Buy whole truck or just engine/trans?
 

Im wanting to put a 6.0 engine and 4l80 trans into my 68 truck. I've been looking around at prices for just the engine and trans that are suppose to come complete with everything for a swap. I recently ran across a silverado 2500 that has pretty low miles (about the same mileage ive been seeing on the other engines) and its pretty much the same price as if I was only buying the engine/trans elsewhere.

My question is, should I buy the whole truck or just the engine/trans with accessories needed? With just the engine/trans, that saves me from having to remove the engine/trans. With the whole truck I have parts that might be missing if I bought just the engine/trans.

Just looking for opinions. Thanks.

Re: Buy whole truck or just engine/trans?
 

I would always to prefer to have the entire donor vehicle. There are always little (and sometimes not so little) things you're going to find you need.

Re: Buy whole truck or just engine/trans?
 

I would likely use the new drivetrain in it's stock condition. A 6.0 runs pretty good, and you can modify the stock steup and make it more lethal.

Getting the entire vehicle allows you to remove the drivetrain and carefully note where all the ground wires and such go. I wouldn't be very good at guessing on that stuff.
There could be some pieces you might need that would not come with just the engine and trans......

A lot of folks here have a lot of knowledge and skill in doing the engine/trans swap. I could do an old school deal, no problem. Computers and such make everything different.

Re: Buy whole truck or just engine/trans?
 

The whole truck with verified low miles vs just an engine/trans for the same price?

Seems like an easy one to me. If it's a rust free and dent free truck you can literally sell almost every body panel, the seats, people will even buy their frames. It may take you some time, but you can sell most of the truck. Even if it's wrecked there should still be some good stuff to sell then haul what's left to the scrap yard.

Re: Buy whole truck or just engine/trans?
 

Whole truck...part out what's left...done it that way twice..

Re: Buy whole truck or just engine/trans?
 

How many miles is low for a work truck? I've seen several of these engine swaps done where the donor drive line is an LS and 4LXXe alright but its so tired and worn out, it drives like a worn out work truck.

I figured most folk are in the game for a buck: get a 2000 dollar LS+4LXXe from the junk yard, throw it in a truck and $$ell it high dollar! Maybe, just maybe wash off the grease and grime before throwing it into the truck, maybe not. Either way it'll sell!

-klb