my first ls swap 1996 2 door Tahoe 4wd 385 Stroker to LQ4 cam headers **pics**

ok so i picked up a couple supplies from home depot last night to help me with the clean up of the frame firewall and fenders etc. i started of with a wire brush but i was getting no where. so i decided to slap on the wire brush attachment onto my angle grinder and went to work..

before:
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/.../teardown7.jpg

after
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0368.jpg

still got some work to do on this side but i was running out of light
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0367.jpg

http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0366.jpg

http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0365.jpg

http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0364.jpg

i even sanded and painted the fire wall and cleaned up the harness a little.

http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0363.jpg

so thats all for today. wednesday ill probably finish cleaning up the frame and the firewall. then next up is the wheel wells. i like the way the flat black paint looks on there so i might go ahead and leave everything flat black and put gloss black on the engine

Lookin good bu keep up the work!

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Originally Posted by Minime168

Lookin good bu keep up the work!

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thanks! im trying to do something everyday so i can feel like im progressing.

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Originally Posted by myzterray

thanks! im trying to do something everyday so i can feel like im progressing.

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know the feeling, i left our olds alone for a month or so, and just felt wrong, but it was just way to hot to be out there (110 degrees, and laying on the drive way, or sanding, it feels twice as hot...)

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Originally Posted by smithkid1996

know the feeling, i left our olds alone for a month or so, and just felt wrong, but it was just way to hot to be out there (110 degrees, and laying on the drive way, or sanding, it feels twice as hot...)

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yea thats crazy. it never gets that hot out here in long beach Ca.

got home a little late today so i didnt get to do much. i decided to start on the wheel wells. im a novice at painting so please forgive me LOL:sigh:

heres what i started with..
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0372.jpg

then i washed it down with soap hot water and a scouring pan. sanded down with 320 grit. then wet sand with 600 and primered. (again...im a novice...saw a post where someone else did this to paint something) heres hot it turned out
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0371.jpg

and heres another shot
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0370.jpg

my makeshift paint booth was the laundry room at my house. tommorow ill lay some paint...still deciding where i want to go gloss or flat black on the inner wheel well...im thinking flat..

Inner is going to get scuffed to hell anyway man. Just do whatever you feel like because it'll be trashed soon.

Maybe try some spray can bed liner or rubberized undercoating for the inner fenders.

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Originally Posted by low91

Maybe try some spray can bed liner or rubberized undercoating for the inner fenders.

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i was thinking about that. i think it might be way more durable.

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Originally Posted by pl4yboy

Inner is going to get scuffed to hell anyway man. Just do whatever you feel like because it'll be trashed soon.

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yea i kno. i just wanna make everything look nice and clean for now. keeping it clean will be the challenge

came home from work today and saw a little package sitting by the door. opened it up and...
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0377.jpg
my motor mount adapters came in. Found these on ebay for 29.99 not bad!

ok so everyday i try to do something to the truck to get it one step closer to being finished! today i painted one of the wheel wells and ran out of paint doing the second one. came out pretty good i think!

heres the finished one
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0378.jpg

heres the one where i ran out of paint
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0379.jpg

then i ripped out the rest of the old wiring harness
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0381.jpg

and finished as much as i could cleaning up the frame
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0383.jpg

this weekend i will get the pressure washer from my neighbor and let this thing have it. let it dry and apply some primer come sunday morning! if all goes according to plan!
Meanwhile.....

http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0386.jpg

The motor still sits in the trunk of my tahoe waiting....

Those mounts are going to make you move the transmission unless you customize them.

I like the hard hat paint that they sell at Home Depot, its like Epoxy.

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Originally Posted by RedHeartbeat

Those mounts are going to make you move the transmission unless you customize them.

I like the hard hat paint that they sell at Home Depot, its like Epoxy.

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oh that sucks. i thought they were the ones that set the engine back so i wouldnt have to do that. how do i customize them?

bolt the plates to the block, bolt the motor mount cups to the motor mounts, lower the engine into place, mark where to mount, weld the mounts to the plates, remove the engine, adapters and mounts, drill clearance holes through the mounts so you can mount the adapters to the block and then have the mounts welded to the plates. The plates should be spot welded in place when the engine is in the frame and then removed to complete the weld process.

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Originally Posted by myzterray

yea thats crazy. it never gets that hot out here in long beach Ca.

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yeah, not that hot any more, so im happy , lol. once it gets to the point its only in the 70s, i will be happy as can be. thats perfect to me.

your really getting a lot done, im impressed... so out of curiosity, are you rebuilding the 5.3, or is it allready good how it sits? how many miles?

lol, i wanted to sugest bedlinner, but didn't want to seen like an idiot, oh well. hhahahahah

also, i like your goal, to get another thing done every day. i am trying to start doing that myslelf.

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Originally Posted by RedHeartbeat

bolt the plates to the block, bolt the motor mount cups to the motor mounts, lower the engine into place, mark where to mount, weld the mounts to the plates, remove the engine, adapters and mounts, drill clearance holes through the mounts so you can mount the adapters to the block and then have the mounts welded to the plates. The plates should be spot welded in place when the engine is in the frame and then removed to complete the weld process.

