Hey guys, Im just starting to plan an LSx swap into my 83 C10 lwb. I am considering installing an LQ9 4L80e. All I have now is the truck which has the stock 305.
Heres what I have come to understand so far from my research and by purchasing “How To Swap A GM LS-Series Engine, into almost anything”.
Now, I don’t know much about wiring, but I have a few people who do and are going to assist when it comes time to.
To install the motor I need the mount adapting plates. I am going to make sure I get the ECU and the wiring harness with the motor. Now to use the harness, does it get tied into the harness already in truck or does the wiring from the truck get pulled or what? I’m confused on that. Any help will be greatly appreciated and please make it a bit understandable to someone who has never wired a harness or a car. I have know of a guy in Green Cove Springs, FL (EFI Alchemy) that a few of my buddies use to do tuning.
Yes, just some adpt plates will work fine on the motor. You will either need to modify the harness yourself or send it off and have it modified or either buy a harness that is made for the engine. You will also need to send your ECU off to be reprogrammed. Most modified/new harnesses require a simple 4 wire hook-up. I think it's ignition, ground, fuel pump and battery (I think).
The drive accessories, I will just have to make fit depending on the stock arrangement on the motor and possibly any bracket adjusting I have to do, I have seen a lot of info on this, so I can figure that out easily enough I believe.
The Tranny will require me to modify the cross-member, which wont be a problem. I have seen people use the factory column shifter but could it be possible to do a floor mount shifter or will that not work with this truck/motor/tranny combo, or even worth doing?
I don't think you will have to modify your crossmember, just unbolt it and move it back to where it needs to sit, drill new holes and bolt it to the frame. You could do a floor shifter if you really wanted to. Most aftermarket floor shifters are cable operated so you should be fine.
I will have to adjust the length on the drive shaft and have the proper yoke for the tranny.
Yes, quite possible.
The gauges, I was thinking about using Autometer gauges. Will the harness from the motor go directly to the gauges / or tied into the existing gauge wiring?
You will need to adapt the truck wiring to the gauges and any senders as well.
I need to have AC bc I live in FL between Jacksonville and Daytona, and the humidity is a drag. I plan to convert the non-working R12 to a R134a system. Can I use the LQ9 compressor accessory on the truck system? And besides buying the required components what else does an AC conversion require?
You can use the LQ9 compressor. If you plan on having an A/C shop make everything work and swap it from 12 to 134 let them figure the rest out IMO. They will need to change the oil and freon and maybe the drier and pull a vacumm on the system.
The exhaust system, I am still researching that and haven’t yet found what combo of the 83 C10/LQ9 will work with ????? headers or manifolds, but that should be easy to look up on a few different forums.
Stockers will work fine but if you want to run headers that is debatable since so many people have found different things that work for them. The only ones that I personally know of that will w/out modifying are BRP's Headman Headers and Street & Performance headers. They are both pricey around $500.
The fuel system, my truck has 2 tanks ( I don’t know how common that may be) but I believe with the mechanical fuel pump in there now it has a dashboard switch that allows me to choose the tank to be use. I have a feeling this can not be re used. With upgrading the in-tank pumps and what ever filter I will need, what have people done in regards to still using or deleting a gas tank?
I think you can still dual tanks if you want to. Just get the corvette filter and run the external fuel pump. (someone correct me if I'm wrong here) I have dual's on my 81 but I am ridding the pass side tank and just using the driver side. I will be dropping the 87 tank w/new sender and new electric in-tank fuel pump w/corvette filter on mine.
And I’ve read I can use my stock radiator, but need a better trans cooler than what is on the old 4speed. And I'm going to get electric fans.
Yes you can reuse the stock radiator, just make sure it is up to par. On the trans cooler... just run the tranny cooler into the rad cooler, out the rad cooler into the external cooler back to the tranny. That will give you 2 coolers. And everything I've always heard and read about tranny cooling is that is how you are supposed to do it anyway.
Now I just hope the stock 10-bolt rear is not worn down and need replacing too.
Me too!
I plan maybe to put about $4-5 into the swap. So I might have to change some plans around.
I'm hoping to spend less on my conversion. Gotta have some money left over for new paint and shoes!
Can you all think of anything else I haven’t mentioned that I will be facing?
Yes, empty wallets and sleepless nights!
Thanks in advance for any input.
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Originally Posted by coreyleo223
