AWD turbo LSx project -- suggestions?

[no_ty_yet]

It's been a little over 7 years since I sold my Typhoon, and I'm itching for a bit of AWD turbo fun. I'm looking to build a new daily driver, but I haven't decided yet what it should be. Help me out with your thoughts / recommendations. A few requirements for the vehicle:

- Must be able to fit the family in it (2 adults and 3 kids' booster seats)
- Powered by a turbocharged LSx (probably a 4.8L or 5.3L). Stock bottom end, stock heads.
- 4L80E trans
- NVG149 AWD transfer case
- Budget: as low as possible, preferably under $5-6k
- American-made vehicle
- To save time, body and interior should be in good shape (not a show truck, just a nice driver)

I've already got the transfer case, and I picked up an input shaft from EAD Performance to mate up the NVG149 to the 4L80E.

My first thought for the project vehicle has been a 2nd-gen 4-door Blazer/Jimmy/Bravada. In researching the LSx swap into a 2nd-gen S-series truck, it sounds like limiting the vehicle to a '98+ simplifies the integration of the engine & vehicle wiring. I can pick up a 2nd-gen Blazer/Jimmy/Bravada with a bad engine for around $1k, so it definitely fits the budget well.

Another possibility would be a '99+ Tahoe / Yukon or Silverado / Sierra extended-cab truck. An advantage to these options is that they'd already have an LSx engine, so not having to work out motor mounts, oil pan clearance, etc. should help speed the project up considerably. The two major drawbacks I see to these vehicles would be:

- Higher cost to purchase the vehicle, would likely increase the project cost by $3k or more
- More weight --> Lower performance and lower fuel economy

I've also considered a Canyon / Colorado crew cab, but cost would again be the major drawback. Any other suggestions for a project vehicle to consider?

[Black Knight]

Denali crew cab FTW!!

[bonesdmz]

"AWD turbo LSx" and "fuel economy" are self-excluding anyways, so...

[dgoodhue]

Building a LSx turbo and buying a vehicle to put it in seems steep task. You better be good a fabrication and welding to keep the costs down. Plus make it reliae seems near impossible on your budget. Maybe you want to do 2nd gen with heads/cam ls motor, that would probably be pretty reliable or turbo the Vortec 4.3 if your set in a turbo. I have no idea about the cost of turboing full size truck but it may be a better option.

[SYCLONE123]

i dont get why people say lsx build on a stock ls bloc. the lsx block is made to handle 1500+hp so when you say lsx people think you have 1000 horse.... false advertising

[no_ty_yet]

Originally Posted by bonesdmz

"AWD turbo LSx" and "fuel economy" are self-excluding anyways, so...

You've got a point there. My naturally aspirated Chevelle gets 24+ on the highway with a 5.7L LS1 and T56, so I'd consider that to be pretty good. I'm sure the turbo will take its toll on fuel mileage, but it'll be interesting to see.

[MRKING]

With only a 5-6k budget , an ls based engine , AWD , and the vehicle price would drain every dollar pretty quickly . Making it turbocharged and wanting it setup as a reliable daily driver wouldnt be possible unless you added a few more grand to the number .

[SYCLONE123]

youre better off buying that ls1 typhoon off la cl and make it awd again but anywhoo its gonna cost at least 10k anywhich way you look at it

[SYCLONE123]

here ya go decent 4x4 jimmy for a ls build http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/2904359301.html

[SYCLONE123]

better yet they want 800 for this one http://kansascity.craigslist.org/ptd/2859944332.html maybe just maybe it could be done

[no_ty_yet]

Originally Posted by dgoodhue

Building a LSx turbo and buying a vehicle to put it in seems steep task. You better be good a fabrication and welding to keep the costs down. Plus make it reliae seems near impossible on your budget. Maybe you want to do 2nd gen with heads/cam ls motor, that would probably be pretty reliable or turbo the Vortec 4.3 if your set in a turbo. I have no idea about the cost of turboing full size truck but it may be a better option.

Agreed, the turbo system build will be interesting. I'll do the welding and fabrication myself. If there's a portion of it that I think is over my head, then I have a friend that's an excellent fabricator that can help me out.

Comparing curb weights, it looks like a full-size AWD ext cab truck weighs in at ~5300 lbs compared to ~4100 lbs for a 4-door 4x4 Blazer. Figuring some added weight for the iron-block V8 and 4L80E swap, the full size truck would probably weigh ~1000 lbs more than the Blazer (nearly a 25% increase).

[no_ty_yet]

Originally Posted by SYCLONE123

better yet they want 800 for this one http://kansascity.craigslist.org/ptd/2859944332.html maybe just maybe it could be done

That's exactly the type of deal I'd start with for the Blazer/Jimmy/Bravada option.

[bryan]

Originally Posted by SYCLONE123

youre better off buying that ls1 typhoon off la cl and make it awd again but anywhoo its gonna cost at least 10k anywhich way you look at it

sorry bro, its sold! But don't ask me how I know

[killa66cam]

Maybe something like a Chevy Luv, just depending on how much work you really want to do. I keep toying around with the idea of putting a V8, auto tranny, and an AWD tc into the one I have sitting in my back yard. Just too many other projects, but one day maybe!

Cam

[Gbodydriver]

Sweet chevelle