1968 C10 5.3 swap, the easy way.

[vannatta20]

Originally Posted by mcmlxix

I just noticed you're in Vegas... You should come by the weekly car show/meet on Sundays. There are a couple 67/72 trucks that show up, one is a member here and has an LS1 swap.

Car show on Sundays? I only knew about cars and coffee on Sundays. Can you pm me your#?

[vannatta20]

Originally Posted by bryce1010

I just found your post. I have a 1971 c10 and thinking about doing the conversion . I can get the engine and transmission and all acc. and harness and computer . all i would need to do is give the fuse box from the donar engine 12v and everything should work. Ware are the speedo and tach taken from?

Just delete vats first and it should run. I used autometer gauges.

[bryce1010]

Originally Posted by vannatta20

Just delete vats first and it should run. I used autometer gauges.

How did you delete the vats

[vannatta20]

Originally Posted by bryce1010

How did you delete the vats

I did it myself using Hptuners. It cost over 500$ for it. You can have a local tuner reprogram it for you for around 100$ If you cant find anyone you can mail the PCM to me to reprogram it. PM if you are interested in that.

[claytonisbob]

That's weird that you're getting such bad mileage with the LQ4. My LQ4 Chevelle with 315 tires, gm hot cam, t56 and 3.90 gears gets 23mpg on the highway/ ~17 in town. I know it's a car and it's lower, but those wide tires don't do me any favors. No AC though.

Nice truck man. Im planning out my 71 GMC for my newly acquired 5.3/auto swap and I really like the way you did the mounts and AC.

[vannatta20]

My 68 firebird with 4.10's, t56 and the 6.0 in that got 24 on the highway. These trucks are not aerodynamic in any way. My firebird would cruise at 90mph no problem. My truck needs a lot more gas input to maintain the higher speeds. I changed cams in the truck and got 17mpg on my last trip though.

[chevy72blu]

Originally Posted by mcmlxix

I just noticed you're in Vegas... You should come by the weekly car show/meet on Sundays. There are a couple 67/72 trucks that show up, one is a member here and has an LS1 swap.

x2! I'd love to see this truck in person

[claytonisbob]

You said you ran dirty dingo engine mounts. Did you just use a dingo 1973+ mount on the driver side with the clam shell isolator and a different one on the passenger side? Did you have to get 2 sets of plates to do this? Curious since I cant really make it out in the pictures. Thanks.

[kvn1011]

love the swap
post pics of your car when you get time

[vannatta20]

Originally Posted by claytonisbob

You said you ran dirty dingo engine mounts. Did you just use a dingo 1973+ mount on the driver side with the clam shell isolator and a different one on the passenger side? Did you have to get 2 sets of plates to do this? Curious since I cant really make it out in the pictures. Thanks.

i used dingo plates on both sides. that pic was to show how the 73 mount is different.

[franky69c10]

Came out real nice bro thanks for all the info

['68 Short Step]

Very cool! I plan on doing the same swap very soon the same way. Nice work!

[encasedmetal]

Originally Posted by vannatta20

My fuel tank is a hot mess. I tried a LS1 camaro fuel tank and that did not fit at all underneath my bed. The tank is now im my bed tool box... Going to get a custom tank and house the LS1 fuel pump assembly.

what was the issue? - I've seen pics of people using them and want to use one with my 63' if at all possible.

[lowlyfec10]

my inspiration thread! the 350 i just put in my 69 a few months ago is starting to smoke at warm idle now...time to find a 5.3 and do a mild build but i plan on keeping it hooked up to my th400 unless i score a trans cheap as well. so dingo mounts and 73+ mounts and im guessin the factory driveshaft will work as long as the mounts are adjusted accordingly. lookin into the car intake and manifolds since im dropped 3" but plan to lay frame in the near future. *thumbs up*

[68Stepbed]

Originally Posted by lowlyfec10

my inspiration thread! the 350 i just put in my 69 a few months ago is starting to smoke at warm idle now...time to find a 5.3 and do a mild build but i plan on keeping it hooked up to my th400 unless i score a trans cheap as well. so dingo mounts and 73+ mounts and im guessin the factory driveshaft will work as long as the mounts are adjusted accordingly. lookin into the car intake and manifolds since im dropped 3" but plan to lay frame in the near future. *thumbs up*

I would go ahead and find a 5.3/4L60E combo and change them both.

[vannatta20]

Originally Posted by encasedmetal

what was the issue? - I've seen pics of people using them and want to use one with my 63' if at all possible.

A LS1 tank will not fit between the frame rails unless you hack it up the frame up. Not worth it at all in my opinion. Also its not a flat tank on the bottom and will hang down.

[vannatta20]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

ahhh.......cam is stock then. That would be a limiting factor. That said...your dyno numbers are good. Wouldn't think you'd be getting valve float with those springs in the low 5000rpm range but I'm not familiar with their specs.

put a .550 to .600 lift cam in it with duration in 210-220/220-230@.050 range...along with a nice set of .650 lift dual springs and some c-moly p-rods to keep it together and watch it wake up!

I did exactly this and 68GMCCustom is exactly right! Has so much more power and driveability is still great.

[68GMCCustom]

Thanks....glad to here I'm not putting bad information out there!

[vannatta20]

New updates. Installed a 8.8 ford rear end for cheap but strong limited slip. Also upgraded to a better flowing intake manifold out off a TBSS. Upgraded to 90mm dbw throttle body off a gto as well. Much more responsive and wants to spin the tires all the time.

[Houston Ben]

What is the difference between the stock manifold vs the TBSS manifold? Also, what year is the GTO TB and did you have to re-tune?

[vannatta20]

Well its kinda confusing. My new intake is a GEN IV cathedral style head intake. Used on TBSS and all 5.3 and 4.8's. They look much different from the gen3 style and some testing has shown them to make more power than a LS6 intake. Ive read many conflicting tests though. I got mine cheap and wanted to upgrade to the 90mm DBW. It was easy to put a GTO DBW throttle body on mine due to the old style dbw I used(00-02). Same as the corvette. newer 2003-2007 DBW you need a 250$ signal modifer to get a gto throttle body to use.

[Houston Ben]

Ah, got ya. I have 2011 dbw. Thanks!

[bryce1010]

How did you do the wiring on the compressor . Got a vintage air system going to start install

[vannatta20]

Originally Posted by bryce1010

How did you do the wiring on the compressor . Got a vintage air system going to start install

I just followed the vintage air instructions. Your just using a different compressor but the wiring is the same.

[w00dst0ck]

Did you narrow/widen the 8.8 to center the pumpkin (explorer)? Or did you use a Mustang 8.8?

I'm about to do the same and ditch the 12 bolt boat anchor.