1987 GMC V1500 Sierra Classic LS swap/build

[y5mgisi]

Crazy about the ta! Glad to see you have the truck on the road tho!

[NastyBuzzard]

I finally shoe horned the engine out of the TA. Block is trashed that is for sure. I even had some extra surprises. I found that the block was damaged on the DS bottom, it was even missing the bottom part that the trans bolts to. It also had a crap ton of jb weld on it. Also found that the starter had its mount broken, which may of happened when the motor blew. So many pieces of rod everwhere. One chunk was actually stabbed into the block, I had to beat it out. Craziness!

I only took one picture though, that was me finally getting the harmonic balancer off. After going through 2 different type of 3 jaw pullers.



Anyways!! I have always wanted to swap the newer style rearened under the truck to gain the wider track to match the front and the rear disc brakes. Well this weekend I set out to do it!

I picked up this 2000 Silverardo Z71 Rearend on Friday. 3.73 posi disc brakes.



After some cleaning and checking to be sure it was in fact 3.73.



I originally was pulling the bed off because my "new" one was supposed to come this weekend. However, I realized it would be a lot easier to swap the rearend while the bed is off but the bed was coming on Sunday so I had to rush and get it in on Saturday.



Rear pulled.



Cut off the original mounts and the bump stop plate, cleaned and painted.



I got it in after a little bit of a fight. I tried researching as much as I could about pinion angle online. I finally went with one thing I read were it should be 6* extra for leaf spring rears.

And then there were disc brakes!





I probably need to replace the pads and rotors and the park brake.

The shock mounts are about 4" too long, I need to either buy 4" longer shocks or shorten the mounts. I haven't really decided yet.

Brake lines and park brake shouldn't be too difficult to hook up. I need to find a bracket for the park brake lines or make one.

On a sad note though, my dang bed never showed up. The guy with the rollback had to go to the hospital for back pain. Maybe next weekend....

I am definitely excited to see how it acts now with some proper gears! Also, 10 pistons of stopping power!!

[y5mgisi]

Pretty sweet!

[NorCalAnthony]

Wow looks like the TA motor had some issues from the PO. Why would anyone use JB Weld on an engine block?

Nice progress on getting the new rear axle swapped in! I would definitely weld on some new shock mounts instead of getting longer shock though. I never did like how far down those hang on the newer trucks like they're just begging to get smacked by something offroad...

Not sure if you've checked in on the thread at CK5 for this brake upgrade but the guy posted up some nice pictures of how he got the parking brake and everything else connected a couple weeks back. He used a Lokar "single wire union connector" and the bracket from the Silverado. Turns out the union from Lokar has to be ordered directly from them since it's only listed as part of a $80+ kit everywhere else... Check out post #72 http://ck5.com/forums/threads/pure-c....316597/page-4

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

Pretty sweet!

I agree! Not much left on this thing is 87 anymore... Not too much beside body and frame is even from a squarebody anymore!


Anthony

Apparently it was cracked! I will investigate more later and post pictures.

Yeah I saw, no clue where his little bracket came from. He says it is from the donor but yet... Everyone I have ever seen those cables go through a cab mount. I already have the lokar part, I got it from summit for like $10!

I agree on the shock mounts. The real issue is that I don't have a welder to really do it. My friend is an amazing welder though. He brought his grandpas mobile stick welder over Saturday night to weld the mounts on the axle. Getting him to do anything though is sometimes difficult.

[y5mgisi]

Hate to suggest this, but I'm pretty sure Ford super dutys used shock mounts that clamped onto the axle with a u bolt.

[NorCalAnthony]

That's weird I'll have to check my donor Yukon and see how the parking brake is routed. I thought it went through a little bracket like what the other guy posted pictures of but I haven't been under there in a while. If worse comes to worse it looks like a pretty simple bracket and shouldn't be too hard to fab something up...

You wouldn't happen to have a Summit part number for that Lokar part do you? I searched Summit and a bunch of other places for a couple of days and couldn't find anyone who sold it outside of the kit.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

Hate to suggest this, but I'm pretty sure Ford super dutys used shock mounts that clamped onto the axle with a u bolt.

Seriously??? I will definitely look into it! Otherwise I will be riding around without shocks for a little while.

Originally Posted by NorCalAnthony

That's weird I'll have to check my donor Yukon and see how the parking brake is routed. I thought it went through a little bracket like what the other guy posted pictures of but I haven't been under there in a while. If worse comes to worse it looks like a pretty simple bracket and shouldn't be too hard to fab something up...

