My LSx/4L65e Swap on my '69 C10 SWB
08-24-2008, 12:11 PM
#1
My LSx/4L65e Swap on my '69 C10 SWB Hey guys, I've owned my '69 C10 for a few months now. I traded a good buddy for it straight acrossed for a 1974 K5 I had. Although my K5 was in alittle better shape, I've always wanted a '67-'72 C10.
After getting it home it was clear that it had some issues (which I was warned about). The biggest one ended up being a flat cam lobe.
After tossing a few ideas around I decided to bite the bullet and swing for an LSx swap. A local wreaking yard had a 5.3 with 37k miles on the clock from a rolled 2004 Escalade for $700 and it included everything (PCM, harness, gas pedal, etc). Later I scored a 4L65e from a wreaked 2004 GTO with 13k on the clock from LKQ for $800.
I sent off the harness and PCM to Wait4Me Performance to convert the harness for stand alone operation and edit/tune the PCM for removal of the various smog/emissions stuff and the VATS. They also included a performance 'canned' tune for the PCM. I should have it all back by the middle of the week.
I also sprung for Hedman long tube headers (Torque-Step) intended for a '98-'02 F-Body . I am having to modify the headers with a few dings with a hammer and grinding the frame a bit to make them work.
In the meanwhile I also bought a complete front clip from a '67 C10, Walbro 255 inline fuel pump, Corvette filter/regulator, frame-rail style tranny cooler, '71-'72 power booster, Brothers tubular engine stands, GMC Paul's tranny cross-member, Trans-Adapt LSx motor mount adapters, rear roll pan, front 3" drop springs, Slam RE7 (rear) bags, nitro-drop shocks, ECE adjustable track bar, second row Tahoe leather 60/40 split bench seat, and few other odd and ends.
Today I installed the engine and tranny with the new tubular engine stands and the new tranny cross-member. It all went fairly well, no major snags except the headers (which I expected). A buddy is making some changes to the headers, including cutting off the smog/AIR injection tubes and welding them shut.
Sometime this week I am modifying a rear coolant plug to accept a electric sender for an Auto Meter water temp gauge. I am also drilling and tapping a oil block off plug to accept a manual oil pressure sender.
Among others things, I have to mount the gas pedal, install the electric fuel pump as close to the stock tank as possible, install a return line in the stock pickup, run a return line from the Corvette filter/regulator (after installing it), run a fuel line from the end of stock fuel line to the fuel rail, install/plumb the frame-rail mounted tranny cooler, and of course install the re-worked harness and PCM.
Later I'll swap to the '67 front clip, change the various suspension stuff, and hopefully I'll have the funds to ditch the 'Dukes of Hazzard' rims (AR Vector) in favor of some 20's pieces.
Updates as they follow......
Thanks guys!!
After getting it home it was clear that it had some issues (which I was warned about). The biggest one ended up being a flat cam lobe.
After tossing a few ideas around I decided to bite the bullet and swing for an LSx swap. A local wreaking yard had a 5.3 with 37k miles on the clock from a rolled 2004 Escalade for $700 and it included everything (PCM, harness, gas pedal, etc). Later I scored a 4L65e from a wreaked 2004 GTO with 13k on the clock from LKQ for $800.
I sent off the harness and PCM to Wait4Me Performance to convert the harness for stand alone operation and edit/tune the PCM for removal of the various smog/emissions stuff and the VATS. They also included a performance 'canned' tune for the PCM. I should have it all back by the middle of the week.
I also sprung for Hedman long tube headers (Torque-Step) intended for a '98-'02 F-Body . I am having to modify the headers with a few dings with a hammer and grinding the frame a bit to make them work.
In the meanwhile I also bought a complete front clip from a '67 C10, Walbro 255 inline fuel pump, Corvette filter/regulator, frame-rail style tranny cooler, '71-'72 power booster, Brothers tubular engine stands, GMC Paul's tranny cross-member, Trans-Adapt LSx motor mount adapters, rear roll pan, front 3" drop springs, Slam RE7 (rear) bags, nitro-drop shocks, ECE adjustable track bar, second row Tahoe leather 60/40 split bench seat, and few other odd and ends.
