Help Me Decide On This Motor

[HuntinNut]

So yesterday I was unloading some scrap at the local scrap yard and noticed a 91 C60 with the front end gone. Checked it out and it still has the complete 7.0 in it and is supposed to run. I know the motor is a tall deck, but I was quoted 150.00 for the motor, acc and computer.

I'm doing a frame off on my 66 SWB and do not have a motor yet so I've been thinking about this one pretty hard. I like the thought of a BBC and would leave it stock with the FI and computer if I decided on it.

I know its not a hi HP motor which is fine since I'm more after tire shredding torque which this should have plenty of, but before I ran into this I had really planned on a LS swap.

Question is should I jump on this 7.0, wait till I get close and get my LS or buy this 7.0 and flip it on Craigslist for $$ towards my project.

My guts telling me LS, but I really think the 7.0 has potential for a cool weekend cruiser and for the $$$ I think I could do it a lot cheaper than a LS swap.

Thoughts? I have till Tuesday to decide..

[66Submarine]

Welcome to the forum! For $150 I'm sure I'd find something to do with a 427...

[66LSx]

LS....

Big block HP, small block size, EFI

that and few realize the stock bottom end potential...15 psi of boost on a stock 5.3L.... no problemo.

I'm biased tho

[MoeMan]

I would definitely buy it at that price. Not neccesary for your build though. The LS will get a lot better mileage for cruising and will propel your C10 plenty quick. I'm a BBC guy, and live the torque and power...but be prepared to stop for gas a lot. Another torque option is the 400 SBC, I run these quite a lot with longer rods and lighter pistons. I have one n the garage now that makes more than 500 lb foot of torque...but again, MPG won't touch a fuel injected LS.

[66LSx]

Remember too...

An LQ9 will make more HP and the same torque as a 93' 454-SS truck engine...

93' Truck-454-SS = 255HP/405 TQ

L92 6.2L Vortec [ls] = 403HP / 415 TQ

These numbers are for the vortec family... get into an LS-2 and its a big block embarrassing party

MPG is nice also.

My little 5.3L should flirt with outperforming a 454 on the dyno with just the long tubes and cam swap.

MPG on the other hand will flirt with near 20-25 mpg on my little 3200# truck vs. the 18 MPG on the 5500# 05' crew cab it came out of. [sans heavy foot of course].

I have my vortec computer with "tow-haul" mode still enabled. A simple momentary push button on my dash and I switch between daily driver and "haul-a**" mode. (The 2nd transmission table reserved for tow haul metrics are being reprogrammed to give it a little more umpfff. (shift pressures, RPM etc etc)

[AcampoDave]

Looks like it all comes down to $$. Only you can answer that question, but if you bought the big block, how much gas could you buy with the money you saved. Also how many miles a year do you plan on driving? 10 m.p.g. doesn't hurt much at 1000 miles per year. But if its your daily driver....ouch.

[TJ's Chevy]

Great buy for the money..specially if it runs! I'd jump on it.

[Captainfab]

For me that would be hard to turn down for $150. I do like big blocks, but I am trying to migrate over to the LS engines.....power and mpg's

[PGSigns]

The longer you stay in this hobby the more you end up flipping parts. If you can get it for a 150 and sell it for 250 then there is a little more in your toy fund. Been doing it for years.
Jimmy

[Clyde65]

I too say buy it and flip it.

[Dubnova]

Buy the BBC! Use the LS

I have had just about every combo Chevy you can have and the LS is the stuff. Kinda like a big block in a small block's body. The TQ curve on these engines are unreal and the get really good MPG. I would tell you to go square port (6.2) if you can afford it, although the 5.3 truck engine is a deal and make good TQ. The one thing I don't like about the LS is the way it looks (ugly) but, it's growing on me.