'05 Express 2500 Engine

[Shovelrick]

My work van has a 4.8 Vortec engine with 174,7xx miles and a random loud lifter tick, uses about half qt of oil in 200-250 miles but has decent power but lately I've noticed some rough running but plugs were replaced 1-1.5 yrs ago but I didn't change the dist cap, I'm wondering if I should put a rebuilt engine in it since I'm not seeing a new work van in my future, I'm going to talk to John at Muscle Machining to see what he has in stock or if he can build a 5.3 to replace the 4.8, another thing I'm wondering is how hard is it to change this van from a dist ignition to the coil on plug ignition? Maybe be best to stick with a dist 350 5.7? And will it be a problem for the computer? Man I Hate computers in trucks & cars but I realize they're more eff, free shipping this month

 

[kmakar]

Save yourself the heartache and just swap it out..... buy the engine now and have it ready...... soon as it shits the bed pull the engine, strip the block of hard parts, install all new electronics (plugs, wires, and coil packs), new injectors, filters, ect and call it a day.

Trust me, you'll thank me later.

 

[Shovelrick]

Save yourself the heartache and just swap it out..... buy the engine now and have it ready...... soon as it shits the bed pull the engine, strip the block of hard parts, install all new electronics (plugs, wires, and coil packs), new injectors, filters, ect and call it a day.

Trust me, you'll thank me later.

If I buy the engine I'll swap it asap so I dont lose too much warranty, I bought a new crate Harley engine from a Harley dealer in W Va with 6 month unlimited mile warranty and it was before the rest of the bike was ready for it (got it on sale) and it sat in the crate in the dining room past warranty time lol, I think I'll look up the price for a 5.7 with a place for a dist, might be less hassle?

 

[kmakar]

No, unless you intend on getting rid of all the electronics (no cpu to control engine or trans) forget about it. You'd have to swap everything out completely if you change out the engine (harness and all).

 

[Shovelrick]

Looks I'll need a diff intake if I go with a 5.7, 2000-2002 have metric bolt holes, guess I'll need to see what I have but guessing metric for 05, this site says I have an LS 4.8 but it has a place for dist, I dont think I need to spend an extra $300 for a 4 bolt block just for a work van PS I also notice the 4.8 dist hole is in the center and the 5.7 is off center so maybe a diff dist is needed, I'll call them tomorrow to get some info on swapping the 4.8 to more cubes, I kind of doubt John can match this pricing, Im also thinking the higher warranty option the better built engine you get?

 

[kmakar]

I'd just replace what's in there and keep it stock.....

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

Replace it and keep it stock, makes it easy. Summit is advertising crate motors, Jasper is hit and miss. I bought an engine for my Durango 7 years ago from https://www.promarengine.com/ has done fine with no issues and was reasonably priced.

 

[Shovelrick]

Now I think it wouldn't be any advantage going with the 2000-2002 5.7 with 255hp and 330tq over just replacing the 4.8 this is info from Speedway motors, it popped up on a Google search

 

[Nashville Cat]

Since when does an LS have a distributor ? I'm lost

 

[Shovelrick]

Since when does an LS have a distributor ? I'm lost

I think it's an early version of LS

 

[Nashville Cat]

I think it's an early version of LS

Nope, my 6.0L came out of a 99 truck and it had nothing but coils.
They do sell a conversion kit that mounts a Ford distributor on the front

 

[Nashville Cat]

I don't think it would be that expensive to pull the intake/valve covers and install all new roller lifters and plastic trays (that hold the lifters).
The parts are $250 ?
If it's not burning oil, it might go way past 300k miles after that !
Yikes, I forgot you have to pull the heads. So you'll also need to replace head gaskets.
This shouldn't cost more than $1000 ? Check with your mechanic

 

[cheveslakr]

Seems a common issue with the 4.8 around that mileage. I know folks that get 50k plus miles after that tick. Seems hard to believe, but true. Your work van probably sees a bit more abuse, so results will vary. The warr

 

[Nashville Cat]

I think you have the 4.3L V6 that's based on the Gen 1 SBC.
Rock Auto says those engines were available in 2005.
The 4.8 , 5.3 , and 6.0L were all LS

 

[Shovelrick]

I don't think it would be that expensive to pull the intake/valve covers and install all new roller lifters and plastic trays (that hold the lifters).
The parts are $250 ?
If it's not burning oil, it might go way past 300k miles after that !
Yikes, I forgot you have to pull the heads. So you'll also need to replace head gaskets.
This shouldn't cost more than $1000 ? Check with your mechanic

Id do that if it didnt have 175k miles on it, I'm going to get Johns opinion, I've always been up front with him on ac stuff so I trust he'll give me an honest opinion on which way I should go, I trust ya'lls opinion to, just want to weigh all my options and do this one time, I think this van will have to last the rest of my career lol, its a really good van though

 

[Shovelrick]

I think you have the 4.3L V6 that's based on the Gen 1 SBC.
Rock Auto says those engines were available in 2005.
The 4.8 , 5.3 , and 6.0L were all LS

View attachment 32506

It's a 4.8 V8

 

[Shovelrick]

Also seems strange it has an oil cooler and tow package but not a larger engine, L60E trans too

 

[Nashville Cat]

Id do that if it didnt have 175k miles on it, I'm going to get Johns opinion, I've always been up front with him on ac stuff so I trust he'll give me an honest opinion on which way I should go, I trust ya'lls opinion to, just want to weigh all my options and do this one time, I think this van will have to last the rest of my career lol, its a really good van though

I've heard from a lot of people that the rings don't wear out on modern fuel-injected engines.
With fuel-injection and synthetic oil, rings basically last forever if you keep the oil clean and air filters changed.
The roller cam won't wear either but the lifters wear out.

 

[Shovelrick]

I've heard from a lot of people that the rings don't wear out on modern fuel-injected engines.
With fuel-injection and synthetic oil, rings basically last forever if you keep the oil clean and air filters changed.
The roller cam won't wear either but the lifters wear out.

Maybe I should do a compression and leak down test?

 

[Nashville Cat]

It's a 4.8 V8

So what's the deal with a "distributor cap ?" An LS has no place to install a distributor.
Where are you seeing the cap ?