

[special-K]

I took the 350 out of a '72 K/20 350 4bbl automatic and swapped into my '72 K2500 350 4bbl automatic because the numbers were correct and I've always been happy with how these trucks run.

I like to play with swapping, but thought I'd give another reason for another kind of swap.

[boynton]

I swapped in a ly6 (Ls 6.0) with a 6l90 (6 speed auto). It has served me well for over two years and 10k miles. It starts every time doesn’t have to warm up in the winter, makes bbc power and get around 17 mpg when I keep my foot out of it. Why? Because Ls motors are the new sbc. I have a another truck with a sbc 350/700r4 that hasn’t given me any trouble that would keep me off of the road but it just isn’t what the Ls motor is. I agree that the 350 is easier to work on but I never have to work on the Ls motor so at the end of the day which one is easier to work on. I will eventually swap the 350 for a bbc or 383 because why not. I really like the sound of a bbc but I also really like the sound of forced induction going thru an Ls. Both make great power but only one gets better than 10 mpg. At the end of the day you need to swap what you as the owner want not what everyone else has or thinks you should do. There are arguments for all sides but it depends on what you want and what the purpose of the truck is.


My arbitrary picture.

[firedemon]

250 l6 in favor of a 350 because they are way cheap super easy to fix and just about everyone has parts for them sitting in their garage let alone the parts places . plus you can go from plenty of power to stupid power depending on your wants

[1972RedNeck]

I love how the people talking about getting "big block power" and "stupid power" out of small blocks have not actually had a built big block. Yes, the HP number may be the same, but power delivery and torque curve is not even comparable.

[cornerstone]

Does someone need a juicebox?

I yanked the clapped out 350/auto out in favor of a gen 5 L83/6L80e. Why? because the complete combo cost as much as a proper rebuild on a mild sbc. Plus Ill get "stupid BBC" power and way better MPG.

[boynton]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

Does someone need a juicebox?

I yanked the clapped out 350/auto out in favor of a gen 5 L83/6L80e. Why? because the complete combo cost as much as a proper rebuild on a mild sbc. Plus Ill get "stupid BBC" power and way better MPG.

Now that’s funny. Also for credit I built my dad’s 68 camaro with a bbc that makes a ton of power and am building his 72 short step with a bbc. I completely understand what they are capable of.

[aerotest]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

Does someone need a juicebox?

I yanked the clapped out 350/auto out in favor of a gen 5 L83/6L80e. Why? because the complete combo cost as much as a proper rebuild on a mild sbc. Plus Ill get "stupid BBC" power and way better MPG.

The L83 is a great engine but that’s a $8-10k combo used not including ancillary equipment required to install a gen v DI/6l80e. Realistically 13-15k when you are done. That’s not equivalent with a mild sbc.

[boynton]

Guys let’s not get all upset. This is just an opinion forum that was started four years ago. There are ways to do an Ls swap on the cheap even with the more sought after engines (you buy a complete wrecked car from an insurance company like I do). At the end of the day we all own our trucks and will put in whatever we want to have. There will always be purists who want it original and guys that want to modify them to the extreme. At the end of the day I can appreciate them all and I hope you can too. Not trying to continue the debate but how many flat head motors are still out there and why are they still around? The sbc has replaced most of them. Why? It’s way cheaper, they make more power and they are everywhere. The Ls is replacing the sbc. There will always be sbc out there but doing an Ls swap is growing exponentially because it is getting easier and cheaper. At the end of the day the Ls is a better motor (I’m going to catch heat over this I know). Really it is. Better seals better accessories from the factory starters alternators and fuel pumps that last 200k etc. it is decades of engineering put together. Look at the new corvette zo6-700+ hp with a warranty. But back to my original point everyone can make the decision for themselves on what they think is best for their vehicle. Most importantly we should be able to appreciate a good build no matter what combo is in it.

[cornerstone]

Originally Posted by aerotest

The L83 is a great engine but that’s a $8-10k combo used not including ancillary equipment required to install a gen v DI/6l80e. Realistically 13-15k when you are done. That’s not equivalent with a mild sbc.

If one was to pay GM directly perhaps. I paid 2500 for the low low mile combo with all the fixins from a rolled 2014 silverado. After the harness rework, computer work, fuel system mods, oil pan change, motor mount change, exhaust changes etc., it did creep up to 4800. So you are correct, a mild rebuild of the stock motor would have only been around 1800. my guess.

[72bowtiestepper]

Originally Posted by aerotest

The L83 is a great engine but that’s a $8-10k combo used not including ancillary equipment required to install a gen v DI/6l80e. Realistically 13-15k when you are done. That’s not equivalent with a mild sbc.

No doubt that Ls engines are great, But a GM crate 350 will be hard to beat cost wise. Anyone spending big bucks on a Ls changeover better be driving their trucks enough to warrant the expense. My SBC stepside is not a daily driver by any means, so I can't justify spending extra $$ just to say I have a Ls..No Way !

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by 72bowtiestepper

No doubt that Ls engines are great, But a GM crate 350 will be hard to beat cost wise. Anyone spending big bucks on a Ls changeover better be driving their trucks enough to warrant the expense.

By that reasoning nobody would ever swap to a big block.

There is much more to it than miles driven to easily justify the expense.

[72bowtiestepper]

Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck

By that reasoning nobody would ever swap to a big block.

There is much more to it than miles driven to easily justify the expense.

I have a big block in my 69 Camaro...don't need 2 vehicles that get 8-10 MPG. It's all about what you want & can afford.

[1972RedNeck]

Originally Posted by 72bowtiestepper

I have a big block in my 69 Camaro...don't need 2 vehicles that get 8-10 MPG. It's all about what you want & can afford.

Agreed.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

Does someone need a juicebox?

I yanked the clapped out 350/auto out in favor of a gen 5 L83/6L80e. Why? because the complete combo cost as much as a proper rebuild on a mild sbc. Plus Ill get "stupid BBC" power and way better MPG.

Will you really get the bottom end torque of a big block from that LS? Not from what I understand. A great hot rod motor for sure