New Member here, 83 C10 5.3/4l60e Full Build Thread (ongoing)

So heres progress in order of my project, first picture is what it started out as, and how it came to be. Enjoy!

Very first time ive ever pulled an engine or anything, first project ive ever taken on. I am a 22year old from Canada, with big dreams!
I am very close to completion and have only started this whole swap roughly 2nd Week of November 2014, and on a a low buck budget (those dont exist by the way) I am currently including price of me selling old engine and parts from truck and the initial $900 into it, and all the parts am roughly $4450 into the entire build (canadian money... or I guess monopoly money to you americans haha)

Any questions just ask.
Here is my Story!

Started out with me purchasing a 1975 Chrysler Newport at beginning of summer for $900. had a 400 Big Block and tons of power. but just didnt have that wow factor for me.. so at end of summer (2014) I found a guy who wanted the car and offered me his 83 C10 with 166,000 original kilometers on it and $400 cash for my car. so I took it!.

This is a story of what happens when you give me a Square body and I find a low mileage LS for cheap!

ENJOY!

this was day 2.

day 4 or 5, got transmission back from trans shop, and while waiting I tore engine apart put new gaskets and seals in, and cleaned up the frame a bit

couple weeks in, made big progress, got motor and trans put together, when i got trans back i had the shop rebuild it and add corvette servos and beef up the pump, factory stall converter for now.

got tuned ecu from a friend in the states, and headers the same day. put headers on later that evening

fuel tank kit came from rock auto (1987 EFI tank) with airtex 90 psi 98 Silverado fuel pump, and had to modify the factory shift rods to work with 4l60e, so took a shifter linkage bracket from a th400, cut the tab off and she worked flawlessly. got the headers to fit with minor modification, and by modification i mean hammering the 2nd tube on the drivers side to clear the frame ever so "gently". got it to fit. and got that all hooked up. trans and engine in truck and bolted to factory 700r4 cross member. drive shaft is stock but i ordered a longer slip yoke for it for that added length.

got the fuel line which is -6 braided and all the fittings in now, so i decided to add the ends cut to length and plumb it all, fit like a glove with minimal effort.

and as of today Feb 03/2015, All I have left to do is hook up, tranny cooler and lines, figure the wiring out, I ordered a custom harness from S&S Performance which just arrived last night, and put fluids in the damn thing! I am excited and will keep you all updated!

Any questions feel free to ask, I am sure i missed A TON of stuff. first time using a Forum so bare with me!

A lot of info and pics. Thx for post

nice little project you got going!! thanks for sharing

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skeet

nice little project you got going!! thanks for sharing

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Thank You!, Had some money in the budget and decided to give it a shot!

Right on man, sub'd for the grand finale!!

Thanks!

Heres todays update.
Started wiring in the harness, so everything is a HUGE mess right now, but will get cleaned up when done.
Had to change the alternator I had a new style alternator, now normally i would've just changed the plug but couldnt find JUST the plug up where I am.
also got the wrong o2 sensors. Got LS1 style o2 sensors when i need truck style ones.
aside from that she is almost ready to start. I am not the best with wiring, so my buddy who is an expert with wiring is coming on sunday and we will get the truck running (I hope). here have some complimentary pictures.

So I decided to try out some wiring to figure out the old ones, and for anyone wondering.

1. Pinkish/Purplish looking wire (old wire) Is for the trucks Ignition source, that goes to the solenoid on the starter.
2. The Factory spliced together pair of red wires, goes to the Positive post on the battery terminal.
3. The lonesome little red wire goes to the alternator.

And thats the bare necessities to pairing the 83 Truck wiring (probably the same from 80-87) to the new equipment

Couldn't resist showing it off, my 2000 GMC Sierra, I got side tracked last night and bought some 24" wheels my father used to own 12 years ago, had to track them down and buy em back.
Also lastnight I put my billet grill and my Denali headlights into the sierra.
Got new rubber put on today while heading to my shop to work on the 83'

I should be ready to fire by sunday also!! Although, unfortunately I am the only wiring expert I know right now. If you have a nice daily to drive around, why not punch out the C10? Put some twins on it, body drop, air ride, and call it a day? See, there is a ton of work I want to do to my truck but it's my only ride for right now. So I'm bumming rides until this swap is complete. Good work though, you're almost there!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blasphemy

I should be ready to fire by sunday also!! Although, unfortunately I am the only wiring expert I know right now. If you have a nice daily to drive around, why not punch out the C10? Put some twins on it, body drop, air ride, and call it a day? See, there is a ton of work I want to do to my truck but it's my only ride for right now. So I'm bumming rides until this swap is complete. Good work though, you're almost there!!

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I'd love to, Air Ride is the plan, but aside from that just a stock truck with a stock body, may end up with a centrifugal blower by end of summer, but don't want anything crazy. plus machine work in canada. is through the roof.

hey so its been about a month since ive last posted, my progress update.
I am done the swap! wiring was being a pain in the neck, but all in all got it done, no picture however have some video if i figure out how to post it!

heres the video of it running

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBFE...ature=youtu.be

Great project.

I am doing a 1984 K1500 with 2002 5.3L as well.

Can you post which headers you used? Link if available would be great

Part numbers on the "fuel tank kit came from rock auto (1987 EFI tank) with airtex 90 psi 98 Silverado fuel pump" ?

did you use your existing tank or get a new one?

Are you a single tank or a dual tank? If dual, how did you handle that?

And fuel level to original fuel gauge, how did you handle that?

thanks

Well, with my own research (Doh!) I found:

20 gallon Fuel tank Dorman 576-336 $93
Airtex E3947M, $118

My 1984 has dual tanks. Pondering on how to utilize the second tank, maybe as an auxiliary and use a transfer pump to move the fuel to the primary.

As I understand the fuel level is a 40-240 ohm, while the 1984 is a 0-90 ohm. Still researching that

thanks for the thread, it gives me options

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dougbert

Well, with my own research (Doh!) I found:

20 gallon Fuel tank Dorman 576-336 $93
Airtex E3947M, $118

My 1984 has dual tanks. Pondering on how to utilize the second tank, maybe as an auxiliary and use a transfer pump to move the fuel to the primary.

As I understand the fuel level is a 40-240 ohm, while the 1984 is a 0-90 ohm. Still researching that

thanks for the thread, it gives me options

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Hey! sorry just getting back to you, been busy.
I had dual saddle tanks 16 gal each. went with a single 20gal on drivers side.
for the fuel level i havent figured that out yet. i went with a gauge cluster from a 1991 suburban (all electronic) so once i figure out the pinouts and wiring etc with that, then i can wire the gauges in.