I also say suburban, I've heard the extraction process from a van sucks.
But my research generally shows vans as easy to find with 2wd 4l80s. If you want a single donor remember you probably want to avoid 4wd trucks and burbs.
I also say suburban, I've heard the extraction process from a van sucks.
But my research generally shows vans as easy to find with 2wd 4l80s. If you want a single donor remember you probably want to avoid 4wd trucks and burbs.
In reply to frenchyd :
Belly buttons are nice.
Frenchy, I know Calvin. I've watched him grow for almost 20 years. He's an amazing young man.
And I am NO CALVIN. I admire what he has done, but have absolutely zero interest in trying to copy him. I KNOW how hard he works to squeeze power out of his engines. I'm also smart enough to know my own limitations, and to realize that there is NO WAY I'm gonna accomplish what Calvin does. Feel free to copy him if you like.
I'm looking for an LS for my El Camino.
One thing I really like about Calvin is that in the 18 years he has been participating in the $20XX Challenge, I don't believe he has ever once told someone what engine they should use. He simply shows people what HE DOES, and admires their work on whatever they are building. Just like his dad.
It's a really admirable trait.
Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:I also say suburban, I've heard the extraction process from a van sucks.
But my research generally shows vans as easy to find with 2wd 4l80s. If you want a single donor remember you probably want to avoid 4wd trucks and burbs.
I would imagine the extraction process from a van wouldn't be that hard if you don't care about saving the body, just cut a big hole in the front and and pull it straight out. Or if you have a lift, drop everything out the bottom.
Come on frenchy, damn.
p.s. I've wondered about the vans also as a donor for G-body Elco's for a Challenge build. The trans being set up for 2wd almost always instead of 4wd is part of the draw.
I'd be looking at Express Vans almost exclusively here, +2003 with 8 lug wheels is what you want. But don't get caught up on the 6.0 even the 4.8 vans came with the 4L80e which is what you really want for an auto LS swap. It's easy to swap a 6.0L in later if you are already setup with another LS variant but switching from a 4L60 to the 4L80 is more involved.
Yeah sorry about not realizing you are looking for a donor. Get a van, man.
Go north for the best deal. You can buy rotted out vans for cheap here same with Tahoes, suburban, Silverados, etc.
A reverse fly and drive would be a hoot.
In reply to EvanB :
It still sucks, you have to pull the intake and coils and get the cherrypicker right down on the valley plate to barely clear the oil pan to crossmember on the way out
In reply to RacetruckRon :
Good info. Thanks!
In reply to RacetruckRon :
Why the 8 lug vans over the 6 lug? I assume the 6 lug stuff is closer to 1/2 ton pickup hardware at least as far as load requirements whereas the 8 lug stuff looks like medium-duty truck hardware from the outside.
I went with an LQ9 from an Escalade, but there is a significant 6.0L tax compared to the 5.3L which are much cheaper.
I agree on the van suggestion. The thing I'm finding with my Express van is that van owners tend to keep them forever because they work out of them. That means there is a very active demand for van parts. If you yank the engine/trans from an Express, you can make it easier by removing the front body parts and selling them.
LQ4 is mostly the same as the LQ9, but the 9 has flat-tops for a bit more squeeze. Otherwise they are pretty identical.
I wouldn't stress about which displacement. You have a heavy car, but the LS has done a pretty good job of mixing low torque with good HP potential. The 5.3L in my van doesn't win races, but it tows 5000 lbs and drags it's own 6000 lbs around OK. The 5.3L is just a cam swap away from more guts.
Another thing to consider... 4L60E is a fine choice, 4L80E is better... but don't rule out the 6L90. 2010 and later 3/4 and 1-ton vans got the 6L90.
In reply to pres589 (djronnebaum) :
8 lug = 4L80e in the LS powered stuff (TBI powered vehicles too). This is a quick check I have come up with over there years of flipping LS parts and I haven't found an application, through junkyard searches and research, where an 8 lug truck had a 4L60e or a 6 lug truck had a 4L80e.
The medium duty stuff is where the 4L80e was actually required as were the beefed up bearings and gear sets on the 8 lug axles. You can get 6.0L on 6 lug trucks, Escalades, my 03 Denali and the Silverado SS are great examples but they have "beefed up" variants of the 4L60e.
4.8 with a turbo for the odd guy over here.
sloppy mechanics has a setup for less than $1k that makes over 650hp at the wheels.
or an 07-09 6.2 from an Escalade. 413hp stock. No afm
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
I have a 4.8L.
