Help on an 87 engine swap :'(

[hamad]

Hello,

I'm a new member in this forum and i found it to be very useful and beneficial.

I have a 1987 step-side, its in great condition, and has a 454 engine under the hood.

This 454 makes 280 horsepower but the problem is that it has really bad fuel efficiency.

I was thinking of converting it into fuel injection or swapping the engine for a newer more reliable one that make a bit more power and at the same times is more fuel efficient.

I'm not concerned about the power that much but i sure want something that would be more reliable (although I never experienced any malfunction in me current engine) and an engine that would give me more miles to the gallon.

My truck originally had a fuel injected 350 but the previous owner swap it out with this 454 that works on this carburetor system.

At the same time i would want something that's cost efficient and wont take allow on labor work.

Thank you in advance

[rs72z]

Ls power. 5.3 & 4l60e. Great milage and very reliable, plus plenty of power.

[hamad]

how much would a swap like that cost me ?

[Bigblocker]

Defiantly an LS motor. If fuel mileage is what you want. I would think you can get good money for the 454 to help fund the LS you could inject that 454 but I don't know how well that does for fuel economy.
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[Bigblocker]

I just had a drag race guy offer me $1200 for a 454 in my 3500 I bet you can get a junk yard motor and trans LS for close to that. I do not know the details on the computer though if you can just use the one that comes With the junk yard LS I am sure some one knows that here .
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[rs72z]

It just depends on engine/trans pricing where your at. If you go through a dismantler you will probably be looking at 1800-2500 for engine/trans, complete harness and all the accesorys. Then you need swap mounts, fuel system, program ecm and what ever you want to do on the wirinf harness. If you pay someone to mod it that will be about 500. or you can do what i did and use the factory underhood fuse block and all you have to do is hookup three wires to make it run.
It adds up but you will be able to get 18-20 mpg or maybe better.

[hamad]

Originally Posted by Bigblocker

Defiantly an LS motor. If fuel mileage is what you want. I would think you can get good money for the 454 to help fund the LS you could inject that 454 but I don't know how well that does for fuel economy.
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the problem is that alot of parts would have to be changed to make an LS motor compatible with my car ... so i thought that converting it to an injector would be easier ... thats why i started this thread to get peoples advice =)

[rs72z]

You probably will never get enough fuel milage out of the bigblock to pay for the swap. The factory efi bigblocks usually got about 8 mpg empty or loaded.

[hamad]

ttt

[gchemist]

You can save money by converting the LS 5.3 to a carb. Power is still better than stock 80 engines. Milage does drop.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Ls swap or a low power small engine. In this situation you can't have your cake and eat it too
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[gchemist]

If I need an engine fast, I would convert an LS to a carb. Here is how to do it!!
http://www.aera.org/ep/downloads/ep1...2010_10-19.pdf

[Rich84]

18-20 mpg with a TPI setup..And they are pretty cheap too. Nice torque, good truck motor.

[burb1085]

I get 11 mi/gal from my 87 t.b.i. 3/4 ton Burb if I keep my foot out of it. Not the greatest, but not to bad for a big block. I'd trade for an LS in a heart beat though.

[x ReAcT x]

Originally Posted by Rich84

18-20 mpg with a TPI setup..And they are pretty cheap too. Nice torque, good truck motor.

TBI setup? Is that the practically the same as port fuel injection? dont mean to jack the thread

[shifty1125]

I swapped mine to a 5.3 4l60e and get 18mpg and def has more power then my 350.

[hamad]

My truck has a well built engine now, i was wondering if a fuel injection conversion from FAST would do the job when it comes to mileage and reliability.

[MalibuSSwagon]

Reliability? Sure.

Good fuel mileage? Depends on what you consider good fuel mileage.

The FAST kits are apparently easy to install and fool-proof, however aren't cheap.

[hamad]

do you think i will get 15 mpg ?

[gchemist]

The 5.3 makes more than 250 HP!! Torque is a lot lower than a 454. If you keep the gearing low, it can still tow plenty of weight. 15 MPG in a square with a 5.3? Easy with a PCM tune and 4L60E or current transmission.