LS Swap for dummies???

[dman1982]

i have a 84 k10, I'm wanting to drop a 5.3 or 6.0 in it in a couple months, just got out of the usmc and wanting to do this swap since I'm going to have some time on my hands for the next few months, i know there is some stuff I'm going to have to do, but is there a good thread or guide i can go off of? or like a check list of everything ill need? I'm doing the swap for drivability and fuel cost really. i just want it to be as painless as possible

also when i do this swap, right now my truck has 3.08 gears, with the added power and running 35's would i need to change the gears still? as of now my plan is to go with 3.73's...im just trying to get general knowledge of the build before i do it

[79Betty]

I have 4.11's and 38x15.50'sR15 Baja Clawz... Still enough power to lightem up! It's awesome. I guess it depends what you'll do gear wise. Lots of highway i'd 3.73's little highway but lots city n off road definitely 4.10's

[nekkidhillbilly]

yes you will def want to change gears . most ls trucks use 3:73 with 29-32 inch tires so with 35s i could see 410s possibly.

[nekkidhillbilly]

i know some about the swap but ive never done it myself i looked into it with a 89 caprice my uncle had this was a few years back too. trucks would be similar im sure. at the time you would need motor mounts, a modified oil pan and pick up, the ac bracket had to be modified custom (or off a vette?idr), the vats turned off in the ecm and the harness had a bunch of bs you could cut out you didnt need. also seems you needed a truck alt bracket to clear frame rails. ls1tech has a whole alot more info and im sure some of the hurdles may be gone now or easier now it wasnt a hard swap then beside the ac compressor.

[nekkidhillbilly]

might i add in k10 a 4.8 or 5.3 would be great. the older trucks are lighter than the new ones. for a dd economy set up 6.0 would be overkill and are a bit more thirsty still not bad though. one thing idk about is running a fuel set up with the old dual tanks. ext pump may be the cure. i personally had a 01 4.8 rc 4wd truck with 373 gears. the truck ran a towed extremely well and would get 17 mpg or better no matter how you drove it. even got around 14-15 pulling a car once. my dad still owns the truck. any ls would be healthier than any engine offered in a square in stock form.

[andrewmp6]

A 2wd truck but covers it all http://www.hotrodlane.cc/77chevytruck/77chevy.htm A vendor was making a ls 4x4 crossmember http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=487797

[nekkidhillbilly]

i think with a custom oil pan the stock cross member could be used. idk for sure. many ways to skin a cat i guess.

[dman1982]

there is a lot of info in those links, makes me feel a lot better about tackling this project, and hillbilly, I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the 5.3, it seems to be a lot more popular than the 4.8 or 6.0, a lot easier to find replacement and aftermarket parts

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by dman1982

there is a lot of info in those links, makes me feel a lot better about tackling this project, and hillbilly, I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the 5.3, it seems to be a lot more popular than the 4.8 or 6.0, a lot easier to find replacement and aftermarket parts

All the parts that fit a 5.3 will fit a 4.8, 6.0, LS1, LS6.

[dman1982]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

All the parts that fit a 5.3 will fit a 4.8, 6.0, LS1, LS6.

kinda a newbie with the LS engines, they don't seem to bad to work on except the one in my trans am, that joker is a tight squeeze everywhere!!!

[C15_Sierra]

Definitely worth the time, and yes LS parts swap across the whole range. A friend of mine in TX took a 5.3 with a bad oil pump that he got for $100, bored out the cylinders to a 5.7 (the 5.3 shares the same crank as the LS1), bolted up some Z06 heads and cam, and got himself a nice iron-block LS6 for around $1000 into the setup. Not bad bang for buck.

Me, I'm just trundling along with a stock 5.3, albeit 2WD. I haven't had any clearance problems with any of the mounting or headers, and I'm on the stock oil pan. But since I'm 2WD I'm not sure if that translates over into 4x4 world, since there's a lot more going on. I'm sure there's plenty of documented 4WD setups, I've seen a bunch of Jeep guys running 5.3's, so there is a setup that should fit your K10.

