6.0 Swap turns into a Full blown Restoration (many pics)

So I got bit by the 6.0 swap bug, my 383 stroker was loads of fun and would take down just about every LS truck out there. But I wanted it steet legal so the swap began.
So I got to thinking when I do the swap why dont I just paint the front part of the frame. :hyper2:
Then I get a second thought well if I do that why dont I just paint everyting under the hood.
Then it hits me since Im going to pull the entire front clip and suspension and paint all of it why dont I pull the cab and paint the frame underneath.

Well then thats where I relized mine as well call it a swap/restoration!

All of the pics take u through the process and Im into it 4 months now!!

Hopfully in another week I'll have the engine in and then the wiring fun begans.
Oh I had budgeted like 4500 well I can kiss that goodbye...:ma:

Link to my photbucket album.......

http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...view=slideshow

lots of work but in the end its probably worth it, good luck and it seems its all going quite well!!!

looks awesome i feel your pain lol... mine went from a motor tranny swap to doing por 15 on the whole front end etc. and probably next winter i will do under the cab and the rear. its never ending. What do you have for sway bars they look real nice!this is where mine was about a week ago ive since taken all the coils back out removed the control arms and its pretty much two frame rails haha. All in good fun i suppose.
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...ersx/POR15.jpg

Jeez that looks like a load of work haha, its going to be so awesome when its done though.

im glad my truck doesn't need that. it looks fairly good under frame :D

how much you think just the motor swap itsel fis gonna cost ya? I might have to drop in and check this out one day on the way to houston, Im interested in doing something similar to my 91.

Watch the ground strap on the passenger side cab and frame, it will tear you and your grinder up.

Ah, the voice of experience... :laugh:

That is allot of work but it will definitely be worth it when you open up the hood.

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Originally Posted by RedHeartbeat

Ah, the voice of experience... :laugh:

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mine broke somehow where can i get a new one at?

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Originally Posted by RedHeartbeat

Ah, the voice of experience... :laugh:

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LOL Yep, bit me on the hand and leg!

You can get one from the dealership or most parts houses have them with the batteries and cables.

wow nice job man, looks great

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Originally Posted by Sport91

how much you think just the motor swap itsel fis gonna cost ya? I might have to drop in and check this out one day on the way to houston, Im interested in doing something similar to my 91.

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Im gonna say 4500 still, I have spent almost $1200 extra on paint though..

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Originally Posted by Kros383SS

Im gonna say 4500 still, I have spent almost $1200 extra on paint though..

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what kind of paint lol....i figure mines going to be about 5g give or take

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Originally Posted by Wtfan18

what kind of paint lol....i figure mines going to be about 5g give or take

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Just went through my receipts, its more like 800. I had the firewall, inside of fenders, core suport, wheel wells painted at a paint and body shop. I did the rest.

Then I had my complete front suspension media blasted, then I wire wheeled teh frame, primed with Rustoleaum Bare metal Primer and then painted with
the rustoleum Hammered black paint. I just love the look of the hammered paint. Nice crinkle finish.......
Then the misc. supplies.

After seeing all the prep my friend did to his Alpha Romeo chassis with POR 15, following the directions to a T, its peeling and looks like junk. And hearing more people have bad experiences with it.

With my luck, I would have done POR15 and it turn out like junk too. Im glad I did the Rustoleum, later down the road if it dont hold up, then its all getting powder coated.

huh no kidding their por15 is messed huh? well if that happens here im going to kill someone cuz that **** aint cheap... my truck wont ever see a winter or salt again but still if that happens someone better watch the hell out after all the hours i got into that crap. i think im going to order new inner fender wells as mine are rusted and they are like 50$ or something for new ones. But yours is looking real good keep us posted! gota love a good ole OBS

maybe its a dumb question, but whats not street legal about a 383, or did i misread that

what are you running for sway bars they look great!

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Originally Posted by johnny4.8

maybe its a dumb question, but whats not street legal about a 383, or did i misread that

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Living in an Emissions county and going from TBI to carb with no emissions devices.
My truck would not have passed the sniffer let alone visual, especially with the Comp Cam 292 I had.

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Originally Posted by Wtfan18

what are you running for sway bars they look great!

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Man there factory, with nice paint!

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Originally Posted by Kros383SS

Man there factory, with nice paint!

