94 350 into 87 whats needed ?

[skinu]

my son bought a94  suburban with a 350 and wants to put it in his 87 3/4 ton ,it also is fuel injected but is a manual trans and sub was auto, the sub is complete so will the ac and sensors all work . do we need to change harness and ecu? what about the fuel line hook up sub had 1 rear tank and 87 has saddles. also can I use the subs steering column in my 78? will the subs rims work on 6 lugs 73-87? welcome any and all info thanks nice to be this old and called a newbie usually its low-t jokes...

[Irish_Alley]

rims will interchange. steering column will interchange. but you have to figure out what you want to do with your wipers and  headlight switch and the wireing harness on the column. it should be a easy swap but you just have to figure out the wiring. 94 should still be tbi, the sensors should be about the same idk for sure but i would stick with what comes on that year engine with the sensors and ecu. the fuel tanks shouldnt matter since they feed into a valve under the cab on the 87 then "y" into one.  im not sure about the next couple, the trans it should be 4l80e and it need the 94 computer to shift so i would keep it all together just so you know it works. the ac will be 134a on the 94 your 87 still is r12. again i would take everything off the burb and retro fit it to the 87.

[skinu]

thanx Irish, should I just keep the column from the 94 for just the Ign.. switch and blinkers my 78 has a broken casting and the lock comes right out and it can be started with a screw driver.
we plan on keeping the 87's manual trans ,will this work with the 94's wire harness and ecu? what would we need to use the trans later in a diff project it is a e480l, also can the gas tank be installed and do away with the saddles.

[Irish_Alley]

the 94 engine will work with the just the 94 ecu that i know of. the trans will need a "stand alone controller" for $600+
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hup-hp2562a/applications/make/chevrolet?prefilter=1
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/tci-302820
there is also a "black box" converts your automatic to a manual for $200+
http://www.jakesperformance.com/4L80E_Components.html<<<<<<<<<<<<< this site has both stand alone and black box for a reasonable price
may have other names but thats the one i know. if your 78 is broke, then yes keep it plus it has a better steering wheel imo.

[frotosride]

You will have to keep that '94 ecu because '87 was the first year for TBI in the silvers and after '87 the ecu's changed.  The engine will not start with out the signal from the tranny I think it's just a parking switch to ensure the auto isn't started in gear. But that should be a simple fix most likely just a clutch switch can replace the signal. When you do the A/C don't forget the hoses. The '87 should have a combination of "v" an serpentine belts and a much bette FEAD system just keep the A/C lines from the '94 because the A/C compressor wil switch from the driver's side to the passenger's side requiring shorter hoses. Also with ehA/C remember that you will have to put an expansion tube in for 134a so it will function and cool properly. I'm not sure if the fuel pressure changed through the years but '87 I only running 17psi so I would recommend getting a pump for the '94 and putting it in the sending unit of the '87. Or just take the one out of the burb if you know it's still good just replace the sock and o-ring on the locking ring. I love my dual tanks (just wish they were a little bigger) and I don't know why you would wanna get rids of the saddles but if you search the Member rides you will se a lot of conversions to get rid of saddles. The only other issue may be the actual ECU harness. You will have to compare pinout charts to make sure that thy will work. If not then you will have to pull the under hood portion of the harness and maybe get a prom upgrade if there are any systems integrated into the ECU. Not sure when GM started integrating alarms and things like that into the ECU but It's a big head ache with out a little heads up prior to.

[frotosride]

Oh and another thought...'87 was a return style fuel system. I'm sure the TBI's remained that way but I'd double check that the hard lines match up fairly close. They don't have to be perfect because under the passanger side of the '87 right by the tranny bell housing is braided hose so you can loosen the clamps and get some wiggle room if needed.

Other things to think about would be power steering lines and locations. I think that the pump is still on the  drivers side od the '94 but if not get hoses for that year to make sure they will reach, threads and pump should be the same or at least compatible. Also what type of clutch system ison the '87 I have an 700r4 but if it is a swing arm you will have to make sure that the '94 block has the hole for the swing arm bolt.
If the Burban has the Oil cooler lines you will have to find a way to use that or switch out to a standard oil filter adapter, so wither a radiator with the oil cooler built in (burbs may swap) of just take the oil filte adapter from the '87 and bolt it to the '94 and don't forget new gaskets. If I think of anything else I will send the info your way. If we knew the exact options on the '94 it wil help us come up with possible hang ups.
Good luck and we love PICS!!

[skinu]

thanks guys feelin a lil better about this whole thing,i do know there will be some mods to make ,the 87 has a hydraulic clutch and the burb a e480, the burb runs and drives nice but no title or glass ,we got it for 400 and it has really nice rubber ,also we scanned it and got no trouble codes. would theasiest route be to just use the block with the 87 ecu and harness if its possible, in Montana we really don't need ac but heat is a must,got 155 lbs on the compression test and 35 lbs on idle oil press. ill work on upping pix haven't got no luck on that yet but will try it and post them asap,really glad for the info,i never went to school for mechanics or welding but grew up in service stations and have built some nice trucks got 7 that run like tops now ,in 88 I built rear disk brake for my gramp 84 and in 85 built a stroker using 6'' olds rods and front tilt clips got a 06 corvette rear goin in after this son thing he got me into,he came back from the war very diff and building together with my other son and youngest daughter has been the best theropy thanx again for your info guys it will be well used!!

[Irish_Alley]

my brother served in irack and he too came back very different. thought he was doing better after kids and wife but talking to hime he had thoughts again. hes dealing with the va trying to get help. but yeah got to keep that mind busy.  i want to say that motor wont work with the 87. they both maybe tbi but afaik the intakes change in 88, then you have other changes for one different oxygen sensor and egr. now you might be able to use your old sensors in the 94 but idk and i would doubt it