motor swap?

gringo76

New member
was thinking of going v8 instead of dumping money into v6 to make it run good. I want to still run awd, what is the easiest most common bolt in ls seires(ls1,ls7,ls9,ect) motor(year model ect) I see there is a ton of ls combos and sizes along with trans(l460e,l480e ect). which one will bolt into awd units and all fit? thanks
 

IGottaSy

Active member
Re: motor swap?

I have not done this myself but I can imagine any passenger car rwd LS engine will work better than a truck's because of the accessories configuration. They are NOT exactly a bolt on deal. Others have who have done it may have posted a bit of info you can read about.
 
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gringo76

New member
Re: motor swap?

thanks, from what I gather the tbss is a good choice, or at least the ac unit and other front drive stuff fit better.
 

IGottaSy

Active member
Re: motor swap?

If I remember correctly, the intake off one of those is desirable over regular truck's. You will have to procure different motor mounts, transmission-to-transfer case adapter, 're-route transmission cooler lines, New wiring harness(if you want stock gauges to work) , New exhaust pipes, I believe ,if you build a stout 4.3/5.7, 4L60/th400 and upgrade turbo and ECM, you come out ahead in the $$$$ department. LS is aight but need deeper pockets to swap one in than to rebuild even the 350 engine. They make those 4.3 blocks like the " M" sbc stuff too , you know. Forget what they call 'em. Look at "parts for sale". Not to discourage you... just info.
You might also consider the Chevy Colorado with 5.3 and gets as many parts from donor vehicle as possible. Radiator, shroud etc.
 
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gringo76

New member
Re: motor swap?

when you say 4.3 do you mean v8?like early 2000 year models? I thought about the Colorado but I have only ever seen one every with v8 so figured it would be hard to find.
ya was looking at all the stuff you gotta do to actually make one of these work, set of heads and bottom end in v6 not looking as bad now lol
 

CC801

Donating Member
Re: motor swap?

Corvette accessory brackets work best, oil pan needs to be modified or pay big dollars for an rpm unit. Same with mounts. Frame will have to be modified to run corvette a/c, but it will fit. Dont waste your time looking for radiator and shroud from a donor. Nothing is a bolt in, but witha stout 4.3 you are going to have to upgrade to 4l80, so cost doesnt change there. It is cheaper to make power with an ls platform than the v6 platform. You can build a forged bottom end in an ls for 3k or so, you'll pay that for just the crank in a v6, not to mention bowtie block and aftermarket heads/intake if you really want to make power.
 

gringo76

New member
Re: motor swap?

400-500 to the wheels, don't care about track times just want a really fun street truck
 

the baPhoon

Active member
Re: motor swap?

That's doable with the 4.3 with little hassle. If you were looking for 800ish it'd be a different story. You're still going to want a 4l80. Bigger turbo, injectors, full exhaust, forged internals and turn the boost up a bit. If you're dead set on a v8 LS with vette accessories is the way to go but that's costly to make just 500 ponies.
 

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
Re: motor swap?

400-500 to the wheels, don't care about track times just want a really fun street truck

Personally if it was me, I would use a V6 ( I actually have similar goals and I am using a V6). 400whp is even doable with a stock short block. Sean Krupa's Typhoon is definitely making more than 400whp on his stock short block. IMO I think a V8 make a lot sense at 600+ whp goals. (Bowtie V6 builds) A v8 should be a lot more reliable than a stressed v6 as they approach 600whp as well.

A V8 is going to require a lot of custom work and more downtime vs v6. If really want a v8,then go for it. I personally just don't think its the easiest way to achieve your goals.
 

gringo76

New member
Re: motor swap?

so what top end you guys thinking? currently motor is stock except roller rockers, has rpm stage one turbo,3 inch turbo back exhaust,42 lb injectors,turbo tweak chip,and alky injection. from what I read the stock heads are whats choaking it. is there heads that work with every thing? read on some were you got mod factory intake or change intake and throttle body? cam suggestions?
 

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
Re: motor swap?

Vortec Heads and custom cam. You would need to have heads drilled for different intake bolt pattern and have the intake modified (or buy an used already modified intake)

I have a .531/.531 214/214 115 camshaft in my truck. I have ported vortec heads but for the money spent, I would have been better off with just a stock set of Vortec. You will need a bigger turbo and injectors as well + plus transmission/Torque converter that can handle that kind of power. A rebuilt motor with forged pistons & rods would go a long way for reliably making the hp your looking for. A stock short block isn't going to tolerate many tuning hiccups.
 

IGottaSy

Active member
Re: motor swap?

Don't take my word for it but I think there were vortech 4.3's in 94-95 trucks with 12 bolt pattern before going to 8 bolts after 1996. Also, check out the marine version intakes.
 

JSM

Active member
Re: motor swap?

Don't take my word for it but I think there were vortech 4.3's in 94-95 trucks with 12 bolt pattern before going to 8 bolts after 1996. Also, check out the marine version intakes.

GM used the "VORTEC" name before they actually used the VORTEC parts. never seen a true vortec head factory wtih the syty intake manifold bolt pattern.

L35 heads as we call them, were marketed as VORTEC but they are not the same.
 

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
Re: motor swap?

You want the later 96 up heads. The L35 (92-95) flow about 10% more than stock. The later 96 up heads flow 40%. (Not to mentions more knock resistance combustion chamber) To reach your goals it will be a lot easier with later heads that require the intake mods/heads drilling.
 
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