73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => LT/LS Swaps => Topic started by: Gwtt on September 12, 2015, 11:22:26 PM
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So a brief history about me. I had a 1977 Step side that I restored as a kid in high school. I loved the truck but I needed something a little more reliable, plus it had to be smogged. Livin in California and not having adequate place to store it, it had to move on to another owner and sold it late 2005. I liked cruising it and some drag strip time here and there. best I could do with the smogged motor was 14.6. quite a few years later, I finally can start another C10. I just bought a 1975 in minds of doing a swap. Hot rod magazine / super chevy did this build and I'm going to duplicate it. http://www.superchevy.com/features/hrdp-1109-stock-gm-ls-engine-big-bang-theory/ They thought it was a 5.3L but turned out to be a 4.8L. It was 50% percent off the past weekend at the local Pick A Part looking for parts like a wiper arm assembly the correct doors and such and low and behold a fresh rolled over 2002 Suburban with a 5.3L with 127473 miles on it. The price was right at $250 for engine, harness and computer. It will be tore down and built to match the article but for pump gas. I'll need to get a 4L60 to match the motor eventually I couldn't spring the cash at the time to get the trans as well plus it was a 4wd. Plans are rear mounted fuel tank between the rails, Posi, 4:10's cal tracs. Different rims, Bed liner, vintage air, and of course a sweet motor. Don't know what to do about paint yet.
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I kinda like the paint
Make it a nice sleeper
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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For a deal like that I would have picked up another one for my lawn mower.
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Yea there was a trailblazer 5.3L next to it with a throttle by wire next to it too but the wallet didn't accommodate. I'm excited to start this project but I have to finish the mother in laws 1969 Mercedes and get it running so I have garage space for the 5.3 and all the pets for the truck to work on. Plus a baby coming in November slows the hot rod project
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welcome to the forum man
ill be fallowing this for sure
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(http://i.imgur.com/3TlOcf8.jpg)
Like this!!!
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So as the truck sits with the LT1 I took it to California speedway's drag strip. I ran it well, twice down the track. Once to just see what it would do in drive and lightly pedal it down the track it did a 14.8. the second pass I loaded the peg leg and took off chirping second gear then went into third gear and BOOM! the turbo 400 i think gave out and the drive shaft twisted and broke into two pieces! I was .6 tenths quicker from my 1/8 mile before it blew up. probably would of been a high 13 second run. well Its on the side of the house now sitting in a puddle of transmission blood. My wife just gave birth to our baby girl so wrenching on that is on hold for the moment but the shopping isn't. :) If anyone knows, will a 3 speed column shifter work with a 4 speed transmission or is the column different? I'll be going to the local pick a parts at the end of the month to pull a 4L80E transmission to back up this LS swap. I want to keep it a column shifter.
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I just picked up a 4L80E from converter to drive shaft yoke, cooler lines and electrical harness for $140.00 granted it was 40% off pick a part this weekend and I pulled it myself. so under $400 bucks I have a full 5.3 and transmission. Now i need to get a install kit mock up the motor and trans along with the turbo setup and then send everything out to be freshened up.
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So I received my motor mounts and transmission mount for the 5.3 liter. ;D
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Also picked up a 4L80E from the junk yard. ;D
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So I received my motor mounts and transmission mount for the 5.3 liter. ;D
how much$
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So I received my motor mounts and transmission mount for the 5.3 liter. ;D
how much$
Under $500.00 shipped to my door. Retail price. I know there are cheaper mounts, but they have to be modified for the engine, the factory transmission mount sucks and I need space for exhaust, and less weight :) I pulled the motor and transmission out today, the old LT1 motor is going to a new home in a 1970 Nova while the transmission (pieces) are going in the trash.
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Here is how the old transmission fell out this weekend. 3 torque converter bolts and two transmission mount bold and the thing dropped. didn't know the housing cracked. I also removed the stock transmission mount, the left over manual trans bracket, spare tire bracket, passenger side fuel tank, heater box, instrument cluster, motor, exhaust and other components. Need to search for a bunch of stuff I want to put in the truck.
Vintage air, New Vintage USA gauges, Bunch of stuff from truck and Classic industries. Just money right? Cowl hood will be added, a decent stereo, Lokar shifter, mini tub the bed with factory wheel wells. rebuild the rear end with Posi and caltracs. rear mounted fuel tank most likely from Boyd welding. updating the dash and door panels to 81-97 setup still manual everything. I just ordered a Billet grill through amazon for $56.00 bucks! it was half off and had some gift cards from the holidays so it only cost me $6.00. Just need to sell all the parts I don't need or want to use to a person who can use them. I can't post them for sale on here. Once I get the vintage air I can do the body work on the fire wall.
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I haven't posted for while but I have been busy being a new Dad. However I have been junk yard hunting. I bought a late model mirror that has temp and compass, along with an internal hood latch assembly which required replacing the front cross member filler panel, latch, lock and bracket. along with adding a cable. I have found all the interior trim out of both a truck and suburban, door panels, hardware for the door panels, miss odds and ends. Purchased a fabricated intake, 102mm throttle body and fuel rails. I also went to Classic Industries and purchased a vintage air kit. I purchased from summit racing a 20 gallon fuel cell with an A1000 pump, external filter and boost referenced fuel pressure regulator, a TCI Flexplate to bolt up to my 4L80E. I have also been reconstructing the engine wiring harness and will use a late 90's Chevy S10 PCM bracket to mount the PCM. so thats the update.
