Rebuild or Swap

[TARDIS]

Pics being uploaded now.....

**5.7L Vortec and 4L60E**

Rebuild or Upgrade?

1996 2door Yukon SLE 4x4

I bought this Original Owner truck about 4 years ago.
I put up 8k miles since and and currently have 140K miles

This was an unmolested but sitting truck when I bought it.

Refreshed with GM or LMC parts.
usual fluids, filters, sensors, bulbs, shocks, bumpers, brake lines, rotors, etc.
Whatever it needed to be reliable.

Only change,
285s on stock rims, no crank

Used for beach duty and the yearly 1000 mile family roadtrip.

I'm currently disabled and can't do the work myself.
I don't care about an LS. I would prefer to find someone who could help me get her in shape.
But am I missing an opportunity?

Please give me your thoughts

REBUILD the original Vortec350 & 4L60E

Buy a REPLACEMENT Crate Package Motor & Trans

SWAP a rebuilt LS & Trans Package

 

[TARDIS]

Some of the Resto pics

 

[TARDIS]

Help me out?

Anyone with Experience in Swap or Rebuild?

 

[PG01]

Not sure what you are asking???

is the motor shot? Trans shot? Or both?

140k really isn’t much

Have your engine/trans pulled and rebuilt or buy a crate motor and trans and have them dropped in.

 

[M123]

Not sure what you are asking???

is the motor shot? Trans shot? Or both?

140k really isn’t much

Have your engine/trans pulled and rebuilt or buy a crate motor and trans and have them dropped in.

I think he did mean both.

If it's gone I'll say rebuild, you will without any problem have a driveline that's works right away.
Swap and problems come along with parts that doesn't belong with your setup.

But if it's not gone don't do more then you need.

 

[Pyukon]

Agreed. Sure, I want a 6.2 LS and a 6L80E in my 95 but, I also want to be able to drive it before I die and I ain't gettin any younger...

 

[OR VietVet]

IMO, because I have a lot of history with the company, I would get a reman engine and trans from Jasper Engine. That is if you want to just make everything fresh. If you want to play then rebuild what you got. I would stick with the same engine and trans combo so, @M123 said, you can just turn key and go right away. I do miss my 1996 Tahoe 2 door. Kick myself in the ass for selling it. I also kick myself in the ass for selling my 1990 FatBoy Harley. When will I learn??????????????

 

[TARDIS]

Not sure what you are asking???

is the motor shot? Trans shot? Or both?

140k really isn’t much

Have your engine/trans pulled and rebuilt or buy a crate motor and trans and have them dropped in.

Thanks for your help!

This truck does our family road trips, so I want it to perform reliably.

The 5.7 Vortex has a leaking fuel injector.
The 4L60E is a good but tired.

I can buy a crate motor and trans or rebuild these.

I'd like to know what's the most reliable way to go.

 

[TARDIS]

These are great points!

OEM seems to be the safe, plug n play, answer.

An LS1 or Crate swap sounds like there might be too many gremlins to chase.

 

[M123]

These are great points!

OEM seems to be the safe, plug n play, answer.

An LS1 or Crate swap sounds like there might be too many gremlins to chase.

If you have cravings for a LS swap do it in a RWD car and a old one, not a car that already have 1000 of wiring so you can start from scratch with the harness and not need to jump in between to different harnesses. Make it simple and simple to maintain then you get the most out of it.

I would love have a four on the floor hooked up on a lm7, more then so I don't need.

 

[ivin74]

If the engine is not smoking and the transmision is not missing any shifts. I. Would refresh all the gaskets and drive it until the wheels fall off. My NBS has 170k and runs and drive like a 20k mile vehicle. Maintenance is the key to keep these rigs running.

Nice ride, reminds me of my 2 dr tahoe.

 

[GMW468]

140K isn't a lot of miles. I've got a 94 Silverado with the 5.7 that I bought brand new in 95. It's got 202,000 miles and still runs like a beast. My kids use it to drive to school and their part time jobs. I'm the original owner of the truck and I've been religious about the maintenance.

When they go away to college next year, I'm going to pull the motor and trans and swap in a 6.0 LS with a 4L80E trans that I scored out of a wrecked Yukon. The LS and trans only have 60K on them. I'm not worried about how long it will take or the issues, I'll encounter because my Tahoe is my daily driver and I have a Musclecar as a weekend ride.

