Sport Truck Possibilities?

darkfox1 · January 21, 2011

hey guys, I'm going to look at a truck this afternoon, an 00 RCSB with a vortec 5.3 (according to the owner a 5.3..) the truck is high mileage, almost 300,000 miles.

My idea here is a sport truck, something with 400-500hp maybe.. a project, but I don't want it to break me to get that kinda power.

Is that feasible?

Is it best to stick with the 5.3 in the truck and have it rebuilt at that point, or try to get something like a 6.2 crate or something..what's a rebuild on something like this?

I called a known corvette shop here that i've dealt with before,they said $5k on a rebuild, $7k if they have to un/re-install the motor. Seems kinda steep. the truck isn't worth that much according to KBB.

truck's price is right at $4k. It's an LS so it's "loaded" for a RCSB, looks like a good straight body, owner says no known issues.

whattya think? walk away? get it? if I do get it, what route should I take? I'd really rather be able to wrench myself on it but I don't have a method for rebuilding engines lol, and wouldn't trust myself there. I can do the un/re-install though and power mods like headers or something..

becker87 · January 22, 2011

If your thinking its going to be a cheap adventure to making that a sport truck your in for a world of hurts. If you want to stick 10 grand into it, then it could be a hell of a screamer.

darkfox1 · January 22, 2011

That much huh? Well I had kind of planned an engine rebuild, tranny, and driveshaft and rearend.

I test drove it tonight, it's a great little truck. Paint needs some buffing and it has some dents but nothing major.

Well, I guess $4k isn't enough to buy a good project anymore..

renegadeking · January 22, 2011

That much huh? Well I had kind of planned an engine rebuild, tranny, and driveshaft and rearend.

I test drove it tonight, it's a great little truck. Paint needs some buffing and it has some dents but nothing major.

Well, I guess $4k isn't enough to buy a good project anymore..

now a days, projects cost a lot of money. if you want to put serious hp out you will need to spend money. once my 5.3 gets high milage and i get a good job im gonna bore it out to a 5.7 put in a bigger stroke and get a 6.3 L (383 stoker). and some bolt ons and i can put out about 500 hp /torque. im debating a twin screw supercharger, then i could have just under 700 hp. but of course i have to upgrade the tranny, etc. and the engine is probably just under 12,000. but then again its nice to day dream.

i say find a truck with a broke engine, cause you will be redoing most of it to get out the hp you want. and you will get the truck much cheaper. IMO

darkfox1 · January 22, 2011

Well I figured $4k for a NBS in fair/good condition, no major damage that passes emissions and runs and drives WAS a good deal..

I also didn't consider 400hp "serious" HP. I mean the new Vmax trucks have that stock. Heck I think the 2010 5.3 is what 345?

I figured if I started with a good rolling chassis and stuffed a good power train into it over time I'd be solid. I had a project last year but it needed new brake lines and hoses and tie rods ball joints etc. just to be able to drive at all.. so after $2k invested I got rid of it.

tubbedamx · January 22, 2011

That much huh? Well I had kind of planned an engine rebuild, tranny, and driveshaft and rearend.

I test drove it tonight, it's a great little truck. Paint needs some buffing and it has some dents but nothing major.

Well, I guess $4k isn't enough to buy a good project anymore..

A lot of it depends on if your doing the labor or if your paying somebody to do it. If you know how to rebuild and engine,tranny and rearend then your going to save alot of money that could be spent on something else. If you paying somebody for the parts, rebuild and labor to remove and install I imagine 10 to 15 grand is just getting started.

Little things add up for example starters, water pumps, new injectors, ignition wires, intake/exhaust, bigger fuel system, i'm sure you would want a nice converter, guages in the truck,.....on and on it goes. That list there 2 to 3 thousand and could be alot more if your buying really nice pieces.

If you sold a rolling project because it needed brake lines and hoses then imagine whats worn out on a truck that 300k miles. I would guess everything.

It does sound like a fun project.

renegadeking · January 22, 2011

i was considering labour in my prices. and a 2002 5.3 only puts out 275 HP to the wheels. the 2000 5.3 would only put out 275 at the wheels and about 300 hp at fly.

DwayneJ · January 22, 2011

People often miss estimate what speed costs.

You can easily spend $1000 on exhaust

$2500 on tranny and torque converter

$200 on gears, $500 on a posi, another $150 in bearings and gaskets then probably at least $250 in install labor maybe twice that

$200 on a cold air intake

$500 on bigger fuel pump and injectors, maybe a perfect original pump would be OK but it is an old truck so budget for replacement

$300 in reprogramming

Haven't even gotten into the engine yet

A good heads/cam package with gaskets pushrods etc is going to run over $2500 for parts and gaskets and probably at least another $700+ to install.

You can spend more but often to spend much less on this stuff you will be buying stuff that is cheap in every sense.

darkfox1 · January 22, 2011

I sold the 88 because it needed a full frame off restoration. Everything was rusted and ruined. The truck looked twice it's age. I had a 71 c10 project truck about 5 years ago. It was fine, but without a shop at this house the truck would need to stay mobile or the county will take it. So.. when I found out that the 88 would need a full frame off I got rid of it.

I don't care if I wind up having $10k in it over a period of a year or 2.. I just can't dump that at one time. I've already walked from this deal.

[email protected] · January 22, 2011

Yeah, I didn't think putting a cam and heads on my truck would be expensive either, but boy was I wrong. Still trying to save for a stall and cooler. I wish I wouldn't have even thought about performance when I got my truck, I wish I would've just drove it and used that money for gas, but you only live once I guess. FI is out of the question f you're doing it on the cheap, IMO.

darkfox1 · January 23, 2011

Thanks so much for the insight guys.

I decided to pick up a 2000 camaro Z28. Starts off faster, and little tweaks here and there should help it out.

Sly · February 23, 2011

Thanks so much for the insight guys.

I decided to pick up a 2000 camaro Z28. Starts off faster, and little tweaks here and there should help it out.

Hot Rod magazine just did a write up on buying a used 5.3 LS motor and added a turbo. they got close to 600 hp on the cheap.$3252 They did use a cheap turbo from China! They recommended buying a a turbo with known quality. i.e. American. Still a good read for us truck guys.