Vortec 5.7L swap questions

[Hankster]

Okay, I have a 1986 chevy c10 with a 305 H.O. and I have a 1999 GMC sierra 2500HD with a 350 vortec, I am wanting to put the vortec motor in the 86 and keep fuel injection. What all am I going to need? I'm pretty sure I'm gonna need a radiator, I know I'm gonna need a fuel pump, and I have to figure out something for my gauges, and wiring.. is there anywhere that has painless wiring harnesses for vortec swaps? I know they make them for LS swaps.. ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED! Keep in mind this is my first build and I am 15 with no job! Input Welcome!

[nekkidhillbilly]

for the engine your going to be just like doing a ls swap. you will need a new fuel pump system for the high psi(baffled burban tank or two pumps and the 87 switching setup). you will need the harness for the enigne and ecm. have to have vats disabled. are you using the trans from the newer truck(4l80e)? i would recommend it or at least getting a 4l60e to bolt up to simplify things for this. your radiator for the 305 should be fine for the 350. gauges you need a electric speedo aftermarket 87-91 or a converter. other than wiring it will be a pretty much bolt in.

[1981Stepside]

Just to drop in a tidbit. As far as the speedo goes, if you're going to use a 4l60e you can get a conversion tailshaft that has the bung for the mechanical speedo gear welded in. A bit more $$ than an aftermarket speedometer, but you can keep all you're gauges stock if that's what you're after.

[nekkidhillbilly]

for the money though id just run a 87 up or aftermarket. personally id rather have aftermarket i can see a 85 mph getting broke real quick.

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

for the engine your going to be just like doing a ls swap. you will need a new fuel pump system for the high psi(baffled burban tank or two pumps and the 87 switching setup). you will need the harness for the enigne and ecm. have to have vats disabled. are you using the trans from the newer truck(4l80e)? i would recommend it or at least getting a 4l60e to bolt up to simplify things for this. your radiator for the 305 should be fine for the 350. gauges you need a electric speedo aftermarket 87-91 or a converter. other than wiring it will be a pretty much bolt in.

So from what I am understanding, since I am using a built 700r4, instead of the 4l80, I won't need to change my instrument cluster? Thanks for all the info! My 99 (donor vehicle) has an engine oil cooler and trans cooler built in... So I'm pretty sure ill have to make another radiator work, I would try to use the one from the 99 but it is busted.. any ideas for a radiator would be appreciated..

[1981Stepside]

If it's an 1986 700r4, no you won't have to change your instrument cluster. Pre 1987 used a mechanical speedo cable and 1987-up went electronic IIRC. Easiest way to tell is to look at the drivers side of the tailhousing. If it has a spot for a cable, you're good.

[nekkidhillbilly]

idk how you set up a 700r4 tv cable with the later efi system. not saying its not possible just idk. oil and trans cooler should be seperate from the rad. you can use external units and keep your rad from the 80s truck.

[tlawre87]

First...may I kindly say...
Find a way to have some income first. You're going to be 16 in a year. What will you drive if the 86 isn't fixed yet and the 99 is tore apart?

I say this all from experience (and having to ride the bus a few times when I for whatever reason had my vehicle down)

[nekkidhillbilly]

hes 15 hes walking right now anyway

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by tlawre87

First...may I kindly say...
Find a way to have some income first. You're going to be 16 in a year. What will you drive if the 86 isn't fixed yet and the 99 is tore apart?

I say this all from experience (and having to ride the bus a few times when I for whatever reason had my vehicle down)

Thats a very good point, in all honesty my mom is disabled, and she takes me to school everyday now, she wouldn't care if she had to take me, but she would just tell me to take her car, unless she has a doctors appt.

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by 1981Stepside

If it's an 1986 700r4, no you won't have to change your instrument cluster. Pre 1987 used a mechanical speedo cable and 1987-up went electronic IIRC. Easiest way to tell is to look at the drivers side of the tailhousing. If it has a spot for a cable, you're good.

I got the trans from my brother, I just asked him if it used a mechanical speedo cable, he said yes! so we are good there

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

idk how you set up a 700r4 tv cable with the later efi system. not saying its not possible just idk. oil and trans cooler should be seperate from the rad. you can use external units and keep your rad from the 80s truck.

Problem is The rad in the donor is busted and the 86 don't have a rad, someone stole it when it was at my old house.. But I'm going to get parts from a friends parts truck today, so I'll see if I can get that rad if there is one there.

[nekkidhillbilly]

then just get a replacement for an 86 truck. again though how do you run the 700r4 tv cable to a vortec mpfi tb?

[87lm7]

I agree, just get a rad for the 86, it will have a cooler built in for the trans, and as for the engine cooler, just pull the lines off the block and plug the holes with matching threaded plugs, the lines tend to leak anyways.

[nekkidhillbilly]

http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/cata...AT&CATID=WA2A4

would need this unless the 700r4 is crazy built strong you would be cheaper to sell 700 and buy a 4l60e or use the 4l80e (which you will never kill).

