I will be doing an LS swap in my 87 olds cutlass but I didn't plan on doing it for a year or so but I came across a 2002 4WD Tahoe donor vehicle. The vehicle runs and drives but the motor has 200k miles on it. I can get the whole vehicle for $1500.00. Is this a worthwhile deal in your opinion? I am only planning on maybe 350whp and would like to make the car a nice cruiser or possibly a daily driver. The 4.8 will give me those numbers but is 200k miles too high and is it a decent price? Anything goofy about stuffing it in a gbody? This would be my first LS swap so any help is much appreciated, even if it is to keep looking.
2002 Tahoe donor vehicle 4.8 LR4 worth it?
- Thread starter Balzak
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Fair enough, I didn't want to pass up a good deal if it was a good deal (I have no idea, just cheaper than LS/Transmission/wiring harness kits from companies around here). I think a donor vehicle is the way to go if I fall into one.
I'd pass.
$1500 is fine for a driving hoe but you can't use the 4wd 60e so your buying a $1500 engine with accessories and wiring which is over double if not triple what its worth.
Only way it would be worth it is if it had 6.0 or larger displacement or had a 2wd trans.
$1500 is fine for a driving hoe but you can't use the 4wd 60e so your buying a $1500 engine with accessories and wiring which is over double if not triple what its worth.
Only way it would be worth it is if it had 6.0 or larger displacement or had a 2wd trans.
I just did a quick check on craigslist and facebook marketplace and the cheapest two chevy vans were a 99 with 190k for $3k and an 05 with 289k for $3.5k. Trucks and vans in my area are a premium, pretty much if it can drive the asking price is at least $3.5k. Seeing anything around $1.5k is pretty good around here. If anyone else is in TX and sees something different please let me know, because I am obviously looking in the wrong place.
A 2wd tahoe or 5.3 envoy/tb/rainier 2wd for $1000-$1500 would be a decent donor.
4.8’s can be bought for core price due to the common consensus is ‘it’s too small - need a 6.0” which is totally inaccurate - but they can be had in the cheap. 4L60’s are in the same boat. If your serious about your hp goals and don’t expect them to get much higher, then a 60E will work. But they are cringe worthy in 500hp range.
A 4.8 will make well past your goal easily, but it will be a higher rpm than a 6.0 or 5.3. But don’t discount them. They are ultra tough and 200k miles isn’t too many if you can hear it run, but $1500 is silly money.
Locally I picked up a 4.8 for $225 and with a cam, set of valve springs and a turbo (of course) I put down 675 whp (would guess 750 crank hp) - stock everything else and original - mileage unknown, but over 150k. It needs a set of lifters for $100.
If you can swing another $500, then you can easily find a functional 4.8, 4L60 and Holley Terminator X. That is a much better plan than using the stock PCM unless you have the ability to tune the stock pcm yourself. But $1500-2000 is not enough to pull off an LS swap.
If you have a functional Th350 or TH400, then that would save some money.
A 4.8 will make well past your goal easily, but it will be a higher rpm than a 6.0 or 5.3. But don’t discount them. They are ultra tough and 200k miles isn’t too many if you can hear it run, but $1500 is silly money.
Locally I picked up a 4.8 for $225 and with a cam, set of valve springs and a turbo (of course) I put down 675 whp (would guess 750 crank hp) - stock everything else and original - mileage unknown, but over 150k. It needs a set of lifters for $100.
If you can swing another $500, then you can easily find a functional 4.8, 4L60 and Holley Terminator X. That is a much better plan than using the stock PCM unless you have the ability to tune the stock pcm yourself. But $1500-2000 is not enough to pull off an LS swap.
If you have a functional Th350 or TH400, then that would save some money.
If you want to use the trans, definitely look for a 2wd donor. Express / safari Vans are good options. 2wd pick-ups if they are common in your area. If you find a 2000 - 2002 truck it should have drive by cable throttle body ( you don't have to mess with gas pedal replacement then). The Vans up to I think 2006 or 2007 had the same drive by cable. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
There are still lots of other issues that will need to be addressed, but as far as a usuable donor vehicle that should be a good starting point.
There are still lots of other issues that will need to be addressed, but as far as a usuable donor vehicle that should be a good starting point.
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