i blew up my SBC 350...thinking LS

[colonel mustard]

I blew it up and now im tossing ideas around with what I should do. I have access to a complete 2002 suburban for 700$. 200k miles, bad trans.

one thought is buy the burb and use the engine and run my SM465 mated to it. what else outside of anything that would be on the burb would I need to buy?

motor mounts?
headers?
wiring harness?
fuel pump ?

it going into a 1981 k5. one of my concerns is will I need to replace the fuel tank with a tbi year tank to get the fuel pump?

the other option I have a building the SBC 350 to about 350-400 hp. I have a guy working on a quote now and estimates 1500-1800$

im really stuck on what to do....

 

[Catbox]

The fuel tank from a 1987 is what you would need to become EFI friendly.

Myself, I would just rebuild a healthy 350 and stab it back in there.

 

[82sbshortbed]

^x2

 

[Craig 85]

X3

 

[RoryH19]

From someone that has done a LS to a k5, it is much easier and faster to rebuild the 350.

 

[animal]

X4. Doing the same thing myself right now

 

[Shorty81]

X5. Keep the SBC

 

[77 K20]

Build what you have. It will make life easier in the long run.

What happened to your engine?

 

[TrybalRage]

I blew it up and now im tossing ideas around with what I should do. I have access to a complete 2002 suburban for 700$. 200k miles, bad trans.

one thought is buy the burb and use the engine and run my SM465 mated to it. what else outside of anything that would be on the burb would I need to buy?

motor mounts?
headers?
wiring harness?
fuel pump ?

it going into a 1981 k5. one of my concerns is will I need to replace the fuel tank with a tbi year tank to get the fuel pump?

the other option I have a building the SBC 350 to about 350-400 hp. I have a guy working on a quote now and estimates 1500-1800$

im really stuck on what to do....

I've been researching quite a bit on what you'll need for an LS swap, since I'm considering the same for my 85 C10.

Yes, you'll need custom motor mounts (~$100), headers or manifolds, a custom or modified wiring harness ($500+ to have someone do it), and a new tank and fuel pump. The PCM will need to be programmed at the very least to remove VATS, or you could buy a whole Holley standalone PCM/harness kit for like $1200. You'll need new fuel injection rated fuel lines and connectors. Depending on the mounts you choose, you may need to set up an electric fan (some get too close to the radiator). If you move the engine too much, you'll need a new driveshaft. You'll have to figure out getting your gauges to work. There's going to be a ton of little things you need to work around and customize.

And at the end you'll have a 200k motor in there.

All that being said, folks seem to love their swaps for driveabilty, etc. Just be aware it's not a drop in and go procedure. You won't be the first, and there is a ton of aftermarket support these days so it'll be a lot easier than say 10 years ago. If you want to beef up the engine, dollar for dollar you'll get more HP and torque out of an LS than a classic small block. It's just newer technology and engineering.

If you want to learn more, there's an LS swapped square body facebook group, with a Files section that has a ton of information available. But keeping a 350 will be much, much simpler and cheaper.

 

[AuroraGirl]

LS is overdone

 

[TPISly-C10]

I blew it up and now im tossing ideas around with what I should do. I have access to a complete 2002 suburban for 700$. 200k miles, bad trans.

one thought is buy the burb and use the engine and run my SM465 mated to it. what else outside of anything that would be on the burb would I need to buy?

motor mounts?
headers?
wiring harness?
fuel pump ?

it going into a 1981 k5. one of my concerns is will I need to replace the fuel tank with a tbi year tank to get the fuel pump?

the other option I have a building the SBC 350 to about 350-400 hp. I have a guy working on a quote now and estimates 1500-1800$

im really stuck on what to do....

Go for LS is easy to do and lot of part available to do the swap safe and easy..i swap in mine a 6L 4L80E and it so lot of fun and relyable!

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[AZ-520]

LS is overhyped and the prices have gone up now that everyone wants them. You can get a crate 350 HO for the cost of LS swap and with about the same power level. Couple years ago I did a budget 5.3 swap and it ended up being 2000.00. All that for 300hp and 330 lbs - not worth it- Cool- I have a new 176000 mile engine in my truck and it has same power as my 350.

 

[Crispy]

Rebuilding the SBC will be faster and easier.

On the other side a $700 donor vehicle will net a free LS motor after you part it out. You have a real advantage having the whole vehicle.

Quick and dirty (possibly incomplete) of what you will need:

Engine
Trans
Harness (plus harness modification to remove unnecessary circuits)
PCM (plus custom tuning to remove original vehicle security and other items, performance tuning optional)
Headers or small OEM manifolds (manual linkages may case interference)
Engine mount plates
High pressure fuel pump (possibly the existing Burb pump)
1987+ fuel tank for EFI baffling
I would suggest cutting the Burbs fuel lines from the engine back to where they turn metal
Additional high pressure fuel line to complete fuel system
Some sort of Flywheel/clutch/crank spacer combo to interface the LS with your existing manual
Gauge sender adapters to keep OEM gauges
AC relocation brackets if equipped

 

[RoryH19]

Go for LS is easy to do and lot of part available to do the swap safe and easy..i swap in mine a 6L 4L80E and it so lot of fun and relyable!

You must be registered for see images attach

Looks like my K5's engine bay. I used a 2004 Escalade as a donor.
LS 6.0 (LQ9) and 4l65e. Worked great since I needed a 4wd setup.
Also used the e-fans and full cooling system.

 

[colonel mustard]

wow...thanks for the interaction yall. I decided to rebuild what I have. especially I just bought a 600$ carb last year and have never really NEEDED fuel injection. I have always been happy with the SBC.

so the builder tore it down. I spun a couple bearing from oil starvation. so
new crank, pistons, and .30 over bore
decking .020"
reworking heads
and replacing everything else, (timing chain , oil pump, 6qt oil pan.

all together he said he would be raising compression to almost 10:1

the builder has an extremely good reputation for building demo engines, race engines, mud moggers...ect. I trust him when he says ill be happy with this while staying with daily driving ability. he is claiming 375hp 400 torque at 1500$

Thoguhts?