So I'm 95% sure I'm swapping engines this September. I'd like to go with a 6.0 but a lot of the ones I am finding are well over 100k. So in your guy's opinion what would be a safe good mileage donor engine be for a swap? Current truck has just under 80k.

 

I had 80k on my 4.8 when I swapped to a LS1 and my cutoff was 50k..but theres always exceptions...
-IMO take advantage of the situation..more hp/lower milage..not worth it if you can only have more hp...

 

When I was looking for my 6.0 I wanted something with under 30k. That was just an arbitrary number I made up, but that's what I felt comfortable with. Found one with 25k, and went for it.

 

I'm looking for around 60k, I'd be ok with that. Less would be better but I'm not going to spend 1500-2000 on an engine.

 

This blows me away, I guess cuz I'm into boats as well as trucks. A 40hp outboard motor is easily $4-5k. Why on earth wouldn't you spend $2k on a nice low mileage 6.0 for your truck? Not a flame, but since I work at a salvage yard and know the reality of how hard it is to find a low mileage engine some times, the extra cash is well worth peace of mind. That bein said I'd just as soon have a well taken care of 200k engine over a abused and neglected 50k engine.

 

Unfortunatly with salvage yards you pretty much have to take it at face value. I wouldn't know how to tell if the 60K motor is in good shape or bad shape compared to the 200k. I mean you can do a compression test but pulling the heads before you buy is kinda out of the question.

The place I called today said they had 3 60k, 87k and one with unknown amount of miles on it. the one with 60k was an 05, the one with 87k was an 04. I didn't ask what year the one with unknown miles were on it. for all I know it could have 3000.

Best I know to do is get a warranty.

B.O.A.T Bust Out Another Thousand
LOL yeah I can see those prices on an engine

 

Why does everyone want an engine they can just drop in these days? Why not just buy a 100K mile 6.0, tear it down, buy new coated bearings, rings and a gasket set, have it honed, and put it back together. BAM. While its apart, have the crank checked, (For free) and this gives you real piece of mind.

No matter how much cash you spend on a motor, If you dont know whats inside, you have no piece of mind.

My 5.3 in my truck has 165,000 on it and is clean as a whistle inside. The LS1 I bought from Ben had 50K on it, and I opened it up to discover a melted piston and fucked up bearings. (Not bens doing)

You never can tell.

 

We're lazy....

Agreed. If you don't know the inside your going to be unsure all the time.

 

A drop in is cheaper and less time/work to do...my LQ9 shortblock was a drop in until it sat for 5 years and the rings left stains on the cylinder walls. Now it will be getting torn down and honed, new rings, cam bearings, and whatever other bearings that may be needed. More dough, time, and work than I wanted, but oh well. As mentioned, at least I will have piece of mind that everything's good inside there, as long as it's done right

 

Resource limitations, for me it was time, space, and money. And I don't regret it one bit.