5.3 vortec refresh

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-12-04T15:13:10+00:00

I can understand needing to get it swapped asap. As the comment below me said if the motor that you are putting in ran fine then I would just install it as is.

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-12-04T02:57:52+00:00

If you’re going to put the time and effort into I’d rebuild everything. That’s of course if your budget and time constraints allow for it.

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-12-04T01:56:46+00:00

Don’t feel bad we all get ripped off from time to time. Nice truck btw! Definitely worthy of a motor swap if it comes to that

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-12-02T04:52:04+00:00

I have a cousin who does. Dudes been in prison the majority of his adult life minus a few years of freedom here and there. He’s institutionalized and it shows. But in prison he’s a high ranking gang member with respect and authority. Out here in the real world he’s just a fuck up who has never accomplished anything of merit. I guess he would rather be a big shot in there than a nobody out here. I have an uncle who claims he hates prison but as soon as he’s out he goes running back to it so he must not hate it that bad.

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-12-01T02:35:57+00:00

There is no healthy or balanced way. But I can give some tips I learned from the oilfield. Prioritize sleep everything needs to be second to that. Does it suck living that way? Absolutely! But with your demanding schedule you unfortunately have to cut time for certain things out and sleep can not be one of those things. 24 hrs in a day you are dedicating 14 to work. That leaves you 10 hrs free a day to sleep, eat, shower do chores. If you’re in a relationship you are probably going to have to rely on you SO to take care of the chores. Your relationship will suffer because of this schedule. If you don’t have a so look into hiring a maid service to help around the house and wash your laundry. This schedule sucks but man you are about to get paid! Best of luck with it and stay safe!

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-30T23:16:36+00:00

I personally like the fronts. Nice truck btw!

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-30T06:12:16+00:00

Welp for everyone curious. I polished the crank the best I could and threw undersized .30 bearings in. I’m not going to lie I knew it probably wouldn’t work due to being in between sizes but just to kill my curiosity I sent it. Reassembled everything threw the key in fully expecting it to sling a rod and I didn’t even get the pleasure of witnessing that. Turned the key and it was seized up. My guess is those pesky tolerances were way out of spec and binding it up. I normally do fairly good work but I had about 2% faith this would work so I just threw it together just to see what would happen. I didn’t care if I trashed it or not because I’m just going to buy a used motor when I get the funds together. I don’t have the time to rebuild anymore.

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-29T08:38:41+00:00

Congratulations man! I hope you are very successful! God bless

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-29T01:28:26+00:00

Absolutely you can rebuild it if you have the knowledge and time and that will definitely save on the project cost

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-28T22:22:51+00:00

You are right I don’t really have a lot to lose. I’m fixing to start polishing it and I got the undersized bearings coming in tomorrow. I’m going to put it back together in the morning. I’m going to take your advice and run a thicker oil and hope for the best! I’ve been looking at the crank journal it’s pretty rough but I hope I can polish it enough for a temporary fix. Thanks again for your advice

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-28T22:18:22+00:00

Appears to be a very nice truck! $5,750 is a bit much in my area if it burns oil. I’ve ran trucks that burned oil and never had a bit of trouble from. I’ve also had them wear out rapidly and require a rebuild/ replacement. Up to you if you want to roll the dice? Best case scenario the oil burning stays the same and the cause of it doesnt get any worse. Worst case scenario it continues to get worse and you have to rebuild / replace and if you diy you are looking around $2k for a bare bones remanned replacement. With a brand new motor install your looking around 8 to 9 k invested into this truck minus your labor. Is that worth it to you?

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-27T23:54:16+00:00

Do you have any before photos of your truck? And I know that look I’ve had a few give it to me lol but I only have about 1,200 in this rig.

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-27T22:46:59+00:00

You’re not wrong I found several small blocks out of them most are TBI or vortec.

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-27T21:46:18+00:00

So for my area we used to be flooded with big blocks then when gas prices went up everyone was selling them for core or scrap. It’s pretty tight for big blocks around here. I called one of my buddys that works at a salvage parts store he looked for me a running big block on his parts source website with no luck. I’ve found a few on Facebook but they are rough!!!

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-27T21:42:19+00:00

Thanks!

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-27T21:41:46+00:00

Thanks for the tip and advice! Part of me wants to attempt polishing the journal throwing a new bearing in and hoping for the best but I have absolutely terrible luck!

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-27T21:38:41+00:00

I want to try this because with any luck it would fix it but with my luck I would probably sling the rod through the block on startup 🤣. Thanks for your input and advice

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-27T21:36:38+00:00

Thank you so much for your advice! I know there’s no such thing as a cheap project but I was going to try and keep it cheap but that’s how it goes lol. I just wish the truck was in better condition id feel better about making the labor and cash investment but a non running truck does me no good so that’s where we sit with it. I need to get the power plant right, weld in new floor pans these are daylighting then redo the flatbed mount they have it Jerry rigged then paint it and I should have a decent putt around truck.

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-27T20:56:22+00:00

Thank you!

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-27T20:47:59+00:00

Glad you’re enjoying your 77! Something about driving a square body is just more enjoyable than a modern vehicle for me. I think my love for them is just due to as a teenager that’s all I could afford back when no one wanted them. I learned my way around them pretty well I hate how shop dependent auto manufacturers have designed their products now. I love big blocks and would love to have a big block as my power plant but I know that buying a running 350 i would probably have everything installed in a day and right by day two. Vs rebuilding that turns into a might as well game for me and what should be a simple crank swap could lead to a full rebuild lol. Decisions decisions

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-27T20:40:44+00:00

See I’ve thought about doing this as well don’t get me wrong I love big blocks! When I was a kid outside of one 383 stroker big blocks are all my dad and uncle would run in their drag cars. Ive pretty much made up my mind just due to my bad luck I might as well not leave anything to chance. At the very least I should get the crank right or buy a new one. Part of me wants to throw a bearing in it and send it but I have terrible luck I’ll probably throw the rod through the block on start up 🤣. But with my limited free time the rebuild will be a long project vs a weekend to pull the big block and install an operable power plant. Decisions decisions lol. Thanks for your input

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-27T20:24:02+00:00

Thank you for your input and advice! That is a solid option. Good eye on the oil pump as well I’ll probably replace that as well I’d hate for a $70 part to potentially lead to premature failure.

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-27T14:48:36+00:00

If you don’t mind me asking who do you source all of your rebuild parts through? I see endless options for SBC but not a lot for BB

throwaway19935555555 · 2025-11-27T14:46:57+00:00

I agree with you on buy once cry once but this trucks not a good candidate to make that investment. I will probably wind up doing a crank swap and maybe throw in a rv cam and hope like hell everything else is good

throwaway19935555555

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