LS Swap Help Please - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

JJAB · 04-12-2011, 11:05 AM

I need a little help or direction on a few ls swapping techniques.

1.) 6.0 into a 1980 SWB. I have an aftermarket griffin radiator. The steam hose or vapor line running from under the bottom of the throttle body, well I do not have a place to run it to on my radiator. Can it be capped off. Help with this please.

2.) I have aftermarket automeer guages. Instead of purchasing the temp sending unit housing to screw in the head, do you guys think that I could splice inot the original temp sending unit wire(s) to feed my alternator guage?

3.) Am I correct in thinking that 1998-2002 camaro headers will fit my 1980 c-10.

68GMCCustom · 04-12-2011, 03:15 PM

you can tie the steam line in with a heater hose or radiator hose. Shouldn't be capped. I'm thinking OEM temp sender won't work with the Autometer gauge. Cant say for sure on the headers...but if its a 2WD then I think they will fit.

sandking · 04-12-2011, 04:01 PM

That hose from the throttle body is supposed to be connected to the small coolant line that connects the two heads together. But, I have bypassed the throttle body part of it by capping it off. You just need to make sure you have a way to release any trapped air in the cooling system for the first time you get it up to opperating temp. And anytime you add or change the water. Air will get trapped and cause over heating. Make sure the heads are connected at either the front or the rear though.

68GMCCustom · 04-12-2011, 05:56 PM

agreed sandking...throttle body coolant line is not needed...just the one coming from the heads.

JJAB · 04-13-2011, 10:36 AM

Thanks guys. I appreciate the information.

sobayshortbed · 04-17-2011, 04:27 PM

I tapped the top of my water pump with a 1/8npt and just ran my steam line into there, short and clean.

your after market gauge should use the correct sender for that gauge.

There are somethreads that show F body headers in trucks and they fit kinda funky, im goin with the doug thorley headers myself.

flamingbig10 · 04-17-2011, 06:45 PM

1. for the steam line I did what sobay did

2. I used a auto meter adapter
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-2277/

3. some of f body headers will require trimming the frame and engine stands but I luck out and used 64-72 chevelle ls swap headers

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HOK-2289-1HKR/

sobayshortbed · 04-18-2011, 01:51 AM

those chevelle headers look good, do they hang down below the frame?

04-12-2011, 11:05 AM	#1
JJAB Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Waco,Texas Posts: 143	LS Swap Help Please I need a little help or direction on a few ls swapping techniques. 1.) 6.0 into a 1980 SWB. I have an aftermarket griffin radiator. The steam hose or vapor line running from under the bottom of the throttle body, well I do not have a place to run it to on my radiator. Can it be capped off. Help with this please. 2.) I have aftermarket automeer guages. Instead of purchasing the temp sending unit housing to screw in the head, do you guys think that I could splice inot the original temp sending unit wire(s) to feed my alternator guage? 3.) Am I correct in thinking that 1998-2002 camaro headers will fit my 1980 c-10.

04-12-2011, 03:15 PM	#2
68GMCCustom Truck and auto performance nut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: McKinney,Texas Posts: 3,848	Re: LS Swap Help Please you can tie the steam line in with a heater hose or radiator hose. Shouldn't be capped. I'm thinking OEM temp sender won't work with the Autometer gauge. Cant say for sure on the headers...but if its a 2WD then I think they will fit. __________________ Kurt - '68 GMC short step - NIB '09 LY6 6.0L crate motor w/mods, NIB '12 crate 4L85e w/billet 3k stall Circle D, 3.73 posi 12 bolt, DynaTech f-swap headers, 3/4 drop, handling mods, etc. - my toy '72 Chevy LWB C-10 Highlander - 350/350 ps/pb/tilt/ac - not original but close '06 Chevy TrailBlazerSS - LS2/4L70e - little black hot rod SUV - my DD '18 Kia Sorento - wife's econo-driver '95 Chevy S10 - reg cab shortbed, LS, 4.3, auto... my '68's powertrain and chassis build -links broken A surprise phase - carb to efi -links broken

04-12-2011, 04:01 PM	#3
sandking .....I am working on it..... Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anaheim Hills, Ca Posts: 960	Re: LS Swap Help Please That hose from the throttle body is supposed to be connected to the small coolant line that connects the two heads together. But, I have bypassed the throttle body part of it by capping it off. You just need to make sure you have a way to release any trapped air in the cooling system for the first time you get it up to opperating temp. And anytime you add or change the water. Air will get trapped and cause over heating. Make sure the heads are connected at either the front or the rear though. __________________ . . . . . View my build thread HERE

04-12-2011, 05:56 PM	#4
68GMCCustom Truck and auto performance nut Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: McKinney,Texas Posts: 3,848	Re: LS Swap Help Please agreed sandking...throttle body coolant line is not needed...just the one coming from the heads. __________________ Kurt - '68 GMC short step - NIB '09 LY6 6.0L crate motor w/mods, NIB '12 crate 4L85e w/billet 3k stall Circle D, 3.73 posi 12 bolt, DynaTech f-swap headers, 3/4 drop, handling mods, etc. - my toy '72 Chevy LWB C-10 Highlander - 350/350 ps/pb/tilt/ac - not original but close '06 Chevy TrailBlazerSS - LS2/4L70e - little black hot rod SUV - my DD '18 Kia Sorento - wife's econo-driver '95 Chevy S10 - reg cab shortbed, LS, 4.3, auto... my '68's powertrain and chassis build -links broken A surprise phase - carb to efi -links broken

04-13-2011, 10:36 AM	#5
JJAB Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Waco,Texas Posts: 143	Re: LS Swap Help Please Thanks guys. I appreciate the information.

04-17-2011, 04:27 PM	#6
sobayshortbed Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: lomita ca Posts: 19	Re: LS Swap Help Please I tapped the top of my water pump with a 1/8npt and just ran my steam line into there, short and clean. your after market gauge should use the correct sender for that gauge. There are somethreads that show F body headers in trucks and they fit kinda funky, im goin with the doug thorley headers myself.

04-17-2011, 06:45 PM	#7
flamingbig10 6.0 powered square Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mesquite texas Posts: 3,459	Re: LS Swap Help Please 1. for the steam line I did what sobay did 2. I used a auto meter adapter http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-2277/ 3. some of f body headers will require trimming the frame and engine stands but I luck out and used 64-72 chevelle ls swap headers http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HOK-2289-1HKR/ __________________ Aaron 1980 c-10 short bed lowered, cammed 6.0, 4l80e 3600 stall, smp tune, wilwoods, and flames best time so far best et 7.86 @87 on motor 7.57 90 on a 75 shot Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=283326 Last edited by flamingbig10; 04-17-2011 at 06:49 PM.

04-18-2011, 01:51 AM	#8
sobayshortbed Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: lomita ca Posts: 19	Re: LS Swap Help Please those chevelle headers look good, do they hang down below the frame?

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