Lucy gets a modern powerplant

[LooseyLucy71]

Thanks guys! I probably should have asked earlier about the bracket. I may delete it and run those lines flush.
I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Still lots to do but it seems to be coming together!

[LooseyLucy71]

I've been back at it recently, starting with a little fabrication work to add tabs to the 5.3 airbox mounting plate and to make a mount for the PCM. They both came out pretty well. The PCM was certainly more challenging. It's a busy corner with the PCM, fuse box, power steering res, washer fluid res, horns and horn relay and battery all tucked in there but I should be able to make it work. I was happy to be able to mount it with no additional holes, tucking it behind the radiator support to outer fender brace. I also took advantage of the nice weather and painted the radiator, radiator brackets, PS res, PCM mount, and airbox plate. It seems like every time I go to reinstall something it needs to be degreased, cleaned, prepped and painted, but it'll be worth it in the end.

I also found the fitting I needed for the HP PS line. Since the LS pump location is much lower and the motor mounts are right there, I needed a 3/8 female to 3/8 male 90 degree SAE tubing fitting which I found at a local hydraulics shop. I got it all installed and tightened up my pitman arm nut and rag joint bolts. Steering feels tight! Can't wait to try out the new box from Redhead.

I installed the factory engine bay harness after some repairs and started on the LS harness, I have it laid out in the right spot, but I'm trying not to finalize it until I fire it for the first time to make sure everything is working properly. This morning's wiring adventure was to flag the individual injector wires and the coil wires. I used my cheap-o meter, but hey, it works!

So I'll be plugging along. I have a friend coming down who is working on his second LS install (fully custom tube chassis buggy on 43's) next saturday so hopefully I can get enough done that we can at least turn it over and make sure the motor and harness are good. I'm definitely seeing the light at the end of the tunnel here and looking forward to turning the key!

[67 chevelle]

lookin good

[kehstr]

cool ideas!!

[LooseyLucy71]

Hey Guys! Still chugging along! I spent a while on the wiring and am just about finished with it. I had hard time with it as it was my first time wiring a harness, but on the downhill side, it's all fairly simple. I definitely added to the challenge stuffing the PCM, fuse block, and relays all in the front corner. It was worth it, but certainly added to the challenge. My buddy came down and we set an initial tune and got it fired up! Here's the youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLk2...m-upload_owner

It was awesome to have it start right up! Sine then I've been addressing a few minor fuel leaks, reinstalling the dash, making fan mounts, and buttoning up loose ends. I hung the exhaust and hope to get it over to the exhaust shop in the next few days to get new downpipes with bungs for the O2 sensors. Then I can move it under its own power and finish up the last of the wiring (O2's, fans, tape and loom). I'm definitely looking forward to getting her back on the road!

[flashed]

Looks clean.

[LooseyLucy71]

Originally Posted by flashed

Looks clean.

Thanks flashed! She's coming along! Off to the exhaust shop tomorrow!

[LooseyLucy71]

Hey guys, I was wondering if anybody could fill me in on what the fused wire on the terminal block mounted to the inside of the outer fender goes to. Is it the 12v outlet? Thanks in advance!

[BugzC10]

That's where the fusable-link goes from or to the battery. On mine The one with the fuse attaches to a yellow wire...not sure where it goes until I look at a schematic. The one with the plus sign should be the fuseable link that attached to the battery. I checked my schematic and it looks like that line with the fuse goes to a junction. The wires from the junction go to the alternator and voltage regulator and to the firewall plug.

[zteca]

I really dig your ECM bracket, any other pictures showing how you mount it or where it mounts to?
Keep up the good work

[kehstr]

Haven't heard from you in a while, how is the progress on your truck going?

[ryanv70c10]

I would have a hard time swapping out a 454 for a 5.3 but that's just me...

Good luck with the build!

[LooseyLucy71]

It has been a while, and things are looking good. I ended up moving unexpectedly in May and it threw my build off a bit. I got it on the road and driving only to have some expensive noises appear. upon further inspection of the motor it was pretty clear that whoever had it before me didn't show it much love. I decided to pull it and replace it before it blew up and took out body panels in the process.

I was able to track down a 2000 5.3 with 136k on it from a local salvage yard for $300. It actually ended up coming with a harness and PCM which was cool. After prep, paint, and removing 7 broken exhaust studs, it was ready to drop in. Since I was pulling the motor anyway I switched my stock torque converter for a 2700-3000 10" stall converter. It took a few weeks to get this motor happy. It didn't want to start terribly well initially and would hesitate at higher RPM. as time went on the hesitation turned to misfire and I suspected fuel issues. I plugged in the OBD scanner and found a code for the cam position sensor. It helps if you plug that in... I was hoping that was the whole issue, but it only fixed the hard starting, not the misfire. It also threw P0300, random multiple misfire, which isn't super helpful.

