Another LSx/4L60e Swap

[soule64]

The truck is a '76 SWB that I bought for my son several years ago. We got it running with a crate 350/TH350, but I was concerned about reliability since he had it with him while in college. Last April, I found a complete '06 4.8l/4l6e with all accessories, pcm, harness, manifolds and mounts with 20k miles on the clock for under $1k. I started the build in June and it is now installed and running. I wasn't looking for high performance - I wanted a rock solid daily driver in an older classic truck. I'll play catch-up as I get the photos uploaded.

[soule64]

I wanted the drivetrain to look as stock as possible, so I installed the original intake system from the throttle body to the air cleaner. I trimmed down a p/s battery tray to mount the box. Ran the steam line from the throttle body to a JTR adapter in the top radiator hose. The top hose is stock for an '05 Silverado and fits like a glove. I had to trim and patch the intake plenum similar to project 'Fred'. The filter box looks like it's tilted fwd a little, but will sit flat on the tray once I bolt it in. Same thing with the battery on the other side - I will be pulling much of it back off for body work (new fenders) and paint later on so I left it as-is.

[soule64]

I mounted the battery on the d/s with a tray/mount from LMC. The original battery cables fit perfect.

[glock35ipsc]

Nice job!!!! I love these swaps, they are by far my favorite now! What a great price too.

I see you used the high-mount kit for the A/C, is that from Kwik Performance? Does it work with the OEM air intake stuff? It looks close. If it does, that will save me from running the air cleaner over to the D/S.

Great job, that 4.8 should be excellent for reliability and mileage in that truck. My 85 weight just a smidge over 4000#, so that 4.8 should produce some great MPG with the right gearing.

Can't wait to see some more pics!

[STOCKISH]

Looks awesome. Nice work.

[glock35ipsc]

Forgot to ask, what is the quality of that adapter from JTR? I was going to get one, but a very talented board member machined an adapter for me that goes in the radiator where the OEM heater hose went. Works perfect, but the JTR piece gets it up a little higher.

[79gmc5.3]

Very nice! This is the way I want mine to look. Like it came from the factory with that engine in it. Great Job!

[soule64]

Thanks for the comments - The JTR adapter fit very well, but I had to center it on the pressure hose on the top of the radiator shroud which takes away from the factory look. The plenum has about an inch of clearance over the top of the serpentine belt, but there is a factory mounting tab that I can mount a bracket to the radiator shroud to keep it from dropping into the belt. The Kwik bracket and Sanden compressor fits great.

[menace121978]

looks great!! looking forward to more pics and details.

[STOCKISH]

It looks great.

[soule64]

For the fuel system, I used a new '87 tank from Rock Auto, new mounting straps, an '87 sending unit and an ep-381 pump. I used high pressue line to connect the pump to the sending unit. I think I screwed up with the clamps, though. I read on another post that I shouldn't use the worm style, so I'll have to go back later and fix it. I used -6 braided steel lines with compression and snap fit fittings to the filter/regulator and more -6 line to the fuel rail. By the way, the outside port on the regulator is the pressure side and the inside is the return. Ask me how I know...

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by soule64

The plenum has about an inch of clearance over the top of the serpentine belt, but there is a factory mounting tab that I can mount a bracket to the radiator shroud to keep it from dropping into the belt. The Kwik bracket and Sanden compressor fits great.

That is great news!! That means I can install the compressor without spending the money to fab up a drivers side air intake setup. And I know the tab you are talking about to mount it to the shroud, I think I will do the same.

Great progress, can't wait to hear that it runs!

[soule64]

It does run. I fired it up about a month ago. Once I got all of the connections made, I primed the fuel rails. It cranked over maybe 2 revolutions and started right up - idled high for about 10 seconds and then slowed down to around 600 rpm. Suprised the hell out of me...

[glock35ipsc]

LOL, I guess I should have re-read the very first post, eh?

Since this is an '06 engine, do you have the electronic gas pedal installed yet?

[soule64]

Funny you ask - The pedal that came with the truck ended up being bad (same as yours), so John from Speartech sent me a new one with the harness. I mounted it in nearly the same place as the original one. I have a picture somewhere, just have to find it...

[smokedat]

looking good, subscribed

[soule64]

I found some earlier pictures of the build on another computer. Between work and home, I've got three crappy cameras and three equally crappy computers, so it's kind of tough getting everything in the right order. We started at the back and got the truck down to the frame, then hit it with a pressure washer, solvent and whatever it took after that to find bare metal. POR metal-prep and gloss black after that, plus a set of new cab/bed bushings.

[soule64]

Also felt it was a goos time to rebuild the front end, so we installed a new steering box, tie rods, pitman and idler arms and just about anythig that was rubber. Did the POR thing and put it back together.

[soule64]

Forgot about the pics on the cell phoe, so add one more to the camera list.

Anyway, here is the the transmission and original cross member. New case mount and grade 8 bolts included. Everything fit perfectly without any drilling (by me). There were a few holes on the frame rails that didnt look original, but they were enough to get it to fit.The original shift linkage fits ok, but I to move the frame bracket fwd an inch or two. I had to get the driveshaft lengthened 2 inches and it fits very well.

[glock35ipsc]

The 2" setback plates would have let you use the original drive shaft and keep the linkage in the original spot. You must have used the rectangular shaped motor mount plates if you had to lengthen the drive shaft and move the shift linkage?

[soule64]

The mounts that I used were from ECE. They bolt on in place of the plates/shell on the engine. The guy I bought the motor from threw in a set of plates and mounts, but I decided to go with these so I could use the oem mounts. I should have done more research before buying these...

[78-5.3]

i had to lengthen my driveshaft about 1 3/4in
but my shfter linkage is correct and works right!!!
how much did you lengthen your????

[soule64]

I had to lengthen it 2 1/8" if I remember correctly. The shifter worked in the original position, but the arm to the transmission coupling was at an rearward angle that looked a little strange. Moving the frame bracket fwd helped straighten it out.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by soule64

I had to lengthen it 2 1/8" if I remember correctly.

That sounds about right. The 2wd truck 4L60E is 2-1/8" longer than the 9" tail shaft TH350, and the plates move the engine forward 2", leaving only a 1/8" difference that the slip yoke can handle.

Do you have any pics of the truck itself?

[soule64]

Sorry, I can't find any pics of the truck itself. There's not really much to see because it's pretty much blown apart to get to the frame. Can't wait to show off the power "Dallas Cowboy" edition power doors.