97 vortec

[The_cobalt_kid]

k, so 99% sure my wife's 97 suburban just blew a headgasket... its got ~180XXX miles... the truck blue books for like $2.5K lol. so im at a cross roads with it. gotta talk to her and see if she wants to keep it, if she does, i am thinking its time for a long block. reason being that i dont wanna tear that deep into the engine and then just cause more problems. It also threw a P305, so i'm thinking (haven't done a compression test yet, dont have a set up) that there might be coolant in #5, possibly have damaged it... SO, anyone know where to get a decent price on a 5.7L vortec? 96-99 IIRC. i've seen from $1,800 to <$2,500 for strokers, dont want anythign performace reallly, just a stock replacement. Thanks.

[Maven]

somewhere around $2500 will get you a GM direct replacement long block. If you want to keep the truck Id either put a GM replacement engine or a Jasper in it. Both have awesome warranties.

[The_cobalt_kid]

somewhere around $2500 will get you a GM direct replacement long block. If you want to keep the truck Id either put a GM replacement engine or a Jasper in it. Both have awesome warranties.

I think I saw a jaseper one.. 70k mi warranty iirc. Thinkin I should do the tqconv while I got the block out. And some othe little things. Thinkin total cost to be 3-3.5k. Odds and ends included.

[Maven]

One thing I would def try to squeeze in the budget is a distributor, or AT LEAST the distributor gear.

[USMCFieldMP]

Just replace the head gaskets. Cheaper. Personally, I wouldn't sink that much into a tank like that... unless you have a real need for a tank like that. What's that thing get - 12mpg? Fix the head gaskets, sell it, buy something great on gas.

[Maven]

Robs got a point too.....quality gasket kit will run you only about $125

[montecarloman]

If it actually blew a head gasket at that mileage you need an engine. Typically the intake leaks coolant, you continue to drive it low on coolant and then warp the head/block. If your going to keep it, get a "new" engine. Also keep in mind whats the rest of the drivetrain look like? Is the trans on its last legs too?

Customer thought he'd keep his 90's suburban because it was paid for. $8000+ and 6months later the truck is "new". Everthing just kept falling apart on him.

[The_cobalt_kid]

Kweping it because its a tank. Just did the intake mani gasket like 6months ago fml. lol. Gasket kit would be cheap, but im not gonna rip into 180XXX miles of engine and *hope* nothin dies. Better to just replace.

Drive train is fine believe it or not, in need of a minor alignment but thats it. Had front ball joints done ~a year ago, I recently rebuilt the entire front break system minus break booster, and rears are drums. Lol. Ginna do the tq converter while I got it apart prob.

And it gets 9mpg rob. Lol jk

[USMCFieldMP]

Why does she need a tank like that? She work construction? Like I said, I wouldn't bother. Replace the head gaskets. As long as you aren't screwing up the install, nothing else internally should break because of it.

That's just me though. I'm not gonna drop multiple thousands of dollars into a daily driver vehicle worth $2k. Just find another beater. Hell... you could just buy another 97 Suburban for less and not have to hassle with pulling the engine.

[The_cobalt_kid]

Engine ordered. New not reman, oem 350. ~2500 to my door. 3yr/100,000mi warrenty.

[Maven]

Engine ordered. New not reman, oem 350. ~2500 to my door. 3yr/100,000mi warrenty.

Only way to get new is to get a performance engine. Reman has the better warranty anyway.

[The_cobalt_kid]

hmm... guy swore it was brand new. you dont consider that to be a good warranty? like they come with better ones?

[Maven]

I misread your post actually.....if you got a new engine with a 3/100 warranty for 2500 thats a GREAT deal. What engine did you get?

[qwikredline]

troof reman crates rock with warranty and new crates are not bad either 2 years and 80 k miles?

[The_cobalt_kid]

Just stock replacement long block, 97 5.7L vortec. Newgmprts.com or something like that. Ill look tomorrow at work and post it.

I was confused cause I searched for 3days and this was the cheapest new GM engine w/a warranty.

[The_cobalt_kid]

engine isn't going to get here till monday :cursing: but thats ok, sunday was what the company was going to try to do, but the shipping company sent their driver out with out the enigne. works out better anyway, b/c buddy with the cherry picker and engine stand cant make monday, so sunday i'll rip everything off i can, and hopefully be ready to pull it monday morning when he shows, then wait for the new engine. and re-attach everything then drop it in.

[The_cobalt_kid]

also, picked up gaskets/distributor (thanks Maven)/ brake booster (needed replaced anyway)/oil/oil filter/fuel filter (might as well at this point)/coolant/upper rad hose/lower rad hose (figured its not gonna hurt to replace them)

picking up monday: tq converter, and serpentine belt monday morning (wasn't sure on the belt if i have the bigger alt or not, i know my father in law said it did, but just to be safe.)

[The_cobalt_kid]

still fighting the enigne... can't get it to seperate from the tranny.

[USMCFieldMP]

still fighting the enigne... can't get it to seperate from the tranny.

Use a bigger hammer.

[The_cobalt_kid]

Sooo auto trans... Gotta unbolt the flywheel. old engine out. New one arrived (late) gonna put intake mani, zost mani, various other stuff then drop it in tomorrow. Be done tomorrow ho pe fully.