Daily driver turbo

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Craig Nedrow

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Craig
Truck Year
1973 (have two), 1985
Truck Model
K10, K20, C20
Engine Size
350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
My 454 in the K20 is awesome, except the gas mileage. That excuse brings me to this subject, LS swap with a single turbo. I am a machinist by trade, 40 years, retired. However a longtime shop where I trade needed a machinist, so now I am the guy that does all the internal work, (bore, hone blocks, and rebuild rods.) I have been enthralled with turbos, but never had one. My goal is (of course) more power, reliability, good winter manners. Since I have the ability to do all my own work, it will save me $, and I can make it like I want. SOOOO,
 

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Craig Nedrow

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Location
Washington State
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1973 (have two), 1985
Truck Model
K10, K20, C20
Engine Size
350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
Here are a couple engine pics. 1999 LQ4, the big boost queen. 4l80e transmission. I have purchased a transdap to mate the 4l80e to my 205 TC. The 205 modifications will be input shaft and larger bearing. This will require the TC teardown, and case boring to fit the larger bearing. While in there I will reseal, and replace anything that needs it. That will mate the trans to the TC. The BBC pic is what I am replacing with the LQ4.
 

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SquareRoot

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Mike
Truck Year
85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Hot diggity dawg, I'm loving it!
 

Craig Nedrow

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Location
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Craig
Truck Year
1973 (have two), 1985
Truck Model
K10, K20, C20
Engine Size
350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
Here are some doner engine pictures, out of a 1999 2500, all wiring, ecm, trans, complete for $1500. The tailshaft on this trans will be replaced with the Transdap unit, thereby allowing the trans to bolt to the 205 TC.
 

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Craig Nedrow

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Location
Washington State
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1973 (have two), 1985
Truck Model
K10, K20, C20
Engine Size
350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
I have addressed most of the weaknesses of the LQ or LS motor. 1) Trunnion kit, 2) pistons, will use a quality 2618 big dish piston, target compression ratio 8.5 ish. 3) iron heads, replaced by these 317 74cc CNC ported heads. Porting done by Katec, $500 + shipping. The valve job was done at the shop I work at taking into account that this is a turbo build, so valves that can handle the heat.
 

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Craig Nedrow

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Location
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Craig
Truck Year
1973 (have two), 1985
Truck Model
K10, K20, C20
Engine Size
350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
4) While the stock rods are pretty good, you know how it is..."lets just turn it up a little bit more," So I will use these 6.125 rods. Tried to get a good pic of the porting job...
 

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Last edited:

Craig Nedrow

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Location
Washington State
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1973 (have two), 1985
Truck Model
K10, K20, C20
Engine Size
350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
I have already gone through the 14 bolt FF and the D44 front, think I am good there. I will use the truck intake, and FYI Heads flow 320.
 

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Craig Nedrow

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Location
Washington State
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1973 (have two), 1985
Truck Model
K10, K20, C20
Engine Size
350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
I am undecided about the crank, as I have not had a chance to tear down the engine, hopefully soon, though I am in the middle of an engine rebuild on my good women's VW. If I stroke it, it will be to 4.00 stroke, 4340 crank, many good mfg out there.
 

Craig Nedrow

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Craig
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Truck Model
K10, K20, C20
Engine Size
350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
The motor also has ARP bolts for the mains, and heads. New oil pump, the late model Hyd lifters, and good timing chain. May need a pan, we will see.
 

Craig Nedrow

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Craig
Truck Year
1973 (have two), 1985
Truck Model
K10, K20, C20
Engine Size
350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
Thank Mike aka Square root
 

Craig Nedrow

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Truck Model
K10, K20, C20
Engine Size
350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
The 4l80e was based off then TH400, And the trans guy, (me) is thinking better buy good billet shafts, and all new internals built for power. I have not built a 4l80e, but the TH350 I built for the BBC is hanging in there after shredding two sets of tires. I tell myself I gots (yes gots!) tostop doing that, but just can't seem to.
 

Bextreme04

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K25
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350-4bbl
Man, you must be planning on boosting that thing to the moon! I'm planning on adding a turbo to my 2011 at some point, but wasn't planning on doing too much in there. They are pretty bulletproof at lower boost levels in stock form.. why go with such low compression? Are you looking at running 20lbs of boost or something?
 

Craig Nedrow

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Location
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Craig
Truck Year
1973 (have two), 1985
Truck Model
K10, K20, C20
Engine Size
350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
I have a selection of squarebodies,
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Not that one, these, but I like the boots....
 

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Bextreme04

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Engine Size
350-4bbl
The 4l80e was based off then TH400, And the trans guy, (me) is thinking better buy good billet shafts, and all new internals built for power. I have not built a 4l80e, but the TH350 I built for the BBC is hanging in there after shredding two sets of tires. I tell myself I gots (yes gots!) tostop doing that, but just can't seem to.
The 4L80 will handle 800hp without needing to upgrade any internal hard parts. You will need a few things if you are planning to push it towards 1000hp, but really just the input shaft and a billet front cover torque converter. Otherwise just get a sonnex PR valve, no walk roller rear case bushing kit, and internally dual feed it with an otherwise stock rebuild.
 

Craig Nedrow

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Location
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Craig
Truck Year
1973 (have two), 1985
Truck Model
K10, K20, C20
Engine Size
350, 454, 6.2 Detroit
Well Bextreme04, ya just never know. Hey I might get it done and not like it, but I'm thinking I will. I will build for boost, whether I will run a bunch remains to be seen. Thanks for the trans info, I have been looking into it, bought a few books to help with the build, but any and all chime in on the build. The low compression will allow me to run moderate boost and still run reg gas retarded timing, and tune for boost. I want my boost to come on strong in the 3500 rpm range, which hopefully will allow me to run around town and etc without being to hard on the wallet. What I read over at the Turbo Forum.
 
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