Rebuilding my 87

[87OldYeller]

Here is a little history.


I bought this truck back in 2007 It was 2 different colors Primer gray, Red and some Blue. Had the truck painted yellow. I got the engine running at the time it was a throttle body 305. It never ran right so I put a Carburetor on it. It ran great  till the transmission went out, had it rebuilt and then about 6 months later the engine started knocking had about 10K miles on it. So fed up with it I sold the engine and transmission out of it and started this project.

Well i finally took my truck off the road and got the tare down started,  I removed the front fenders inner and outer, rear fenders, grille etc. Gonna pull the bed box off soon, then the engine and transmission. Also started removing that black tar like gunk off the fire wall. I am gonna toss up some photos.

2009 This is what I started over with.

[eisenhauer01]

looks cool man, take more photos as ya go and keep us posted

[87OldYeller]

Thanks

Well made a little more progress today, removed the a/c heater box under the hood and pretty much everything in the interior along with the wiring harness almost ready to start sanding.

[eisenhauer01]

sounds awesome. haha you are restoring your truck and i just wish mine looks as good as yours does now (before you restore it) lol

You still gonna pull the engine and trans?

[87OldYeller]

Hey thanks for the complement. But I am going to dolly it to work got an over head crane going to pull engine and transmission. Cab ect. I am considering having the frame power coated. But that means I have to take it all the way down. But I will keep updates posted. Thanks again.

[1983stepside]

look good man whats your plans for it? keep us posted

[87OldYeller]

I really want to do the 5.3 Swap considering I am taking it down to the frame. I am just tiring to pull together some prices, and locate a wrecked new model truck for sale so I can pull everything so I know it is done right and so I have all I need. But more to come soon.

[aussie]

 here is a list of part i used for my 5.3 conversion


header from summit part#  SUM-G908   $153.93 they are shorty headers fit 99-04 truck requires slight mods to PASS side rail , i welded round stock to  the underneath of the rail where i modifed it -you can use stock manifolds if you wish but make sure there the non EGR TYPE they will hit the frame where the EGR pipe mounts to on the manifold the header claim 15hp but do sound great

trans-dapt 4572 engine mount adapters $47 seems to put the engine nicely against the firewall with plenty of clearance, they're  from summit as well
fuel pump airtex fuel pump E3270 provides plently of PSI $79.99 AutoZone
fuel pump lines, people spend money here for no reason go to a junk yard and get lines from a pickup or tahoe 99 -2003 from the rail to the tank and only modify the part where it
 goes into the tank use a 87 - 91 EFI sending unit
make sure you use the EVAP lines if your using the charcoal canister ! im not so i got rid of it and plugged the hole in the intake but tapping it out with 1/2 tap and  use a short bolt!
oh if you remove the EGR stuff of a 99-02 engine just remove the the plate that screws to the intake from the flex steel pipe  and cap it dont buy one from GM for $30  takes 10 min to mod
 top rad hose of a 2001 silverado $17.99
temp switch adapter 1/4 3/8 1/2 about $18.00 S&P
harness mods $212 including the OB11  i used a guy from ebay i was a little worried but it works great oh by the way i dont have A/C but others do i have his email so message me if you want it
ECU mods removing egr , rear O2s ,removing VATS, etc etc etc $75 i have his email too its a different guy
there are a few other mods like i moved the battery to the drivers side make a better fit IMO use a diesel tray there cheap , i used a KN filter out of a 2001 truck i got it for $75 used made a brackets works nice!!!
if your running cats your gonna have to make some mods to the factory 99-04 Y-pipe OR if your not running them you can do what i did i made my own flanges and made the pipe extentions from each header i put the front O2 bungs in each pipe extention and i was good to go!!! i cut my own gaskets from exhaust gasket sheet with the aluminuim works great no leaks
you might have to move your trans crossmember back and mod your drive shaft i cut mine 1 3/4in cost was $55
im using a 91  blazer/burb speedometer takes care of the the  4l60e /4l80e electronic speedo

there a few other things needed but that will certainly get you going !!!

if ive made an error please correct me thanks!!!!

oh PS  FLEX FUEL ENGINES I THINK THERE MORE EXPENSIVE TO GO THERE ROUTE

[87OldYeller]

Hey thanks a lot doesn't look to expensive. no i just have to find an old truck.

[aussie]

Hey thanks a lot doesn't look to expensive. no i just have to find an old truck.

an old truck?

[87OldYeller]

99-02 something new but old.. like a wreck i want to get the engine and transmission out to go in this truck.

[aussie]

oh i understand now yeah  i was looking into getting drive by wire but looked like too much of a hassle so i went for drive by cable !!!!!! i think 01 and newer dont have the EGR stuff on them makes it a little easier

[87OldYeller]

Oh really cool.yea i am going home this week so i am gonna go check what i can find. But i will be off for about a wekk so will update when i get back.

[87OldYeller]

Found me a set up today. 2002 Chevy Sub. I get the 5.3L engine (that runs) the transmission complete vehicle wiring harness and ECM for $950.00 sounds like a good deal to me. Now just to sell my current 305 and transmission.

[87OldYeller]

Have a question about Dakota Digital. I am currently working on this project of putting the 5.3L in my 87. Looks like the transmission is gonna be a 4L60. Will my Dakota Digital gauges work with this transmission. I am not at home to look in my books to see what will interchange. I remember reading something on a VSS you could just wire it to the computer for D.D. but any info before I buy these?