4.8L/NV3500 Swap Underway

[cebra]

I made quite a mess I need to clean up but I got the 350/TH350 out in preparation for the LS. My lift is a piece of crap and was nowhere near getting the motor over the core support.

[62chevy302]

Do you have the trans bolted up yet?

[kipps]

What's going in, gen 3 or 4? What pcm?

I'm working on a 2010 Gen 4 5.3 going against a sm465 in a 3/4 ton 4x4. I'm not completely sure how everything will work yet, in part because there's so precious few manual swaps.

[Captainfab]

Let me know if you are in need of one of my hydraulic clutch conversions.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=652871

[62chevy302]

I feel like a 98-02 camaro clutch master cylinder would work better. It would fit under the booster and have a shorter throw. Im anxious to see how it goes for you.

[cebra]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Let me know if you are in need of one of my hydraulic clutch conversions.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=652871

I purchased one and have it mostly installed.

[cebra]

Originally Posted by kipps

What's going in, gen 3 or 4? What pcm?

I'm working on a 2010 Gen 4 5.3 going against a sm465 in a 3/4 ton 4x4. I'm not completely sure how everything will work yet, in part because there's so precious few manual swaps.

Gen 3, 4.8L and NV3500...shooting for gas mileage and running at least 85 on the highway as this will be my DD.

[cebra]

Well I pressed my luck on this one and got busted by my leasing agents so I had to end up moving the truck to a shop to drop the LS in and cut my frame down for the SWB conversion. I have been working on it several times a week for the last year but a 10x10 puddle of trans fluid was hard to hide. Sucks but I was getting a bit overwhelmed not having a roof or a power source anyways. There have been times I could have saved myself days of work just by having access to power for my welder or other tools. I will still update once he gets to work on it which should be in 2-3 weeks.

[downeyballz]

when I saw the puddle the first thing that came to mind was "someone isn't going to be happy about that". I think I took my garage & driveway for granted.

NV3500 uses the same mount as a 4l60e so all the similar knowledge applies there. make sure you have enough pedal travel & the correct leverage. Use good quality syncromesh fluid in that trans too. I swapped a nv3500 into my 66. good trans, wasn't too difficult.

[cebra]

Originally Posted by downeyballz

when I saw the puddle the first thing that came to mind was "someone isn't going to be happy about that". I think I took my garage & driveway for granted.

NV3500 uses the same mount as a 4l60e so all the similar knowledge applies there. make sure you have enough pedal travel & the correct leverage. Use good quality syncromesh fluid in that trans too. I swapped a nv3500 into my 66. good trans, wasn't too difficult.

Yeah, I was a bit reckless but was hoping I could get it cleaned up before they saw it. It is gone now but they saw it before I had time to clean it. I got some Pennzoil Syncromesh which was absurdly expensive. I am using the CaptainFab kit for the clutch pedal so the trial and error should be done for me there. I am just impatiently waiting to deliver the dude installing the motor/trans a truckload of parts at this point. My trans is now out of warranty so fingers crossed it doesn't have issues. The motor is still in warranty but for what it costs to put it in, that warranty doesn't mean much if it has issues.

[cebra]

The swap is underway at the shop, I will update with issues/successes I am having and questions.

Issue 1: The Dingo Sliders have caused more issues than anything else. The customer service was terrible both when the shop called and when I called, I am always overly nice to CSR's as you can generally get a better response if you are very cordial. The V8 perches had to be moved to the I6 location to get the motor anywhere near the firewall...would be nice to know this beforehand. Still not as far back as I would like.

Issue 2: Speed Engineering headers do not clear the perches in the I6 location...had to redesign the PS perch due to the sliders not going back far enough. Not a Speed Engineering issue as you shouldn't have to put V8 mounts in the I6 location to begin with.

Issue 3: BP Automotive harness connectors do not match the connectors on the NV3500. I guess they are different than the T56 so had to order new pigtails.

Issue 4: The NV3500 has a wide ear near the starter that had to be ground down to fit the SE headers.

Success 1: I despise high humps (I would almost rather have an auto trans than a high hump, gasp), my NV3500 fit under the low hump after removing the pinch weld between the floor and the firewall.

Success 2: After moving the motor all the way back in the I6 location on the sliders the Trans-dapt transmission crossmember fit nicely and looks very nice.

Success 3: The GM Muscle Car oil pan is a nice piece and tucks right up behind the crossmember.

Success 4: The Windstar e-fans fit very well to the radiator with minimal trimming and I was able to use L-brackets in the holes in the radiator to mount it up. Very quick and easy fit.

Success 5: The S10 Speedo swap is brilliant and looks very nice and original.

[62chevy302]

What angle did your engine end up being at? Looks a little steep from the pictures. I am just wondering.

[cebra]

It is steep at 7 degrees, my rear end is at 6 degrees. I am hoping to put new cab supports on the front (already did rear) and be able to match the 6 degrees on the rear end. Is that too much on an LS engine? I am having clearance issues where the firewall and floor meet...we have mashed that pinch weld down but if we can't raise the front of the cab much we are in a jam. Any other ideas to get a better angle, I would like to get the engine more at 5 degrees to be 1 off from the rear end at 6 degrees.

[62chevy302]

Less than 3 degrees, more than 0 is optimal. If your engine mounts cant go down then the trans has to go up. Make sure you measure when you are at ride height!

[cebra]

Everything I have read says the trans must be +/- 2 degrees of the rear end angle. If the rear end is at 6, then I should be 4 to 8 degrees on the trans correct? I made a separate post about this, as we sent the driveshaft off already, to get some opinions.

[cebra]

Pinion angle is squared away, needed to cut a bit out of the pinch weld. Went to start on Saturday and had a ground issue that we sorted out after some time. Then I blew a pre-made JEGS fuel line so we need to fix that before trying to start again. I am waiting on my driveshaft at the moment as well.