Howdy! I'm new to this forum, directed here from my home of SilveradoSierra.com. As always with me, before going further into my post, my truck is a 1992 K1500 SLE with a 5.7L 350Ci V8, a 4 Speed Automatic Tranny, and the Z71 package.

I'm looking to get more horsepower out of my truck. The guys on the other forum suggested either an LS swap or a crate engine in order to complete my goal. The original post is here
SilveradoSierra.com ? Looking to allow for more ponies, need some ideas : Engine

I was hoping any of you kind fellas could give me some guidance with this? I've researched both of these but I still don't really have a grasp as to what they require, what I should be looking for, etc.

Any help or any ideas aside from this would be extremely helpful.

Thanks!
~Kenmathis

 

Well, a good place to start is to set a budget and goals. So how much money do you want to spend and how much power do you want to make?

Welcome to PT btw!

 

Thanks! Looking forward to learning a lot here
I'm not really sure on budget, but I am sure on goals. I think he sat about 180-190 Horses stock, and about 190-200 since I replaced his cat. I'd like to get about 370-500 Horses out of him.

 

Well an LS would certainly be easier to make that power comfortably and have way better drivability and mileage in the process. 370hp is pretty doable with a decent cam and set of heads, but to get near 500ish you are probably going to need a stroker kit or nitrous.

 

Boost that 5.7 or get ahold of a good 5.3 and boost and you'll easily hit those numbers. Shouldnt have a problem finding a 5.3 for $500-$800 then depending how lavish of a boosted setup you choose you could come out at a decent price

 

Don't plan to spend any less than 3k on just a basic turbo kit, and that's bottom limit.

 

Unless he goes with a non intercooled junkyard flipped manifold setup it'd be pretty cheap to throw together for a low budget moderate horsepower build and he could basically just follow the hotrod junkyard build with a 4.8 or 5.3 and make nice numbers still for what he wants to make. Or just a nice NA setup with a 5.3 or 6.0 and still hit that hp goal

 

What does that mean in "Engines for dummies"?
Specifically, the NA setup

 

I wouldn't even bother with a non-intercooled setup since he will eventually want to up the boost anyway. The turbo stuff is actually not expensive compared to everything else you need....fuel pumps, injectors, sensors, gauges, heat shielding, fittings, lines, filters, blah blah blah. Trust me, ive been down that road For what he wants I would recommend a good NA setup.

 

500 was pretty much the ceiling, I figured anything over that would require either special tweaking or heavy computerization, or would risk damaging him if I floor it.
As far as an LS, what should I be looking at/for to make that 370?
And what do you mean by better driveability and mileage?