6.0 LS into 86 C10

[JoeR Jr]

Thanks! You did a really nice job with that. I'm impressed.
I'll probably end up doing the final tuning my own truck. I've got a portable 5 gas bench, and I'm a bit of a Jetting-****, so whatever anyone else does will need to be fine tuned anyway. I'd definitely appreciate the list of fuel fittings/lines. I'm lost on where I even needed to start.
I read your post in the LQ4 Swap thread. Lots of great info there. Tanks for taking the time to type all that.
Joe

 

[dcameron787]

Here is what I used. No extra parts. This is everything. I cut the flares off the stock sending unit and used the compression fitting for that connection. The rest is self explanatory.

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[JoeR Jr]

I got my engine on a stand a couple of weeks ago and ran a compression test. I had 175 psi on 5 cylinders and 150 on the other 3. I decided to pull it apart. The oil rings were pretty stuck. There was plenty of carbon as a result. The teflon on the piston skirts was smoked too. I'm pretty sure there are more miles on it than advertised, but whatever...it'll be nice to have a fresh engine anyway. Cam bearings are getting replaced at the machine shop and then it starts going back together. I glass beaded the heads, valves and most of the external parts that were grimy.
Joe

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[Camar068]

you going stock cam or upgrading? Also are you upgrading the oil pump to the higher rpm model? This might be only on the 5.3. Something about it actually decreasing flow at rpm's over 6,500 or something like that. @dougbert might have a link handy.

There's a dumbell that you might want to read up on as well. Link for it and the description. Since you've gone that far why not. Other vendors make it, this was the first one I saw a link for lol.

http://www.saccitycorvette.com/Billet-BarBell.html

 

[dcameron787]

Looking good, I was in the same boat as you. Bought what I though was a 100,000 mile engine. Started pulling it apart and it was obvious it had a lot more miles on it...ended up having it rebuilt. Looking back I should have just spent the money on something better. I think I got around 5k in the motor after it was all said and done.

 

[JoeR Jr]

you going stock cam or upgrading?

I planned to replace the cam, but now I'm uncertain. If I leave it stock, I can easily troubleshoot any troubles related to the swap. It would be no different than diagnosing a Chevy pickup from that era. It's also less expense.
If I do the cam swap, I'll have to tune it too. Add a tuner to the price of a cam swap and it's starting to add up. Then I'll have to learn the tuning software (I've already got a portable 5 gas tailpipe tester). I'm kind of picky when it comes to tuning, so whatever anyone else does won't be good enough, so for now I'm thinking that I'll do a stock swap and when I need some more excitement I'll do a cam and tune.
Joe

 

[Camar068]

unless you're vehicle is the same weight, geared the same as the donor, and you leave every sensor on it, you're going to need a tune. Otherwise it won't be as close to perfect as possible. Stock vehicles (no changes to the vehicle at all) can be tuned further to increase hp, tq, and gas mileage safely.

A quick google search article I found to help explain it a bit.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/oztr...n-so-much-from-just-a-tune/10152890650012222/

 

[JoeR Jr]

Finally some forward progress on the C10. I installed a Brian Tooley Truck Cam and Flat Top Pistons. I also bought an HP Tuner so I can tune it myself.
This week I pulled the old 4.3L and TH400.
Dropped in the 6.0 and associated wiring.
Yanked the bed and installed all new fuel lines, tank sender and fuel pump.
I picked up a remote fuse panel to wire injectors, coils and anything else that needs power.

Tonight I tore the 4L80E apart to rebuild. It's just gonna get new clutches and seals. The only bushing it's going to get will be the one in the pump. Everything else looks good.
Joe

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[JoeR Jr]

Trans is finished. Gotta install it on Saturday.

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[fried_daddy]

My truck is also 4.3L, TH400. I'm looking into engine swap options. What did you use as far as a radiator for this swap. Did you ever figure out anything about the gauges? Also, with your truck being originally a 3 speed, did you have to get a 4 speed column to have all the shift positions and indication? I think the motor mount situation will be easy because there are lots of options out there for that. Haven't read much about driveshaft modifications though.

 

[JoeR Jr]

I had to get s driveshaft built for it. Not a big deal. I used the original radiator that is in the C10, and installed a separate trans cooler. Gauges are still not decided on though. I believe I'm going to use an Ultragauge. They look cool.

 

[Preston]

Okay, I have to jump in here and ask some questions, I have a 84 K5 with a 04 5.3 setting in the truck, no transmission. Just bought complete running gear out of a 87 Suburban, would the transmission bolt to the 5.3 or would I be better to keep all the parts together from the 87?

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[JoeR Jr]

Okay, I have to jump in here and ask some questions, I have a 84 K5 with a 04 5.3 setting in the truck, no transmission. Just bought complete running gear out of a 87 Suburban, would the transmission bolt to the 5.3 or would I be better to keep all the parts together from the 87?

You'll probably need a spacer and different flexplate at the very least if you want to connect the 5.3 to the older drivetrain. There's a lot of info already out there on doing 4WD swaps, but I'm not educated on it. Mine is a 2WD.
It doesn't look like the 5.3 was running in that truck. Did someone start a swap and not finish it? If so, you need to decide if you want to put it back to original or get involved in a swap.
The easy thing to do would be to put the original style engine and trans back in the truck. Even that 87 engine has a computer controlled carb and distributor, so you'll either have to swap them out or wire the PCM and associated sensors.

I like the 87 setup myself, so if it was mine I'd yank that 5.3 and sell it. Swap in the Suburban drivetrain. Drop a vacuum advance HEI distributor and old Quadrajet on it, and run it.

Joe

 

[Preston]

Thanks I was taught early ok if it ain’t broke don’t fix it PO was doing the swap all I got is the transmission case th350 and the transfer case so I have bought 2 mor 84 K5’s to part out but too good to tear up so 2 more projects

 

[JoeR Jr]

Here's the final pic of the engine. I used an OEM air cleaner setup. Original setup came with the 85 mm MAF and plumbing. This one is the 100 mm (really only 93 mm) setup. I had to re-scale the MAF in the tune but I like the way it works. I like running a paper air filter instead of a K&N style. They filter better, and this setup allows me to get cooler air from the fender well instead of the engine compartment.
To use it I had to relocate the battery to the left side of the truck and build a bracket for the air filter.

Next will be to replace the 2.73 gears and open diff.

Joe

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