New to the forum world, I have a 1979 El stock 305 with 350 Trans, I was wanting to up date to some thing with a little more power and better gas mileage, that would be safe to drive on trips, I have had great luck with the 5.3 2002 and newer and was wondering if this would work any advise would be great

 

Fairly easy swap. no mystery or custom fabrication at this point. the power and driveability gains would be night and day.
I have done four LS/Vortec swaps and every one showed substantial gains one way or another.

 

Thanks, any advise on what year model would work best and about what it is going to cost, would it be cheaper to find a wrecked truck or just buy the parts

 

probably cheaper to buy the truck. As for cost, usually double what you budget for. Depends on if you rework a stock harness (a major pain) or buy a premade one.
2wd vans are plentiful, and have the bigger 4L80E transmission.

 

thanks again for the advice, I have had great success with the 5.3 and was wondering about the 6.0, I also get confused on the L this and L that description of the engines it used to be the 283, 327, 350, 396, 427 and so forth now there seems to be a lot more to the description of the engine, guise I am just to Old to under stand but I am not dead yet and want to build a nice El before I go

 

Any questions just ask, or PM me.

Gregg