Hello all. Thank you in advance for any help you can send my way... 1988 K2500 4X4 5.7L TBI I am getting ready to replace the engine in my truck. My question is, what year engines can I use that will use the existing harnesses and components from my current engine. I live in California (UGHHH...) So I have to make sure that all the emissions stay within spec. Thank you again for any insight... Jason

 

Well I think 1988 - 1998 are the same.
You could swing by a Pick 'n Pull and get an engine.
Pick n pulls are all over Northern, California, not sur about So Cal.

But I believe the years you are looking for are 88 - 98.
And I believe that you can also use engines outa suburbans and tahoe's too from those years,
But someone else may want to confirm that.

How many miles are on the motor?

 

The motor has 136,000 miles on it. 90% of the miles are pulling my sandrail, dirtbikes or 23ft boat. It has served me well and is tired. Thanks for the info. Lots of salvage yards down here. gonna get a used engine soon... Thanks for pointing in the right direction.

 

if your getting a used engine.. you might want to do a simple rebuild on it if cash isnt a issue..

 

I thought about that, but its not really necessary. I only need the truck to pull my toys. I might even go with a bigger motor, who knows? Thanks again

 

the 97 and 98 350 engines have different heads and a little more power. but will still swap in no problem.

its been a long time sense i lived in cali but as memory serves when replacing a motor the motor has be be from the same model year or newer and be able to meet emissions requirements for the original motor.

suburban Tahoe and full size blazer motors will swap just fine as well. a few years ago i put a motor from a 88 chevy blazer in a 89 silverado, only two things i ran into were i had to swap out the oil presure sending unit because they were differnt an could not use the original oil filter because the blazer and silverodo front drive shafts were on opposite sides so i went with a shorter filter for clearance rather than swapping the oil filter adapter. also the blazer motor used v-belts rather than a serpentine, i just kept the v belts. and used the power steering pump and all other accessory's from the 88 motor.

 

[quote=Ezrider_92356;162715]the 97 and 98 350 engines have different heads and a little more power. but will still swap in no problem.
quote]
anything 96 and above has different heads.. u forgot a year

 

stay away from the vortec, its limits you so much

 

Hello, I have a 88 chevy k20 that has a 700r4 4x4 tranny in it and a 350 tbi motor, I blew the original motor in it this fall and now it has a 92 350 tbi in it, but ever since I replaced it my tranny has been acting up, the first 2 days after it was shifting all 4 gears but pretty ruff and ever since the 2.days in drive it will shift 1st and 2nd nice and smooth and then drop out like it's in neutral when the transition from 2nd to 3rd should happen but really it hydrolocks in 1st I guess you can say, but then at a dead stop it will start 1st and 2nd again all smooth. Can anyone help me with this?