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I also forgot to add a billet grille, stainless tailgate trim. Just keep collecting stuff. Have to save some pennies to get the turbo kit, and instrument cluster. other additions down the road, cal tracs, posi and maybe rear disk brakes. fab work will be filling the stake pockets, filling the old filler neck hole and making one inside the bed to the fuel take, run the fuel system. Moving the rear bumper in forward a couple inches. A cowl Induction hood, and other odds and ends.
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Congratulations on being a new dad! And on the collection of parts. Sounds like ifs fab time
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Thanks, being a dad has been so much fun. kids are like trucks lots of love, patience, and money. ;D I need to buy a decent welder. I have plenty of cosmetic as well as structure fab work in mind. I always had to borrow a welder. Think it maybe time to add one to my tool collection (my little lincoln 110 doesnt count)
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I have an Eastwood 175 MIG and for this price it is a great welder. The only issue I had is the supplied flux-core wire. If you plan to do Flux-core welding at any point, ditch the wire that comes with the rig and use Lincoln or Hobart or any good quality name brand wire.
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Haven't updated in awhile. I bought another welder Hobart mig with sheilding gas. Going to pickup my blast cabinet this week. Purchased fuel system components, along with my vintage air. Torn into the motor and going to be dropping off the heads to add larger valves and freshen up.
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Well, I have been super busy with life but the C10 is apart of it. It's made some progress. So I've hit the junk yards for several months.
2002 5.3, 93 4L80E, interior headliner trim, a replacement radio hole for the swiss cheese the previous owner did, along with getting some 81-91 corner speaker frames since I plan to run an 81-91 dash pad. I've purchased Vintage air system, Slosh Tubz Firewall and inner fender fillers. MR hotrods trans and engine mounts for the LS swap, Holley LS oilpan, Speed engineering headers for the trubos along with a treadstone intercooler and cx racing T4 flange elbows. Ill continue to run the flowmasters but made them 3" all the way out. a 20 gallon Aeromotive fuel cell is mounted and lines made out of stainless up to the front along with Fuel pressure regulator. Have a sweet aluminum intake for the engine with 102mm ( prebranded Holley Sniper) Trying to Locate a 1975 GMC grille to be modified to fit and customize so if you know of one for a decent price hit me up. found some decent 85 roll up window door panels. Repaired the only rust I have which were the cab corners with new metal. Also picked up some quality drip rails. I Also rebuilt the rear end with 4:10 eaton Posi, new bearing and CPP rear disc brake kit. New leaf springs and shocks. Also added Cal Tracs. made a trans cooler mount and fan setup to go where the old saddle tank. found a clean tailgate brushed trim insert and headlight buckets. Ill be adding Dakota digital retro gauges and retro radio. Going to shave the side filler and make a taillight hinge filler to hide the filler neck. Also going to suck in the rear bumper 2". Possibly bring in the front as well. I have more in store for this project when I get the time to play. here in Socal the heat is near 100 and no AC so when it cools down I'll be doing more work on it.
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Well I haven’t posted here for awhile but now I have two daughters and a house full of projects however I have spent some time getting the C10 worked on. It’s in mock up stage motor transmission turbos everything slowly getting mocked up. I would post pictures but my iPhone photos are too large. I do have an Instagram page if you want to see my progression and updates. It’s Steven_C10build . Please check it out.
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(http://i.imgur.com/3TlOcf8.jpg)
Like this!!!
If i could hijack the thread for a moment (and BTW good work on the truck, very clean!), how do these things move? And how to connect the engine to the "trans" and blade?
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SO its been awhile since I've posted. Lots gone on in life. Added children, Covid, Addition to the house. Here is an update for you and photos. engine isnt built but is in for mockup. 4L80 trans. 12 bolt read rebuilt with 4:10's Posi Cal tracs, Helwig rear sway bar. Added wider AMD tubs, put a filler in for the fuel tank behind the tail light. Oh a roll bar. lizard skin the interior. electrical from Painless Dakota digital and Holley. Still doing metal work. I do not recommend OER sheet metal. AMD has been awesome. Added American Racing wheels 17X9 up front and 17x11 in the rear. 390/40/17 M&H tires out back while I think I need a something smaller then the current 275 up front. maybe add some cross drilled rotors up front. Just ordered a bunch of stuff for the interior from USA1 Industries. Almost ready for paint. working on door gaps, drip rails (bringing back) and other sheet metal fitment (again OER isnt great) the front fenders are NOS but the hood is OER and fits horrible. the bed is all OER and had to chop it up abit to get it square not protrude past the cab on both sides like gills. The engine goodies will consist of CBM ported, polished and big valve 241 heads, Brian Tooley stage 1 twin turbo cam. Two Turbonetics T4 "Lety" turbo chargers, BOV and wastegates, a Treadstone intercooler along with CX racing and Speed engineering exhaust components. 3" out the back along with some straight through cherry bomb mufflers (engine masters dyno tested them), sheetmetal intake w/ 102 MM throttle body. 80 lb injectors. Have Forged summit (wiesco) pistons and rods. keeping stock crank but have all new bearings and oil pump going in. a Holley oil pan is also added for clearance. Truck has vintage air. I have custom badges in the original font for "Super sport" and custom grille (used an early GMC grille to start) plan is to get it to the body shop soon, pull everything out and rebuild the motor and trans while the chassis is going to paint. I do have an instagram where i post more on the build @steven_c10build
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try to add more photos
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more photos
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couple more
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Beastly! 8)