Thread: 5.7 swap

Originally Posted by bust331

So I've been think about swapping my 4.3 vortec for a 5.7 vortec.


How much am I looking at spending? I have pretty basic tools around the garage..the most important things (I think?) I'm lacking would be an engine jack and mount. How much are those? What should I look for and where should I go to get everything needed?

This is a big maybe, I would like to but I don't know how much everything costs as of now....any ideas?

I assume your talking about your jimmy. First i have to be honest with you. It's not as easy as you think it is. You cant swap just the engine. You have to swap the computer as well as the wiring harness. If you can find a trans computer to run stand alone on your tranny you can keep it but its easier to swap the tranny out as well and just you the harness thats fits it.

Then you have the clearance issue. Your not going to be able to run that clutch fan like the one on your truck you have to run electric to gain the room and thats if you dont have to cut the firewall. Then you have to upgrade the suspension for the additional weight more so in the front than the rear. Next is going to be cables and so forth the one in your truck are not long enough to reach the front of a 5.7.

On top of which your 4.3 has one of two ways of getting air. One is the top of the motor the other is off to the side. 5.7 breathes thru the front which is going to be right next to your radiator. So now you have to custom make a cold air kit just to get air into it. This of course is if your using a 95 or newer 5.7. An older one like a carb set up you might be able to clear the hood with a low rise intake.

If you do try it i recommend lowering it a couple inches. The high center of gravity with the additional weigh on a vehicle that already prone to rolling is a bad idea. Lowering it would stabilise it some.

As for your original question don't buy a hoist for a one time thing. When you ready to actually drop it in go rent one its like 75 a day. To buy one for that kind of job is about 250.

Best guess on cost for a swap like that doing it right with a new ls1 engine and no tranny 5 grand maybe 7. With a carb engine new 3500. Salavge yard engine 2 grand. I dont think its worth it but everyone has there thing that they want to do. It would be cheaper to and a whole lot easier to just put a turbo or charger on it. You could even go to a salvage yard pick another 4.3 build the shit out of it and when you ready just drop it in with no modifications. Remeber that 4.3 is a 305 with 2 cylinders knocked off of it.

When i was in high school i put a 351m in a 84 ford ranger just because i felt like it. The other car i was doing before my parents got stupid (long Story) i had a supercharged 460 i was just getting ready to put in a 77 datsun 200sx.

Originally Posted by bust331

Looking at the money, I can just buy a car with an LS1 already in it.

That's a lot more money than I thought it was going to be without a tranny. Hopefully if I can save anything close to that, I'll probably just buy a new car.

But thanks deathgod.

Yeah thats what most do but accosionally someone wants to do it just because no one else has. Im still debating with my wife on dropping the 400 i built into a tr6 thats for sale around the corner. At the same time there's a 67 i think its 67 couger with a 428 big block in it. Rare engine not a big fan of the car but i want that engine.

Originally Posted by bust331

On the discussion of a new car..I may have just talked my parents into letting me trade my Jimmy for something else...

4th gen LS1 camaro?

Just a word of wisdom for you. I love my ls1 but it is not the cheapest car to build. A new intake is 600 bucks the wtaer pump was 350 when i had to replace it. Go with an automatic. Ignore all the bs talk about how a stick shift is better or its the only way to have a man car shit.

The auto is faster top end then the stick from the factory. You also have the added bonus of spending 300 bucks on a computer to reprogram the automatic to shift like you put a stage 3 shift kit in it. Auto is always the way to go. Less work and tuned right i dont care who thinks they can but no one can shift gears faster than the tranny can by itself.

Once your over 1000 hp then your stuck with a stick the autos cant handle it.

Blake is right though the insurance is probable going to be quite a bit higher on the z then on that jimmy.

Originally Posted by bust331

I'd be paying for the insurance.

I completely agree, auto can shift much faster than a manual. But when it comes to a manual...I feel more in tune with the car if you know what I mean.

With a manual, the moment you press hard on the gas, you get that instant power feeling, the kind that pushes you into your seat. With a auto, you get the same feeling, but it takes a little longer because...well I honestly don't know.

In addition, I think a manual is a little funner than an auto. I doubt that if I do get the car and having to pay for insurance I'll be modifying anything too soon.

On to my next question, does a '00 camaro have a solid rear axle? I like mustangs, but the live rear axle....meh

Not sure what you mean by a live rear axle. It's no 9in but they are good up to abou 600hp then they start to come apart. The v8 4th gen fbodies are posi well a version of it i should say. Obviously you have never riden in a car with a 3000 stall convertor and a stage 3 shift kit. You will know when someone has it and doesnt tell you. That first shift will put a hurting on you if your not ready for it.