Needing a little advice guys... I have been working on my '87 IROC for some time now and have come to a crossroads.

So I bought this 305tpi/T5 car for $750 a few years back and it was a all there except for the engine. The harness and computer are there, but the harness has been munched on by mice. Once I started digging into the car I found out that the trans had been changed out to a WC T5 and the rear is the Borg unit with 3.45 gears.

My original plan was to drop in an LS and I ended up getting my hands on a low mile (72k) 5.3. After doing plenty of research I found out that the T5 will not work with the 5.3 so I was going to have to go with a T56 or tko500. Pricing for those in my area is $2500 for a used T56 and $3500 for a new TKO500. The costs are just adding up on this build and I am losing my drive to finish the ls swap. After I get a harness built, have the pcm flashed, a new drive shaft, new clutch, trans mount, I'm looking at another couple grand on top of the trans cost before I even get close to driving the car. With the money I'm allowed to set aside for this build it would take me around another three years to complete the swap, and that's if nothing major happens in that time frame.

So while I was contemplating what to do, I was offered a '98 5.7 Vortec with a "swap ready" harness for $400. So now the question is do I just drop the 5.7 in and be done with it, or should I keep plugging along on the 5.3 swap until it's done?

 

a car you can drive is better than one that just takes up space and soaks up cash..

put the 350 in just so you don't lose interest in the car, then start gathering the parts for the LS swap while you drive the car with the 350 in it..

 

Yeah I'd take the 5.7 and put it in, then I'd enjoy that for a while and start saving and buying parts until you have everything needed to go LS

 

Little bit of an update... Ended up buying the 5.7, so now I have two engines and even less space in my garage lol! The motor seems to be in decent condition just a little muddy, but doesn't seem to have been leaking any oil from anywhere. The harness is a complete mess though and probably can't be saved, but I can pick up another one from one of the local U-pullit yards for around $60.

Which brings me to my next couple of questions... First, has anyone used the stock Vortec intake and had it work out and if so how did you plumb it? Second, what shorty headers fit the best?

 

I would ditch the entire '98 intake and injection system. You're better off with TPI. You'll need a Vortec base. Or Stealth Ram intake manifold for Vortec.

 

Oh, headers. Hooker 2055HKR.