You wouldn't happen to have a Summit part number for that Lokar part do you? I searched Summit and a bunch of other places for a couple of days and couldn't find anyone who sold it outside of the kit.

The Part # is LOK-S-8074. The manufacturer number is # S-8074.

It may be different from trucks to suvs as far as the bracket goes. I looked at my 04, 06 and 01 frame and it didn't seem to have anything like what he pictured. I will check again though.

[NorCalAnthony]

Originally Posted by NastyBuzzard

The Part # is LOK-S-8074. The manufacturer number is # S-8074.

It may be different from trucks to suvs as far as the bracket goes. I looked at my 04, 06 and 01 frame and it didn't seem to have anything like what he pictured. I will check again though.

Sweet thanks I don't know how I missed that with all of the different phrases I was trying in Google lol.

I'm thinking you might be right about the SUV's having different bracket that's why I was thinking of checking my Yukon for you. If my donor SUV has the right bracket while your donor pickups don't, we can narrow down where you might be able to find one. Hopefully that made sense...

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

Hate to suggest this, but I'm pretty sure Ford super dutys used shock mounts that clamped onto the axle with a u bolt.

Originally Posted by NorCalAnthony

That's weird I'll have to check my donor Yukon and see how the parking brake is routed. I thought it went through a little bracket like what the other guy posted pictures of but I haven't been under there in a while. If worse comes to worse it looks like a pretty simple bracket and shouldn't be too hard to fab something up...

You wouldn't happen to have a Summit part number for that Lokar part do you? I searched Summit and a bunch of other places for a couple of days and couldn't find anyone who sold it outside of the kit.

Originally Posted by NorCalAnthony

Sweet thanks I don't know how I missed that with all of the different phrases I was trying in Google lol.

I'm thinking you might be right about the SUV's having different bracket that's why I was thinking of checking my Yukon for you. If my donor SUV has the right bracket while your donor pickups don't, we can narrow down where you might be able to find one. Hopefully that made sense...

Makes perfect sense. I appreciate the help!

[NastyBuzzard]

So apparently the park brake line bracket is only on some trucks. It isn't on the 2 extended cab frames that I have as spares but it is on my crew cab. Here is a picture of it on my crew cab.. Can anyone help me find one?



Also been working on brakes and what nots and I went to fill the rearend and of course it rounded off... What to freaking do now. I so hate not having a welder...



I found this 1ton 4x4 I may pick up cheap for the frame and axles to swap my 88 crew cab body on to.. Looks rough but supposedly ran and drove until the pitman arm broke...




Also, I got my electric box approved so now to trench 250' and get power to the shop, maybe in the next few weeks.

[NastyBuzzard]

So I started a thread for all the Crew Cab 1 Ton 4x4 swapping craziness I am about to embark on.

However, what I do on it right now will be mostly low budget or free as far as $ goes.

I need to finish my 87. I just keep running into speed bumps.

My friend finally finished his shop and will be starting soon on doing something like I am doing with my 87 to his 78. He came over for some parts. He has to fix some of his firewall so he wanted a spare 99-06 air/heat box assembly to see about mounting it under the dash.

Low and behold an hour after he picks it up he has it in.



So it looks like I will be going down this route as well at some point.

[NastyBuzzard]

I am tired of fighting this drain plug so I guess I am going to order a new diff cover with a fill plug.

I also am going to order some weld on shock mounts too. I am trying to find a set of those that will work for the 87 stock shocks or whatever. Any ideas?

[MalibuSSwagon]

Why not either cut the shock mounts off the 87 rear axle and weld them onto the 99-06 axle? Or fab some simple brackets and weld them on?

How much did the late model axle push out the track width? I took some rough measurements and appears to be 3 inches wider? Was thinking of doing it to my C10 since I have a 3.73 posi axle from a 2000. Then getting 1" spacer adapters for the front and running stock 20" 6 lug wheels, since the late model wheels have 1" additional offset it could almost look right.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by MalibuSSwagon

Why not either cut the shock mounts off the 87 rear axle and weld them onto the 99-06 axle? Or fab some simple brackets and weld them on?