Today I installed the engine and tranny with the new tubular engine stands and the new tranny cross-member. It all went fairly well, no major snags except the headers (which I expected). A buddy is making some changes to the headers, including cutting off the smog/AIR injection tubes and welding them shut.
Sometime this week I am modifying a rear coolant plug to accept a electric sender for an Auto Meter water temp gauge. I am also drilling and tapping a oil block off plug to accept a manual oil pressure sender.
Among others things, I have to mount the gas pedal, install the electric fuel pump as close to the stock tank as possible, install a return line in the stock pickup, run a return line from the Corvette filter/regulator (after installing it), run a fuel line from the end of stock fuel line to the fuel rail, install/plumb the frame-rail mounted tranny cooler, and of course install the re-worked harness and PCM.
Later I'll swap to the '67 front clip, change the various suspension stuff, and hopefully I'll have the funds to ditch the 'Dukes of Hazzard' rims (AR Vector) in favor of some 20's pieces.
Updates as they follow......
Thanks guys!!
Last edited by Ford_Assassin; 05-03-2009 at 01:40 AM.
09-01-2008, 09:48 PM
#5
Well I got the modified PCM and harness back from Wait4Me and plugged everything back in today. Still have to mount the PCM somewhere on the driver's side, prob on the inter fender well. I also have to wire up the the harness for stand-alone operation (3 ignition switched and 1 constant 12 volt) then there is the fuel pump and relay still to do.....
Last edited by Ford_Assassin; 09-01-2008 at 09:57 PM.
09-01-2008, 10:07 PM
#7
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my old man use to have a 71 C10 350/350 and i loved that truck too bad the minnesota winters and salt pretty much ate it away
very cool build, i plan to do something very similar someday when funds are much more sufficient
very cool build, i plan to do something very similar someday when funds are much more sufficient
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12-09-2008, 11:06 PM
#10
No, but it really doesn't matter because they weren't going to work without modifying them.
I bought a set of '98-'99 F-Body exhaust manifolds and they clear my frame just fine. The stock truck manifolds hit the frame, especially on the driver's side.
I bought a set of '98-'99 F-Body exhaust manifolds and they clear my frame just fine. The stock truck manifolds hit the frame, especially on the driver's side.
Last edited by Ford_Assassin; 01-20-2009 at 07:05 PM.
01-18-2009, 07:54 PM
#12
Okay guys, time for an update.
The swap is 99% complete. I ran into some harness issues with the DBW setup, but everything is fine now.
I ended up using the F-Body headers afterall. I had to notch the frame on the passenger side, trim the lower control arm on the drivers side, and move the collector extension on the drivers side to make them fit, but they do fit now. I will still need to plug the passenger side o2 bung and add another else where due to the frame being in the way.
I still have to get the factory column shifter setup, I can't use the stock type column shifter rod because the headers are in the way. Lucky for me Lokar has an adjustable column linkage setup that I just ordered from Summit.
Next weekend I'll be trying to mockup some kind of exhaust to make it at least alittle street able.
More updates soon guys.
The swap is 99% complete. I ran into some harness issues with the DBW setup, but everything is fine now.
I ended up using the F-Body headers afterall. I had to notch the frame on the passenger side, trim the lower control arm on the drivers side, and move the collector extension on the drivers side to make them fit, but they do fit now. I will still need to plug the passenger side o2 bung and add another else where due to the frame being in the way.
I still have to get the factory column shifter setup, I can't use the stock type column shifter rod because the headers are in the way. Lucky for me Lokar has an adjustable column linkage setup that I just ordered from Summit.
Next weekend I'll be trying to mockup some kind of exhaust to make it at least alittle street able.
More updates soon guys.
Last edited by Ford_Assassin; 01-19-2009 at 11:29 PM.
01-19-2009, 11:34 PM
#14
I do, but they are in my phone and my uplink cord is missing.....
