83 c10 plan on LQ9 swap.. plans and questions?

[CoreyLEO223]

Hey guys, Im just starting to plan an LSx swap into my 83 C10 lwb. I am considering installing an LQ9 4L80e. All I have now is the truck which has the stock 305.

Heres what I have come to understand so far from my research and by purchasing “How To Swap A GM LS-Series Engine, into almost anything”.

Now, I don’t know much about wiring, but I have a few people who do and are going to assist when it comes time to.

To install the motor I need the mount adapting plates. I am going to make sure I get the ECU and the wiring harness with the motor. Now to use the harness, does it get tied into the harness already in truck or does the wiring from the truck get pulled or what? I’m confused on that. Any help will be greatly appreciated and please make it a bit understandable to someone who has never wired a harness or a car. I have know of a guy in Green Cove Springs, FL (EFI Alchemy) that a few of my buddies use to do tuning.

The drive accessories, I will just have to make fit depending on the stock arrangement on the motor and possibly any bracket adjusting I have to do, I have seen a lot of info on this, so I can figure that out easily enough I believe.

The Tranny will require me to modify the cross-member, which wont be a problem. I have seen people use the factory column shifter but could it be possible to do a floor mount shifter or will that not work with this truck/motor/tranny combo, or even worth doing?

I will have to adjust the length on the drive shaft and have the proper yoke for the tranny.

The gauges, I was thinking about using Autometer gauges. Will the harness from the motor go directly to the gauges / or tied into the existing gauge wiring?

I need to have AC bc I live in FL and the humidity is a drag. I plan to convert the non-working R12 to a R134a system. Can I use the LQ9 compressor accessory on the truck system? And besides buying the required components what else does an AC conversion require?

The exhaust system, I am still researching that and haven’t yet found what combo of the 83 C10/LQ9 will work with ??  headers or manifolds, but that should be easy to look up on a few different forums.

The fuel system, my truck has 2 tanks ( I don’t know how common that may be) but I believe with the mechanical fuel pump in there now it has a dashboard switch that allows me to choose the tank to be use. I have a feeling this can not be re used. With upgrading the in-tank pumps and what ever filter I will need, what have people done in regards to still using or deleting a gas tank?

And I’ve read I can use my stock radiator, but need a better trans cooler thank what is on the old 4speed,

Now I just hope the stock 10-bolt rear is not worn down and need replacing too.

I plan maybe to put about $4-5 into the swap. So I might have to change some plans around.

Can you all think of anything else I haven’t mentioned that I will be facing?

Thanks in advance for any input.

[Captkaos]

There are quite a few guys here doing these, myself included.

The drivetrain wiring will be seperate from your existing wiring.  You will still need what is currently in the truck.  With that said if you are getting a complete donor harness there is a lot of it that you must remove.  You would need to set it up to provide power and grounds to the new harness.

All the front drive accessories will fit in the truck for the most part.  The majority of kits require notching the framerail to clear the AC compressor.  BRPhotrods have kits that avoid this.

Depending on the route you go, you only need to move the crossmember especially if it already has a 700R4 in it.  BRP sells these with their kit.  You can use any shifter you want, floor or column.

They gauges are feed by the senders in the motor not the harness, although the harness will need info from some of the same senders.

If you truck is already converted you don't need to do much of anything, if it does info on the conversion to R134 is on the forum.  You can (and I would) use the existing AC compressor on the engine.

BRPHotrods and S&P make headers for these trucks.  I have tried others, but honestly these are your best bet.  We sell a universal X pipe (in the catalog) that can be mated to these with just a fab'd down/intermediate pipe.

You can reuse your tanks, you MUST use a EFI pump in both of them, and you need the EFI fuel switch harness for both to work.  If you want to delete one, just remove the switch and route the lines accordingly.  ALL of your non-metal fuel lines MUST be replaced with EFI quality hose.

I would run a good auxillary trans cooler inline with the stock one if your current one is in the radiator tank

The stock 10bolt will be ok as long as you don't put slicks on it.  If you plan to abuse it, plan accordingly.  

This is a link to my LS conversion mockup.  http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=5225.0

[CoreyLEO223]

Thanks alot for the info. Im gonna try to reuse the old cross-member but If I can afford it I like the look of the BRP kit's crossmember. I found some great build write ups that have also answered some questions I didnt have the links are below for anyone interested.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=345612&page=1

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=401803

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=350986

These 3 are for 73-87 trucks with 6.0 and 5.3 swaps.