5.3 into and 86 4x4 C10

[Paulster2]

I have to say, that is a really clean looking install, at least from the pictures. Nice looking truck! My son has an 86 3/4T 4x4 which we have considered doing swap into. It has the SM465/NP208 combo behind a 350 right now. I'd bet dropping the entire NBS/NNBS drivetrain into it would have to be easier than trying to mate a 5.3/6.0 to the SM465. It's bad enough to get the 350 mated to it! Anyway, just had to comment ... and kudos on the plate. I used to enjoy that show a lot! Lee Majors was the man (Six Million Dollar Man, that is ).

[Kansas T]

I have to say, that is a really clean looking install, at least from the pictures. Nice looking truck! My son has an 86 3/4T 4x4 which we have considered doing swap into. It has the SM465/NP208 combo behind a 350 right now. I'd bet dropping the entire NBS/NNBS drivetrain into it would have to be easier than trying to mate a 5.3/6.0 to the SM465. It's bad enough to get the 350 mated to it! Anyway, just had to comment ... and kudos on the plate. I used to enjoy that show a lot! Lee Majors was the man (Six Million Dollar Man, that is ).

Thanks. The goal was to do a very clean swap so there are no issues down the road. When you do your swap, keep in mind that the front driveshaft runs down the drivers side on the newer trucks. I decided to use the exsisting transmission so I wouldnt have to find a different transfer case adapter.

[stevebbc]

Kansas T, what accelerator cable did you use?

[Kansas T]

Its a stock cable for a 2000 silverado. I had to bend the gas pedal out about 1.5 inches so it would pull the throttle body open all the way.

[stevebbc]

Its a stock cable for a 2000 silverado. I had to bend the gas pedal out about 1.5 inches so it would pull the throttle body open all the way.

Cool! an iroc tune port is close for the same reason, I'll check it out and bet I can bend the pedal linkage like you say. Thanks!

[myzterray]

nothing like stuffing something new into sxomething old! nice truck! how did you get the stock a/c to work?

[Kansas T]

I wired the 86 low pressure switch to the 5.3 wiring harness. The ac compressor clutch output from the factory hvac control head sends power to the pcm ac request wire and the 5.3 ecm is in control of it. I used the hose adapters from Doc's Blocks on the compressor and had custom hoses made to fit them.

[dothedew]

Looks good. Don't mind me asking, which exhaust manifolds did you use?
Any initial start up issues/ongoing issues at all?
Did you do you're own wiring?
Tank question - How did you put pumps in the tank? TBI sending unit, swapped to a different pump?
Can you switch tanks driving down the road? I would think that dead-heading a pump, even for a second or two (such as tank switching) would cause huge pressures and problems....any of that?
Sorry for the questions - midway through an 86 5.3 swap.

[Kansas T]

I used the non egr truck manifolds. I do all my own wiring. I used the original fuel senders and modified them to work with the in tank pumps. Buying the tbi sending units would have been easier, but they weren't in the budget. The aftermarket tank switching valve isn't strong enough to switch while running. It will switch the pressure side, but the return sticks. You end up returning the fuel to the wrong tank and overflowing it. You just have to switch tanks before you start it and there are no issues. The tank switch also controls the fuel pumps, so there is only one running at any given time. Dead heading the pumps for a little bit doesn't hurt anything. I did this swap for a friend of mine and he's been daily driving it since I finished it. One of the walbro pumps failed shortly after he got it, but other than that, no issues. He drives it about 60 miles a day.

[dothedew]

Thanks a lot. No clearence issues on the passenger side with those manifolds? No picture of that side/hard to tell.

When you hooked up you're fuel lines, what did you use? High pressure rubber? Nylon? Stainlesshose? I'm guessing you used the regulator built into the manifold for a dual line setup?

Are you running any sort of VSS?