I've recently realized I know very little about the truck stuff with reguards to "ls1 style" engines being in them. Maybe some of you moderators could answer a few questions.

1) What engines are in the trucks that are the Gen 3 style? 4.8/5.3/6.0? In the truck world they are calling these "vortec" right?

2) What year did they start putting these into trucks?

3) What is the smallest, lightest truck I can get from GMC/Chevy that'll have a GenIII motor in it? The Silverado seems to be all I can find....I was hoping for an S10 sized vehicle.

I'm sure I'd have more questions down the road...right now I'm just kinda scanning the market. If I have to buy an S10 and drop an LS1 in, then that's just what I'll have to do. Towing is of zero importance, I mainly just need something I can haul crap in from time to time and the vette isn't cutting it for that. I'll also let me branch my website a bit to have truck how-to's.

Jon

 

1. Yep, 4.8L/5.3L/6.0L are all LS1 based engines and they are referred to as Vortec motors.

2. They started putting them in back in '99. Back in '99-'00 the 6.0L motors used iron heads along with the iron block. The other motors have always been offered with aluminum heads. In '01 the 6.0L started getting aluminum heads. They all still have iron blocks but, I think they'll be getting aluminum blocks soon.

3. Nothing smaller than a fullsize(Silverado/Sierra) is offered with GenIII motor. The smallest/lightest fullsize would be a regular cab short bed 2wd. There is some debate whether a stepside or fleetside is lighter, I really don't know. My RCSB 2wd weighs 4300# with me(145#) in it.

I've swapped a V8 into a '92 S10 before and it's not very fun. If you think a Fbody engine bay is tight get ready to have some fun.

If you get a truck go with the fullsize, I don't think the S10's are that much lighter to justify the pain of swapping motors.

It would be nice to have a section of LS1howto with truck stuff. I've done a few little how to deals but, don't have the patience you do to put a really nice one together.

Just ask away if you have a question.

 

1. Yes, they are GEN III motors based on the first Gen III which was the LS1. In the truck world, they are calling the "Gen III" , "LS1 Based", or by their RPO:
Vortec 4800 (LR4)
Vortec 5300 (LM7, LM4, L59)
Vortec 6000 (LQ4)
Vortec HO 6000 (LQ9)
There are other "Vortec" engines also:
Vortec 2200 (LN2)
Vortec 4200 I6 (LL8)
Vortec 4300 (LU3/LG3)
Vortec 8100 (L18)
But these are based on other designs, for instance the 4200 is an inline 6 made for the new Trailblazers and Envoys. The others are older designs. The Vortec part comes from the head design.

2.These Gen III's debuted in 1999 trucks and 2000 SUV's. There were Vortec's prior to 1999, but were on the older SBC / TBI models

3. Smallest lightest Gen III application is a 4.8 fullsize shortbed reg cab 5 speed model. And that tranny sux BTW, not the same M6 in the cars. No V8's in the smaller trucks. But rumor says an aluminum 5.3 V8 (Like in the new SSR) will come out in the 04 Trailblazers/Envoys as an option.

Hope this helps get you started.

 

John, how the hell did we time that perfectly? I thought you went to sleep????

 

Yep, I'm sleep typing. Ok, now I'm going to sleep. Seriously, I'm delirious right now and I can barely type. Good night

 

These are good questions, NOT to be wasted in the Admin forum. Moving to Truck Performance forum

Tony