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by 87lm7

I agree, just get a rad for the 86, it will have a cooler built in for the trans, and as for the engine cooler, just pull the lines off the block and plug the holes with matching threaded plugs, the lines tend to leak anyways.

I would like to keep the oil cooler though, but I might have to do that..

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

http://www.bowtieoverdrives.com/cata...AT&CATID=WA2A4

would need this unless the 700r4 is crazy built strong you would be cheaper to sell 700 and buy a 4l60e or use the 4l80e (which you will never kill).

Can you tell me why I would need that? earlier in the thread I was told The trans would be fine..

[nekkidhillbilly]

you have to hook the tv cable up to your throttle body. if you dont the trans wont shift right or kick down and if its not perfect your trans would die a horrible death in a few weeks. it will bolt up to the mpfi 350 yes but you have to have that tv cable hooked up. all trucks had e trans so theres not something you can source from oem.

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

you have to hook the tv cable up to your throttle body. if you dont the trans wont shift right or kick down and if its not perfect your trans would die a horrible death in a few weeks. it will bolt up to the mpfi 350 yes but you have to have that tv cable hooked up. all trucks had e trans so theres not something you can source from oem.

Okay, what if I run a aftermarket intake and carb? I'm trying to buy the least amount of parts as possible. I priced out an intake for the vortec motor to convert to carb, and I can afford it. So... and I got the hook up on carbs

[nekkidhillbilly]

then you defeat the purpose of a new engine with the mpfi. it would be at the same power if not worse and mpg is going to go way down. id run that cable or spend the 300 bucks on a stock 4l60e. your 99 350 isnt going to break it. the best option and strongest trans is that 99s 4l80e. its prob as strong or stronger than your 700r4. all it would take is the driveshaft being cut and the trans crossmember being moved as long as its a 2wd trans.

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

then you defeat the purpose of a new engine with the mpfi. it would be at the same power if not worse and mpg is going to go way down. id run that cable or spend the 300 bucks on a stock 4l60e. your 99 350 isnt going to break it. the best option and strongest trans is that 99s 4l80e. its prob as strong or stronger than your 700r4. all it would take is the driveshaft being cut and the trans crossmember being moved as long as its a 2wd trans.

My main focus is just to get the truck on the road as of now, And I have thought about running the 4l80e but sitting down, and thinking, I'll need a 87+ instrument cluster and tank etc, The guy I bought the truck from, (Check build thread in my signature for story) is close to being out and I promised I would have it running when he got out, and with the carb It will just be easier and quicker. So I have decided to go that route FOR NOW, I will go fuel injection when I get a job and go LS swap. Thanks for all the help guys.

[nekkidhillbilly]

well if you dont want efi its easy. you just need the carb and intake. you could prob even use the 305s quadrajet and retune it. did it have a 700r4 behind the 305? if so it i will have the proper arm on the carb for the tv cable. you wont have to change anything then withwiring or fuel systems. i will say this you will prob have enough money for a ls swap though once you sell all the parts you dont wont from both trucks i would think.

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

well if you dont want efi its easy. you just need the carb and intake. you could prob even use the 305s quadrajet and retune it. did it have a 700r4 behind the 305? if so it i will have the proper arm on the carb for the tv cable. you wont have to change anything then withwiring or fuel systems. i will say this you will prob have enough money for a ls swap though once you sell all the parts you dont wont from both trucks i would think.

No, there was a turbo 350 behind the 305, and yes, that's what I was hoping for!

[nekkidhillbilly]

well you will need the baseplate and arm from a od quadrajet to swap on yours if you want to use it or mod the on the non od carb itself to kick down right. you could buy a summit carb and buy the arm for it for 20 bucks if you dont want to fool with the quadrajet. there edelbrock knock offs and easy to find parts for to rebuild and all that. if your carb isnt the best id sell the quad and buy a summit. quads are the best fuel mpg wise but there not easy to work on at all and something i was driving id want to be able to go to any parts store and get a part to keep it running. the edelbrocks/summit carbs arent much worse on mpg at all.

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

well you will need the baseplate and arm from a od quadrajet to swap on yours if you want to use it or mod the on the non od carb itself to kick down right. you could buy a summit carb and buy the arm for it for 20 bucks if you dont want to fool with the quadrajet. there edelbrock knock offs and easy to find parts for to rebuild and all that. if your carb isnt the best id sell the quad and buy a summit. quads are the best fuel mpg wise but there not easy to work on at all and something i was driving id want to be able to go to any parts store and get a part to keep it running. the edelbrocks/summit carbs arent much worse on mpg at all.

Okay, a friend of mine has shelfs of carbs, any brand you could think of, he says I can have one since they all need to be rebuilt.

[nekkidhillbilly]

edelbrock would be what i would want for a dd. holleys and demons are good for racing but they arent great to just drive around.

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

edelbrock would be what i would want for a dd. holleys and demons are good for racing but they arent great to just drive around.

That's what I was thinking. Okay thanks everyone! If we could move any thoughts or ideas/tips to the build thread in my signature.