What did you do with your truck/shop today

[KARNUT]

Once my old school blown 383 goes in my 92, I'm going LS crate. Some of my mechanics at my shop worked wonders with the LS in their camaros. Last year for smog in my 92, and can run antique tags. Much easier to work on, my distributor is under the throttle body behind the blower a real pain. Rather make power with heads and cam on the LS than a blower.

[Chris]

I wonder how much money it would take to get similar HP and TQ out of a 5.3L...

About $8000

[kstruckcountry]

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/hrdp-1109-stock-gm-ls-engine-big-bang-theory/

 

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[Badass69]

I wonder how much money it would take to get similar HP and TQ out of a 5.3L...

Probably more than what I paid for the crate engine I bought. Headers, cam and blower will get you there... but it's about the same cost lol. I have an LQ9 here with 40000 miles I could have used and did some mods too... but I would rather have the 6.2 in the Jimmy. I don't want a blower... or turbo mess.. just good old naturally aspirated horsepower.

 

If you convert what I paid in Canadian dollars to USD it's about $5800 for the engine. I would have a hard time building one for any significant amount less.

 

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Edited July 1, 2016 by 1994Vmax

[Jsdirt]

Ahh, that explains the stratospheric price - Canadian dollars! Was gonna say ... $8k is insane.

 

$5,800 while still high in my book, is a little more reasonable.

 

Looks like my next build will be doing what I've been doing for 25+ years - another 350. All I can afford these days.

[Chris]

My 8k remark was based on taking a 5.3, heads, cam, headers, and a blower.

[Jsdirt]

I was talking about that crate engine for $8,500 - that's crazy.

 

Superchargers are off-the-chart crazy these days. My buddy spent over $12 GRAND getting his done on the '10 Camaro SS. All the stuff needed to run the supercharger just adds up.

 

Horsepower has become a rich man's game these days. I thought it was bad 20 years ago! This is why I've always owned motorcycles. Cars can't touch the bang-for-the-buck factor. For a couple grand, you're in the 11-12 second range.

[Badass69]

Pretty sure that 8500 is the US MSRP. .. up here MSRP is closer to 10000. It's not bad at all if you actually do the math to building one... Used junk pullouts are usually asking more than this lol. I obviously can afford this so I don't really find it expensive lol.

 

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Edited July 1, 2016 by 1994Vmax

[Jsdirt]

I was just born in a different time. Wasn't until my '07 Silverado that I paid 5 figures for any vehicle I had ever owned. I think every car & motorcycle I had ever owned up to that point didn't add up to the $30 LARGE I paid for it ...

[SnakeEyeSS]

I wonder how much money it would take to get similar HP and TQ out of a 5.3L...

Was was looking into building an LS1 versus buying the crate and there wasn't much price difference once you factor in machining centers and part prices. I was looking at saving a max of $1500 DIY but then you are sourcing parts from multiple places(some of which were on eBay), no warranty, and more risk IMO. Plus the time to put it all together. And if a machine shop ends up taking a while or charging more than you expect....

Edited July 1, 2016 by SnakeEyes

[Jsdirt]

Yeah crates are a no-brainer these days. So many companies sell them now.

 

Always nice to build your own, but without space, time, desire to cart the block, crank, con-rods, head, & pistons to the machine shop and back and not having an area that will stay clean, I'd opt for a crate any day. So much less stress, and 10x faster.

[Badass69]

I can build my own..... I have 3 of them on stands in my shop right now in various states of assembly ( all 6 liters). That said..... I want this truck done and I don't want to spend time fiddling around. I missed a deal on a CT 525 circle track LS3 last year that spun 2 rod bearings and otherwise was low hour for $1000. I have been searching for a 6.2 core since whether truck or car.... and nothing worth looking at. So this just made sense... plus with 495 rated horsepower on tap it can just stay as it comes. If you get good deals on stuff it's always cheaper.... but even me assembling and having my buddy and I do the machine work ( I even own an LS torque plate lol) it's not like it's free..... and it's a lot of time I don't want to be bothered with.

[Conky Conky]

So I'm doing a rad swap on my 1994 Chevy and need some advice. With the small factory radiator that was in my 94 5.7 1500 It always ran cool even with a 195 thermostat. But I'm putting in a massive rad for a 6.5 diesel in the truck should I now run a hotter thermostat. Any opinions?

[Conky Conky]

 

There's the rads the big one is the one I'm putting in as the small (original one) started seeping. The other rad is almost new came out of a 6.5 diesel the guy just put the rad in then truck got totaled. I see it's alot thicker rad aswell.

[Jsdirt]

Big increase in cooling there. Not a bad thing. You'll be able to work the pee out of that truck without worrying.

 

Should be fine with whatever the stock thermostat temp was.