LS swapping is cheaper than you think - How to Afford your swap 

I knew it was a for real budget swap whenever I seen the harbor freight tool box

I must commend your honesty on the 305/350 mistake. It’s good to see people admit they made a mistake and you did good by making it right. 👍

I'm really appreciating these videos man. I'm ls swapping my s10 blazer which was already 350 swapped (poorly) and you're really clearing up a bunch of questions I had.

You really nailed it with the, “be realistic,” stuff. Got a friend that’s been trying to restore a Galaxy (59, I believe) for probably 8 years, if not more. He’s had it painted, done a lot of body stuff, hydraulics, engine work, etc. He’s convinced that once he’s done, it will sell for 25k. Even if he does, he’s probably put damn near 20k into it.

Good pointers on the re-sale parts I usually keep a handful laying around my self when in need of extra cash it always has worked for me just like you bro great video

Subscribed! Just picked up a lowered 85 C10 and all this is very helpful for my budget build

I had a 1984 Chevy Scottsdale 4x4 and I put a NEW GM 350 create motor in it in 1990 and it cost about $500 new from GM. it ran good. It had a port injected carburetor and got good gas mileage. I really liked that truck because it never let me down. Very reliable.

Another great video! Can't wait to see the old long bed do a burnout!

Nice video jovani I was just searching for LS content for more information to swap an older truck. Appreciate the video, appreciated the information. 🙏 I’m subscribed

Thanks man I can't wait for this series to be done so that I know for sure how to swap a ls into my c10

Good overview bud !! I’m ls swapping my 240 wagon now. I have a couple of videos posted.

So glad I found your channel. ❤

Nice!!! This the exact kinda stuff I’ve been looking for thank you!!! 👍🏼

Subbed for the honest mechanic.

Your videos really help me out jovani keep it up theyre great

Awesome tool box I'm buying one like that very nice

Always great info bro. I really like your style and content.

1987- first year for TBI on Chevy trucks. Gm switched to vortec in 96, main difference is the cylinder head and intake pattern. TBI heads are the same style through most of the 80s, and they are some of the worst flowing, least power producing heads for an sbc. The vortec heads (1996^) are some of the best heads for a budget power build.

Exelent video,and thank u for the info..I will be pending for the next video

Great video, hoping for more detailed videos in the future. Especially items that takes the swap / programming easy

So cool! Looks like a solid truck. Well worth the money in my opinion. You need to buff it!!!

I ls swaped my C10 with a 5.3 Vortec and in total I spent around 2000 in parts including the motor. Best investment ever and pretty cheap compared to other LS swaps

Using your videos for my swap 👍👍

Mannn your videos have Soo much information 🔥🔥🤙🏾

Good job Keep up the good work💪

Great info and tips 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

Great video... enjoy the info .!!

Dang bro hopefully you get your money back. Lesson learned thanks for sharing.

I'm doing my C10 swap for less than free. A little leg work goes a long way. Nice job.

I've got a 5.3 set up now for a Silverado v8 swap but I'm just getting going on my planning

Right! There hauling the engines diwn to Mexico ! There towing three vehicles with tons of parts in the back seats .

Looking forward to your next vids. Subscribed.....

I agree with your statements, I’m scared of a LS swap , I’m old, I’m going for it on the LS swap in my ‘59 Buick

Subscribed trying to do this now to my 78 cutlass

Here in San Diego I find small block Chevy parts like intakes and headers in the alleys

Cool, so I just have to swap a small block chevy into my ZJ so I can then pull it out and sell it off so I can swap in an LS.

I'm going to LS swap my 92 S10 Blazer soon but I go carbureted with a blow through carb and a decent Turbo

I will never knock Summit brand headers again. We bought a set for my brothers 5.0 mustang build. They were polished stainless. Have a really solid head flange. Welds all looked perfect. I didn't have to knock a single bur or piece of slag off them. They were like $175 when bbk were $100 more. I guarantee they come from the same people the way they are made. minus the $100 BBK weld on tag. I have a set of $300 flowtech stainless turbo headers on my 6.0 I'm really impressed with also. The 3" v-band suck! but headers look really good

Man I picked up 3 ls's a 4.8 complete running harness ecu and all for 50 bucks, a 5.3 block and heads, complete rolling assembly. And a blown up ls3 6.2 with 2 bent rods for 50 bucks, reused the 6 good rods and bout 2 more gen 4 rods and flat tops for 125 LS's are cheap affordable power.

I don't think that the old school folk shy away from LS swaps because they're afraid of them. It's more that the SBC with a carburetor is just simple and pure It harkens back to a time when life and things where far simpler, and most folks could and did work on a vehicle with only a few simple hand tools in the trunk, even on the side of the road. I get into my truck to GET AWAY from computers and electronic control - the only "electronics" on my truck are in the 8-track radio. There is just something about an all-analog device, like an old truck, or self-winding wristwatch or grandfather clock, the older bowling alley pinsetters, an acoustic guitar - that are timeless, unlike the ever-changing world of electronic devices and the rat race they create, wanting for more and almost never satisfied. Not knocking the LS swap crowd, and I understand the appeal. Just food for thought.

