How much did you pay for your 5.3/4l60e?

[chevy72blu]

I am currently shopping around to various pick-a-parts and pull out companies.

I want to stick with a company that offers a "ready to run" motor, complete with modified harness and reflashed/standalone computer. This limits me, but I've gotten quotes ranging from $3000 to $4800 for a motor and trans combo (<75k miles). Is the number worth negotiating? The best quote was from pacific Fab (3k), but their motors were higher mileage than others. I have heard from a few sources that these motors are good for 300k on average, but that sounds a bit lofty to me.

They also quoted me $1500 for a complete fuel system (stainless Blazer tank, Delco in tank pump, regulator, AN braided lines, etc). My biggest "grey area" with the project is fuel supply, but this seems very high to me.

Did you do the work yourself, or go this route? Either way, what did you pay for the motor and trans? I've read the cost FAQ, but im just trying to get ball park numbers. I want this project to be as headache free as possible, so I realize I'll pay a bit more.

Thank you!

[scss02]

I paid $1500.00 For Motor, Trans, Computer and Wiring Harness. I re wired the harness my self and will do my own tuning with HP Tuners. Then I paid $260.00 for headers. As far as the fuel system (I have a 1985 SWB) I will be using the 87 model tank with a 96 or new in tank pump.

That fuel system sounds really high.

[Snowbound]

My local wrecker quoted me $1500 for complete 5.3, trans and ECM. This is stock, so you would have to send out the computer and harness.

He said the 6.0 are more expensive due to much more demand. Heavy truck applications/more engine failures.

[Eagle Custom]

I just bought a 80,xxx 5.3, 4l60e,harness and ecu for 1200.00 delivered to my door (well should be here in less than an hour.) For my 77 2wd blazer.

[OldCreek]

5.3/4l60e with 100k miles, wiring harness, all accessories, local pick up for $1300 from auto disassembler. You can mock up your own fuel supply for much less. I had HPTuners and I bought camaro headers with down pipe for $100. That's not to say that all the little things didn't nickle and dime me to death!

No need to over pay.

[chevy72blu]

Thank you for the replies! Im still calling around and getting quotes. I've gone through the vendors on the FAQ - besides them, are there any companies out there you would recommend? My local u-pull's only have one 5.3... 120k miles and no trans, for $1200. Seems a bit steep to go that route.

Going with the HPTuners software, I would just need to send my harness out for modification?

[OKGMC4]

All the yards here in Tulsa wanted too much so I went to ebay looking for mine. I tried the "within 200 miles" search and found one 1.5 hours away in OKC, 60k miles complete with trans for $1200. I won the auction and drove over and got it. It was worth a tank of gas to save $600.

[CigarMan]

I paid $1000 for 5.3 with 4l60e with harness and puter out of 04 Yukon that had 45k on it.

Now I just need to beef it up a bit. Still looking for good info on that.
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[chevy72blu]

Wow you guys are finding killer deals. My local u-pull got one with 30k miles and they want 5500 for it!!

I've been scouring ebay and Craigs as well as the vendors. Just got to be patient I guess.

[kevinc]

The one I bought was from a neighbor. 2002, 43,000 miles. All accessories except starter and A/C Compressor, wiring for $500. Truck it came from was T-boned. He was going to put it into his S-10, but got intimidated by the wiring. Got lucky on that one.

Kevin C

[crazy longhorn]

Originally Posted by chevy72blu

Thank you for the replies! Im still calling around and getting quotes. I've gone through the vendors on the FAQ - besides them, are there any companies out there you would recommend? My local u-pull's only have one 5.3... 120k miles and no trans, for $1200. Seems a bit steep to go that route.

Going with the HPTuners software, I would just need to send my harness out for modification?

I ran into the same troubles with local yards ($900 , for a 100-120,000 mi longblock!). I purchased a wrecked 00 GMC, & parted it out....lots of work, but I have $100 in my engine, harness, & accessories for my swap. Also, enough parts to keep my 02 silverado "rocking" for a few yrs crazyL

[clinebarger]

Paid $3000 for the 04 5.3/4L60E in my burb, But that was in 04...The engine had 7,000 miles on it.

[aggie91]

We bought a complete 1999 GMC Seirra 4wd that was wrecked for $800. It had 200k miles. I parted out some parts locally and worked a deal with a local yard to trade what was left for a rebuilt 4L60e. I am following the harness mods from lt1swap.com and will have him reprogram the PCM. So far I have about $450 tied up in the set up. I have not done the fuel system, but will use a new tank and sender from an '87 and a pump from Walbro. I'm putting this in my son's '82 we are building. See the link in my sig.
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[BigMike608]

I paid $800 for my 5.3 and 4L60e out of a 2008 Chevy 1500 Crew Cab with 79K miles

[jsbgump]

I paid 550 for engine with all acceseries and computer and harness and 300 for the trans

[68Stepbed]

Originally Posted by CigarMan

I paid $1000 for 5.3 with 4l60e with harness and puter out of 04 Yukon that had 45k on it.

Now I just need to beef it up a bit. Still looking for good info on that.
Posted via Mobile Device

Cam and valvesprings and a good tune to match is the easiest and first upgrades to give any LS some balls. Check out www.ls1truck.com and www.ls1tech.com for info.

Originally Posted by chevy72blu

Wow you guys are finding killer deals. My local u-pull got one with 30k miles and they want 5500 for it!!

I've been scouring ebay and Craigs as well as the vendors. Just got to be patient I guess.

Yes, be patient. Deals will pop up if you know where to look. Alot of salvage yards have noticed the popularity in these swaps and are starting to overcharge to make more money.

Also check around on www.ls1tech.com. Check the classifieds there. Lots of good deals popping up all the time.

[Clyde65]

I got my 2005 4.8l with 7k miles and everything except the ac compressor and harness for $625.00 in 2009. The 4l60e had 10k miles and I got it for $600 from a trans shop that had a customer that didnt pick it up.
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[chevybuilder18]

two versions of the third gen engines. 5300 vortec and the 5.3 liter LS1. the ls1 is very much the same as the vortec except the aluminum ls verses the iron truck block vortec. if you want a true LS1 you should make sure you get the aluminum block. I got the 5300 vortec engine with some aluminum heads.. 250 bucks from pick and pull not including wiring harness or trans computer ect. just letting you know dont trust those craigslist guys if it says vortec, its not an Ls1, very identical but not the real thing

[Pop's C-10]

....

[68Stepbed]

Originally Posted by chevybuilder18

two versions of the third gen engines. 5300 vortec and the 5.3 liter LS1. the ls1 is very much the same as the vortec except the aluminum ls verses the iron truck block vortec. if you want a true LS1 you should make sure you get the aluminum block. I got the 5300 vortec engine with some aluminum heads.. 250 bucks from pick and pull not including wiring harness or trans computer ect. just letting you know dont trust those craigslist guys if it says vortec, its not an Ls1, very identical but not the real thing

LS1's are all aluminum but they're 5.7L. There was never a 5.3L LS1. LS2's are all aluminum 6.0L. LS3(Vette & Camaro) and L92(truck) engines are aluminum 6.2L. The truck engines are almost all iron blocks. The 4.8/5.3 blocks found in most trucks are iron as well as the LQ4 and LQ9 6.0 blocks. GM made a few all aluminum 5.3L engines(L33 I think) that were only available in the SSR and some Trailblazers. They also made an alumnium 5.3L for FWD cars, but it has some weird architecture that won't work in RWD applications.