Some background first. I purchased syclone 1060 back in March of this year. When i first got the trck i really wanted to do a 6 speed swap because i really like 6 speeds. I soon realized that i wanted to make the truck really fast in a staight line and a 6 speed is not going to do that. Then i wanted to do vortec heads and a big turbo but didnt want to drop $2500 on a build 700r4. So i said i would do a 4L80E. Until i did some research and realized how big of a rip off it is to do that swap.

Now to the present. My goal at the end has always been to run i the 10's. I didnt care how i got there, but i wanted to keep it streetable for daily use. So having LS powered cars before i decided that that was the best choice for speed and reliability. After alot of research i made a game plan.

-LQ4/4L80E
-tc78 turbnetics turbo
-60lb injectors
-front mount intercooler
-2bar speed density tune
-arp rod bolts
-custom made headers by me
-modified stock oil pan by me
-motor/trans mounts by me
-3600 stall converter
-custom build wiring harness by me

I will be keeping a complete log of every dime i spend. I am going to prove that you make a syty reliable and super fast without dropping 15k. I will be doing everything myself except for the tune. I will make everything that i can and buy only what i have too. There is alot to buy so i will list it as i get it. right now i am shooting for 550whp. I will see how far that gets me at the track and go from there.

Here are some rules i am going to stick to. Keep A/C. Keep AWD. Do this as cheap as possible but do not compromise on safety. Run in the 10's and drive home on pump gas.

Here is the truck

And now to start the build thread.

Got to stop all that power so i got C5 brakes all around. $275


And got this. 01 LQ4 and 04 4L80E. $1610


build total $1885
__________________

 

i then took the motor down a bit to clean things up and put it back together alittle




i bought bolt for the engine stand $2

build total $1887

 

started to modify the oil pan and pickup



bought 32 spline input shaft, shift cable, and bracket $622

build total $2509

 

had surgery, got some stuff taken out
before

after


bought motron 60lb injectors $300

build total $2809

 

decided to get a cam so brought the motor back down alittle.


bought 04 ls6 cam, springs, pushrods, 5k miles $100
walbro fuel pump $115
2bar map $50

build total $3074

 

i started collecting parts on 11/08/08. just 3 days ago. had the surgery yesterday. i work full time and go to school so i dont know how long the swap will take. a huge thanks to ls1_chevelle for all the inspiration. he has one bad *** car, alot of my build will be like his.

 

Is there a big length difference in the 4l80 and the factory 700r4?

 

a built 700r4 is about as strong as a stock 4l80e. the 700r4 can barley handle the stock turbo v6

 

is it done yet?

 

Looks like an NCB plate...?

What happened?

 

just waiting on some oil line fittings

ready to pull the motor/trans this weekend?

broke my wrist in march. i went over the bars on my mountain bike and landed on my arm. i was on the smallest jump ever.

worked on the pan some more

 

The 80E is around 3" to 3.5" longer. And a fair bit bigger in girth & heft. It certainly is no flyweight race trans.

'JustDreamin'

 

Don't you think the oil will eventually soak through the cardboard???







j/k man.....cool build....and the 65 GMC looks cool too!

 

Very cool! I have been wanting to do a Gen III/IV swap into a SY/TY and keep AWD.

How are you going about keeping the AWD? I'm going to ask some dumb questions cause I'm not looking at a TY now. Are you going to use the T-case that was in the truck or is the 4L80E have one that came with it? or is it built into the trans?

Also what all does it take for that Vett brake swap, is it just a bolt on with a different bracket? If so where do you get that? I'm trying to remember are those truck rear disc and do you have the vett setup out back too?

 

Why didn't you just build the 4.3 and upgrade the turbo? Or did I miss that part. I'd love to do a 6 speed cyclone.

 

to keep the awd i have to put a huge notch in the oilpan and spend a ton of money to mate the stock sy t-case to the 4l80e. $450 for a new 32 spline t-case input, $130 for a new shifter cable and bracket, and $200 for the adapter for the t-case to bolt to the trans.
for the brakes you can buy bolton brackets. im going to make my own though.

 

Hmm, Why not just use the T case from the 4L80E save the trouble of mating everything like that. Then its just a matter of getting some drive shafts made witch you need to have made anyways right?

Not downing your approach just trying to learn different options here.

 

the t-case from the 4l80e is a 4wd t-case that is like twice the size of the stock sy one. its also not made to be in 4wd at 130+

 

What about something more like the AWD setups in the GM SUV's and trucks. They are full time AWD. I just dont know if the SY T case is up to the task here.

 

the stock t-cases are known to be good into the 8's