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wow sounds like a lot of work. i dont have the expertise or apparatus for a job like that. should i have paid the extra 30 and got the trans dapt? i think they just bolt right on

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Originally Posted by myzterray

wow sounds like a lot of work. i dont have the expertise or apparatus for a job like that. should i have paid the extra 30 and got the trans dapt? i think they just bolt right on

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Dirty Dingo

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Originally Posted by smithkid1996

yeah, not that hot any more, so im happy , lol. once it gets to the point its only in the 70s, i will be happy as can be. thats perfect to me.

your really getting a lot done, im impressed... so out of curiosity, are you rebuilding the 5.3, or is it allready good how it sits? how many miles?

lol, i wanted to sugest bedlinner, but didn't want to seen like an idiot, oh well. hhahahahah

also, i like your goal, to get another thing done every day. i am trying to start doing that myslelf.

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thanks. this is my first time doing this much. i usually take it to a shop or something for all this. but i love this truck so i think i will appreciate it more if i do the work myself. the 5.3 got pulled out of the avalanche with just under 20k. i will leave it as is for now except for the dbc conversion. then once i get it running ill do little modifications here and there. yea i think ill go bedliner on top of the paint. any specific brand?

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Originally Posted by pl4yboy

Dirty Dingo

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i saw those. whats the difference with mine. they look like the same shape and the holes are in the same place

I don't know man. That's just what EVERYONE uses who does this swap now.

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Originally Posted by pl4yboy

I don't know man. That's just what EVERYONE uses who does this swap now.

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ok well ill try thee and if all else fails then i know what to do

To the OP: If you are asking how to get to the "350 rwhp", I would suggest a slightly more agressive cam than what was posted in the thread I showed you. I'm sure Nelson Performance can spec you one out to get to your power goals (or many people on here as well). The thing I was trying to point out is getting to 350whp out of a 5.3L is not too difficult. CAI/LTs/Cam (the right cam)/valve springs/push rods (if needed to adjust for proper valve train geometry) and you can get there without too much hassle.

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Originally Posted by Paulster2

To the OP: If you are asking how to get to the "350 rwhp", I would suggest a slightly more agressive cam than what was posted in the thread I showed you. I'm sure Nelson Performance can spec you one out to get to your power goals (or many people on here as well). The thing I was trying to point out is getting to 350whp out of a 5.3L is not too difficult. CAI/LTs/Cam (the right cam)/valve springs/push rods (if needed to adjust for proper valve train geometry) and you can get there without too much hassle.

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yea im going with lts and cai right now. cam im going to wait til i get it running and then change the cam. ive seen alot of people running the tr224 cam. i want a street/strip combo. i want to be able to drive to the grocery store with no problems then still go to the track get soem decent time. what would be a good stall cam spring combo?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by myzterray

ok well ill try thee and if all else fails then i know what to do

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Yeah dirty dingo mounts FTW. Theyre perfect and adjustable

Quote:

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Originally Posted by myzterray

yea im going with lts and cai right now. cam im going to wait til i get it running and then change the cam. ive seen alot of people running the tr224 cam. i want a street/strip combo. i want to be able to drive to the grocery store with no problems then still go to the track get soem decent time. what would be a good stall cam spring combo?

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You looking to keep the stock stall or swap to something more fun?
Your cam choice will really be limited by your stall choice.
For Example people with a 5.3 who choose to go with a 220/220 or larger generally wish they had a better stall immediately afterwards. A 212/218 is generally a good choice on a stock stall but won't deliver the kind of power I think you are looking for.
Now if you get a 3k stall your cam options open up in a big way with some running up into the 230 duration. I think like a 224/228 .581/.581 LSA 112 would be good fun with a 3k or even better try a Cheatr cam or a custom grind speced by NP or Pat G etc...
I will say this it seems like Patriot Gold Extreme Valve springs are the favorite among everyone that I have heard from.
Your push rods shouldn't matter too much as long as they are proper hardened push rods.
Since the motor is such low mileage you can prolly leave the stock lifters and timing chain etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by myzterray

thanks. this is my first time doing this much. i usually take it to a shop or something for all this. but i love this truck so i think i will appreciate it more if i do the work myself. the 5.3 got pulled out of the avalanche with just under 20k. i will leave it as is for now except for the dbc conversion. then once i get it running ill do little modifications here and there. yea i think ill go bedliner on top of the paint. any specific brand?

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wow, 20K miles? thats nothing. no, i have no idea what bedliner is the best... not even going to pretend... LMAO

350 rwhp is def achieveable, i put down 341rwhp with a cam, mail order tune and a cai, i run a decent size cam, and now have heads and ls2 intake, on a 100 shot i put down 440rwhp at 4800 rpms had to shut down cus my stock intake collapsed and caused a nitrous backfire, idk how much i would of made so i just say 440.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kerrige

You looking to keep the stock stall or swap to something more fun?
Your cam choice will really be limited by your stall choice.
For Example people with a 5.3 who choose to go with a 220/220 or larger generally wish they had a better stall immediately afterwards. A 212/218 is generally a good choice on a stock stall but won't deliver the kind of power I think you are looking for.
Now if you get a 3k stall your cam options open up in a big way with some running up into the 230 duration. I think like a 224/228 .581/.581 LSA 112 would be good fun with a 3k or even better try a Cheatr cam or a custom grind speced by NP or Pat G etc...
I will say this it seems like Patriot Gold Extreme Valve springs are the favorite among everyone that I have heard from.
Your push rods shouldn't matter too much as long as they are proper hardened push rods.
Since the motor is such low mileage you can prolly leave the stock lifters and timing chain etc.