Around my area you can get a junk yard ls for 750 and it have around 90-100k miles and be considered a great deal,but you can go into an autozone and get an intake,carb,high performance distributor,gaskets and fuel systems for around 1200-1400 all together

Good video!!!!!!

I swapped an put a 5.3 in my 84 c10, I did carb on it because I pretty much got a long block with no computer an got the edlebrook. Ls firing module for dirt cheap. Only thing I bought new was a edlebrook carb on it for it.

i made a video about a week ago regarding how i did mine for under $500 . when i did it originally a year ago, i did it to prove that it can be done cheap. everybody told me i needed a tuner, and told me it would cost 3k, told me i'd never get it runing by myself. i proved all 3 wrong. i got it runnning by myself , no tuner, only cost me about 100 for the headers, 120 for the o2 sensors, and 100 for the sending unit. everything else i already had lying around or was just nickle dime schtuff. i originally set out to show that it can be done for under 500, and that i can get it running by myslf, with EFI and no tuner and stock CPU.

First small block Chevys were made way back in 1955, in total I believe there have been over 60 million small blocks made since then

The value of those trucks is on the rise.

Man I'm stuck in between doing a LS or finishing 1 of the 350s I have sitting around... (one is stock bore with a blue print build but stock pistons.... the other is just tossed together with 30 over flattops) but I also have aftermarket 2.05 heads and alot of good parts... idk what I want to do..... lol

What do you think about puting ls on a g wagon, and which motor should i put in, will it be relable and how much do you think it might cost me. Thanks a lot, love vedio btw

You said on one of your videos and now I can’t find it, what year make and model electric fan do you use for LS swap cooling system

Th400 will match well with that 4.8 they can take a hell of a beating.

You can tell a 305 by the harmonic balancer

Vortec motors are 96 to 00 only. They will not have center bolts on the intake

Love my carburetor but fuel injection is just so much more reliable. I really want to get my k-20 swapped

$2500 dollars is cheap for obs truck. I’m located in Southern California. GM engines are pretty easy to work on compared to other’s manufacturers. I have a 1998 obs ext cab with a blown engine. There are some many LS swaps info on the net it’s crazy.

looks good dude. Im 5.3 swapping my montero. I need the trans and transfer case so my best bet is to buy a whole running driving tahoe/yukon/suburban whatever. I believe that this will be the cheapest way to do it. i can pick up a running truck for $800 all day, and part out everything I dont need. (Just the front leather seats go for $350). Of course, if you dont have the room/ dont want a shell sitting in your yard this isnt the way to go. I actually just bought a running driving 02 silverado for $500, and drove it 80 miles back home. I realized that its just too nice to dismantle haha. On the look for another running car haha.

Vortec 350s only ran for a few years from 96-98 I believe. I think the 5.3 came out with the GMT800 trucks starting in 1999.

Quite the opposite around here in the northeast. Old school stuff is what no one wants anymore.. Especially since the first thing the younger crowd thinks of is ".. LS Swap it!..." Me, ... no thanks... Been there and done that on swapping LS engines into the older cars.... No one talks about complete fuel pump, regulator and line replacement costs.. The cooling system complete change... And mounting the overflow tank and cooling lines correctly in non stock applications... The "plug and pray" ecu is still a grand by itself . (Half the price of getting the 350 redone at the machine shop the right way..). Plus, then you still need to pay a "tuner" big bucks for an actual dyno tune. Headers, pan... Mounts..... "Custom" hand made brackets and adapters.... Yeah, it's cheap... When it doesn't start... Which sensor, hack job wire splice or ground connection is it? Yes, I'm 55, after 40 years of old style small blocks... I'll stick with that. Local unmolested core 350 is anywhere from 150 to 300 here... Add Vortec heads and a decent cam, the usual bits, etc and its 350 hp easy...

I like pointers on the ls swap but don't forget it's a custom not a Silverado too. What state do you live in if the salvage yard's didn't have hardly any LS, California?

The year for blocks should be around 60s to 97 is the gen one engine

I am doing same swap... I have a 4.8 laying around... Actually a whole truck. Long story short my son and i own it for $200 each. He took rear end and don't really want much else... The truck originally just needed a fuel pump but sat so long the rear spring hanger broke and went through the bed... So i want to do my first swap using as many parts i can off that truck... My goal for the build on my channel is to build an 88 k5 blazer ls swap... All in for $2,000

The sbc was introduced in 1955, not the late 60’s and the vortec v8 started in 1996, it was TBI before that

The first small block was available in mid to late 1954, as a 1955 model, bud. Not the mid sixties. Mark 4 Big block on the other hand....

