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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => LT/LS Swaps => Topic started by: acefoxx on October 05, 2014, 06:30:15 PM

Title: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: acefoxx on October 05, 2014, 06:30:15 PM
I'm starting an LS swap in my 85 K5. I could use any advise anyone may have. Here is what I have and know I need.

I have a 2000 Z71 5.3, complete with harness and computer
I have some motor mount adapters on order
Already running and EFI on truck so it has a fuel system
Need
700r4 spacer and flex plate kit
TV cable adapter kit
Speedo cable pulse kit for computer
Fuel line adapters

I need to find that Novak A/C kit for stock compressor and the serpentine style A/C lines

Anything I'm missing?

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10345979_950259058334165_617548186045969795_n.jpg?oh=9a77ccfd4902d5f30c92c271fc4f285d&oe=54CDD21A&__gda__=1422660135_41afd9dd48cff869b91dcab7c17a9804)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10670199_951127591580645_1235904656884204589_n.jpg?oh=931dcc03f75aa778af7c3e684a27cbeb&oe=54C5C5B0&__gda__=1421673068_0bfcc52d0aa28157eea8d4fa913d1b20)

(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/430440_536839056342836_1609968592_n.jpg?oh=f1b66057eb12a73058a60daf9d0572ef&oe=54C29E29)
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: mizozuman2 on October 06, 2014, 11:56:15 AM
I may be wrong, but if you get 1" setback engine mount plates, it puts the engine in the same spot as a regular SBC. which means you wouldn't have to get an adapter plate for the trans?

I might be wrong, I don't know much about these LS swaps. I'm doing my blueprinting right now.
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: acefoxx on October 06, 2014, 04:36:37 PM
The 700r4 adapter is for the flex plate. The bell housing bolts up fine. It is the crank that is shorter in the back and requires a spacer/adapter.
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: Captkaos on October 07, 2014, 01:21:40 PM
What EFI is on the truck now?  aftermarket?
You need a LS equivalent pump to feed the injectors.
I personally would eliminate all rubber hoses and if it is low pressure fuel hose you have to replace it.  I suggest getting teflon or E85 safe hose.
you will need someone to get into the ECM prior to cranking it.
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: acefoxx on October 07, 2014, 03:41:56 PM
Right now I got a tired old 350 running the PowerJection III. I had to upgrade the silly little pump they send with it cause it craps out after two months (twice). I have an EFI rated pump with steel braided AN lines. The ECM is already on it's way to the programmer.
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: acefoxx on October 08, 2014, 04:44:24 PM
Can anyone confirm the year and model exhaust manifolds that will fit the LS in the 85 blazer frame? I was told 2013+ Camero, 2??? Trailblazer SS, 2??? SSR's.
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: Captkaos on October 09, 2014, 07:19:58 PM
The Camaro should work and 4th gen LS f-bodys are supposed to work also.
Not familiar with the PowerJection setup, is it an external or intank setup?  If it is external that is assisting in them burning up.
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: acefoxx on October 11, 2014, 03:43:04 PM
The fuel pump is external, but the cheap one they put with the Powerjection III kits are worthless. I put a higher quality pump in place and it has been working great for awhile now.

Here is the PowerJectionIII kit

(http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/large/PFS-70026.jpg)
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: acefoxx on October 13, 2014, 01:38:24 PM
Got the old one out. Waiting on some parts and me to redo the wiring harness before I set the new one in there.

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/10702022_957134084313329_3180851700391574344_n.jpg?oh=e1984cc9006cd35e33e65b6e61243718&oe=54F6FB2C&__gda__=1420605349_41e245960545503d7a28b56e4b302056)
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: Captkaos on October 14, 2014, 01:31:19 PM
nice progress...
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: acefoxx on November 14, 2014, 09:57:48 PM
I have finished the LS swap into my Blazer. Here are some pics and info I collected along the way.

