86 M1008 LM7 Swap

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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
I tried to move ahead with the Griffin radiator that came with the truck and some flex hoses. My plan was to use a mechanical fan from the early LS engines and the shroud from the SBC.

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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
The LS intake did not play nicely with the fan shroud and the fan did not reach into the shroud well enough to get good airflow.

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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
Next was integrating the homemade LS harness I made just to make sure the engine ran and remove the rat's nest of wiring the truck previously had.

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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
I knew I wasn't going to happy with the exhaust or wiring so I ordered a painless kit and a set of the Schoenfeld headers that I heard would fit with the 4WD and a manual trans.

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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
The headers did not fit inside the frame rails without some persuasion. I did not want to grind down the frame rail so I took a hammer to the headers themselves. I'm not sure I would recommend these to anyone. In retrospect I should have swapped to an internal hydraulic slave cylinder and throwout bearing and gone to some block hugging headers.

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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
Got the headers, O2 sensors, and slave cylinder installed finally.

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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
It ran (without rod knock) and kept all its parts on the inside.

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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
Next up was trying to polish this turd a little bit to keep it's vital fluids inside. The slip yoke was a rusted mess. Don't make the mistake of trying to clean up the yoke, just buy a new one. It is still going to trash the seal and leak.

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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
Next I spent some time figuring out how the hell I was going to get the power steering pump installed and figuring out why there was so much slop in the shift linkages. Turns out you have to remove the entire accessory drive, install the pump, and reinstall the drive. The shifter for the transfer case was also missing bushings and hardware.

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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
Next I moved on to figuring out why the brakes completely sucked. The amount of things I found wrong are truly astounding.

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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
Got some new wheel studs and repacked the bearings while I had everything apart.

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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
Next was trying to figure out why the shifter was so damned sloppy.

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LateOnTheBrakes

5.3-Swapped 86 CUCV
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Posts
463
Reaction score
123
Location
Virginia
First Name
Joshua
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
CUCV
Engine Size
5.3
I watched a few youtube videos about shoving in a pin and welding it. It made it significantly better, but it is still sloppy to this day.

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