Help with new engine decision
My beloved 1992 Holiday Rambler Imperial with a Chevy 454 and 4l80E trans decided to blow its rod bearing on our trip home going up a hill (it's always seemed a bit underpowered on hills since I had it these past 5 years). Got towed into a car&truck garage, quoted labor time for R&R of the engine to be "a week and a half." This turns out to be $4200+ just for labor, not including the new engine, and any other parts that are needed. After I regained consciousness, I became resolved to find a better solution for my family.
My question is, how hard is it to do this yourself? Out the driver's side door, I imagine. What can I put back in that will have better power, or will a refreshed Chevy 454 be much more powerful than the one that died with 72,000 miles on it? Crate or Reman? It has TBI now, any changes there if I went with a newer Vortec? I believe the OEM is gen. V that was hobbled/underpowered for emissions sake. Need some advice, especially from those that have been here before. What is my best bang for the buck. I have time to work on it myself, just need to know how difficult it actually is. My ultimate goal is to pull a grade without the engine dancing up and the speed dogging back to 45-50 mph on medium sized hills. GM HT502 looks nice, but big $ and expensive on premium gas. Want to do it right, but economically as well. (I expect the "buy a diesel pusher" comments, but that's not in the cards yet.)
My question is, how hard is it to do this yourself? Out the driver's side door, I imagine. What can I put back in that will have better power, or will a refreshed Chevy 454 be much more powerful than the one that died with 72,000 miles on it? Crate or Reman? It has TBI now, any changes there if I went with a newer Vortec? I believe the OEM is gen. V that was hobbled/underpowered for emissions sake. Need some advice, especially from those that have been here before. What is my best bang for the buck. I have time to work on it myself, just need to know how difficult it actually is. My ultimate goal is to pull a grade without the engine dancing up and the speed dogging back to 45-50 mph on medium sized hills. GM HT502 looks nice, but big $ and expensive on premium gas. Want to do it right, but economically as well. (I expect the "buy a diesel pusher" comments, but that's not in the cards yet.)
