IamSam

iTrader: (2)

My 01 Silverado 2500 2wd needs about $800 in front end work to be able to return to the road. The engine/trans/powertrain is perfect though. I was thinking that with the money Im about to spend on this old beat up truck, I could buy another car/small truck and swap the powertrain in and come out ahead with a vehicle that I would actually like to drive. Its got a 6.0 and a 4l80E trans.

I want something that I could possible use the stock oil pan and manifolds and only have to come up with the rest of the exhaust and sort through the wiring with would be easy for me. Im not a noob to swaps, but money is an issue so I want to use as much as I can, especially truck accessories. If you know of something, let me know!

supercharged024

The truck is only 10 years old, how beat up can it be? Swapping it will cost more than the $800 plus all the time for fabrication. Good swap mounts aren't cheap and using your oil pan won't be easy. I'm still driving my 96 GMC with 231,000 miles on it.

IamSam

iTrader: (2)

It was a fleet truck for a good portion of its life.. the body has a little over 250K on it. The bed and tailgate needs replacing and the driver fender is actually BROKEN. Yes its hard to explain, but part of the fender is actually broken off, im not sure how that happens. The truck is also 2 colors, it was a pale tan color and then painted green. Some parts of the truck are still the tan color and it drives me insane! I honestly just want something else to drive, but no one is going to give me much for this beat up truck.

itsslow98

iTrader: (18)

fox is the best imo due to the amount of aftermarket for the mustangs suspension etc. but its gonna cost a LOT more then 800 to do the swap.

IamSam

iTrader: (2)

The foxbody is my favorite car lol. How much would you say it would cost?

the_merv

iTrader: (88)

The easiest? Nothing custom is really "easy"..just relative to how much experience and knowledge you have.

itsslow98

iTrader: (18)

cost depends a lot on what modifications you want to make. 2k -100k. I have 10k into mine including the car and i went for a lower mile 02 motor and t56, cam, kooks, suspension etc. It can be done if you have the patience. I found some deals and got lucky.

Pop N Wood

iTrader: (1)

An old Datsun Z car is about as easy as it gets. For about a grand you can get a kit that takes about 20 hours of labor from start to finish.

bjamick

iTrader: (31)

I only have about 3k-3500 in my lsx fox body including the car. Find a broken 4 cyl and they are pretty much worthless.

bczee

iTrader: (12)

Item that you might or will need to invest if swapping

Oil pan - could be a OEM one (F-body, CTS-V, LH8, etc) or aftermarket $400-$800
Fuel modifications (pump, filter, hoses/tubing, fittings, etc, a a few hundred ?
Wiring harness - DIY (few $$ for wire or connectors) or converted by vendor $300 to $800
Tunning - Quick mail order flash $85 to $300

Check the $1500 swap FAQ..

1st Gen F-body/3rd Gen X-body, A-Body, G-body, 60's-80's Truck are all very common and kit and parts can not be purchased on E-Bay cheaply. or DIY..

fat tony157

iTrader: (12)

I've got a little bit more than $1600 into my s10 swap right now. Hardest part of this swap is notching the crossmember for the truck oil pan.

superbean

I would say if you want to keep your truck oil pan and accessories.. then stick it back into a another truck..

I've always had a soft spot for late 70s/early 80s Chevy C trucks. You can find one with no motor for a few hundred bucks.. use a truck pan .. accessories.. lots of room for transmission and may even be able to utilize the factory 2500 feul tank with modification.

Cheap/Fast/Reliable .. pick two

Andy1

I agree, I think I'd vote for a truck to truck swap like superbean suggests. All the truck motor stuff can stay; that'll save money and headaches, IMO.

Andy1

parish8

iTrader: (6)

i am with these guys. an old truck.

here is one i would consider. >> http://omaha.craigslist.org/cto/2501376778.html

74novacustom

Not to be Negative, But the easiest would be to swap your combo into a newer truck with a 4.8 or 5.3. Maybe a nice truck with a blown 4.8/5.3. This would allow you to keep most everything, If its a cruiser than i would sell the 4L80E and use the other trucks 4L60E. That way you dont have to mod the harness or mod the trans mount and driveline. Just use the 5.3 FLywheel on the 6.0. Super cheap, super easy.

I had similar hopes for my NOVA swap of being easy and cheap, 1 year and 6k+ later im only a few 100. away from driving it for the first time.

But like Merv said, If you skills on fabrication are great and electronics are vast the swap will be cheaper.

Goodluck on whatever swap you choose, We are all here to help.