Free 5.7 TBI ... from a van - worth it?

[swissarmychainsaw]

I have a chance to get a free 5.7 TBI 2001, L31 last of the SBCs from a friends left over project (he bought the van for the doors). It's a Chevy Express with a 4l60e.

Thing is, I don't have a lot of extra space for (yet another) a derelict vehicle.

Anyone pull an engine from a Van? From what I have seen, it looks like such a pain, it might not even be worth it.

I would put this motor in my 73 Suburban which has a very worn out 350 and gets about 6 mpg.

I found a video online where they use a lift and just raise the body off the frame... which is great, if you have a lift!
Thoughts?

[cadillac_al]

I have 3 sweet running rusty vans and have never pulled an engine out of any of them. I dread doing it. If I got a great deal on a rust free van with a bad engine I would be more motivated to tackle it. I figure I would need a cherry picker. After removing the grill and radiator I figure a long boom will reach in there to lift it a couple inches and hopefully pull it out.(after everything else is disconnected of course). I may have to unbolt the engine mounts from the engine if it is really too tight to lift it a few inches. They are a tight fit.

[truckster]

I've pulled engines from vans several times. It's easier if you're planning to junk the van. Use a sawzall to give yourself room. When I've pulled engines in vans I was keeping, I hooked the chain over the arm on my engine hoist to give it a little more room.

The L31 is a great engine. If it's in good shape, it would definitely be worthwhile. You'll need the flexplate, and if you're going to run a carb you'll need a manifold. The block may or may not be drilled for a mechanical fuel pump - if there's a block-off plate, it's been drilled. However, the cam may not have a fuel pump eccentric. That's OK, though, because a HT383 cam will have an eccentric and wake that engine up.

[Captainfab]

I agree with just cutting the body away around the engine if you are scraping the van. Otherwise the body will need lifted off of the frame.

[95 S_Trucker]

That engine is not TBI. It’s a vortec 350. 2002 was the last year for the vortec 350.

You can pull the engine without cutting or jacking the body of you want to. The core support unbolts and it will slide out the front. I have done several replacements in vans. They aren’t hard, just time consuming.

[swissarmychainsaw]

Originally Posted by 95 S_Trucker

That engine is not TBI. It’s a vortec 350. 2002 was the last year for the vortec 350.

That's a very good point, I had assumed it was a TBI, but I looked it up and it seems like it uses Sequential Port Injection System (SCPI).

[truckster]

It's multi-port fuel injection. It uses a spider with poppet valves. The factory spider is prone to failure and leaking.

[SunSoaked]

Rent one of these. Cut the body off and pull the engine/ trans. Scrap what's left to cover the rental fee and beer money. This of course assumes operating this is legal- I see your in CA? I've done it several times. Netted two nv4500's this way.

[Mike C]

I'd take it. Be a great base for building a 383 with Vortec head and a roller cam.

[GASoline71]

It's gonna be a factory roller block as well. So there's that.

Gary