I'm planning on changing my 89 350 Chevy engine for a Duramax engine. What do I need to look for, what's the year I should look at? I have more questions later

 

The best of the duramaxs without the emissions bs is the 06-07 LBZ and you get the 6 speed allison.

 

yep!

I would get from 04.5 up to 07.

 

IMO LB7 is best way to go..a lot of ppl where i live pull and race dmax and LB7 seems to be best but just BARELY better than LBZ..LB7 is also what is suggested by a lot of the guys even if they dont have one and its non-varible vane turbo so that is something else you might want to think about too and if i remember correctly lbz is varible vane turbo..LB7 is 01-04
regardless of what you choose..dmax in a 89 sounds pretty cool..good luck keep us updated

 

Any dmax from 01 up is going to be a good upgrade. Just be sure to get a pull out with transmission and full wiring harness. Should be a nice build, start a build thread when this gets going.
Personally I'd look into at least an LLY, It will probably cost you as much as a LB7 but will be a lil newer 04.5-06. A LBZ with the 6 speed is going to be very pricey.

 

The only reason i say skip the LB7 is its hit or miss with bad injectors, injector replacement hovers around 2 grand which scares me, but LB7's run just as good as the later Dmaxes and have great rods/ pistons.

All Dmaxes can make the same power, its all in the tuning.

 

+1 !!!!!!!

 

True I def agree with that... I think on LB7 we worked on were still under warranty but if not been the price for labor and all was $2500 and I know a lot LB7 with that same problem more than likely fro age... But if u add horsepower just means bigger injectors anyway! Haha

 

the Diesel Place has a great comprehensive conversion manual.