I checked my fuel pressures and they were a bit low, so I swapped fuel pressure regulators. I also changed the screen on my fuel filter. Afterwards, it was pretty much the same, so I changed all the spark plugs out. They didn't look to bad, but the gaps were a little big and you could tell they had been in there a while. I also swapped to the newer motor's rails and injectors in case one of my originals was having difficulty. I'm not sure if it was the injectors or the plugs, but it's a very happy truck now. I think I'll need to update my injector flow rate in the tune, but that's no big deal.

So what's next? While the weather is nice, I'm going to try to keep it to just overnight projects with no big downtime. This will include new rear springs, front and rear sway bars, and pulling the footwell carpet and painting and sound deadening that.

Here's a few pictures, i'll try to get a running video here soon too.

[67 chevelle]

Lookin good

[Tork?]

Nice build! I'm interested in the stock tank route. Do you have more pictures of your fuel system - sender mod, bulkhead fitting, etc? Did you just use barbed fitting with FI clamps for the stretch of rubber line? What about the hardline to AN?

[LooseyLucy71]

Been a little while.. life happens.

To answer the last question, on the fuel system i had a section of line TIG welded to the sender for a return in the dimple on the sender, then a weld on -06AN line welded to the 3/8" line. the supply uses this fitting http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performan...oductId=756885
to go hard line to AN. When you set this up, be especially careful to make sure your lines are nested, such that you can slip the locking ring over the top. learned that the hard way, but thankfully my fuel system was totally devoid of fuel, so i notched mine and slipped it over, then welded it back together. I used -06 AN in the cab down to the floor, then 90 degree bulkhead fittings. the return runs right to the fuel rail, and uses a AN to stock conversion fitting. My supply goes to AN to an AN to barb fitting, fuel injection rated hose (double clamped) to the pump, then hose to AN. I used a jegs AN filter next, so all AN to the fuel rail. It works well, but if i had to do it again, I would say flush / blow out your AN lines if possible. I had some power issues like knocking at heavier throttle. I went bananas and did injectors (since i had another complete intake), plugs, and fuel filter and now it gets all kinds of rubber. Sorry for the super delayed response, but feel free to DM me if you want links / pics / more detail.

As for what's happened since my last post, I installed the new springs, front and rear sway bars, and after some heavy duty burnouts, a pair of tires. The sway bars make a HUGE difference. I thought about installing them separately to see the difference with adding the rear, and had even heard that the rear may be detrimental to knowing when the rear end was going to step out, but i'm not shy about that and feel that my greatest hinderance on that account is having an automatic, not sway bars. Anyway when you have 235 55 17's and you can fee the sway in the sidewalls on the tires with a 45 year old vehicle that's pretty awesome.

So as with any project, there's always more on the list. As I touched on above, I'm not a huge fan of automatics, and if you're going to go manual, might as well cut to the chase and go T56. I'm planning on more power down the road (maybe blown 6.0), so to me it makes sense to go with a 6 speed that can handle whatever i give it. I'll be doing my homework for a while and slowly getting parts together. I acquired a boat that needs an engine and outdrive service, so that's priority since the truck runs and drives as is. The trans is making some funny noises, but nothing that would keep me from taking it out and about. The salt and snow have hit New England, and the truck will be in the garage for the next 4+ months, so there's plenty of time for all the shenanigans.

Here's a few shots of the post spring swap ride height, sway bar install, and the good times had afterward.

[kehstr]

DO you have video of the burnouts?

[Tork?]

Sweet thanks for the explanation! Love the smokey burnout pic too.

So in sum for the return you welded a second hardline into the sender, added an AN fitting, and ran that up to the stock 5.3 rail hooked up with an AN quick disconnect?

And for feed you used the same AN hardline adapter on the original sender tube and draw fuel up from the tank? Maybe I missed it but are you running an in tank pump or in line?

[LooseyLucy71]

I'm running an in line pump mounted to the fuel rail. I used the adapter i linked to for supply, using the original suction from the tank, and a weld on AN fitting on the return line. Since i was doing the welding anyway, I went with the weld on, but i don't see why the other variety wouldn't work here.

As for videos, yes, but they're not great. Always better in person, and of course, best in the drivers seat.

[BR3W CITY]

Looks like ya really broke in the driveway

[LooseyLucy71]

Sometimes housewarming parties turn into driveway warming parties

[elf w/capital T]

ahhh I remember when I built up my ls swap. it was so exciting learned many things lol looks good with the flat bay and nice exterior paint!

[MalibuSSwagon]

Very cool. I have not seen this thread before, yet another LS swapped C10 in NH! Kinda wish I had documented my swap while it was doing it, but I think I was more focused on getting it done!