$$ advise on a 5.3L donor truck

[99TanHoe]

In know its not a Hoe that will receive the swap but I'll ask the question anyway. I may have found a donor truck for a 5.3L swap on my old 95'GMC.

I haven't had a chance to go look at it yet but the body has already been parted out.

Body wise, all thats left is the cab shell, the front frame, front axle and the rear frame and gas tank.

Mechanical and other parts I would get along with the above mentioned body shell:
Motor, trans, wiring harness, air conditioner compressor, computer, gas tank and gauge cluster.

Its a 2000' model 2wd truck and he says it had 160,000 miles on it when it was wrecked. I would be putting it in my 95' 2wd 3/4 ton to replace the 350tbi. He's asking $1400, I was thinking about offering $1000 to see how bad he wants to get rid of it.

What do you think, Great deal, Good deal, Run the other way?

 

[JennaBear]

Run! We paid less than that on a 2005 6.0L and transmission for a swap into our 72 K5.

 

[99TanHoe]

Run! We paid less than that on a 2005 6.0L and transmission for a swap into our 72 K5.

How much did you pay, if you don't mind me asking? I'd like to know what price range to be looking for.

 

[07Burb]

I'd definitely talk him down considerably and see if you can't hear it run first. 160k either doesn't mean a thing if it's been maintained properly or 160k could be a worn out dog if it's was mistreated and not maintained.

 

[Donnie Yukonie]

honestly why swap? your not looking at that much more power or mileage gain either way i would either swap as mentioned above a 6.0 or a BEASTY 8.1 =)

 

[07Burb]

hard to find parts for an 8.1. A 5.3 will be perform considerably better than the TBI 350 that's in his 95 now. He'll notice a pretty big increase in power, performance and MPG.

 

[Donnie Yukonie]

sorry i missed that part 95 Tbi yea Nvm thats a noticeable increase i was thinking of the vortecs

 

[07Burb]

sorry i missed that part 95 Tbi yea Nvm thats a noticeable increase i was thinking of the vortecs

 

[jdpber]

thats worth about $450 in my book for those miles.

 

[992dr]

I would talk him down to at least half of what he is asking. You can get 5.3s all day long on the bay for 6/700 shipped to your door. Unless you can grab a 6.0 for that amount or less, go for it. Otheriwse, I'd stick with any LS based before going with an 8.1, like said, parts are not plentiful.