Vortec/LS series motor swap
 

I have been wanting to do this swap since I first saw a 4.8 boosted. Everyone keeps telling me to buy a truck with the motor but they weigh over 4000lbs and I was going to do a sbf swap in the yota than thought about a 400sbc. Something just keeps my mind on the vortec/ls based engine family. I almost had my hands on a complete drivetrain for an ls7 for 2.5k but fell through and I thought. a 4.8L vortec will cost $400 with ecu. a t56 $500-1k depending on what spline it is and a nice ford 8.8" mild built for $1k. I could have a nice set up.

I own a 1990 etx cab 3.0L. It gets great gas mileage. Never gives me issues but I am looking to up the power. I thought also about a 3.4 swap but again I am biased and dead set on owning and racing a 4.8/5.3/6.0 turbo.

The motor bottom end will stay stock, buddy is going to fab up turbo piping. Maybe even headers.

The only thing keeping me from doing this swap is NWOR told me right off the bat that it wont fit because of the steering linkage and its location. Is this an issue? I do not want to tear apart a perfectly working truck to find I cannot do what I want. I would rather buy a roller and do it at that point. Thank you for the inputs and if you have links to this build that would be great. It is a 2wd truck so keep that in mind.

Don't everyone jump at once with an answer... found what I needed from someone who did it already, if anyone wants to know the easiest way is to cut frame mounts and weld new ones in. Solves all issues... Said to use all fbody lsx swap parts and it will be an easy swap!

Going to be taking on a 5.3 swap myself. Just bought a core engine with low oil pressure, pretty sure its just an oil pump. Happens to be an aluminum block L33 with 799 heads. For the core price of $175, that leaves a ton of room for a rebuild.

Most def. I am pickup up the t56 tomorrow. Have the 4.8l sitting in the garage along with all my valve springs, valves, pushrods, intake, etc... going to be a turbo build. Looking for 800+ at the wheels

Might want to throw some 5.3 pistons in it to drop the compression. Heck, might as well just put a 5.3 rotating assembly in it.

the 4.8 was chosen because of the higher compression and because it is not a 5.3. Everyone loves the 5.3 but very few have little experience with the 4.8l. Bigger is not always better. It will be running on e85 as well. With the pushrod and crank combo it allows it to rev out to 7k a lot easier and faster. Also with the 4.8l I can pick up a full motor including ecu for less than $400.. a 5.3 min $600 just for a motor that is up to my standards. Also with that said. It will be a daily. If I was going for a full fledged drag truck I would do a 370 forged stroker and twin turbo the truck and put a powerglide in it. But we all have dreams haha.

the 4.8 is an oversquared engine, that is the bore is wider than the stroke. consequently the forces inside the engine at 7200 rpm are identicle to the LS2 (6.0L) spinning at the OEM red line of 6500 rpm.

Honestly all the 4.8 needs to effeciently spin up to 7200 rpm is a slightly better than stock valve springs. Throw in some rod bolts from ARP, get the rods recentered and hello 8+k!