My 1975 C10 5.3 mini mouse project

[Gwtt]

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.

[roundhouse]

I kinda like the paint

Make it a nice sleeper


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[frotosride]

For a deal like that I would have picked up another one for my lawn mower.

[Gwtt]

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

[FlatBlack77]

welcome to the forum man

ill be fallowing this for sure

[frotosride]

Like this!!!

[Gwtt]

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.

[Gwtt]

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.

[Gwtt]

So I received my motor mounts and transmission mount for the 5.3 liter.   

[Gwtt]

Also picked up a 4L80E from the junk yard. 

[Irish_Alley]

So I received my motor mounts and transmission mount for the 5.3 liter.   

how much$

[Gwtt]

So I received my motor mounts and transmission mount for the 5.3 liter.   

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.

[Gwtt]

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.

[Gwtt]

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.

[Gwtt]

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.