How much did the late model axle push out the track width? I took some rough measurements and appears to be 3 inches wider? Was thinking of doing it to my C10 since I have a 3.73 posi axle from a 2000. Then getting 1" spacer adapters for the front and running stock 20" 6 lug wheels, since the late model wheels have 1" additional offset it could almost look right.

I can't cut the shock mounts off simply because the rear end is going back to the original owner who I bought it from. So I didn't want to cut them off and cause him the hassle.

Just trying to find a cheap solution on ebay or something.. I don't really have any fab tools at hand at short notice.


I think it pushed the track out 2" on each side which made it almost identical to the front, however this is a 4x4 application. I am not sure how far the front sticks out on a C10 but on a K10 the front is wider than the rear normally. I know since I have done this I am within about 3/8" from being perfect from the front but my front has the H3 hummer brake set up which makes them stick out a 1/2" more than normal, I think.

[NastyBuzzard]

Finally got my bed!!

I almost have the rearend finished with new brakes and what not. I found an excellent rear diff cover with a fill plug for less than $20 and it is normal steel not crappy aluminum. I will post pics when I can, too busy to take some.

I think the truck got lifted a tad in the rear with this axle and the taller spring perches.

1 step closer.

Also after a lot of aggravation, I have my trench about 90% done to the shop so I can have power out there soon.

[NastyBuzzard]

Also, the wiper motor from a 96-98ish gm truck is a lot better fit for this type of swap. Pics to come.

Here is progress my friend has made on a firewall patch for the 99+ hvac box

[NastyBuzzard]

Here are a few pics of the new bed on.



It looks to me like I may need a 2" lift now for the front, what do yall think?





I am absolutely loving the new wheel offset. It is so close to matching the front now! The rear disc brakes are nice as well.





I think at one time I found a 2" lift springs on summit, got to find those again. Would I need an "extended arm thing" from the front axle up to the gear box? I know with a 4" lift you need that. Also I know I will need new U bolts. Anything else?

[y5mgisi]

I would get the tuff country 2" ez ride Springs. If I remember right, the cheapest place to get them was SD truck Springs. But no, everything will be just fine as is with the 2" lift.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

I would get the tuff country 2" ez ride Springs. If I remember right, the cheapest place to get them was SD truck Springs. But no, everything will be just fine as is with the 2" lift.

Really? No longer U bolts or anything? I will definitely need the cheapest shipped price. I got so many projects going on that I need to be careful what I spend this time of the year. I also have $20 in summit bucks I need to spend.

So you agree I need to lift the front right? I am not crazy. I took measurements and 2" seemed about the difference in front/rear.

I have a 4" lift springs laying around but I would need the new ubolts, the piece that goes on the front end and whateve else, and then I have 2" blocks for the back to match it up, I just really don't want 4" of lift on this truck. I want it so it can be a daily driver at anytime.

[y5mgisi]

I would lift the front, and I would only do 2".

Naturally I'm having trouble finding good pics, but here are a couple pics of those u bolt style Ford shock mounts.

[y5mgisi]

It appears they might be pre super duty?

[y5mgisi]

Needing longer u bolts depends on if you have 2 leaf or 3 leaf front Springs now. As I recall, I'm fairly sure the 2" tuff country ez rides (which summit does have) are 3 leaf. So if you have three now, you should be good. Of you have two leaf now, they might be too short. Off road design is a good place to get them if you need them. I think they are $10 each from them.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

Needing longer u bolts depends on if you have 2 leaf or 3 leaf front Springs now. As I recall, I'm fairly sure the 2" tuff country ez rides (which summit does have) are 3 leaf. So if you have three now, you should be good. Of you have two leaf now, they might be too short. Off road design is a good place to get them if you need them. I think they are $10 each from them.

I looked back through some pics and it seems like I have 2 leaf front springs now. I can actually take a set of 3 leafs off the front of the 78 1 ton but I don't mind buying just the springs. So it looks like I need to find a set of U-bolts as well.

I forgot all about those bolt on ford shock mounts. When I read what you said I researched them, found something similar to what is in you pictures and then just forgot. I went back and ordered some weld on ones but still no telling when I can get my welder over, I probably will have to drive over to him for them to be welded.

If I can find the ford ones cheapish I may just order those!

Thanks for the advice on the 2" lift, it is the push I need to start ordering up some stuff.

Also, I should be getting power to the shop today. I don't have my lights or anything in yet but at least I will have 1 outlet with power! No more drop cords.

[y5mgisi]

Excellent