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I secured a 5.3 w/ 4L60e tranny, complete w/ computer harness, y pipe & cats AND drive-by-wire w/ pedal from Schram's. This was from a 2005 avalanche w/ 13 miles for $ 3200. This is a chunk of change, but they understand what's necessary for the kind of things that we are doing, get you everything that you need, & pack the hell out of the thing for shipping and get it right out to you. Reed Schram is a good guy to work with. My 2 cents.
I bought a complete/ wrecked 06 gto for $3200. The trans was bad but I sold the seats out of it and ended up having $2500 into my ls2 with 75k miles, also still have the rest of the car to part out.
For my friends LS swap, we bought an 80k mile ls1/t56 combo for $3200, which I didn't think was bad.
About 3 years ago I paid $800 for an '01 LQ4, and $500 for an '01 LM7, both complete except wiring / PCM, both from LKQ.
Then I scored a fire-burned '00 LM7 from Pick-N-Pull on half price day. complete except the charred intake manifold / fuel rails / injectors. That was $100.
Last year I scored a pair of '01 4.8L LR4s for $300 and $350, now I'm getting another 4.8 from this new source for $400. Locally LM7s are now worth $550. But LQ4s are now over $1000.
Last year I got an 03 LM4/4L65E for $1200. Included all wiring and accessories. Only have ONE junkyard here but El Paso seems to have the same price on 5.3 engines. LS1 and 6.0 engines go a little higher...about $2K. Only problem I have is the history of the engine/trans. I did get the VIN number but unable to fine a willing used car dealer to do a CArfax.
$800.00...this one came wrapped in this black package...6.0l/4l60e... I'll probably make more off the body parts than I have in it...
I know you guys don't all have the space I do...but this is really the cheapest way to get in to the LS game.
Except that scoring a complete 6.0L Yukon XL ( Suburban ) for $800 just isn't reality in 99% of the U.S.A. Plus that one looks 4WD as well.
I've heard of the mythical LS1 / T56 complete running 4th gen for $ 1500, but here the same with an auto goes for $10,400. I was lucky to score a running '94 V6 Camaro for $700, which is now $1300 after replacing a quarter panel myself, and it still doesn't run on all 6 above 1/2 throttle.
Point is, your luck with prices isn't reality.
05 gto short block with 10k miles for 1500. Edelbrock intake and msd controller off eBay 500, 241 heads and ls1 block 450 (later sold block for break-even) various gaskets and stuff 100, accessory drive 700.
These are the "basics" prices, not including go faster add ons
Except that scoring a complete 6.0L Yukon XL ( Suburban ) for $800 just isn't reality in 99% of the U.S.A. Plus that one looks 4WD as well.
Well, I must live in the 1% then...I've bought 2 Suburbans $750 for one 5.3/4l60e, this one $800...a 2003 Silverado 2500 6.0L/4l80e, runs drives $1500...2 1500 Silverados for $750- $850...These aren't just going to fall into anyones lap...I beat the bushes pretty hard and keep my ears open...
Plus that one looks 4WD as well.
Everyone of them is...what's your point??? They are all high mile...when I rebuild the trans, I convert them to 2x4...(I know everyone looks for the "elusive" 2 wheel drives, up here they are nonexistent.)
Point is, your luck with prices isn't reality.
I beg to differ...like I said, these aren't going to fall in your lap...but they are out there.
Visit LKQ online and look up a specific LS vehicle(s) and look what they have.
I was on the site a few days ago and priced a 6.2 motor out a escalade. They had more than more bit the cheapest one was 2200 bucks. LKQ test all their motors plus give a warranty also.
I payed 1800 for a complete 2010 ly6 with 50 k if I had to do it again I would of just bought a long block since that's all I used.
That seems to be the issue. Unless you're doing a swap where you can utilize the tall truck intake, the high mounted truck alternator and the deep truck oil pan, you'll end up swapping half the engine. There are complete truck engines listed all day long on car-part for $800, but by the time you swap a complete intake/fuel rails/injectors/TB, FEAD and oil pan, you'll likely have as much invested, if not more than the cost of an LS1 or LS2.
That seems to be the issue. Unless you're doing a swap where you can utilize the tall truck intake, the high mounted truck alternator and the deep truck oil pan, you'll end up swapping half the engine. There are complete truck engines listed all day long on car-part for $800, but by the time you swap a complete intake/fuel rails/injectors/TB, FEAD and oil pan, you'll likely have as much invested, if not more than the cost of an LS1 or LS2.
Tipsy
This is exactly why I ponyed up and bought a car engine. I didn't want to buy everything twice and being I'm new to the ls world I figured I'd be money ahead.
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5.3 w 4L60e + from Schram's 
