MX442

I have been watching the local copart auctions for a donor 4.8/5.3. There have been a few that were in pretty serious rollover accidents, where every body panel is trashed. Would these be worth getting for a donor engine, or pass over them? What should I look at when inspecting a vehicle for the donor engine?
Thanks

76larkman

Ive used them before. Usually engine dies dont cause damage. Always take spark plugs out before try to start as cylinders could be full of oil being upside down? You dont know how they sat afterwards. Where you at? I know where some 5.3 & a 6.0 is rite now in trucks yet.

MX442

Southern Idaho. Wrecks here go for $1200-$1800 + copart fees. Drivers with 200k miles sell for $5k +. Complete 4.8/5.3 dropouts with harness, & accessories start at $1200. With 2 wheel drive transmission start at $2k. Around here it seems that cheap donors don't exist, or I'm looking in the wrong places

76larkman

I bought my L33 5.3 from an 06 silverado for $2500 with all assesory stuff & engine harness shipped to me came from nebraska. supposed to have 43k miles but have nothing proving that. I bought my tranny from chicago guy that parted his father-inlaws truck(wrecked) with a rebuild & updates to it for $700 tranny 4L65E. Now bought a 00 sierra 5.3/4L60E tranny for $700 for both all stuff too. Guy I know I ran into had it but I had to remove it. He has some other trucks if interested I see whats left yet. He could probably ship it after removing. He wont be available til after wkend He just remarried 4th time. Duh!

MX442

Going to keep looking for something local that I can part out to recoup some $.

76larkman

I was going to do that too, but last time I did took to long to sell off everything. Plus down side is storing everything in mean time.