Besides the truck isn't much to look at anyway. I've already swapped to my '67 front end and redone the entire front suspension. Its pretty straight, but its about 3 different factory colors that have been covered by at least 3 colors of primer. That's what happens when you piece a truck together from various years....
Besides the truck isn't much to look at anyway. I've already swapped to my '67 front end and redone the entire front suspension. Its pretty straight, but its about 3 different factory colors that have been covered by at least 3 colors of primer. That's what happens when you piece a truck together from various years....
01-20-2009, 06:07 AM
#15
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love this body style truck, i had a 69 c/10 and a 71 Cheyenne loaded out...wish i never got rid of these. i think your going to have a great comb there, we are looking at doing a buddy of mines with an ls1/th 350 in his 67 bagged truck,he has the motor, now he just has to make up his mind on what to do. keep us updated on the build....good luck with it.
01-20-2009, 07:25 PM
#16
I bagged mine all the way around, mainly for the ride not to drop the ***. I would really like to make this a pro-touring truck, if there is such a thing....
Luckily I know how to do most of these things myself. It really helps keeping the cost of my projects down. But compared to shoe-horning a big block Chevy 454 into my Datsun Z car this swap was easy, although not nearly as unique.
The truck is very likely to remain in suede for a few years. Mostly due to the fact that the cab needs corners, rocker panels, and one floor patch. Body work is something I do not enjoy and will enlist a few friends in that phase. I have a rear roll pan, marker fill patches, and bed stake hole patches that will get installed along the way prior to years waiting for paint.
I will start fixing the interior up mixing classic original with modern upgrades. Of course a carpet kit will be in order, but using modern plush velour or tweed. I'll be keeping analog gauges, but I plan on replacing the factory gauges with Auto Meter pieces. Then the factory column w/shifter will be getting a nice paint job and a billet aluminum dress-up kit. The seat is a second row unit from a 2002 Escalade (gray leather). Lastly for the interior I'll be hiding the CD/MP3 player in the glove compartment due to my factory original uncut dash.
Luckily I know how to do most of these things myself. It really helps keeping the cost of my projects down. But compared to shoe-horning a big block Chevy 454 into my Datsun Z car this swap was easy, although not nearly as unique.
The truck is very likely to remain in suede for a few years. Mostly due to the fact that the cab needs corners, rocker panels, and one floor patch. Body work is something I do not enjoy and will enlist a few friends in that phase. I have a rear roll pan, marker fill patches, and bed stake hole patches that will get installed along the way prior to years waiting for paint.
I will start fixing the interior up mixing classic original with modern upgrades. Of course a carpet kit will be in order, but using modern plush velour or tweed. I'll be keeping analog gauges, but I plan on replacing the factory gauges with Auto Meter pieces. Then the factory column w/shifter will be getting a nice paint job and a billet aluminum dress-up kit. The seat is a second row unit from a 2002 Escalade (gray leather). Lastly for the interior I'll be hiding the CD/MP3 player in the glove compartment due to my factory original uncut dash.
Last edited by Ford_Assassin; 12-16-2009 at 06:23 PM.
01-21-2009, 10:44 AM
#18
TECH Enthusiast
Noooo don't ditch the Torque Thrust wheels from the 70's they are great.
Gotta admit though they make that Charger look sexy, well maybe that was Daisy...hmmmm
But seriously I love those darn wheels, are they easy to come by?
Gotta admit though they make that Charger look sexy, well maybe that was Daisy...hmmmmBut seriously I love those darn wheels, are they easy to come by?
01-27-2009, 01:36 PM
#20
Update 12/16/2009....
Got bored, pulled the motor and trans out. Sold the truck as a roller. Bought another Datsun Z. Bought a 6.0 LQ4 long block, cammed it, threw the LM7 harness and injection on it, bolted it to the 4L60e and tossed it into my new Z.
Got bored, pulled the motor and trans out. Sold the truck as a roller. Bought another Datsun Z. Bought a 6.0 LQ4 long block, cammed it, threw the LM7 harness and injection on it, bolted it to the 4L60e and tossed it into my new Z.
Last edited by Ford_Assassin; 12-16-2009 at 06:24 PM.