The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1947 - 1959 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-20-2015, 06:11 PM   #1
Flatty
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 27
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
__________________
1969 FJ40 Rockcrawler
1949 Chevy Pickup
2006 Powerstroke to tow
Flatty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2015, 06:47 PM   #2
ghettoluxury
Registered User
 
ghettoluxury's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Waynesfield Ohio
Posts: 1,991
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.
Posted via Mobile Device
ghettoluxury is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2015, 07:21 PM   #3
mr48chev
Registered User
 
mr48chev's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
Posts: 15,244
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.
__________________
Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club.

My ongoing truck projects:
48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six.
71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant.
77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.
mr48chev is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2015, 08:32 PM   #4
47 Fasttoys
Registered User
 
47 Fasttoys's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Westminster, SC
Posts: 933
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
__________________
My '47 C.O.E build
47 Fasttoys is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2015, 11:09 PM   #5
whitedog76
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 1,450
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.
whitedog76 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2015, 01:41 PM   #6
Flatty
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 27
Re: Motor choice?

Quote:
Originally Posted by whitedog76 View Post
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.

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
__________________
1969 FJ40 Rockcrawler
1949 Chevy Pickup
2006 Powerstroke to tow
Flatty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2015, 03:44 PM   #7
Apachemike
Registered User
 
Apachemike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Austell, Georgia
Posts: 162
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?
Apachemike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2015, 11:39 PM   #8
whitedog76
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Peoria, IL
Posts: 1,450
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
whitedog76 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2015, 12:32 AM   #9
imjeff
Registered User
 
imjeff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Tacoma Washington
Posts: 890
Re: Motor choice?

I'd go with a 350 or 383 and carb.
__________________
I know a guy who's addicted to brake fluid. He says he can stop any time.
72 K10 396
75 Cj5 MPI 350 Chev
67 Chevelle 396, 4 speed
74 FXE
08 Tahoe
imjeff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2015, 10:10 AM   #10
Rickysnickers
Senior Member

 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Eagle, ID
Posts: 2,917
Re: Motor choice?

Why not go w/an LS that has a carb setup on it? Best of both worlds.
Rickysnickers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2015, 11:08 AM   #11
Flatty
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 27
Re: Motor choice?

Quote:
Originally Posted by whitedog76 View Post
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
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
__________________
1969 FJ40 Rockcrawler
1949 Chevy Pickup
2006 Powerstroke to tow
Flatty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2015, 12:09 PM   #12
_Ogre
Registered User
 
_Ogre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Motown
Posts: 7,660
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
__________________
cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build

how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature
shop air compressor timer
_Ogre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2015, 12:12 PM   #13
Flatty
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 27
Re: Motor choice?

Quote:
Originally Posted by _Ogre View Post
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

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
__________________
1969 FJ40 Rockcrawler
1949 Chevy Pickup
2006 Powerstroke to tow
Flatty is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:48 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com