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i heard that if i use a 3k stall its going to kill my gas mileage. i still want this thing to have some decent mileage.

so another step closer to getting this truck going again...came home today and yet another package at my door...
my oil pressure sensor adapter and coolant temp adapter from s&p
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0389.jpg

didnt get a chance to pick up more paint today so i just decided to get to working on the new engine. began stripping it down. i removed the exhaust manifolds all the acessories, and the harness.
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0390.jpg

706 heads...someone tell me about these..are they good/bad? what can i do to them etc.
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0394.jpg

its 5.3
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0395.jpg

and heres the harness off the engine
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0396.jpg

also i realized today that i do have the dbw module so i think it may be chaper for me to go find a pedal to keep that modern touch to my build. i think it will cost less to just buy a pedal and get my harness reworked instead of buying a throttle body and getting the harness reworked and add the 2 connectors for tps and iat.

question...are there any modifications needed to put the dbw pedal in my truck or can i just bolt it in?

It's a major pita to put the DBw pedal in the truck of you don't have cutting and welding and bending equipment. Not the same by a long shot. Half the reason I ditched mine and went dbc

Edit: oh hey and I have the 706 heads too! It's like we got identical engines

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Originally Posted by Minime168

It's a major pita to put the DBw pedal in the truck of you don't have cutting and welding and bending equipment. Not the same by a long shot. Half the reason I ditched mine and went dbc

Edit: oh hey and I have the 706 heads too! It's like we got identical engines

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oh i thought i could just drilla hole in the floor and bolt it on...i tried searching for some threads where someone did this but didnt find anything. yea i got my engine from an 05 avalanche. once i get the frame painted and finished ill drop the engine in place and bolt it all up. im going to go buy a stall next week so i can bolt it up and start putting my front end back together. thats going to be the hard part there.

everyday i plan to get something done on this build. so today i got the engine out ofthe truck and started to clean it up. didnt use a hoist. just me and big red.(my 3 ton jack). i took the wheels off the back and lowered the rear to the floor and just kinda wiggled the engine out. got it on the floor and went to work.

started off masking off the heads so could paint the block.
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0400.jpg

came out pretty decent i think
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0401.jpg

Thien i decided to paint the top cover as well
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0404.jpg

did the valve covers and the vortec cover in red
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0403.jpg
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0409.jpg

painted the intake black and the coil holder things
before
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0406.jpg
after
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0411.jpg

before
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0408.jpg

after
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0412.jpg

started putting everything back together
http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0413.jpg

http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0419.jpg

http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0421.jpg

http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0419.jpg

http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/...y/IMAG0424.jpg

so i accomplished cleaning up the engine today. it was a mess too.i think the guy had it sitting in the corner somewhere for a while. tommorow i will pressue wash the fame get the last bit of dirt and then primer and paint the frame. then it will be time to drop the engine in and bolt up the trans!

Looking good man..

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Originally Posted by Mhotrodscooter

Looking good man..

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thanks alot! i would like to see the numbers your getting on mine

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Originally Posted by myzterray

thanks alot! i would like to see the numbers your getting on mine

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looks very very good bro

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Originally Posted by NoTaTurBo

looks very very good bro

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thanks! i love this site. pretty much everything im doing to my truck i learnt from this site.

Have you ever weighed it? I've always been curious to how much of a difference would their be between yours & rcsb 4wd..

Try street and sand performance for the pcm I got my harness and pcm complete from them and they can also provide and program one for ya. Those guys where lots of help so far for me. Check ebay also lots of stuff always on their. Wow wish I had your motivation to work work work. Or you where my neighbor. good luck with the build.

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Originally Posted by Mhotrodscooter

Have you ever weighed it? I've always been curious to how much of a difference would their be between yours & rcsb 4wd..

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yea this was when i had 2 huge 18 inch subs 4 amps and 26 inch rims it was a little 0ver 6200.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fmanak72

Try street and sand performance for the pcm I got my harness and pcm complete from them and they can also provide and program one for ya. Those guys where lots of help so far for me. Check ebay also lots of stuff always on their. Wow wish I had your motivation to work work work. Or you where my neighbor. good luck with the build.

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yea i ordered the adapters for oil pressure and coolant temp from those guys. they atre pretty pricey however. there a local guy who i will give me the harness i need to work with my drive by cable conversion for 450 and a member on this site is going to send me a pcm already tuned and eveything for 150. the local guy also said for an extra 300 he will wire the entire engine intergrate my stock pcm and get it running. i love reading other builds on here so i figured ill try to keep mine pretty interesting. once i get the frame done im going to bolt the engine up and put the front end back together.