I've got a 1989 Cheverolet K1500 pickup, it currently has a .30 over bored Tuned Port 350 from an 87 Iroc Z Camaro. I would like to do an LS swap, possibly a 6.0, Could anyone tell me how much trouble I'd be getting into with this conversion?
Printable View
I've got a 1989 Cheverolet K1500 pickup, it currently has a .30 over bored Tuned Port 350 from an 87 Iroc Z Camaro. I would like to do an LS swap, possibly a 6.0, Could anyone tell me how much trouble I'd be getting into with this conversion?
Really? 72 views and not a soul what im getting into here?
read thru the "sticky's". they should have most the info you need.
very common swap. after reading all the threads on this site i'm currently doing an LS1 swap into my truck.
hey welcome! i would read over the obs to lsx swap thread about 30 times lol. then as you go along just follow the steps in order. im doing my swap right now.im doing it with basic tools and all by myself in my back yard. im not by any means a master mechanic. check out my build thread. should give you a gauge for how much work is involved. as far as cost im in about 1500 bucks so far so def a budget build.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chevrolac89
Thanks RPM what are you swapping into? Sorry not familiar with forums, this is my first haha. Thanks for the info Myzterray, my profile pic is the swap truck. I know this sounds a little cheapish but im going for most bang for the buck here. 4.10 gears already but need to build rear dif. Know any ballpark prices as far as a 5.7-6.04l60e?
well i paid 500 for my 5.3 complete from craigslist. only thing i didnt get was the pedal and the pcm. my engine came from a 2004 avalanche which had a little over 29k. im using my orig trans whicjh is a 4l60e. thats the going rate for a 5.3 i ve seen 400-800 complete. and a 6.0 800-1500. just really depends on whats available. keep searching and im pretty sure you will come across some great deals. you will definately get more bangt for your buck with this swap. most expensive part will probably be thr wiring. i did mine myself to save to cash. heres a breakdown from memory of my budget so farQuote:
Originally Posted by Chevrolac89
5.3 500
longtubes 250
coolant and oil pressue adapters $50
corvette filter 50
flywheel spacer 50
motor mount adapters $30 (piece of shit ebay mounts didnt work)
new mounts $100
misc clamps bolts paint etc $200
new carpet and sound deadening $300
thats from memory. still not finished maybe another $1000 worth of stuff to order then i should be good to go.
yours had a 4l60e stock, mines a 700r4 any change in brackets? not bad price though, saying roughly 3-4k? parts and stuff, will be installed by me so no labor fees or any of that.
mines a bagged 96 fullsize, http://www.ls1truck.com/forums/my-ga...t-gondown.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by Chevrolac89
if you have time & patience, do LOTS of research & shop around for parts. craigslist is a great place to find motors, at least around here, just have to have cash when deals pop up.
mounting your 700r4 is possible but i'm not sure exactly what you need. i bought my motor & trans together so no worrying about that.
well i can guarantee that the 700r4 WILL NOT hold up under the power haha, its barely together with the TPI thats in it right now. Main reason im doing it anyway is because rear mains leaking had a little love tap with an exhaust valve and piston, burning probably more oil than gas, and well i want MORE POWER but i want it to actually hold together.
yea i have a 96 tahoe. mine was the older 4l60e so it did require some modification in order to work. not too sure about the 700r4 and how it would hook up but im pretty sure someone on here has done it and can help. you could probably do this swap with the bare minimal for less than 2k. i did alot of extras, long tubes, re did carpet, cleaned up engine bay, etc. and you will save a boat load of money doing the labor yourself. ive seen ads on craigslist where people charge 1500 to 2500 for labor for this swap.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chevrolac89
You my friend are GREAT help haha. Im thinking about while its down get it repainted, sandblast the frame, etc. like carpet seats and you name it. I will have about 5 as a limit. Are you going with the truck intake or ls6 or what?
