Please, show me step by step how you do an LS swap for $2k while keeping a manual transmission. If I wanted an auto, I wouldn't own a 60, period, and I can see literally no way to get all the parts to adapt ANY V8 to my truck in front of ANY manual for even close to $2k.
- Advance Adapters wants $2400 just for their LS-to-H42/H55 version of Mark's Adapter, and $1500 for the non-LS one (probably because you don't need a custom flywheel/clutch/etc. setup unlike the LS?)
- They want $800ish to put an NV4500 (which also needs the right bellhousing which is $$$ to find in a hurry) which I've never seen one of for under $1k used on this side of the US, at least since ~2015ish.
- A Ranger Torque Splitter is $1700.
Add in that the Ranger also needs _some_ bellhousing and clutch provisions which I'd have to spend real, actual money on, all of these require hundreds in exhaust work (west coast shop labor ain't cheap, even in Idaho), and it's neither free nor particularly cheap to solve the fuel line/pump/etc. problems with going to MPFI from the 2F either. Different engine accessory brackets, exhaust headers, etc. which might turn out to be necessary to make the thing fit could easily add hundreds to the project cost, too.
I've also priced every possible kind of V8 from seized carb 350 core to used to rebuilt to crate, and the 'cheap but also worth having' ones simply don't exist like they did in 2010 or 1995. Maybe in Kansas, but people want stupid money for a running Tahoe out here these days.
Add in that I'm not interested in different axles, SOA, or (in case it wasn't clear) a slushbox, and that I don't have a welder or access to 220V, and I wouldn't even really know how to weld worth a crap if you put all the right tools in front of me, I'm utterly unconvinced a $2k V8 swap is, in fact, possible for me, period.
Meanwhile, TBI is no welding (unless you decide to 'finish' the self-tap/weld-later-if-you-want exhaust bung), 95% bolt-in, and solves 100% of my running issues all at once. The truck also *almost* drives well enough for my purposes, except for cold starts, high altitude performance, and horrible exhaust stink. A little more seat of pants power would be great, but 4.11 gears and H55f are going to do plenty to solve that. If it looks like *only* $2k will let me have my (imperfect, slow, 2F) cake and eat it, too, without months of engine swap headaches, that seems like an obvious choice to get the truck going on adventures again.
Now, notice that I also said, in my most recent reply before this, that I'm probably swapping a V8 or building a 2FE in next year. If I can afford it, I'm just gonna do it right and do it once, and an absolutely-cheapest LS swap ain't what I've got in mind.
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I have done that swap three times now, stock 4 speed, h55, 4l80 and will help you
it can easily be done for less than 2k just as
@cruisermatt described
if you buy a parts truck with say a blown trans or one that has been rolled, you can part that truck back out and even get your money back plus some.
my first and third swap were done that way and cost me less than 200$ after parting the trucks back out, which took about a month after I was done with the swaps.
If ya need it I can get you a line on a running donor truck and send you links to your bell housing, motor mounts, and fuel pump.
doors open if you need it, I’ll do what I can to help ya out on this, it’s not as costly or as hard as one thinks.
. Stock seems pretty header to me but like you I needed a new manifold, this was the cheapest easiest option at the time
