Square body crew

[Turbolq4]

Unless he is on the interstate constantly, why would he put a 5.3 which have no bottom end torque in a big heavy truck? An Olds 350, 403 or 455 with a 4L80E and adapter plate will get out of it's own way off the line. I would say a gear swap to 3.55 or 3.42's but a 4x4 makes that much harder.

So change the engine and the trans and the driveshafts because that's cost effective.

You'll hear no argument from me about the 5.3 having no bottom end. What it has is the ability to run high rpms for extended periods of time, allowing the retention of the rest of the drivetrain. The steep gears make for very little time spent at low rpm anyway.

Any of those Olds engines have a huge torque advantage over either the sbc or LS. It's all for nothing if you have to spin them to the moon as they tolerate that even less than a SBC.

 

[olds307 and 403]

He should go 6L for an LS, either way mileage will be awful on the highway. My in-laws had a 85 square body crew 2wd, it had the 350 and it was barely adequate will less weight being a 2wd. Either taller tires and or OD is needed if he wants to spend anytime on the highway, no matter what motor he uses.

 

[DRIVEN]

...or just leave it alone and drive slower.

 

[olds307 and 403]

...or just leave it alone and drive slower.

Probably the best option.

 

[Clutch]

...or just leave it alone and drive slower.

That's the plan for now

 

[fleming442]

Old farts!😛 Put a turbo on it!

 

[Clutch]

Old farts!😛 Put a turbo on it!

I was thinking tpi and a Paxton or a 144 and a carb lol

 

[Clutch]

She's got a dead hole boys #8 has left the building. Oh well I was never to fond of that cam anyway. So now the repair needs to be cost effective and fast! I'm thinking a cheap RV Towing cam and lifter kit I was looking on ebae and there's kits I never herd of for around $200 with gaskits zink and assembly lube but there are several different lift and duration combinations. You all know what it is 350 Mexico crate motor heads and performer intake with a Rochester any ideas on what I should go with? Cheap torque is the goal. And I should probably order it tonight so I have it by the weekend.
By the way that color looks awesome in the sun! I love it!

 

[DRIVEN]

Given your current combo? A good old Performer (or someone elses copy of that grind) is tough to beat. One of the better running 350s I ever had was just like yours with the .420/.442 Performer grind. It just ran good.

 

[Clutch]

Given your current combo? A good old Performer (or someone elses copy of that grind) is tough to beat. One of the better running 350s I ever had was just like yours with the .420/.442 Performer grind. It just ran good.

That sounds good I was thinking something low to mid 400 lift with a short duration it's been a long time since I slapped a sbc together and I think I've forgotten more than I remember