Glock's new project: "Fred" w/ 5.3L LS swap info

[nlped]

Bob, you still happy with the 3.42 rearend or would a 3.73 have been a better choice? And I'm glad to hear its still doing great!
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[glock35ipsc]

Since the entire idea of the build going in was economy with performance, the 3.42's was the perfect choice. Since my drive to town is about 10 miles of interstate, the 3.42 keeps me in a good rpm range for the economy, but there is more than enough power on tap when I want it. I can still destroy ricers and newer muscle when called for, and they don't have a clue what had just happened.

[Low Elco]

Glad to see Fred still kickin'! Great build!

[Palf70Step]

[LEEVON]

Hey Bob, how's Fred? Does he know you want to sell him? Have you thought about his feelings? Nah, I understand it's just that I think you SHOULDN'T!!! lol

Back when you started this thread I was the owner of an '87 Silverado...let that one go for some reason after doing all the hard work but never got around to a 5.3L swap. Just last week I picked up another subject, a real clean '87 Sierra so I've brushed up on all the good threads, this one primarily. My immediate plans are just to take care of a couple of small things and drive 'er. The engine and trans are new and run great so there is no pressing need for the 5.3L swap (other than power and mileage) but I will begin collecting parts anyway! I gotta start looking for a lightly used crew cab rear seat, posi rear end, lowering...crap (deja vu) I already did that once and sold it!

When I get to the 5.3L I think I will use the Kwik Performance brackets after watching you do battle with the compressor, they're local here and good dudes.

Happy trucking.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

My immediate plans are just to take care of a couple of small things and drive 'er. The engine and trans are new and run great so there is no pressing need for the 5.3L swap (other than power and mileage) but I will begin collecting parts anyway!

Is there an echo in this thread??

That's great that Kwik Performance is so close, that will make that part go real smooth if any problems come up. I like that was able to keep the compressor in the OEM location, since it keeps together the idea of looking like the General put the 5.3 there. But if I ever installed one of these and had any plans whatsoever to make it look nice, I would use Kwik Performance in a heartbeat.

Good luck on the new ride man, it looks sweet! I keep going 'round and 'round on whether to sell Fred, or paint him, or keep him AND start working on my 70. Then my son reminds me that I had talked about finding an 80's crew cab and building a SWB 4x4 crew.



I suppose I won't know until one day I wake up and just do something crazy!

[LEEVON]

I hear you on the crew, in fact I looked around a bit but it seems like you need to find a highly optioned, well cared for dually and go from there. The CCSRW's are usually stripped down and abused. You need alot of space to dig into one of those...my main problem but you got that part covered it looks like!

[Low Elco]

Not to be a jerk,, but what do you figure you have into this conversion, ballpark? I'm seriously considering doing this to my 87 and am trying to put numbers together. I'd appreciate any info you could give, thanks!

[Fullauto05]

My son's truck

[glock35ipsc]

Well guys, another build thread comes to an end. Due to some upcoming, really freaking expensive medical expenses we will incur from my wife's upcoming jaw surgery, I opted to sell Fred to get some cash in our pocket to help cover what insurance won't.

While it is bittersweet, because of who I sold it to, I am excited for what he will soon become. Most of you probably know Mike Curtis from Overhaulin' and American Hot Rod. Fred's new owner is Mike's father, Randy. I worked for Randy back in the very early 90's when Mike was a little turd, and Randy is one of the better known hot rod/muscle car guys in this area, and a huge lover of the square body trucks. He's built many squares for guys in this area, and has an awesome black short bed 4x4 shop truck. Some of the parts I used on Fred's swap came from him too. His plans are to build it to haul his jet boat. I can't wait to see what he does with it. Whatever it is, it is sure to be bad ass!

Sorry for not getting in here to answer questions. I haven't been getting notifications of replies, and don't check in a lot any more. But shoot me a PM, and I'll help out if I can.

Hopefully between this thread, and Dennis's "Silver" thread, there will continue to be a lot of good info to use.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Not to be a jerk,, but what do you figure you have into this conversion, ballpark? I'm seriously considering doing this to my 87 and am trying to put numbers together. I'd appreciate any info you could give, thanks!

I don't remember the exact number for sure, but I think it was in the neighborhood of $4000. Somewhere there is a post in this thread from shortly after I finished the swap where I mentioned the total cost.

Originally Posted by Fullauto05

Question is what lower radiator hose you all have been using for the conversion.
Francis

That is a sweet looking truck Fullauto! If I remember correctly, I used the original lower hose off the 85 as I used the 85's radiator, and the upper hose off the donor truck.