yea no prob man. i know how u feel with all the veiws and no one was responding lol. just give it time and someone will usually chime in. if i had the space i would have took the body off the frame and redid the frame and everything. right now im keeping the truck pretty much stock. this is my first ls motor so i want to start from the base then see how much of a difference each mod will make. so far im just running the long tubes and a tune. i have my efans but im not going to put them on just yet. future mods will be cam, under drive pulleys, maybe a ls6 intake and probably some head work. ill probably pick up a pair of used heads and get them done. that way i dont lose any major downtime. eventually ill try to find a 80e trans. 5k is a great budget especially if ur mechanically inclined. you could pretty much have you a brand new truck. good luck bud! keep your thread updated as you go along.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chevrolac89
I appreciate all of the support man and along with reading the thread. I didn't even expect to get a true response. I saw your thread earlier today, looking fantastic man, what all are you lacking on being finished? I want to have a really clean install (least wires and everything) I wanna do heads cam long tubes while it's out. Not sure I'm kinda on the young side haha. My dad and I will most likely be doing it, gonna test out the new heated and air conditioned shop. Getting his BMW for grad so that will be the daily driver until then.
i still have to finish my harness. i bought another one last night however it doesn't have the controls for the trans. it was hooked up to a 700r4 trans. so i have to transfer the plugs. also because it was a 6.0 harness i need to change the oxygen sensor plugs as well. once i get the harness finished gotta get a starter, air intake, and exhaust done. still gotta buy the fluids and thats about it. home stretch now. oh yea i gotta find someone to modify the gas pedal for me as well since im switching over to the dbw system. how old are you? im 25 and this is the most ive done on any of my vehicles by far. my old man doesnt know the difference between a starter and a seatbelt so that cool you have that support.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chevrolac89
ThisQuote:
Originally Posted by myzterray
Also $5000 is a good budget, mine should be done for a little over $3000 and I bought my wiring harness
I'm only 17 so its a little bonding time for us gonna be pretty time consuming I figure.
sheesh when i was 17 i wish i was swapping motors...thats awesome tho bud! yea ill be in vegas from friday til wednesday so ill have to hold off on the truck til i get back. hopefully all my packages come in.
Haha well I've been around cars and stuff since I was about 2 or well as long as I can remember. Dad and I actually built the engine thats in the truck and installed it. It's lasted quite a while under his and well my heavy foot. I just feel its hit a downward slide as far as internals, it's been put through ALOT! Haha
oh ok..cool...well i think you will be happy with the ls swap. i actually got to drive a ls swapped c10 truck yesterday and it was awesome. guy had a 86 c10 with a all stock 5.3 and 4l60e. only thing it had was a tune. it ran like a bat out of hell. super smooth and sounded great with dual magnaflows.
thats awesome man. im thinking 6.0 4l60e beefed, gotta beef up rear end too, some kind of killer cam, and ive been looking at gtos with a spintech exhaust. it just sounds NASTY but i havent done any research in that department.
oh yea that thing is going to haul.time and budget didnt allow for 6.0. cheapest i had found in my area when i had the cash was 1100 for just a long block. so i decided to pick up the 5.3 for 500 complete. plus i heard alot of people have the 5.3 and are very happy. this truck will be dd so i wanna get the best mileage possibleQuote:
Originally Posted by Chevrolac89
yeah i can understand the mileage part, i get about 10 now:/ but my Uncle has a 5.3 bored to a 5.7 with a custom ground cam from i wanna say.... Eddie Lane over here in North Huntsville. Apparently Eddie knows his stuff its a meeeeaaaann machine. He does LS kits for rx7, s2000.. etc. Gonna see what i can get as far as deal wise. All im looking for is a STOOOOPIID fast truck, maybe a sleeper who knows.
Dood...Spintechs are allsome. Get some fo shoQuote:
Originally Posted by Chevrolac89
Haha, its either gonna be a complete sleeper or a MONSTER! Thanks for the info Silverado_Lover