Wiring/programming the computer is a breeze. Plenty of info up on LS1TECH and around the 'net on that end. I love how GM essentially turned these into crate motors when the cars turn to dust.

Have fun!

[tinydb84]

Just to clarify not all LS parts swap. Only gen III will swap with gen III. LS2, LS3, LS7 and so on won't fit the gen III

[andrewmp6]

Dirty dingo does have adjustable motor mounts http://dirtydingo.com/store/product_...oducts_id=1369

[jpnh]

http://youtu.be/XFHPMDVIEnUThese are the guys im dealing with just made the deal for my motor/modified harness justchevytrucks.com out of Maine check m out they put the truck on youtube so you can hear it run.this is the one i chose. very knowledgeable and they have some good deals.

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by dman1982

there is a lot of info in those links, makes me feel a lot better about tackling this project, and hillbilly, I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the 5.3, it seems to be a lot more popular than the 4.8 or 6.0, a lot easier to find replacement and aftermarket parts

only difference in a 4.8 and 5.3 is the piston rods. so what ever you find id jump on.

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Just to clarify not all LS parts swap. Only gen III will swap with gen III. LS2, LS3, LS7 and so on won't fit the gen III

well certain parts can work on the other gens. you just need to know what does and what doesnt. i know the intakes will swap idr if it needs mods though and some other odds and ends.

[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

only difference in a 4.8 and 5.3 is the piston rods. so what ever you find id jump on.

AND THE CRANKSHAFT!

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

well certain parts can work on the other gens. you just need to know what does and what doesnt. i know the intakes will swap idr if it needs mods though and some other odds and ends.

There are at least THREE different intake styles depending on which heads the engine has. The early style cathedral port LS1/LS2/LS6, the rectangular port LS7, and the rectangular port LS3/L92.

LS engines are awesome, the engineering and development that GM put into them is incredible, as well as the aftermarket support for them. They do require some research and planning though. They bolt-in, sure, but they don't drop-in by any stretch of the imagination.

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

AND THE CRANKSHAFT!



There are at least THREE different intake styles depending on which heads the engine has. The early style cathedral port LS1/LS2/LS6, the rectangular port LS7, and the rectangular port LS3/L92.

LS engines are awesome, the engineering and development that GM put into them is incredible, as well as the aftermarket support for them. They do require some research and planning though. They bolt-in, sure, but they don't drop-in by any stretch of the imagination.

yeah your right im thinking ls1 and truck motors intakes swap. been a while forgive me.

[dman1982]

is what I'm looking to do is the straight up entire drivetrain, engine tranny transfer case, I've seen there is some work i have to do from the transfer case since my pumpkin is on the right side, I'm really stoked about this build

i did find a vortec 454 for a decent price, but it looks like just as much work to drop that thing in, well to keep the fuel injection anyway

[nekkidhillbilly]

you dont want the transfer case to do that you would have to have a left side drop axle. just use your 208 if you had a 700 the 60e should bolt right in i would think.

[Jonboy]

Dman, you might look for a 241 case out of a 90-91 V series. It will have the VSS output you need, and keep the correct drop. Should be a bolt in for the 208 cse you have now. You will also need an electric speedometer (can be sourced from the same vehicle, or use aftermarket gauges).

[dman1982]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

Dman, you might look for a 241 case out of a 90-91 V series. It will have the VSS output you need, and keep the correct drop. Should be a bolt in for the 208 cse you have now. You will also need an electric speedometer (can be sourced from the same vehicle, or use aftermarket gauges).

i think i have a 241 case already...not a 100% sure but i think thats whats in there now...VSS? variable speed sensor?

[Jonboy]

VSS is vehicle speed sensor. Aside from the VSS where a speedometer cable would go, the 208 (speedo cable) and 241 (VSS) look very similar. They should be pretty much interchangeable.

[nekkidhillbilly]

cant you add vss to a 208? would you really need it?

[Jonboy]

The VSS is very necessary in an LS swap (or any fuel injection swap for that matter). It will send out signal to the speedo, but will also affect idle, fuel rates, and probably a lot more that I can't think of right now. It is very necessary.