LQ9/4L80E into 89 C1500 RCLB questions

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Hey guys, first post. When my grandfather passed away he left me a 1989 GMC 1500 regular cab long bed pickup with a 305, 700R4, and rust everywhere. I've used it for a few years now while dreaming about an LSX swap, and a blown head gasket has given me all the excuse I need to go ahead with the project.

My plan is to go with an all stock LQ9 and 4L80E, schoenfield LS1 swap headers ( http://www.schoenfeldheaders.com/LS1-TRUCK.htm - using the recommended adapters/motor mounts ) and a mild tune for VATS removal and 89 octane. True duals w/ h-pipe and flowmaster 70 series mufflers, to keep it quiet. I'm looking for 400hp at the crank; nothing extravagant, just a nice drivetrain that should last for a long time to come.

Are there any OEM vehicles that came with the LQ9 -and- 4L80E combo? I've looked around a bit but I'm unclear on this. I'd rather not get an L76 or LY6; the LQ9 seems to be really affordable and I'm not interested in dealing with AFM or VVT.

Were LQ9s built exclusively with drive-by-wire throttles, or are there units available with throttle cables? Maybe I'm a luddite, but I like to know that when I put my foot down, the throttle is opening. I'm just not comfortable with drive-by-wire, no matter how safe and/or awesome it might be.

Is it easy to swap in a complete fuel tank (along w/ pump) from a late model vehicle, or would it be better to re-use my existing tank? Are fuel cells worth the money? I want a 20+ gallon tank, for sure.

The biggest sticking point in my mind as far (as having a safe, drivable truck) is the brakes. The stock brakes are pathetic. I'd like to use the front and rear disc brakes from a 94-96 Caprice 9c1, because I know they work great on a heavy vehicle and they fit perfectly with no room to spare underneath the 15" wheels that I have on it now (the ones my grandfather drove around on, which I'm going to refinish and keep on the truck for sentimental reasons).

Has anyone tried using the 9c1 front spindles and brakes? How feasible would it be? Are there any bolt-in steering boxes with a quicker ratio? I'd like to emulate the 9c1 front suspension & steering as much as possible.

My dream setup for the rear suspension is a 4-link like http://www.kplinks.com/product.php?p...&cat=48&page=1 with QA1 coilovers, a watts link, and the complete 94-96 9c1 rear axle with a 3.55:1 Eaton diff.

Any thoughts on this setup? What kind of curb weight am I looking at for this truck? I'm sure I'll think of a thousand other things, too.

[PitchBlackC3]

Are there any OEM vehicles that came with the LQ9 -and- 4L80E combo?

No

Were LQ9s built exclusively with drive-by-wire throttles, or are there units available with throttle cables?

Yes, but if you are dead set on DBC, it can be converted.

Is it easy to swap in a complete fuel tank (along w/ pump) from a late model vehicle, or would it be better to re-use my existing tank? Are fuel cells worth the money? I want a 20+ gallon tank, for sure.

Just use a pump from a 96 truck in your existing tank.

[PitchBlackC3]

Are there any OEM vehicles that came with the LQ9 -and- 4L80E combo?

No

Were LQ9s built exclusively with drive-by-wire throttles, or are there units available with throttle cables?

Yes, but if you are dead set on DBC, it can be converted.

Is it easy to swap in a complete fuel tank (along w/ pump) from a late model vehicle, or would it be better to re-use my existing tank? Are fuel cells worth the money? I want a 20+ gallon tank, for sure.

Just use a pump from a 96 truck in your existing tank.

[keniff]

Are there any OEM vehicles that came with the LQ9 -and- 4L80E combo? I've looked around a bit but I'm unclear on this. I'd rather not get an L76 or LY6; the LQ9 seems to be really affordable and I'm not interested in dealing with AFM or VVT.
just buy a LQ4/80e complete pull-out and make sure its a 03-06 and just buy a dbc TB.
Were LQ9s built exclusively with drive-by-wire throttles, or are there units available with throttle cables? Maybe I'm a luddite, but I like to know that when I put my foot down, the throttle is opening. I'm just not comfortable with drive-by-wire, no matter how safe and/or awesome it might be.
i run a DBC on my 94 chevy W/T

Is it easy to swap in a complete fuel tank (along w/ pump) from a late model vehicle, or would it be better to re-use my existing tank? Are fuel cells worth the money? I want a 20+ gallon tank, for sure.
how big is your gas tank now? shouldnt it be like 25gal or so?

The biggest sticking point in my mind as far (as having a safe, drivable truck) is the brakes. The stock brakes are pathetic. I'd like to use the front and rear disc brakes from a 94-96 Caprice 9c1, because I know they work great on a heavy vehicle and they fit perfectly with no room to spare underneath the 15" wheels that I have on it now (the ones my grandfather drove around on, which I'm going to refinish and keep on the truck for sentimental reasons).
ive never heard of anyone swap that onto the obs truck, so take it on if you want...but i recommend BAER brakes or something like that if you got the cash to spend. it'll keep you from chasing parts and trying to make this work, and modify this to fit and such forth.

are you wanting this to be a DD/Track truck or are you wanting this to be a road course truck? i cant understand why changing steering boxes and stuff. i would do the 4 link if you want it as a track truck, i wouldnt do it if its going to be a DD. there's a lot of guys running fast numbers with stock suspension and Cal Tracs or other such traction aids like that.

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Thanks for the feedback guys! I've got my truck at the shop having the motor pulled while I move into my new apartment... rented a pretty decent garage and I'm really excited about getting started on this.

just buy a LQ4/80e complete pull-out and make sure its a 03-06 and just buy a dbc TB.

Good call. I assume this setup was in 03-06 2500HDs? Looking on car-part.com now...

how big is your gas tank now? shouldnt it be like 25gal or so?

Yeah, I'm more than happy with the size of the current tank. I hadn't done enough research on this part of the swap; I see now that it's pretty easy to use the stock fuel tank.

ive never heard of anyone swap that onto the obs truck, so take it on if you want...but i recommend BAER brakes or something like that if you got the cash to spend. it'll keep you from chasing parts and trying to make this work, and modify this to fit and such forth.

I'm really up in the air about the brakes... I want to keep the 5x5 bolt pattern and my existing wheels and I want to keep the price within reason. It's hard for me to justify spending $3k+ on brakes! I'm sure the Baer kits are worth every penny, but I'm also sure that the 9c1 brakes & master cylinder would work beautifully on an OBS truck. I may go ahead and give this a try... the chassis dimensions are so similar that the lines might even swap over. I think I could find an entire donor car for the price of a Baer kit, heh.

are you wanting this to be a DD/Track truck or are you wanting this to be a road course truck? i cant understand why changing steering boxes and stuff. i would do the 4 link if you want it as a track truck, i wouldnt do it if its going to be a DD. there's a lot of guys running fast numbers with stock suspension and Cal Tracs or other such traction aids like that.

I want a practical truck that can haul a boat and still be something of a corner carver... I don't want the 19" wheel slammed sport truck look, I want to run 275/60/15s on all 4 corners, be able to tow a trailer, but handle way better than a long wheelbase pickup has any right to. I'm not really interested in drag racing, but I'm thinking that 400fwhp should put me in the mid 13s, which I'd be happy with.

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here's some pics...