Another '68 C10 + 6.0 Swap

luckyhenriksen · 01-20-2009, 01:34 AM

So I needed a new motor for my 1968 c10. It had a 350/TH400 combo. The old motor needed rings, bearings, new cam, lifters, etc. I figured instead of spending money on the old motor that I should build the carb'd 6.0 that I have always wanted. This truck is my senior project for high school, so I am trying to keep on some kind of budget. So far the plan is:

- 2002 LQ4 out of a Denali. Has 100k when pulled
- Keep stock short block (for now)
- Swap the 317 heads for some L92's
- GMPP Carb Intake
- TH4OO
- 3500-4000 stall
- Comp Thumpr Cam
- Holley or Demon 750

Here are a few pics of my progress so far

How she sits with the Micky ET Streets out back

Pulling the old combo

And the motor I picked up from LKQ

More progress soon to come

JoeyGC5 · 01-20-2009, 08:54 AM

Damn thats a clean truck and shop

Keep up the progress My cammed 5.3 1970 Shorted is in the wiring stages now.

luckyhenriksen · 01-20-2009, 08:18 PM

Thanks. Clean shop? You mean my dirty messy garage bay

Picking up a set of L92 heads tonight.

luckyhenriksen · 01-20-2009, 09:06 PM

So I traded my 317 heads and some cash for a set of L92's, but one cylinder dropped a valve. The motor was out of a 2007 Escalade with 7k on it. The whole motor was pulled under warranty. The machine shop quote to fix it is $110. While they are in the machine shop, is there anything I can have done to help increase HP? I have been told that I can mill a little off to bump up the compression, is this a good idea? And is there any porting or polishing that can be done? Oh, and do the pushrods from the 317 heads fit the L92's?

pcmcobra · 01-20-2009, 09:17 PM

ouch!

luckyhenriksen · 01-20-2009, 11:40 PM

Anyone know about the pushrods? And if I can get any work done while in the machine shop?

luckyhenriksen · 01-21-2009, 02:47 AM

Got the valley cover off

And have some more questions.

When I use the MSD box do I reuse any of the stock harness from the coil packs?

And I have two flexplates, one from my motor and another from the 2007 caddy motor. They seem to be exactly the same, is one better?

And I have a couple coats of paint on the valve covers now, and also on the valley pan.

jfg455 · 01-21-2009, 08:36 AM

MSD box will come with all the harnesses you will need. nice truck.

luckyhenriksen · 01-21-2009, 10:30 AM

Thanks man. Im glad, the old harness looks junky

luckyhenriksen · 01-21-2009, 07:32 PM

Anyone know if I can use the pushrods?

JoeyGC5 · 01-22-2009, 08:33 AM

You should be able to use the pushrods, but with that valve damage a new set might be a better bet. Also might want to inspect the rockers thoroughly for damage also.

MeanYellowZ · 01-22-2009, 08:46 AM

On the setups I have done with the MSD you still use your coil harness to each individual coil from the white square plug.

Truck is gonna be nice! good job

luckyhenriksen · 01-22-2009, 10:48 AM

Thanks YellowZ, and th pushrods are out of my motor, which has no damage. I will check the rockers though. Anyone know how much I can have milled off my L92's to get 60cc chambers?

digitalsolo · 01-22-2009, 11:05 AM

A few things.

1. You said the heads dropped a valve? Sounds like a good time to get some lighter SS valves in there, the stockers in the L92 heads are HEAVY.

2. Get some good valvesprings, with anything bigger than a stock cam I wouldn't trust the stock valve springs on those heavy valves. If you're going to stainless valves it's not AS critical, but personally I'd do it anyway.

3. I'd upgrade to a set of hardened pushrods, with the aftermarket cam. Are you an automatic? The stockers can be nice with a 6 speed if you miss a shift, as they take the abuse. With an auto it shouldn't matter.

4. Put in a new timing chain when you do it. The LS2+ timing chain is a pretty stout piece, and I believe it's part number has supplanted the LS1/LS6 style pump in the parts list from GM.

5. Ported/shimmed oil pump. If you have the motor out, I'd put a new oil pump in, just to be safe. Ported/shimmed doesn't cost much more and every little bit helps.

Beyond that, nice truck, looks great!

luckyhenriksen · 01-22-2009, 09:30 PM

Thanks for the tips digitalsolo- that is the kind of thing I am looking for. I have really wanted to stick a set of 918's in there, but I am on a budget and have to find a cheap used set first. I want to do a new oil pump and the BRP girdle for it but don't want to break open the pan, the new gaskets are spendy! I am trying to decide how far I want to go with the heads while they are in the machine shop, I don't have lots of money to throw at it.

luckyhenriksen · 01-23-2009, 07:07 PM

Anyone know where I can get a valve for my L92 head? The machine shop can't find one and say they are too busy to find one.

JoeyGC5 · 01-25-2009, 01:15 PM

http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...tart&catid=873

These guys always seem to be helpful to me.

02BLKWS6MD · 01-25-2009, 03:01 PM

since you have the heads at the machine shop and you want a little more power see if they can port and polish the heads. Put some better valve springs and retasiners on them and some better valves.

A_VAS · 01-25-2009, 08:41 PM

how much cam you gonna run? Cheap valve springs are the yellow Z06 set....a new set you can buy from Lingenfelter for around $65. If you want to run a big cam though they won't do.

A take out cam from a LS7 vette would be cheap, and the stock valve springs from that motor would be cheap too if you find takeouts. This is somewhere around 211/230 duration if I recall. You would need an extension harness and LS2 style front cover for the cam sensor.....

luckyhenriksen · 01-25-2009, 11:26 PM

These are my specs