Advice on buying a truck

[Darky]

I have the opportunity to buy a coworker's truck. It's a 99 GMC short bed regular cab 1500 2wd with the 4.3 V6. It has 350k miles but a freshly rebuilt transmission. However the engine is bad. He thinks it's a bearing. If I buy it, I'd just swap in a new engine, either sticking with the 4.3 for ease of install or stepping up to a 5.3 V8. Good idea/bad idea?

Oh, and he'd sell it for $100, the same as what the junk yard would give him.
How hard would it be to put the V8 in? Would this be worthwhile? Thanks guys, for some weird reason, I trust what you guys say around here.

 

[Gerr]

I have the opportunity to buy a coworker's truck. It's a 99 GMC short bed regular cab 1500 2wd with the 4.3 V6. It has 350k miles but a freshly rebuilt transmission. However the engine is bad. He thinks it's a bearing. If I buy it, I'd just swap in a new engine, either sticking with the 4.3 for ease of install or stepping up to a 5.3 V8. Good idea/bad idea?

Oh, and he'd sell it for $100, the same as what the junk yard would give him.
How hard would it be to put the V8 in? Would this be worthwhile? Thanks guys, for some weird reason, I trust what you guys say around here.

you would need a complete donor truck to swap the electronics pcm and harnesses over from but it is basicly plug and play. If all you want is a driver the 4.3 is a solid engine and will motivate the truck fairly well if your going to tow anything then forget it

 

[1blackz28]

The tranny from the 4.3 will bolt directly to a old school sbc. It will bolt to the 5.3 minus the top bolt if I remember right. Then you need either a spacer for the converter or a converter built for a sbc 700r4/4L60 to LSX. I would get the harness and ecm from the donor vehicle 5.3/4l60 and see if it runs the tranny ok which it should then go from there.

 

[Jester99]

Go all the way for the 5.3!!! Turn it into a mini-truck!!!

 

[Darky]

I'd like to do the 5.3 cuz I may end up towing the XJ every once in a while. Plus if I'm swapping engines anyways, then why not? And from what I've read, the 4.8/5.3/6.0 family would be easiest to do

 

[vt98xj]

Engine swaps are a pain in the a$$ if you don't have a donor truck. Also the 4l60E that is in the truck needs a seperate computer if you are going to run a old school SBC. The interals might also be different in the tranny 4.3 compared to 5.3 but the housings are the same.

 

[Root Moose]

If you are going to bother with it put in the 5.3.

Personally, I don't think a SWB GM pickup is enough truck to tow an XJ, not any real distance anyway. The PU will have weight, brakes and wheel base working against you, as in not enough of any.

I think it is a great deal for its own merits though. Nice little trucks. I wouldn't want to dissuade you.

IIRC in CA you need a '99+ donor engine.

 

[cal]

It wouldnt be smog legal for you with an oldschool SBC, and you'd need most of the 5.8 truck to swap that in (and a newer model year..).

You're best of rebuilding the 4.3, or passing on it.

 

[Root Moose]

Agreed, fix stock for profit.

 

[1blackz28]

Engine swaps are a pain in the a$$ if you don't have a donor truck. Also the 4l60E that is in the truck needs a seperate computer if you are going to run a old school SBC. The interals might also be different in the tranny 4.3 compared to 5.3 but the housings are the same.

They make a stand alone tranny controler if you go this route

 

[Caribou Lou]

I wouldn't do it with a 5.3. We own a '01 Chevy Z71 with a 5.3, and its a frikkin' turd. Do a 6.0 swap, you'll thank me later.

 

[Darky]

I wouldn't do it with a 5.3. We own a '01 Chevy Z71 with a 5.3, and its a frikkin' turd. Do a 6.0 swap, you'll thank me later.

I'm actually contemplating stickin with the 4.3 with a little bit of work...but the 6.0 would sure be nice...The Silverado SS uses that one and it was pretty fun.

 

[Caribou Lou]

SS's are sweet trucks, friend at home has one.....he still gets mad when he gets beat by the diesel though

 

[Darky]

I'm thinking a 4.3 with some minor work (.030 overbore, headers, intake, exhaust, maybe a cam, etc) ought to suffice for my needs. Be easier, but depending on cost, I may still go V8...