1987 GMC V1500 Sierra Classic LS swap/build

[NastyBuzzard]

This is as close to factory mounting the 2001 PCMI can get for my 87. I was trying to tuck it farther in, like beside the radiator but it wouldn't work because I am running the wider radiator for the electric fans.

[Mtrhd329]

When i was working on my speedo i found that my 2001 pcm had two twisted wires coming in from the vss to feed the pcm and then a single wire out for the speedo. 4k ppm i think it was. I am using a 94 z28 cluster and it works great. You should be able to run your gauge directly off the speed output wire from the pcm if the pulses match. Not sure about how the transfer case needs to interface though im 2wd.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by Mtrhd329

When i was working on my speedo i found that my 2001 pcm had two twisted wires coming in from the vss to feed the pcm and then a single wire out for the speedo. 4k ppm i think it was. I am using a 94 z28 cluster and it works great. You should be able to run your gauge directly off the speed output wire from the pcm if the pulses match. Not sure about how the transfer case needs to interface though im 2wd.

You are correct there is 2 twisted wires, there is actually two plugs at the end of the transfer case harness that share those exact 2 twisted wires. I tried to tie in the 91 VSS plug and got nothing.

Pulses do match it will interface fine just gotta get the wiring correct.

[NastyBuzzard]

Here are better pictures of the "transfer case harness."

This is the end that would go under the hood.



This end plugs onto the transfer case. The rear is for VSS and as you can see the wiring doesn't go back into the harness it just goes to another plug. From this and some help elsewhere I found out that there is supposed to be a jumper to connect this plug to the plug at the end of the transmission wiring harness. The other plug is for 4x4 indication.



So since for the life of me I couldn't remember where that jumper was or where in the world to find it, I did the next best thing, I cut the end off the pigtail at the end of the transmission harness and spliced in the 91 VSS and voila!! My speedometer worked!

Here is a video of me going through the gears, not sure if it is hitting 4th and going in OD though... Hard to tell, doesn't seem like it is. I say this because normally when I do this test with the rear wheels jacked up, once the TC locks up the speedometer shoots to like 80. I was having problems getting to 60.




So I got a little rambunctious. I started filling the radiator with water and was going to try and shoot down the dirt road.

After I finally thought I got it filled the first thing to go wrong was the top transmission line flew out the radiator and sprayed hot fluid everywhere. Apparently I forgot to put in the little locking clip.

From there I was worried that trans fluid & water got mixed because the fluid looked weird. Possibly from being hot, I am not sure. However, it doesn't appear they mixed.

So I plugged the line back up and tried to drive it around the yard. Then one of the lower hoses popped off and sprayed all my water out. The one hose I forgot to put the clamp on of course.

So I let it cool and checked to make sure no blown head gasket. Trans fluid and oil still clean.

I let it cool for a few hours and went back to fill it with water and then I couldn't get it to take any water at all, just kept getting hot and bubbling back.

So I finally just drove it into the shop at about 225 deg and shut it off. Fluids still look clean.

I guess the best thing to do is to jack up the front end and put in water to help bleed out air.

[y5mgisi]

That's awesome!

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

That's awesome!

I hope I didn't let you down. She is getting close. I still say I want to be driving it every dang day this winter.

[Hankster]

Lookin good!

[NastyBuzzard]

For anyone trying this brake swap. The stock brake hoses won't work. They are close but wont work. Wouldn't seal all the way and I wasn't about to chance ruining these expensive calipers.

The hoses I ordered are part numbers - Dorman H38621 & Dorman H38620

They have open ends on them without any of the nubs.

Changing brakes is going to be super easy, just pull two pins and replace!

The brakes and all are installed just need to get hoses, bleed and take it for a test drive!

Too much family stuff this weekend but I did finally clean out my carport and carport storage. I moved the 6.0 to the shop and some cabinets and benches. Also moved my craftsman tool chest.

Still itching to get this thing road worthy.

[NastyBuzzard]

Finally finished up the brakes!!

Got it out for some sun. I think I need to start considering a small lift.







That was all I got done this weekend unfortunately. It was super busy and I ended up having to do a side job on Sunday which took all day. I kind of miss building these buildings with my uncle.



I hate that I missed having it road worthy by the end of September. Just too much going on lately.

[NastyBuzzard]

I finally got some time to work on it Sunday!! I don't know if yall have heard about the rain we are getting in South Carolina but it is pretty damn ridiculous!

I pulled the steering column back out and the seats for the final adjustments, hopefully.

I even started buttoning up under the hood.

Then I got a wild hair and wanted my grill on and the front end back somewhat assembled.



I even had to sit my hood on to see how it looks again. I think it looks great!



I had such good motivation and was making great progress, even was getting to a point of fabbing up a setup for my wiper motor then a fuse blew on power lines and I lost power for the rest of the day!! So I only got a few hours in.

Hopefully I can get some more progress soon.

[silverbear]

I drove up to Greenville, SC last Wednesday in the rain and it had not stopped when I left on Friday. I heard they got 20+ inches of rain over the weekend. As wet as that seems, just be glad it wasn't snow.

Truck is looking GOOD. I like the cowl hood.

[Hankster]

Cool that you got it driving now! Enjoy it!

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by Hankster

Cool that you got it driving now! Enjoy it!

