I know its a gasser, but...

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lotsofmiles

Father of the Van
Dec 4, 2008
3,097
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Michigan
Thinking about taking the 5.7 with the blown intake gasket and putting it in an Astro/Safari. Really like to do it with a dmax but funding for that probably isnt going to happen. I already have the 5.7 and astros are cheap.

I've seen a few 5.7s in astros so I know it'll fit. theres one on ebay now. dont know what year the motor is.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chev...temZ230463229188QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks#v4-41

If I do this, what all can/should I do to the 5.7 while it is out to beef it up and get a little more power out of it?

Goal for the van would be a dd/beater/sleeper
 
THEFERMANATOR

THEFERMANATOR

LEGALLY INSANE
Feb 16, 2009
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As for the engine I would check the timing chain and swap in a different cam as the 5.7L VORTEC cams SUCK! Keep your lift under 450 and you can stay with the stock valve springs, otherwise you'll have to machine the heads or get the special beehive springs. It all depends on what you want out of it, but the 98 5.7L can be built to make about 325HP if you keep the stock fuel injection. If you want more you'll have to upgrade to a different intake like the marine one or an afftermarket. Since you have EFILIVE you can tune it for some drastic changes. A cam swap, mild porting on the heads AND intake(the stock VORTEC intake is VERY restrictive), mod the throttle body, and add in a set of 1 1/2" or 1 5/8" shorty headers and she'll be pretty lively. Next your trans as it will hate you. The big limiter on the stock 5.7L VORTEC though is the injection system as it uses the crappy spider injection inside the intake. Since you already have a donor vehicle, I would just find a recipient as close to it's year as possible and go fr it. Even a stock 5.7L VORTEC with a tune will be pretty quick in and ASTRO.
 
THEFERMANATOR

THEFERMANATOR

LEGALLY INSANE
Feb 16, 2009
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A cam swap and tuning will do wonders for it, throw in the porting and she'll be peppy feeling. I would think in an astro a tuned 5.7L with a cam would be ALOT of fun. COMP CAMS makes some nice tri-power cams designed just for the 5.0L/5,7L VORTEC's ranging from a milage cam(helps the milage but was a bit of a dog IMHO), a torque cam(this thing will make some SERIOUS torque and yank a house down), to a full blown performance cam(haven't tried this one yet, but if it does like they advertise I bet it will move). All 3 of these cams will require the special valve springs and retainers though to run(about $180 for the crane set, and $240 for COMPS set-up). As for the trans, a TRANSGO HD2 shift kit and a TRANSTAR stage 1 upgrade kit should make it hold up nicely in a lighter rig.
 
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lotsofmiles

Father of the Van
Dec 4, 2008
3,097
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Michigan
Hahahahahaha. :). :)

Just did cat back dual straight pipes on my 99 express van with a 5.7


That would be nice coming form an astro too
 
2wd_Sled_Puller

2wd_Sled_Puller

Heavy Equiment mechanic
Feb 19, 2008
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Florida
the 5.7 sounds good what kinda exhaust u got, i got 40 series champer 1's on my with 3 inch pipe into 3.5 inch tips sounds throaty as hell
 
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