[Low84]

Wishing you all the best with the surgery. Between Dennis and your thread I built up enough confidence to do an ls swap on my 78. Still working on it but it will get done. Thanks for a very informative and detailed thread.

[mcbassin]

Sorry to hear about you having to sell Fred. I hope you got to enjoy it since you finished the engine install. I do remember Mike Curtis. He did the same kind of computer programming and CNC work as me when he worked at Boyd Coddington. I assume he does the same still. I know the truck is in good hands.
Hope all goes well with your wife's surgery.

[truckzilla]

Sorry you're having to sell Fred. I will be praying that your wife's jaw surgery goes exceedingly well and the results are excellent! Having done it with Fred, I'm sure, should the desire strike, you'll be able to do it again since you've kicked the learning curve in the backside!

And I remember Mike. I remember him working for a competitor (Foose) while he was still being paid by Coddington!

Geeze! There is a saying that goes, "What some peoples kids will do!"

Thanks again for all the help you've been to this forum and to us doing the LS conversion!

All the best and we'll be waiting patiently on the next project!

[LEEVON]

Well, that's not all bad news...at least its going to a worthy owner and you won't have to see it slogging around town with mud up to the windows! I'm guessing said new owner is not a computer guy, but if by chance he is please ask him to stop in with some updates.

I feel you on the medical bills, we got to pay for my wife's back surgery this year. Not near as exciting as trucks, but at least she can get out of bed in the morning!

[HuggerCST]

I hate to see it go too, but life is all about family. When I saw that you were selling it I seriously considered buying it back, but it wasn't in the cards. Good luck with your wife's surgery.

[nlped]

I don't know the current situation on the "tool", but I can tell you that after seeing Bob's tool, I got one of my own...& it worked perfectly!

Does that sound as squirrelly as I'm thinkin... :\

[solidaxel]

Yup, sure does !
Just the facts, man!!

[nlped]

[NastyBuzzard]

Trying to ressurect the dead here... I have a 1987 GMC V1500 4x4 long bed, 350 TBI/700R4 combo. When I bought this truck 10 years ago it was a beast! It had bottom end power for days! All that low end torque was great, would spin tires and be all kinds of fun! Even after cat converter was clogged and it backfired and burnt up the rings it still had great power. Now its not even a hint of what it used to be.

This truck and I have been on a loooong ride and a few motors including a built 400hp carbed engine but I wanted to go back to stock.

Recently, I rebuilt an engine out of a 92 C1500. It was bored .030" over w/ flat top pistons. I put a vortec roller cam in it as well with stock 193 swirl port heads. I added longtube headers and a heated o2 sensor. Also rebuilt trans, new oem style torque converter, new tcc switch, added transgo shift kit w/ corvette servos. I also switched to electric fans from a new body style impala. TBI injector pod spacer and ultimate throttle body mod. Stock 7747 ecm w/ no tune.

Also due to having to replace transfer case, we got one out of a 91 blazer and swapped over the instrument cluster as well. So i have electric speedo with drac mod and all that already, I even swapped in a 5k tach from an older model chevy.

First started driving it, the truck had hardly any bottom end power, so I swapped from 3.08 gears to 3.42s and it didn't help much with a 32" tall tire. Nothing like the original engine was.

I can't seem to get this dang TBI setup to run correctly and have been fighting with it for over a year and havn't even got 10k miles on this setup. It has hardly any bottom end power, and is having an issue where it shifts around 45 into OD and locks tc up and drops to about 1250 rpms and has to struggle to get the rpms back up.

I have now found a 01 Silverado ext cab 5.3/4l60e 4x4 that I am trying to pickup for 1k. It is the whole truck minus bed, fenders, hood, and rad core support. It was abondoned at a buddys shop so they just started parting it out and are now looking to get rid of it. It cranks up and drives still and has around 150k miles on it.

So I guess I will be tossing the TBI for the LS vortec engine. I read this whole thread over the course of 3 days.

Also due to fuel tank switching valve failing about 6 monts ago I have a new one of those as well. Will it need to be replaced?

Any advice guys? Also, any issues you can foresee since my trucks 4x4? Also A/c will be one of my least worries but I may try to get that all working if I can.

I am looking for a good reliable setup that will get great mpgs and allow me to tow/haul decently. My playing in the mud days have been long gone. I even took the 4" lift off and have went back to stock height when I swapped the 3.42 gears front and rear.

