GrooveCityZ71

Ok here's what I've got and what I'm trying to do..

I've got a 1991 Chevrolet regular cab short bed 4wd that had a locked up 5.7 TBI engine and a bad 700R4 trans.. (engine and trans gone now)

I've got a 1993 GMC K2500 I'm going to use for parts then scrap the rest.. but it has larger rear and 4L60E trans

I've got a 350 engine from the late 80's with edelbrock performer intake, 650 carb, 10:1, and stock cam, SS shorty headers

I plan to put a comp 292 cam in it
look into a larger carb (if needed??)
MSD

rebuild the 4L60E transmission (any recommendations on kit to use?)
and also since this is a 'E' that means electronic right? issues?

thinking 3000rpm stall?

this is where I'm in over my head...
what do I need to get the gauges working and whatnot? or should I blank the dash out and put mechanical gauges in it?


any tips, shortcuts, or pointers is very much appreciated!!

I'd like to build as much reliable power as possible, decent street/strip truck, great choppy sound!!

gmstrong

The 2500 should have a 4l80e,might be easier to find another 700r4 and do your carb swap like that,that carb should be fine.

GrooveCityZ71

I gave my local mechanic the VIN and he came back to tell me it was a 4L60E - its a K2500 but must be a light duty because it has 6 lug wheels.. I haven't seen many like this..

when building a high HP motor I thought the 4L60 and 4L80 were much stronger trans than the 700R4??

I don't have the stock motor or 700R4 from the K1500 no more, motor was blown, and trans was used in another truck that I've since sold..

Should I just sell the 4L60E and if so is the 700R4 my best bet or what should I put in to hold 450-500hp?

DR132

first off, a 650 cfm carb will feed a built 350 just fine assuming it's a decent carb and adjusted/jetted right. look into upgrading the heads if you still have any type of factory heads on there. there are numerous inexpensive options for cylinder heads that will far outflow any factory 350 head so it's somewhat silly not to if you're looking for any kind of real performance. since it looks like you're going to be working with the older truck what i would do is verify what the spare tranny is. if it's a 4L80 then run it, if it's a 4L60 then i'd sell it since it would need to be built to handle your power goal anyway and get your 700R4 out of your project truck fixed and built up or find a 4L80. keep in mind since you're running a carbed engine with no PCM you will want a non computer controlled tranny (that's the 'E' letter at the end of the tranny code, if you run a trans with a 'E' it will need a controller, the '93 shouldn't have one but i could be wrong). run a good tranny cooler, make sure your TV cable is set correctly (very important) and you should be good. for fuel delivery, the stock TBI in tank fuel pump works great to feed a carb with a quality pressure regulator set around 5-7 psi. can't think of anything else right now.

GrooveCityZ71

I'm gonna do some more checking on the trans.. all I did was give the local mechanic the vin of the 93 and he said it had a E but I'll go get under it this week and see what's actually in there.

also

I think I may have found a cheap LS1 complete. Think I'd be better off with that motor than building this older 350 carb engine?

Just not sure how much issue I'll have with it being newer and computerized??

GrooveCityZ71

BTW this is what the LS1 comes with:

What you will receive:
LS1 from intake to oil pan
AC compressor
Power steering pump assembly
Alternator and bracket
coil packs
starter
sensors
harness
ECU
exhaust manifolds
motor mount bushings

Chughes

the LS swap will be a lot harder than the carb swap. Ive done a carb swap on a 91 rcsb, its pretty straight forward. I did a complete rebuild but you can basically just get a tbi to carb adapter, a carb, hei distributor, and a fuel pressure regulator that is able to feed a return line. depending on teh transmission u will need to either adjust the TV cable for the 700r4 or for a 4l80e u can look up how to make that work, there are tons of write ups on it. it kind of depends on what you want, i wanted cheap power, so i went with the carb.