Sbc...or????

[kgmunro]

What is everyone using for a powertrain. It would be easy for me to drop in a sbc but I was thinking maybe something different...ideas?? pics??

[ratrodmiller]

i like the 5.3 or 6.0 conversions any ls style engine with fuel inj ,i went with the 5.3 /4l60 combo . runs awesomes looks great in my AD

[kgmunro]

Can the 6.0 mate to a th350 or 700r4? I have access to one of these but I know nothing about the newer engines. Can you buy a wiring harness for the engine or just get one with the engine and strip it to the essentials??

[JML55]

I'm all for the new LS motors. The 4l60e is just an electronic version of the 700r4.

[LEEVON]

only $2500 for everything, more than 360 horses, won't leak, computer controlled timing, sexy...

guess this engine:

[N2TRUX]

Sweet motor LEEVON. I love everything about it except that antiquated fuel disbursement system....

[ratrodmiller]

yes you can bolt the th350 to the ls engine ,

[entourageguy]

I'd like to do something like a 409 or a 348. Still like the old school stuff.....

[LEEVON]

You can buy a stand alone harness or make one, they say it's pretty straight forward and will definitely save money to DIY.

[Indian113]

The great thing about the fuel injected motors is the fact they can run on the Pi-- the gas companies sell now. It's just hard for us OLD SCHOOL guys to give up our lumpy cams and the MOAN of a 4 barrel "at least for me"

[63 & 64 Bowties]

How bout a BB Caddy or a nailhead Olds?
Cool and different.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Indian113

... It's just hard for us OLD SCHOOL guys to give up our lumpy cams and the MOAN of a 4 barrel "at least for me"

No need to give up the lumpy cam sound. You can add a nasty cam profile to the LS motors too...

[kgmunro]

I would really like a vintage hemi from the 50's...would be really cool to see when you pop the hood.

[OrrieG]

I'm running a 350/350. Previous engine was a 283 .030 over. Thought about a 348 (love the shape of the valve covers since I was a kid) but costs to rebuild are pretty high. Cost of rebuilding a hemi is outrageous.

[mr48chev]

Just a few things to think about.

1. What is the overall theme of the truck?
Different engines either fit right in with certain themes are all wrong for others. A sbc fits about any theme depending upon how you dress it up. the Later engines such as the 6.0 work great with a billet encrusted truck but are out of place if you are going with the traditional look. They are fast, reliable and get great fuel mileage if set up right though.
2. The Pontiacs are cool in a GMC and some mid and late 50's trucks had Pontiac based V8 engines from the factory.
3. The Nailhead Buicks, early Cads, early Olds engines have a high "cool" factor when stuck in one of these trucks but getting one rebuilt right will probably run more than the complete installation of a low mileage 6.0 with trans and all. Also sometimes simple stuff like a valve cover gasket can be hard to find if you have one fail on the road.
4. The 348/409 family is cool as hell but again spendy to buy parts for now and some stuff hits the hard to find in a hurry issue.

5. A hemi would be a waste of a good hemi and a good truck all in one shot unless you were building the truck to win ISCA points for the engine swap. Plus Hemi usually means bring two buckets of cash rather than one when you go for parts. Huge Bubba factor though but you might end up with belt buckle scratches on your fenders at shows.

Big block Chev engines are cool and just about as easy to work on as small blocks but do take up more room and are heavier along with parts costing more. But there are tons of trick stuff available and the performance engines make gobs of power to begin with. I've got a 396 that was intended for my 48 before I decided to go with the 292.

And don't forget the 250/292 six cylinders. they can be done up to run with the big dogs on the highway and can have a really set of pipes if done right. Plus they are usually dead nuts reliable for a lot of miles and there is no issue of finding wear parts easily.


The "different" engines are great if you are wanting a high Bubba factor and looking for show points. They may be not so great if you intend to actually drive the truck a lot and do a lot of long road trips (300 miles or more ) with the truck.

If the truck is intended to be a trailer queen it doesn't matter what you stick under the hood because the only miles it will get are from the tow rig parking lot to the fairgrounds and back to the trailer but If you are like me and tend to want to jump in the truck and drive it to events 200, 1000 or 2000 miles away on a regular basis you want a drive train that you can easily keep maintained on the road. A sbc or 6.0 water pump won't be hard to find on Sunday morning in most parts of the country if one fails on you on the road but a 55 Cad waterpump failing might mean that you will end up spending a night or two in a motel waiting for the part plus paying a UPS red label fee to get it there on Tuesday so you can be on your way home. Again, if it is riding in the trailer behind your Duramax it doesn't really matter.

[kgmunro]

I missed a hemi by about a week. A local guy had an old chrysler for sale that was in running condition but I was too late. It would not be too bad if you could find an old chrysler like that..complete and running ..but I probably would not buy one to rebuild cause like you say it could cost a fortune. I will keep my eyes out for something cool to stick underhood.

[IndyBowtie]

How about a hot rod inline six? 235, 261, or other, cam, headers, carb/intake!
Pretty retro!

[blackdiesel]

how bout a jimmy 6 a 270 or 302 would be sweet

[Hottrucks]

Originally Posted by entourageguy

I'd like to do something like a 409 or a 348. Still like the old school stuff.....

I did the 500 caddy and love it..there cheap if you look around too

[52 Rat]

I'm running a lq4 6.0 with at T56 six speed. With a simple cam change and you are over 400 hp with a very driver friendly engine.

[kgmunro]

Anyone running a 4.3 chevy? Just wondering what it would be like...not looking at huge power but a nice cruiser..

[52 Rat]

Originally Posted by kgmunro

Anyone running a 4.3 chevy? Just wondering what it would be like...not looking at huge power but a nice cruiser..

I don't know about the newer 4.3's but the older TBI engines were very low on power. My father has a 92' full size 4x4 with a 4.3 and it is very weak. They do a little better in the S10's. Either way, they are reliable and would work for a cruiser.

[Red Foreman]

I'm in the middle of building a 348 for my soon to be f/body clipped 56 GMC but....a 425/79 deville doner has popped up in my area that I'm considering instead, I know W engines are way cooler but right now I'm thinking of finances, also makes sense for me to have a complete doner car thats turn key & have the ease of just swapping stuff over.

[pgf545]

Originally Posted by kgmunro

Anyone running a 4.3 chevy? Just wondering what it would be like...not looking at huge power but a nice cruiser..

SGTUSMC has a 4.3 in his truck.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=305723

Also I am doing a big block in a 52....I am not sure I would recommend it but it is going to be fun to drive. I think if I was going to do one from scratch I would do an LS motor. We only went big block because we had one, but if you decide you want to do one let me know and I will give you some pointers.

Bernie