1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap

[72MARIO]

Would it be possible to lift the engine and heat up the crossmember and massage some more clearance ? Is that area single or double thick ?

[Nodnarb76]

Originally Posted by 72MARIO

Would it be possible to lift the engine and heat up the crossmember and massage some more clearance ? Is that area single or double thick ?

Don't really want to pull it back out at this point. Pretty sure I can get in the and trim a little off with a cut off wheel, or sawzall. It's not the body of the crossmember that's close, only the lip comming off the crossmember.

I'll get back to work on everything on Monday, and can post another update.

[aggie91]

I would just trim the lip of that cross member with a cut off wheel or sawzall. Looks to close on that one corner. That lip is doubled up and spot welded together in that area, just don't get into the spot weld that you can see near that corner and you should be good.

[Cwarta]

Very nice, you will love it. My 80 was a stock 6.0/sm465 them a 6.0/4l80e/yank3600SS stall and now a 6.0/228r cam, 5.3 heads, and nv4500 with 1 tons. Love love love it. One of several swaps I have.
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[Nodnarb76]

Originally Posted by Cwarta

Very nice, you will love it. My 80 was a stock 6.0/sm465 them a 6.0/4l80e/yank3600SS stall and now a 6.0/228r cam, 5.3 heads, and nv4500 with 1 tons. Love love love it. One of several swaps I have.
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Sounds like an absolute beast of a truck!

[Cwarta]

Originally Posted by Nodnarb76

Sounds like an absolute beast of a truck!

Not sure yet haha, just drove it for the first time today and the clutch is slipping horribly. Ugh lol
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[Nodnarb76]

Update:
Today was one of those days that I got a lot done, but the pics don't look like I did much.
Today I got the shift linkage, gas pedal, ECU, TAC module, and a/c condenser Installed. Also re-connected the battery and I got power to the areas I want it, and was happy that everything else still works!

[Nodnarb76]

ECU mounted using the Dirty Dingo PCM mount.

[Nodnarb76]

Gas pedal mounted, wasn't as hard as I was expecting, but I had to move some stuff out of the way to make it fit.
Also had to cut a 2" hole in my firewall to get the plug through.

[Nodnarb76]

Also got the grille back in,
Looks like my truck again!

[MTCK]

Good progress. You are busting out your list.

[Nodnarb76]

Got a lot more done yesterday.
Got my subframe trimmed, and the tabs cut off the transmission.
Also got all the wiring finished up, and the Dakota
Digital dash installed, my dashboard re-installed' Lokar shift linkage installed (still needs to be adjusted). Also got the hood back on.
Was able to turn the motor over (no fuel lines installed yet so not ready to start) and everything was good.
Going to send the truck down the street this week and get the driveshaft cut/installed and the exhaust installed. Going with Magnaflow mufflers and tips.
I'll post more pics of the dash once I get back to work today.
Here is a pic of my notched subframe.

[MTCK]

Wow nice work. You are cranking this project out.

[Nodnarb76]

Here is a pic of the Dakota Digital dash. Never mind the ck engine light, no O2 sensors or MAF sensor installed yet.

[COS399]

Looks good. Think you can peg the Speedometer at 160?

[MTCK]

That looks cool. Worth a shot on pegging the speedo!

[Nodnarb76]

Well, today sent truck off to get the driveshaft cut/balanced and installed and the exhaust welded up.
When it's back just need to get fuel lines, and cooling system installed and should be ready for the first startup!

[Nodnarb76]

Oh yeah about the 160 mph thing from the previous posts.
May be able to hit 160 if I could find a completely vertical and long cliff face I could drive down full speed. Only problem I can think of trying that, would be the terrible aerodynamics of a square body suburban may not let me go that fast.

[jmack91z28]

This is such an awesome thread, you've knocked a lot of this out in a very timely manner. Proud of you man, can't wait for this to get finished. I was worried at first about the Dakota Digital Gauges but those look very nice.

Keep it up.

[Nodnarb76]

Thank you for the kind words! I am very happy with the gauges also turned out better than I had hoped. Plus found out I can have the illumination turned on during daytime driving and then dim them for night driving. I wasn't sure I would like the white needles on white numbers at first, but now that the needles will be red whenever the truck is running I like a lot better!

Truck is still getting driveshaft and exhaust work done, hopefully be back early next week, then it will be a few more things to hook up and I get to start it!

[jmack91z28]

Originally Posted by Nodnarb76

Thank you for the kind words! I am very happy with the gauges also turned out better than I had hoped. Plus found out I can have the illumination turned on during daytime driving and then dim them for night driving. I wasn't sure I would like the white needles on white numbers at first, but now that the needles will be red whenever the truck is running I like a lot better!

Truck is still getting driveshaft and exhaust work done, hopefully be back early next week, then it will be a few more things to hook up and I get to start it!

You should look into the PAC-1300 add on controller. Fades the interior lights off when the door closes, keeps the lights and radio on after the truck turns off for a user determined time. That would be really cool. Adds a nice modern touch.

[Nodnarb76]

Update:
Just got off the phone with the shop doing my driveshaft and exhaust. They have been backed up and busy and the truck has been sitting for a week waiting to go into the shop (I work for a car dealership and this happens to us sometimes). When fixing cars there are 3 ways to fix a car: 1. cheap 2. right
3.fast. You can always have two out of the three, never 3 out of 3. I chose the shop that was 1 and 2, cheap and right but not fast. They got it in last Friday and looked at it. I told them to go ahead and replace all the u-joints and the center bearing on the driveshaft while they had it. They now have everything ready to go back in and hopefully get the exhaust done later this week too. Instead of having it towed back up to my work, think I'm going to tow it to my house so I can work on it on my time and get more done. Now that I don't have any more heavy lifting that needs to be done this makes sense. Will keep everyone posted, didn't want people to think something went south with the build and I stopped posting.

[Blessed66]

Originally Posted by Nodnarb76

When fixing cars there are 3 ways to fix a car: 1. cheap 2. right 3. fast.

My Hyundai tech (I saw you mention working at a Hyundai dealer, earlier in the thread) used to tell me something similar.

"They can have their car right, or have it right now."

[SBTork]

Maybe swap the oil pan with a shorter one?

I used the dirty dingo sliders on my '85 Suburban and used the "Hot rod" oil pan kit that GM/Chevy Performance makes. It worked really well!

[Nodnarb76]

Got a call that my exhaust is getting wrapped up and may have the truck back later in the week! Enytopy sent my 28" core radiator and I got it in today also.
My cat is guarding it for me until the Suburban is back.