Another 350 is relegated to Purgatory after owner drove one with an LS engine. This in in a 52 and has I'm sure less than a thousand miles on the 350 and a Turbo 400 transmission. We have two like trucks in the shop, one with a 350 and the other with an LS3. The LS owner told the other to take it for a drive so now the 350 is coming out of the 52 and an LS6 with a 4L80E trans is going back in. Our building is 100' long and the whole south wall is lined with mostly abandoned 350's with a few 305's and a couple of 289/302 Fords. At least with us the LS Chevy's and Ford Modular engines are taking over. This is getting to be old hat but if anyone is interested I'll TRY to take pics and give a step by step on the install. I wish I could rent Ol Chebby for a week because he is really REALLY good at build tutorials. (1) Really sweet running 350 that's coming out (2) Box full of LS6 (3) Shipping case with 4L80E inside
And the LS motor celebrated it's 20th anniversary this year. Interesting that GM offered the "HO327" which was a 327 HP 5.3 Liter some years back, but for just a few dollars more, you could step up to an LS3 (430 HP out of the box?), and I don't believe the 5.3 offering is in the catalog anymore. Apparently, 320-odd horsepower just isn't enough these days. I wonder if GM will be able to market the "Gen 5" Direct-injected, variable valve-timed mill as successfully as they have the Gen 3 and 4 offerings.
Don't know the costs of a LS swap. But at around $2400 you can build a 383 stroker with an Isky cam , vortec heads, bolt ons -headers, intake, good carb and pump out about 425 horsepower. For another grand you could add fuel injection for reliability Just my 2 cents worth.
You are absolutely right but will a 425hp 350 get 25 mpg and idle all day with the a/c going? I myself am so low tech my 34 Chevy has a 2004 Mercury Marauder engine that has been "Dumbed" down with a carb and distributor. Probably 13mpg but those hemi valve covers sure look killer.
Back in the old hot rod days, if someone mentioned poor fuel economy, they received some glaring looks. Times have sure changed.
Changed indeed. My first new truck was a '98 Cheyenne (Silverado was too much $$), 350, AT, and I think she was rated to tow 7,500lbs at 16mpg average... my 2014 Sierra with 5.3 will tow something like 11,500lbs-and nets very close to 20mpg around town. I liked the old truck better, go figure.
Plus, a Vortec/LS, engine will go from 835'MSL, to 12,000'MSL, without even noticing it. I would hate to ever go back. Steve.
