Motor choice?
 

So I am in the parts collecting stage on my build. A bit of background on this truck:

1951 Chevy pickup
TH400 or 700R4
9" rear
17/18" wheels
S-10 front section of the frame with a custom tubed out rear frame
homebuilt 4 link rear with Airride
front airride

Now the motor has me stumped. The orignal plan was to run an LS based motor and pump that up, but I REALLY hate wires with a passion. I cna get someone else to come in and wire it for me, OR, I can just run a regular carburated 350.

The reason for the injection was simple. This is a car I am building for my wife (Who drives BMW's and Landrovers). I need something ot be reliable, yet still have plenty of get up and go.

What do you guys think (keeping in mind my aversion to wires).

Dima

Re: Motor choice?
 

Wiring harness for the LS are fairly easy. You can get yours modified or get a new one for a fair price. There are a lot of companies that do this. Visit ltswap.com for wiring info, he also does tunes and harness work. The swap harnesses make life easy, just 4 wires and your done.
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Re: Motor choice?
 

I'd agree, there are so many LS swaps being done now that there several outfits doing plug and play harnesses.

The good thing is that once an LS setup is in and dialed in you shouldn't have any more maintenance issues with it than her late model. We always seem to have to do maintenance on our carbed rigs.

Re: Motor choice?
 

Another LS lover, You can install the old SBC, great engine in it's time, spend $3000 to get a reliable 300HP @ 10 MPG running premium fuel or you can spend $3000 on an LS based motor and get 300HP @ 18 MPG on regular fuel.
Is DIY wiring easy? by no means, but wiring with a well made kit is no harder then other tasks you will need to do like wiring electronic ignition, wiring a headlight switch etc. The SBC is, was a great engine, I have had many, but todays LS based small block is 2X as good.
Rob

Re: Motor choice?
 

I'll throw one out there.

Vortec4200.

Yes, it requires wiring, etc.. But boy is it fitting great in my ride.

http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/wh...74846265515797

http://s1074.photobucket.com/user/wh...06454187056646

I'm fabricating my own motor mounts, could probably get by with the factory ones though.

You can pick up a running engine/drivetrain from the salvage yard for about $1000.

A 290 Hp. 6 cylinder is pretty cool in a classic ride.

Re: Motor choice?
 

This is cool and different. However for the same price, I can get the 4.8 with the 4l60e behind it. The 4.8 s an LS based motor, which allows for the ability to get a TON of power. This is the appealing part of the LS motor.

Thanks for the advice guys. Will be shopping for the LS motor this week

Dima

Re: Motor choice?
 

or you put in a 383 with a TH400. What would that be 10-15 wires in the engine bay or less?

Re: Motor choice?
 

Flatty,

In stock form, (in my opinion) the 4200 kills a 4.8 when it comes to horsepower and the nice long flat torque curve. The 06-09 engines have been known to turn close to 350 horsepower with a tune and free flowing exhaust.

I will agree, with the 4.8 being of the LS family, there is a ton of aftermarket out there. The 4.2 not so much. Since the 4200 is a distant cousing to the Ecotec, there actually are a few sources for camshaft blanks and other hardcore components. Porting the heads on the 4200 really open up it's horsepower potential, especially on the exhaust side.

Adding a turbo, let's just say 450-500 horsepower is well within reach with the Inliner. Just search the project/build section here. http://www.vortec4200.com/forum1/

The biggest reason I'm doing mine is because it's different. When I was younger, it seemed every project out there was a 350/350 combo. That turned into a 350/700R4 combo. Now it seems the LS is the mainstay. I just want something that is different than everyone else.

Chris

Re: Motor choice?
 

I'd go with a 350 or 383 and carb.

Re: Motor choice?
 

Why not go w/an LS that has a carb setup on it? Best of both worlds.

Re: Motor choice?
 

Chris, I am fully digging your reasoning. To be honest, I was in the same boat as you with the different thing until I asked my wife about it. This is her car and she wants simple. The orignal plan did involve an inline 6 cyl, but it involved a Cummins 6BT that was fully massaged. She loves teh sound of the v8, so it looks like she is getting the LS motor.

Dima

Re: Motor choice?
 

it all depends on what you want out of the truck
weekend cruiser? carb is fine
but if your going to drive the wheels off it, you can't beat the mpg of the fuel injected motor
it also depends on what you need for cali emissions
truk has a ramjet 350, gm crate motor with a stand alone wiring harness
there's also the e-rod motors that are california emissions ready with cats
pricey choices but again it's all what you plan to do with the truck

Re: Motor choice?
 

No smog necessary. Its a 51, so its pre 74. No smog required (thank God, its bad enough I have to smog my Powerstroke now). I don't know if driving the wheels off it is going to happen, but I would certainly like to drive it a fair amount.

Dima