I need a tuner and some other ideas

It’s really budget friendly actually, I work at a shop that does Ls swaps on pretty much anything and it’s really worth while. Even a junkyard motor will put out 400+hp

What’s up brotha question would you happen to have a list of budget build on 5.3 or ls swap on new edge mustang ?

What's up dude I own a dodge ramcharger 1991 4×4 with a 318 engine on it but unfortunately it's getting worn out, i would like to know what would you do in my case, rebuild the dodge 318, buy another more modern dodge engine ( maybe a hemi) or go GM route and do an LS swap? And of course thanks in advance for the advice

I can't find the link for the gasket set bro.

Wya I need an ls swap done ASAP I got a ls3 I’m tryna put in my 1980 box Chevy

Gen 1 and vortec 350 are exactly the same except for being a roller the only thing different is accessories and non mechanical fuel pump

I am looking for parts to do my swap

Should I swap my 3rd gen prelude???

Carbs might be ancient, but they work and are cheap and easy to work on. Same with points distributors. I was a driveability tech at a GM dealership for 25 years, I love and know computer systems. But if the shit hits the fan, electronics will be fried, and only old school cars and trucks will work

i would have used ls od the trans too.

Hi man, great video does an LS1 5.3 out of a Sierra GMC fit into an astro van?

Well I'm one of those old chevy dudes now. Just so you know - we are not scared of fuel injection. One reason I stay old school (no computer stuff) is that the wiring harnesses, sensors, etc cannot stand up to the test of time and endurance. Old school small block for example - we could go to a junkyard beat the the thing with a hammer and fill it with oil AND IT WILL RUN. Just an old guy's point of view - lol

Bought a rusty box truck '91 Chevy with no brakes $475 came with a TBI 350

Im thinking of doing this ,i work at a place that scraps ls engines and they sell them cheap

I want to do this to my 3000gt, would it be worth it?

Good stuff bro. Where are you out of?

I NEED YOUR HELP..... I PICKED UP A 84 C4 CORVETTE...TAKING THE CROSSFIRE OUT AND WANT TO PUT A LS - ENGINE IN THE VETTE. FIRST OFF, HOW BIG CAN I GO...IM LOOKING TOO KILL "HELLCATS" HOW MUCH ? GENERAL RANGE ,IF POSSIBLE..... ANY HELP IS USEFUL...

Can I LS swap my 2014 accord Lx?

let us know when you get it accomplished , and then you can tell us what it cost and what the unexpected things all add up to.

Where is your shop?

Around here old school (un-rebuilt)small blocks are a dime a dozen but you can't buy a good 5.3 for less than $1k

Small block Chevy was first offered in 1955, not the late sixties.

Did you need longer bolts with the .4" spacer for the crank?

Can you LS swap on my 67 Mercedes 230s?

Here in Texas it was cheaper for me to build a big block then it was to do a ls swap

I’m trying to swap an LS into a 4x4 Crewcab S10. So much I still don’t know about it but What are some of the hardest parts of an engine swap?

The small block Chevy engine is from 1955-1999. Between those years there was minor changes that makes them not interchangeable. For instance prior to 1986 engines were 2 piece rear main seal and prior to 84 they had perimeter bolt style valve covers. 86 and up also had 168tooth flywheels where 86 and down had 154tooth flywheels. The newer Vortec engines from 95 and up are still small blocks but like you said they do have different cylinder heads, starters, and other accessories. It's not your fault that someone came at you sideways over an alternator, it's theirs. For any engine build a little research goes a long way. And those who don't know where to start or can't find the proper application should probably not tare into something they're not truly ready to get into and should consider an engine builder or recommended repair shop to help with their expectations. That being said, $700 bucks for a SBC is freakin nuts! That thing better be a 400ci or a rare 327, or a recent rebuild, or has double hump heads, something definitely worth that cost. Chrome covers don't equal the additional cost, don't get hustled bro.

Jovani, I want to put in an LS in my 1976 Cadillac El Dorado, its front wheel drive. Any advice?

The affordability isn't the issue. Is the fact that people think you just take out one engine and put it in another crank up the car and go? And it doesn't work like that. For example look at your local Craigslist and look at how many cars are for sale without Motors. That let you know right then and there that swapping an engine. Is not as easy as people think?

You still have this truck?

Did you say sbc were released in the late 60s?? It was first produced in 1954 and came out in 1955 as a 265 then slowly grew to the 283 then the 327 then 350 and finally 400 cubic inches.

Are gonna post a parts list and where you got them

What you have for sale

picked my 95 350 for 300 bucks id say i got lucky

What state are you in?

Just the thought but I can use your advice as well, should I keep the fuel lines from the suburban ls donor into my el Camino since they’re locking ones from factory then I wouldn’t have to go through finding couplings or plumbing fittings what do you think ?

What's the name of the website with the parts ?