The wiring was not as hard as I thought it would be once I got it started.
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141014_164535_zpsate7ywkg.jpg)
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141014_171803_zpsfogujozn.jpg)

Here are all the wires no longer needed and piled up on the ground.
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141017_141448_zpsbiiqedim.jpg)

I spun the injectors around so the wires could be hidden under the fuel rails
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141016_185631_zpspngvfjqg.jpg)

The new fuse block was a little slow for me. Had to follow the online instructions one step at a time.
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141017_173606_zps0stzrbht.jpg)

Had to order and stall this crankshaft bushing in order to fill the gap between the newer motor and the older 700R4 trans in the truck.
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141019_142316_zpsobwnrq5p.jpg)
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141019_134600_zps7vg33ahp.jpg)

(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141019_134609_zpsivr6czji.jpg)
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141019_144023_zps4etfsesf.jpg)

These are the motor mounts I had to use in order to push the motor far enough back to prevent me from moving the trans forward like most ppl seem to do.
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141028_183119_zpsxtmekk7c.jpg)

(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141020_185019_zpswhstdvc0.jpg)

Used a freeze plug to fill in the old EGR port.
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141102_143941_zpsscuv3f8v.jpg)

I tapped a port onto the back of the water pump to vent the steam ports from the heads.
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141102_150206_zpsywgno6yt.jpg)

I got lucky and the power steering line fit right into my gear box.
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141102_153643_zpsl7tj5uac.jpg)

Here are the AN fittings that adapt to the push on style fuel rails.
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141102_165026_zpsubg4fouu.jpg)

This is the TV cable kit for the 700R4
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141102_170044_zpsfvnodcfl.jpg)

Here is a shot of the SS block huggers and the old style oil pressure sensor tapped into the strange fitting near the oil filter.
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141103_184007_zpsvsag5iec.jpg)

I had to get another AC compressor because it was just as cheap as switching the pulley out on the old one.
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/acefoxx/85%20Blazer/20141109_124711_zpsueuuovas.jpg)

I have some videos of it installed and running. I'll get them uploaded next.
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: FlatBlack77 on November 15, 2014, 06:33:35 AM
AWESOME job dude!
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: acefoxx on November 15, 2014, 07:44:08 AM
Here is a short video of it running.
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: frotosride on November 28, 2014, 07:04:25 PM
Lookin good. You got it moving yet? It's good to know that the dirty dingo mounts work before I bought them. I can't wait to have more power and a better platform to build off of.. Where did you get the TV cable bracket? What about the fuel lines from the tank. I saw the AN adapters on the fuel rail and you said you already had new hoses ran but did you use the same fittings on the OE style sending unit or did you change it?
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: acefoxx on November 28, 2014, 08:24:42 PM
Lookin good. You got it moving yet? It's good to know that the dirty dingo mounts work before I bought them. I can't wait to have more power and a better platform to build off of.. Where did you get the TV cable bracket? What about the fuel lines from the tank. I saw the AN adapters on the fuel rail and you said you already had new hoses ran but did you use the same fittings on the OE style sending unit or did you change it?

I used an edelbrock inline 90 psi fuel pump. Mounted it right on the frame in front of the tank. Ran AN lines from it to the eng. Yes I do have it driving. I love the modern eng reliability and power. I got the TV cable from bowtieoverdrives.com
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: Kevin_J_Pugh on January 14, 2015, 07:17:52 PM
What did you do about the speedometer and other gauges
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: LTZ C20 on January 14, 2015, 09:07:58 PM
Very nice turn out on this project.  You did a good job and it looks really cool. I did a carb to TBI swap on my truck a while back and I love how reliable it has been to just let the computer handle it all and I enjoy it.  I hope your enjoying your hard work.
Title: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: roundhouse on January 15, 2015, 09:38:45 AM
Guy near me sells 5.3 LS motors with all accessories wiring harness and reprogrammed computer , ready to run for $1100


Wish I had known about that before i spent $500 adding TBI to an old carbed 350



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Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: FlatBlack77 on January 15, 2015, 10:28:02 PM
wow that sounds like a killer deal
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: roundhouse on January 16, 2015, 09:16:21 AM

wow that sounds like a killer deal
Yep
He has installed em in a pair of 72 C-10s for his twin 16 yr old girls


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Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: PTNOUT on February 25, 2015, 10:00:48 AM
Roundhouse where is that at?
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: roundhouse on February 26, 2015, 07:29:25 AM

Roundhouse where is that at?
in Atlanta
678-314-07 nine. Six
Guys name is John


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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: jason on April 03, 2015, 02:31:32 PM
Did you run your own vss from the transfer case? How did you get the wiring to work well without all the inputs from the pcm?
Title: Re: 85 K5 Blazer LS swap
Post by: vr4oaks on April 04, 2015, 12:16:11 AM
With wiring instructions and/or tuning the stock ecm go to http://lt1swap.com/

-vr4oaks