I like it for a smaller vehicle, but for a bigger vehicle I favor torque over HP. Less displacement = less torque
In reply to SV reX :
The Escalade 6.2 might be the way to go then.
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/1208or-engine-swap-gm-gen-iv-l92-makes-big-power/
RacetruckRon said:I'd be looking at Express Vans almost exclusively here, +2003 with 8 lug wheels is what you want. But don't get caught up on the 6.0 even the 4.8 vans came with the 4L80e which is what you really want for an auto LS swap. It's easy to swap a 6.0L in later if you are already setup with another LS variant but switching from a 4L60 to the 4L80 is more involved.
So, this...
I'm going to look at it tonight
(It's a 2002, not a 2003)
If it's an '02, I think it'd have the 5.7 nonLS.
2002 won't have an LS. You need 03-up after the facelift. That one will have a 4.3, a 5.7, or a 7.4L. Old school chevy small/big block stuff.
Agreed.
Im expecting it to be a 5.7L. Then I'm not interested.
SV reX said:In reply to frenchyd :
Belly buttons are nice.
Frenchy, I know Calvin. I've watched him grow for almost 20 years. He's an amazing young man.
And I am NO CALVIN. I admire what he has done, but have absolutely zero interest in trying to copy him. I KNOW how hard he works to squeeze power out of his engines. I'm also smart enough to know my own limitations, and to realize that there is NO WAY I'm gonna accomplish what Calvin does. Feel free to copy him if you like.
I'm looking for an LS for my El Camino.
We agree, Calvin is an impressive young man. Yes smart and a wonderful person.
I watch all his videos not because I want to copy him but because he's an admirable, decent, guy.
Yes, I learn a lot from him. Things that debunk all the so called must do's other people recite. He is not afraid to make mistakes, he learns from them, although he's smart enough not to follow the herd.
I loved the way he deliberately blew up a well running reliable Atlas engine. By giving it 40 PSI and advancing the timing. Following that at 824 hp it's connecting rods gave up.
Stock bottom end. Never opened the ring gaps which everyone says must be done. Stock pistons, stock head, except it had a reground camshaft and stiffer springs. But at 7000+ on the dyno it still was making impressive horsepower.
He's doing today what I was doing 40+ years ago. Racing on an impressively tiny budget. His technology is newer but he's still doing stuff on a shoestring.
I can understand if you want to do things your way. Nothing wrong with that. I'm sure the LS will wake your El Camino up. Good luck with that.
I am a disciple of the YouTube channel "driveway engineer"
His motto is "If it spins it wins". He advocates for Gen III engines out of pickup trucks and ideally from a truck that ran when it was pulled off the road. Don't touch it if it runs. The practical real life differences between 5.3 and 6 L are trivial for practical purposes.
So, that said, I would find a pick up truck that might have 150k on the clock but drives nice, and harvest all of the parts for the swap. The difference in performance between the LS and the clapped out 305 or whatever will be huge.
In reply to frenchyd :
Don't assume everyone who says "LS" is a mindless idiot incapable of thought.
My choice to consider an LS is VERY well reasoned.
This is a rare car. As far as I am concerned, there are several ways to build it "well"...
1- Full restoration. That would mean all numbers and components matching the original VIN. The original engine was thoroughly uninspiring and totally underpowered. This car is not in good enough condition to consider a full restoration.
2- Vintage restomod. To me, that would be an old school engine that would have been perceived as "the best" either in its day, or shortly thereafter. I'd say that's a big block- like a W 348, a 409, or something a little newer like a 454. I started down this path. I have all the pieces. After careful consideration, I knew I wouldn't be satisfied with the power output and performance.
3- A modern restomod. This would be to ignore the old school norms, and try my best to give it a thoroughly modern power train. LS was an easy choice. And honestly, one very good reason is how easily recognized it is. I'm building a $40,000 car. I want people to open the hood and say "Ooo... it has an LS". I don't want them to say "What the berkeley is THAT?"
The Atlas is a fantastic engine. It's not what I want.
As soon as you are ready, go ahead and build something with an Atlas. Prove me wrong. I'll be your biggest cheerleader.
But build the Jag V12 first.
In reply to NOHOME :
I agree about the full running car. That's my plan.
SV reX said:Agreed.
Im expecting it to be a 5.7L. Then I'm not interested.
I might be, but it looks too nice for me - read too expensive ... 
Also, you mentioned looking at a van and truck, that was less. I'd be interested in more information on the truck.
Lack of ac could be a deal breaker, but maybe retrofit? I've never personally seen anything that didn't come with ac since the '80s. Odd, indeed!
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