 

[TARDIS]

140K isn't a lot of miles. I've got a 94 Silverado with the 5.7 that I bought brand new in 95. It's got 202,000 miles and still runs like a beast. My kids use it to drive to school and their part time jobs. I'm the original owner of the truck and I've been religious about the maintenance.

When they go away to college next year, I'm going to pull the motor and trans and swap in a 6.0 LS with a 4L80E trans that I scored out of a wrecked Yukon. The LS and trans only have 60K on them. I'm not worried about how long it will take or the issues, I'll encounter because my Tahoe is my daily driver and I have a Musclecar as a weekend ride.

Please keep me in the loop on your 6.0 SWAP!

This is not my first k1500. I also currently own a K1500 Silverado. That truck has a 383 mated to a 4l60e with a standard stall speed torque converter. That truck has 250K mile and is a great at housework/HomeDepot duty.

Neither truck does more than 3k miles a year.

This '96 Yukon is my resto-project. We use it for a couple of family off road trips a year.

 

[TARDIS]

If the engine is not smoking and the transmision is not missing any shifts. I. Would refresh all the gaskets and drive it until the wheels fall off. My NBS has 170k and runs and drive like a 20k mile vehicle. Maintenance is the key to keep these rigs running.

Nice ride, reminds me of my 2 dr tahoe.

Thanks, ivin74!

This Yukon sat for a long time before I got a hold of it.
I refreshed everything it needed 3 years ago, and have since used it on several 1000 mile family trips. Which is it's only job...
Get there safe, off-road beach driving, get home.

In April I found this Yukon SLE, needs head & intake gaskets.
Also, having owned several of these trucks, I get the feeling it's underperforming.

 

[Squirrelsmith]

Just depends on your skill level. Obviosly the ls swap is the way to go anyone that says otherwise is foolish

 

[TARDIS]

Just depends on your skill level. Obviosly the ls swap is the way to go anyone that says otherwise is foolish

Squirrellsmith, your past input on this truck has been really good.

I know I can LS swap with all the modular parts... wiring, computer, etc..
I know the power is incredible

Are there any other advantages for putting an LS into a 4x4?

Thanks!

 

[Squirrelsmith]

Squirrellsmith, your past input on this truck has been really good.

I know I can LS swap with all the modular parts... wiring, computer, etc..
I know the power is incredible

Are there any other advantages for putting an LS into a 4x4?

Thanks!

Yeah i mean its the engine

Squirrellsmith, your past input on this truck has been really good.

I know I can LS swap with all the modular parts... wiring, computer, etc..
I know the power is incredible

Are there any other advantages for putting an LS into a 4x4?

Thanks!

In the catagories of power, reliabilty, efficiency and aftermarket support the ls is a better option. There is literally no quality about the vortec or tbi that is desireable when compared to even the oldest lowest level of ls engine

 

[Squirrelsmith]

I mean guys are swapping ls engines into mustangs for christ sake

 

[PG01]

Just depends on your skill level. Obviosly the ls swap is the way to go anyone that says otherwise is foolish

I mean guys are swapping ls engines into mustangs for christ sake

foolish? that’s harsh... why bother with wiring, tuning, etc when a 350 will drop right in. if its a project truck sure ls it all the way... who cares about ls swapping mustangs..... he’s asking about his family hauler .... sometimes reality is just that..reality

 

[01FormulaTA]

foolish? that’s harsh... why bother with wiring, tuning, etc when a 350 will drop right in. if its a project truck sure ls it all the way... who cares about ls swapping mustangs..... he’s asking about his family hauler .... sometimes reality is just that..reality

Foolish was probably a poor choice of words, but I do agree if someone has the time, money to spend, and the know how, and you are choosing bw rebuilding a 5.7 TBI or an LS Swap, hands down the LS swap is the way to go. It is just a better platform all around, stronger, more efficient, makes more power, and the list goes on....

In the case of the OP, when considering he wont be doing any of the work himself I think that answers his question right there.

OP unless you have a shop in mind that you trust and they have already given you a quote on the work to be performed that you can work with (which it doesnt sound like you do), then the obvious answer is to stick with the simplest route and get a rebuilt 350 (or even a 383 if you some extra power).