'72 GMC Daily Driver Project - 5.3L LS Motor Swap w/700R4

[grancuda]

I am making a list of all the stuff I need to swap out my 250 I6 w/ manual 3 on the tree to a 5.3L w/700R4. I daily drive this truck and I am planning on taking a week off sometime late March/early April to do the swap. I have to get it done in within that week so I can drive it to work the following Monday. I am doing a carb set up, no ac, no power steering so there won't be too much wiring / hose nighmare. I bought a older C10 for the fact of simplicity and not having to mess with computers and sensors so don't even try to convince me that the injection is better. If it doesn't have a carb, I am not interested. I am hoping some of you guys that have done this can point me in the right direction on several aspects. I really want to get the alternator and pulley set up done before I pull the I6 from the truck. That is the only real problem I see, that and the headers/exhaust manifold. I don't want to run the alternator in the stock location, I want it mounted low.

Below is a list of the parts I am going to use and a few of the questionable items.

Motor - '00 & up 5.3L

Trans- '86 700R4 out of a car along with cooling lines, TV cable, drive shaft

Intake/Ignition - Edelbrock Performer RPM w/MSD ignition box

Carb- Edelbrock 650 AVS

Motor Mounting - not sure yet - Early Classic - 63-72 Gen III Motor Mount Conversion Kit or Classic Performance Products LS1 Engine Mounts Bracket Kit - Anyone have any opinions of either? The Early Classic one is 3 times the price but comes with a lot more. $249-$79

Transmission Mounting - Bowtie Overdrives 700R4 Bolt in Cross Member - $179

Flex Plate - Flex Plate from LS donor motor

Flex Plate Adaptor - Hughes Performance LS1 flexplate adapter cone - $43

Radiator - Factory Replacement '72 Radiator for a truck w/350 - Not sure on this just yet

Cooling Hoses - Not Sure yet, Anyone know of stock style hoses to go from the LS motor to the older style radiator?

Alternator - Not sure yet, planning on using LS donor motor alternator but not sure how the pulley system will work w/ just Alternator and Water Pump-Anyone done this yet?

Headers/Manifolds - Planning on either getting a set of the Mustang headers and welding on the LS flanges or buying a set of F body manifolds.

Drive Line - I am planning on having my front shaft shortened or just running 1 driveshaft and eliminating the carrier bearing, anyone done this on a long bed? I may call the local driveline shop here in Tulsa and ask what they think. I want to eliminate the carrier bearing to simplify things a bit.

Fuel - 2 weeks ago ran 3/8" line up to my I6 and I am now running a Holley Red electric pump so I don't have to worry about messing with that aspect of it.

[LuckyHenriksen]

Sounds sweet. Does Hughes Performance make adapters from Gen III to TH400?

[brendonak]

fuel inject the i6, case closed

[grancuda]

fuel inject the i6, case closed
That doesn't solve the issue of pulling a 20' boat down the highway at normal highway speeds.

[brendonak]

hmm, add turbo to taste, let simmer for 15 minutes, then enjoy!

[texanidiot25]

Turbos aren't good for low end torque applications (that aren't diesel), they like peak horse power.

A 5.3 will tow all day with better MPG and performance.

[chevy71c10]

Originally Posted by grancuda

I am making a list of all the stuff I need to swap out my 250 I6 w/ manual 3 on the tree to a 5.3L w/700R4. I daily drive this truck and I am planning on taking a week off sometime late March/early April to do the swap. I have to get it done in within that week so I can drive it to work the following Monday. I am doing a carb set up, no ac, no power steering so there won't be too much wiring / hose nighmare. I bought a older C10 for the fact of simplicity and not having to mess with computers and sensors so don't even try to convince me that the injection is better. If it doesn't have a carb, I am not interested. I am hoping some of you guys that have done this can point me in the right direction on several aspects. I really want to get the alternator and pulley set up done before I pull the I6 from the truck. That is the only real problem I see, that and the headers/exhaust manifold. I don't want to run the alternator in the stock location, I want it mounted low.

Below is a list of the parts I am going to use and a few of the questionable items.

Motor - '00 & up 5.3L

Trans- '86 700R4 out of a car along with cooling lines, TV cable, drive shaft

Intake/Ignition - Edelbrock Performer RPM w/MSD ignition box

Carb- Edelbrock 650 AVS

Motor Mounting - not sure yet - Early Classic - 63-72 Gen III Motor Mount Conversion Kit or Classic Performance Products LS1 Engine Mounts Bracket Kit - Anyone have any opinions of either? The Early Classic one is 3 times the price but comes with a lot more. $249-$79

Transmission Mounting - Bowtie Overdrives 700R4 Bolt in Cross Member - $179

Flex Plate - Flex Plate from LS donor motor

Flex Plate Adaptor - Hughes Performance LS1 flexplate adapter cone - $43

Radiator - Factory Replacement '72 Radiator for a truck w/350 - Not sure on this just yet

Cooling Hoses - Not Sure yet, Anyone know of stock style hoses to go from the LS motor to the older style radiator?

Alternator - Not sure yet, planning on using LS donor motor alternator but not sure how the pulley system will work w/ just Alternator and Water Pump-Anyone done this yet?

Headers/Manifolds - Planning on either getting a set of the Mustang headers and welding on the LS flanges or buying a set of F body manifolds.

Drive Line - I am planning on having my front shaft shortened or just running 1 driveshaft and eliminating the carrier bearing, anyone done this on a long bed? I may call the local driveline shop here in Tulsa and ask what they think. I want to eliminate the carrier bearing to simplify things a bit.

Fuel - 2 weeks ago ran 3/8" line up to my I6 and I am now running a Holley Red electric pump so I don't have to worry about messing with that aspect of it.

Hey Grancuda, I'm doing a very similar mod on my 71 C10 SWB and would also like to eliminate the carrier bearing. Have you received any word that it can be done without issues? Good luck on your build.

[echo72]

Good Luck....