It didn't last long! It is back in the shop now for a 2001 rearend swap so I can have rear disc brake and 3.73 posi instead of the 3.42 posi. I am also swapping beds out as soon as I can get it here. Picture updates coming tomorrow probably.

[y5mgisi]

Crazy about the ta! Glad to see you have the truck on the road tho!

[NastyBuzzard]

I finally shoe horned the engine out of the TA. Block is trashed that is for sure. I even had some extra surprises. I found that the block was damaged on the DS bottom, it was even missing the bottom part that the trans bolts to. It also had a crap ton of jb weld on it. Also found that the starter had its mount broken, which may of happened when the motor blew. So many pieces of rod everwhere. One chunk was actually stabbed into the block, I had to beat it out. Craziness!

I only took one picture though, that was me finally getting the harmonic balancer off. After going through 2 different type of 3 jaw pullers.



Anyways!! I have always wanted to swap the newer style rearened under the truck to gain the wider track to match the front and the rear disc brakes. Well this weekend I set out to do it!

I picked up this 2000 Silverardo Z71 Rearend on Friday. 3.73 posi disc brakes.



After some cleaning and checking to be sure it was in fact 3.73.



I originally was pulling the bed off because my "new" one was supposed to come this weekend. However, I realized it would be a lot easier to swap the rearend while the bed is off but the bed was coming on Sunday so I had to rush and get it in on Saturday.



Rear pulled.



Cut off the original mounts and the bump stop plate, cleaned and painted.



I got it in after a little bit of a fight. I tried researching as much as I could about pinion angle online. I finally went with one thing I read were it should be 6* extra for leaf spring rears.

And then there were disc brakes!





I probably need to replace the pads and rotors and the park brake.

The shock mounts are about 4" too long, I need to either buy 4" longer shocks or shorten the mounts. I haven't really decided yet.

Brake lines and park brake shouldn't be too difficult to hook up. I need to find a bracket for the park brake lines or make one.

On a sad note though, my dang bed never showed up. The guy with the rollback had to go to the hospital for back pain. Maybe next weekend....

I am definitely excited to see how it acts now with some proper gears! Also, 10 pistons of stopping power!!

[y5mgisi]

Pretty sweet!

[NorCalAnthony]

Wow looks like the TA motor had some issues from the PO. Why would anyone use JB Weld on an engine block?

Nice progress on getting the new rear axle swapped in! I would definitely weld on some new shock mounts instead of getting longer shock though. I never did like how far down those hang on the newer trucks like they're just begging to get smacked by something offroad...

Not sure if you've checked in on the thread at CK5 for this brake upgrade but the guy posted up some nice pictures of how he got the parking brake and everything else connected a couple weeks back. He used a Lokar "single wire union connector" and the bracket from the Silverado. Turns out the union from Lokar has to be ordered directly from them since it's only listed as part of a $80+ kit everywhere else... Check out post #72 http://ck5.com/forums/threads/pure-c....316597/page-4

[y5mgisi]

Excellent

[NastyBuzzard]

I have power at the shop to one outlet!! Woohoo! I got some string lights I will be setting up temporarily.

My led lights I ordered showed up today. 20W 4' long and bright as hell!!! I got 10 of them for a little less than $16 each. I am going to mount them this weekend and then come back and wire them all up when I get a chance.

Going Saturday to pick up a 01 Z28 6speed car. My buddy is actually buying it, then I am bringing it home and snatching the 6 speed out and converting it to auto for him and then I will be converting my TA to a 6speed for myself.

[MalibuSSwagon]

I actually am working on getting electricity in my garage now. Finished installing all the outlets this weekend and going to hang the lights this coming weekend. Would you believe the previous owners of my house built a nice 24x40 in 2006 and never did electrical? Just an extension cord out the window to the house. Never mind they didn't close the permit so I had to deal with that.

[NastyBuzzard]

I definitely believe it! I have been working out in my shop for a while now with no power. Just one little drop cord and I have been pulling engines and transmissions and all kinds of stuff. I have grown used to it. When my buddies come over they pick on my lamp and drop light or my 3 way that I use so I can have some power tools.

I still haven't even put trim up on the shop yet... As soon as I had 4 walls and a door I went to work.. I need to slow down and finish it all up.

[MalibuSSwagon]

lol I had a computer power strip running the place, and some drop ceiling fixtures, all stuff the previous owners left there. It was convenient, tun the whole place on and off with one switch. Was only an just when my buddy came by with his welder to make my exhaust, power strip couldn't handle that much juice.

Ahh it's gonna be nice when it's done however, been a year in the making. May I ask where did you get your LED fixtures? I'm not finding ones that cheap online.

[MalibuSSwagon]

Hey pulled out my 86 Electrical manual and found this diagram. Basically the power for the blower motor comes from the stock underdash panel in a Brown 12 or 14 awg wire to the HVAC control head, it should pretty much be a standalone harness.

[NastyBuzzard]

Thank you for that!! Standalone harness huh. That sounds doable then. Just have to figure it out and tie it all in! One step closer! Thank you. Time to go pull out oem harness and figure out what I need.

[MalibuSSwagon]

yea from what I've seen it's typically separate. Pretty much put 12 volts to the brown wire and it should work. Don't forget grounds!

I had a question about your rear end swap, how much did it push out your track width? Really considering this as I have a 3.73 rear sitting here from the Silverado I just parted. If it wasn't -5 out right now I'd be pulling the wheels off and measuring myself.