[Flatpat]

If you have dual tanks here is a diagram of what you need.

http://www.hotrodlane.cc/Instruction.../dualtank.html

Since the LS based vortec is a high pressure fuel system you will need to change the tank selector valve for a high pressure unit. I believe this one will work: Pollak 42-159

You can get an adapter to hang your current transfer case behind the 4l60e to keep your current passenger side drop setup.

If you keep a stock (for the 87) AC system then there isn't much to worry about since the AC isn't electronically controlled through the computer. Well other than hanging your R4 compressor on the front of the motor. Pretty sure you can buy brackets for that or I've seen brackets from an S-10 modified to work.

I threw a 5.3 in my 88 Jimmy, it was pretty easy and it is awesome in the mud.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by Flatpat

If you have dual tanks here is a diagram of what you need.

http://www.hotrodlane.cc/Instruction.../dualtank.html

Since the LS based vortec is a high pressure fuel system you will need to change the tank selector valve for a high pressure unit. I believe this one will work: Pollak 42-159

You can get an adapter to hang your current transfer case behind the 4l60e to keep your current passenger side drop setup.

If you keep a stock (for the 87) AC system then there isn't much to worry about since the AC isn't electronically controlled through the computer. Well other than hanging your R4 compressor on the front of the motor. Pretty sure you can buy brackets for that or I've seen brackets from an S-10 modified to work.

I threw a 5.3 in my 88 Jimmy, it was pretty easy and it is awesome in the mud.

I actually have the serpentine setup & a/c setup from the 92 truck. I got rid of the vbelts when I did this motor, plus that compressor I have from the 92 is shot, the plug on the back was broken off.

I was worried about the transfer case, I will be getting all that from the truck but the ds is on the wrong side I think.

I was hoping I didn't have to buy another fuel selector valve since mine is brand new but oh well. Thanks for the Pollak PN!! I looked at the pollak is that the same as auto zones p/n FSV1 or FSV2? I remember when I got my FSV2 it had pollack on it.

What about headers or manifolds? Can I use stock manifolds and maybe notch frame a hair? Or are there any heads that will fit 4x4?

What setup are you running in the 88 jimmy trans and gear wise? What tcase did you use? My tcase is from the 91 k5 blazer.

[shippman]

Originally Posted by Flatpat

If you have dual tanks here is a diagram of what you need.

http://www.hotrodlane.cc/Instruction.../dualtank.html

Since the LS based vortec is a high pressure fuel system you will need to change the tank selector valve for a high pressure unit. I believe this one will work: Pollak 42-159

You can get an adapter to hang your current transfer case behind the 4l60e to keep your current passenger side drop setup.

If you keep a stock (for the 87) AC system then there isn't much to worry about since the AC isn't electronically controlled through the computer. Well other than hanging your R4 compressor on the front of the motor. Pretty sure you can buy brackets for that or I've seen brackets from an S-10 modified to work.

I threw a 5.3 in my 88 Jimmy, it was pretty easy and it is awesome in the mud.

I am watching this build very closely... so keep up the great info. However, Flatpat... my browser protection won't let me go to your link about "dual tank wiring". Anybody else have the same problem? Find anything bad about the site?

Mike

[Flatpat]

Not sure about Auto Zone part numbers. I'm sure they will be able to tell you with the Pollak number.

I didn't get the trans with the motor so I stayed with 700r4 208 and 3.73s.

I used the stock manifolds, the driver's side kind of point in to the frame. Just have to have a bend in the pipe connecting to it to bring it back out.

Here is some more on getting a factory style AC compressor to work.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=510656

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by Flatpat

Not sure about Auto Zone part numbers. I'm sure they will be able to tell you with the Pollak number.

I didn't get the trans with the motor so I stayed with 700r4 208 and 3.73s.

I used the stock manifolds, the driver's side kind of point in to the frame. Just have to have a bend in the pipe connecting to it to bring it back out.

Here is some more on getting a factory style AC compressor to work.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=510656

Thanks for that! I may just stick with stock manifolds then instead of trying to fight with high priced longtube headers.

I am currently running 700r4 but it was rebuilt to stock for that truck, but I do have the newer transfer case from a 91 k5 blazer. 241 I think with electric speedo output.

I am really looking forward to getting all this done. Trying to make out plans and a budget so I dont get too far ahead of myself and spend $$ I dont have.

[Flatpat]

If the '91 NP 241 is a 27 spline input it should bolt up in place of the current transfer case on the 4l60e. You'll need to provide the PCM a low range switch signal. Visit lt1swap.com a lot of information there.