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i guess maybe they look awesome. Whered you get the red bushings

Front clip back on....

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Clip/trk28.jpg




Energy Suspension and did the whole front end and rear aswell.

R u talking about the end links, dont come in the kit, u have to buy them separetly.

do you remember what size end links you used(length)? i have a 4/6 drop but that shouldnt make a difference right? the stock ones are still in there now...

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Originally Posted by Wtfan18

do you remember what size end links you used(length)? i have a 4/6 drop but that shouldnt make a difference right? the stock ones are still in there now...

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Size im not sure, they have universal ones but I got mine in a kit which came with greasable sway bar bushings.. summit racing # ens-3-5178r
r well it equals red

sweet you the man ima check it out truck looks great by the way! im thinking about color matching my core support what do ya think?

are the ones on your ball joints just the dust covers on factory ball joints?

:bow:

That is absolutely amazing!!!! Keep up the good work man. You have taken this conversion to a level where not many have ever ventured, nor could ever venture!!

Is your hydra-boost from a 2500/3500 series GM truck? Was it easy to install? Thanks Art...

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Originally Posted by Wtfan18

are the ones on your ball joints just the dust covers on factory ball joints?

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U r correct!!

[quote=Is your hydra-boost from a 2500/3500 series GM truck? Was it easy to install? Thanks Art... [/quote]

Yes its from a 98 3/4 ton trk that had a diesel. Only problem I had was the brake rod pluger, the hole was to big for my brake rod pin and I had to make a bushing.

I then just bought P/s lines for hydroboost from a 98 trk

I feel your pain on it turning into a full restoration. On the 86 I was happy with the old slow diesel and factory paint. It was a good old truck the wife and I both loved and could have kept forever. Then the diesel went and it has snowballed ever since. If I do that I might as well do this.....then I might as well do that....we have all done it.

Some update pics. Installed 5.3 heads on the 6.0, calcualated to 11 to 1 CR, I hope Im wrong.
Installed engine into truck, had to modify my factory engine mounts but it fit with a litttle BFH.

[IMG]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...ngine60001.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...ngine60002.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...ngine60003.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...ngine60011.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...ngine60010.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...ngine60009.jpg[/IMG]
The last is a friend of mine who helped and my son, which wouldnt leave my side will we were working.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...ngine60008.jpg

awesome job, your truck is going to be really nice. :luv:

Nice work. I have a question... What is a hydroboost & what are its advantages over the standard power brake booster? Thanks

hydroboost uses the power steering unit to generate braking power. If you have very low vacuum because of boost or huge cams you won't have a good vacuum source for old style braking. The only disadvantage is if the pump fails or the engine dies in an emergency situation.

i had a question i have a truck that i swapped a 6.0 lq9 into.. it has the 243-ls2/ls6 heads, comp cams, and headers... i recently got it tuned and dynoed, but i wanna put a supercharger or a turbo, how much boost can i run on it? is it safe, to boost it up a lot,, or what cuz i know the lq9 already has alot of compression?

you should be safe @ 10 psi.

One month later and I finally got the trans in!!!:jumper:

Been askn a few of my friends to help but with all our schedules and traveling 90% of the time well you know how it goes....:(

Used my 700r4 crossmember, had to drill new holes 1 1/4 inch behind the original holes.

Installed it the first time but the damn torque converter was locked on the crank spacer cause the paint on the middle of the tq converter hub.
After prying the converter off then the trans fell of the jack:ugh2::(
and wire wheel the paint off it went all back together with no problem.

Ordered my Nelson Performance harness for it...:) cant wait for that

Oh the trans will be full manual vacuum modulated..SWEET!!

Im trying to do alot before I have to go to Nigeria for 5 weeks. When I get back I might just order a STS or a Whipple for it.


http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...s/DSC01449.jpg
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http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...ns/4l80001.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...ns/4l80003.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...ns/4l80002.jpg

you discust me with your fancy brand new looking awesome truck :spit: haha your truck is going to be one of the best on this site

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Originally Posted by ChevyLee

you discust me with your fancy brand new looking awesome truck :spit: haha your truck is going to be one of the best on this site

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Sorry man, but yours is running!!!:LOL:

So what the hell happened to your eng., Ive read bits and pieces of your hell of a story!!:(