Well I did the vortec swap in my 95 whew

[thedipstick]

I decided to do a engine swap on my old 95, tossed around lots of ideas but since it was my work truck and daily I decided to go with a 5.7l vortec. plus I though it would be easier, not so true.

Most of it went smooth, hardest was the wiring and re-wiring the dash to keep my existing dash. I purchased a wrecked 98 for all of the parts I would need and a GM crate motor. While I had the truck ripped apart I decided to replace everything that I could and paint the frame and every bracket with POR-15. I wanted a dependable daily without a truck payment. Its basically a brand new truck now and should go another 200k with ease. My old motor still had 160 compression across all cylinders so it wasn't really needed just something I wanted to do after looking to buy a new truck for work and deciding that I hated car payments. About $7k later I am super happy and did all the work in my garage.
I have done swaps before with issues but when I cranked this up the first time it fired right up with no issues.

Here is a nice before and after picture of the grime that builds up over the years. Amazing

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f349/thedipstick/Truck/775a6d06.jpg

and a after

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f349/thedipstick/Truck/baa8c7a9.jpg

Here is a before picture of my old engine and bay, I kept it clean up top

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f349/thedipstick/Truck/IMG_0587.jpg

and after

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f349/thedipstick/Truck/IMG_0619.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f349/thedipstick/Truck/IMG_0604-1.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f349/thedipstick/Truck/IMG_0611.jpg

[454cid]

Wow, that looks great! I would have taken the before of the top side picture, that looked great as it was! (I like clean engines, too.......but mine doesn't look THAT good!)

[97vortec383]

Looks really clean!!
I love a clean engine bay :D

[thedipstick]

Wow, that looks great! I would have taken the before of the top side picture, that looked great as it was! (I like clean engines, too.......but mine doesn't look THAT good!)

Thanks 454, ya it was good before but just wanted it better and like new. Plus I got a little more hp and mpg. I clean my engine bay once a month on all my cars, kinda nutz but its worth it I guess.

That first engine bay pic is right before I yanked the motor and started the swap, had 203k miles on it and one oil leak at the distributor. Its been good to me.

[thedipstick]

Looks really clean!!
I love a clean engine bay :D

Thanks, yours must get pretty dirty from the looks of your pic lol

[454cid]

Thanks 454, ya it was good before but just wanted it better and like new. Plus I got a little more hp and mpg. I clean my engine bay once a month on all my cars, kinda nutz but its worth it I guess.

That first engine bay pic is right before I yanked the motor and started the swap, had 203k miles on it and one oil leak at the distributor. Its been good to me.

Mine is fairly clean, but my finishes haven't stayed really nice. Some of it is a film as I don't really scrub, or wipe parts down much, and I had radiator hose burst awhile back (rusty coolant), and a film will build up to some degree any way. I usually clean with the self serv carwash or hose at home. I don't use much of any kind of protectant on stuff, either.

I've got some stuff just for rust that I hope will remove that rusty residue from the coolant going everywhere........ just haven't gotten to it yet.

[El M6]

Congrats!! The engine swap looks really NICE and CLEAN. I am looking into doing the same thing on mine I have a 94 gmc Sierra 5speed with the 5.7l tbi and want to upgrade to a 5.3 or the 5.7 vortec just like yours but not sure If it will bolt to stock tranny + how much $$ I will spend I can get the engine for around $900. Complete but not sure how much more cash I will need I want more mpg and it's a daly driver. Don't really like the tbi any opinions or recommendations from u are welcome I have around $2000 to play with!!!! I love the body style of the 90s so I don't want a new truck+ I can't afford to buy a new truck I now have house payments bit want my truck to look and run like new!!!

[thedipstick]

Thanks El. I can tell you that you would for sure need the harness (from the headlights to the fuel pump) and all sensors, exhaust, o2's, there is a extra cross member on the frame to house the o2 wiring, the dash harness, fuel pump, ecu and mount, thats what I can remember. This is why I bought a wrecked donor for all the parts I might need. I ended up replacing every part I could most with performance stuff where I could and spent about $7000 but I replaced everything. I wanted a new truck without the payments. But you could do it much cheaper without replacing all the parts with new. If this wasnt my daily work truck then I would have done a 383, much easier. You might have some troubles with the dash end of it. I was able to remove the donor dash and pull all of the wiring from it and swap it into my dash, I also had to use the cluster. Your dash is the earlier style and might cause you problems, Im just not sure on that part.
Im with you on loving the OBS trucks. I own 2 NBS Tahoe's and they are eh and the 07+ are super crappy. No offense to any owners out there its just my opinion. I helped a budy build his and I cant stand how cheap the interior is. We gutted the interior for audio and it was a nightmare. So I am very happy with my truck and its new life.
I'm sure any swap can be done its just depends on how far you want to go and how much money you want to spend. With a $2k budget it might be tough since your truck is a 94. Maybe someone with more knowledge on those trucks can chime in. I have never owned a pre 95 so I couldnt say for sure if it would be the same swap as mine? Tranny should be fine though.
Maybe your best bet would be selling your 94 and using the $2K to get a 96+? But you may be attatched to your like I am mine?