8.1 vortec into 1979 k30

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

77 K20

77 K20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2012
Posts
3,106
Reaction score
3,141
Location
Montana
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
K20 5" lift
Engine Size
HT383 fuel injected
SquareRoot said:
Search "Dirty Larry" on the other square body site. He's done exactly what your thinking. His thread will answer any question you can ponder.
Click to expand...

I was going to say this. I read something like 33 pages of stuff on his blue truck and I thought he was doing it again on a Suburban. I read it on expedition portal though.

You must be registered for see images attach
 
Y

yevgenievich

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2014
Posts
4,820
Reaction score
3,401
Location
Place
First Name
Name
Truck Year
Year
Truck Model
Model
Engine Size
Size
Big blocks can get expensive. My tall deck 8.0l build cost me a small fortune. 8.0l was the gen6 with gen7 parts sprinkled on it. Rods and pistons are the weak points on 8.1l. Raylar heads supposed to perform very well from what I have seen.
 
F

forcruzen

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2022
Posts
4
Reaction score
12
Location
57335
First Name
BRAD
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
496
Did it....Love it.....Just took my first 8.1L for a long distance road trip. A few tips to follow....
search "dirty larry" like that one guy said
had original harness rebuilt but I still decided to do correct new harness from Howell Engineering.
Find a blown up 8.1 from possibly a van. That gives you all the brackets, pumps you will want if trying to get ac pump moved up since the gm parts numbers are obsolete unless you get lucky.
C10 old school headers do fit, original motor mounts work. Everything else from the past will not happen.
Whatever you think it will cost to do this just take that number X 2
 

Attachments

  • IMG_9627.PNG
    IMG_9627.PNG
    881.6 KB · Views: 95
  • IMG_9628.PNG
    IMG_9628.PNG
    845.1 KB · Views: 104
Last edited:
1984dually

1984dually

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2013
Posts
247
Reaction score
57
Location
Malin OR
First Name
Danny
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C30
Engine Size
8.1L
Did this swap in 2013 in my C30. look up 8.1 on here and it will come up. Swap is easier than a ls based swap. Just pullout your 350, swap over your flywheel/clutch/engine mounts and bolt it in. If you want air the frame will need notched or swap the van/medium duty truck stuff. One thing to remember is you’ll have to change everything on the front of the truck including the balancer. There is aftermarket stuff available. look up Amos Garcia on facebook. Makes some good stuff. Front crossmember will need a notch to clear the drivers side of the oil pan. Bigger radiator might be needed(used 6.2 diesel radiator). stand alone harness from Howell
 
Lu Blunt

Lu Blunt

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Posts
191
Reaction score
131
Location
Rye, CO
First Name
Luke
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
350ci
Slow train slow life but I’m back to work on the dually. Just can’t give up on the old truck. Got handful of parts for the swap and a list of things to order. The 350 looks small in the engine bay. I can’t wait for the 8.1. Anyone have a part number for the bolts that go through the bell housing and into the block? Thanks
 

Attachments

  • 9E7970AA-D0F5-4767-A439-7CED739E6BEA.jpeg
    9E7970AA-D0F5-4767-A439-7CED739E6BEA.jpeg
    194.8 KB · Views: 29
  • 29B622F2-8340-44CD-B4A9-8D14DAD9BECC.jpeg
    29B622F2-8340-44CD-B4A9-8D14DAD9BECC.jpeg
    213.4 KB · Views: 25
  • CFAFA4E1-FABA-4311-B909-D455BDE33D90.jpeg
    CFAFA4E1-FABA-4311-B909-D455BDE33D90.jpeg
    218.5 KB · Views: 25
Lu Blunt

Lu Blunt

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Posts
191
Reaction score
131
Location
Rye, CO
First Name
Luke
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
350ci
more progress
 

Attachments

  • 5A579652-0186-4CA4-B997-42DDECB9A349.jpeg
    5A579652-0186-4CA4-B997-42DDECB9A349.jpeg
    199.4 KB · Views: 22
  • 20E50C1C-A103-4158-8A86-608D0390AECB.jpeg
    20E50C1C-A103-4158-8A86-608D0390AECB.jpeg
    196.3 KB · Views: 21
Lu Blunt

Lu Blunt

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Posts
191
Reaction score
131
Location
Rye, CO
First Name
Luke
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
350ci
ORD engine crossmember and motor mounts
 

Attachments

  • F70A055E-E0C3-44A5-85AE-CE84ABCA569D.jpeg
    F70A055E-E0C3-44A5-85AE-CE84ABCA569D.jpeg
    186.5 KB · Views: 21
  • DB106745-F12C-428E-8DFE-6C8E28B7483A.jpeg
    DB106745-F12C-428E-8DFE-6C8E28B7483A.jpeg
    174.2 KB · Views: 18
Lu Blunt

Lu Blunt

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Posts
191
Reaction score
131
Location
Rye, CO
First Name
Luke
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
350ci
Some snow and some progress
 

Attachments

  • 8BF7A051-7556-4085-8F4C-C0A871DBBCD5.jpeg
    8BF7A051-7556-4085-8F4C-C0A871DBBCD5.jpeg
    180.7 KB · Views: 16
  • AF2AF407-F52D-4824-A01F-4F3FDE0A5297.jpeg
    AF2AF407-F52D-4824-A01F-4F3FDE0A5297.jpeg
    201 KB · Views: 18
  • 856A9534-8C46-447E-A9F4-EB5B6B228F41.jpeg
    856A9534-8C46-447E-A9F4-EB5B6B228F41.jpeg
    125.6 KB · Views: 15
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Raybob9289
6.0 NV4500 K30 swap
Replies
14
Views
835
Raybob9289
Raybob9289
Hansrasmussen007
Help with identifying Chassis Number Stamp
Replies
1
Views
742
Keith Seymore
Keith Seymore
C
Squarebody chassis swap build help: Were there any exterior differences between 81-87, 2wd/4wd and weight classes (c10, k30, etc)
Replies
4
Views
1K
PrairieDrifter
PrairieDrifter
B
New member from North Carolina
2
Replies
22
Views
974
Strick
Strick
S
Member From Utah
Replies
10
Views
417
SQ HAF KRU
SQ HAF KRU

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,391
Posts
956,331
Members
36,683
Latest member
aim410x
Top