Dogg7725

I am looking to install a 4.8 or 5.3 into a 50 chevy pickup. I have found a couple options. If you could please pick one and tell me why you would go that route would be greatly appreciated. Just to go out cruising with.






Option 1 2010 4.8 with 110,000 miles with 6l90 transmission harness and computer for $1500 then send out harness and computer for rework be around $2100 from my local salvage yard.


Option 2 5.3 mid miles 4l60e reman transmission stand alone package.
$3650.00 includes shipping from a place in Maine.


Option 3 5.3 with under 125,000 miles turn Key just motor. Very clean with shipping would be about $3500.00


THANKS,
NATE

psiconversion

iTrader: (5)

Welcome to the site. Check us out we have new stand alone harnesses in stock. Also PCM'S and a complete line of LSX parts for your swap.

76larkman

I think that's too high on all of them. I would get a wrecked express van or 2wd Silverado for parts. 03-07 is drive by wire gas pedal, but easy to install. You buy a complete donor then you get a lot of hardware parts and resellable parts to bring down your cash investment. My last buy was a 06 5.3 motor and 4L65E tranny complete with everything, pcm, gas pedal & tac box, air cleaner box. I gave $500 for it with 100,000 miles but I had to pull it out. Better deals are out there but you have to watch for them. I have done 2 5.3 swaps and left them stock. Great motors to have. 03-07 is 3rd generation and lots of info for us doing our own swaps.

JoeNova

The only one of those that is anywhere near cost effective is the 4.8/6L90.

Those 5.3s are FAR too expensive.

Dogg7725

The 4.8 is out of a chevy Cargo van

JoeNova

Its an L20. VVT 4.8 that made ~300 HP.
The transmission alone can easily fetch $1000, which is why its the most cost effective option.

Most people spend less than $1000 for a full pullout 5.3/4l60e with harness. I can buy a complete 99-02 truck for $1000-1200 and pull the engine and trans myself and then part out the rest of it to make my money back.

Dogg7725

Joe Nova should I offer the scrap yard less for it than the 1500.00

JoeNova

Won't hurt to offer, as long as it comes with everything. Like I said, the transmission is what makes that the most cost effective option, being that the transmission alone with worth close to their asking price.

If you're mechanically capable, it might be easier to buy a whole truck. That way you know it runs/drives well. For example, this 99 5.3/4L60e truck is $1200, and less than 5 minutes from me. I could pull the engine and trans, and break even selling the rear end, interior, good body panels and lights, wheels, and all of the leftover mechanical pieces.
http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/5956407358.html

There are dozens just like it in my area for anywhere from $600-1500. Don't let a scrap yard rip you off.

stmotorsports

Also, it really depends how much power you plan on running. Yeah, the 4.8 combo is technically the most cost effective per se, but if you're only looking to get the truck repowered and not really planning to ever run all that much power in it, then you definitely don't need that 6l90. If you're looking to just get something in there for now to get her up and going with the option of big power down the road (read: well over 400hp), then the trans would definitely become much more of a valuable asset at that point. Then again, if you're going to be swapping engines again down the road, you could always upgrade the trans at that time as well and sell off what you had in there.

Any other scenario not requiring that trans you're pretty much getting boned big time. Any truck based, iron block LS I've ever picked up I paid WELL under $1k for engine alone, with harness, ecu, and most accessories. Even the aluminum block LM4 I have going into my 54 Belair I got complete with intake and exhaust manifolds, fuel rails, injectors, coils, etc etc half the accessories, no harness or ecu for I think it was 900 shipped. And the 4L60E I got off of a guy who got a deal on a complete dropout swap, but then decided he wanted to go manual trans. He let me have it for 250 with converter and he was happy to get rid of it.

And $600 for "send out harness and computer for rework" is ridiculous as well imho. I run every engine I deal with on my test stand before it ever goes into anything. All I run them on is a stock LM7 harness and ecu with power, ground and starter circuits. The only thing I've ever had to pay to have done was have the anti-theft disabled in the ecu. The place I deal with is local and they charge me $50 to do it. Unless they're going to set everything up to be completely plug and play into your vehicle. Then it's not a bad deal.

I would look elsewhere. I've actually had really good luck getting pretty sick deals on ebay even after factoring shipping in. Make sure you get the vin so you can verify mileage, pull the valve covers off as soon as you get your hands on it to get an idea of how it's been treated, and I highly suggest running it on a test stand like I do before even thinking about dropping it in anything so you can verify that it sounds healthy and shouldn't have any problems.

MuhThugga

There isn't anything wrong with sticking a 6L90 behind a 4.8. There isn't some sort of power requirement that needs to be met, and the 6 speed will make for a very nice cruiser.

stmotorsports

Other than the fact than there is absolutely no point paying a pretty hefty premium for something you really don't need. That's like going out to a nice restaurant, ordering an expensive steak dinner, eating like a third of it and then leaving it on the table when you leave.

MuhThugga

Sorry, that isn't even a remotely accurate comparison. Just because the 6L90 can handle more power doesn't mean it needs to. It will still make for an enjoyable driver. He doesn't need to be relegated to a 4L60E just because the engine is a 4.8.