Jason Burt

Hey guys,

I know there are several threads to sort through but I thought I'd just ask what I wanna know and get opinions. I know, I know, everyone's got one.

Car = 1976 Coupe.. currently has a 350 4bolt main (1979 block) that's been built less than 10k miles ago. typical stuff like a mild cam, edelbrock 600cfm, etc.

I have a 1999 Silverado with a 4.8L vortec. Truck has 250k miles on it but I had the motor rebuilt at 215k... so it has less than 40k miles on the engine. runs good and strong, etc. Truck has fair amount of damage and age and probalby isn't even worth the $2500 i spent on the engine rebuild.

SO, question is... What's your opinions as to using the 4.8L LS motor for a swap into my vette? Pros/cons to that particular engine? Particular upgrades you do to the engine before dropping it in?

Trying to decide whether to sell off the truck as it is or scrap it and keep the engine for a future swap.

Kacyc3

If you're happy with the vette as it sits why do the swap because its going to have additional expenses to swap in the ls. If you're not happy pull the 4.8 and tranny set on a cart push under work bench till you're ready to swap it. Far as I understand the 4.8 will always be short on HP compared to the same build on the bigger engines but, the 4.8 has more cyl. wall strength to handle boost. Personally I'd like to swap a LS into an 80s squarebody truck for parts hauler and work around the house.

AboveTheLogic

Recently I found two 5.3L LS / auto trans combos complete for about $1500 on Craigslist. I don't know that a 4.8L would command as much. Something to think about, you're considering all of this work to salvage the use of a drive train that could be had probably for $1500 or less.

The 4.8L probably has a bunch of potential seeing that is the same bore as the 5.3L with a shorter stroke. Maybe it would make for a good high RPM engine... but high RPMs come with other costs too.

Putting into a small truck sounds like a blast, though.

10Seconds918

In my area, I see 5.3s on CL for $500 frequently, so I would never consider the swap. I would try and sell the truck as is and hope you can get your money out.

cv67

too small of a motor for a heavy C3
sell the truck as is and stroke your sbc.

Eddie 70

There was a story in Hot Rod Magazine a few years back where they bought a junkyard 5.3 to see how much boost it would take using ebay parts. They boosted it to something like 21 lbs. The motor was making near 1000 HP and they could get no more boost out of it. So they tore it down to refresh it, it was then they found out it was a 4.8L.

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/...g-bang-theory/