Someone please help me save an 84 K10

[MattPHX]

First I need to say that I am not a Chevy guy. This truck is the first one I've ever worked on. I was hired to install an engine, connect everything up and re-assemble the body in front. (fenders, core support, hood, grill, lights etc.) I was told that everything was there and basically given the impression it was disassembled where it is and only needed put back together. I foolishly took the job without taking the time to inspect the entire situation, although this in-and-of-itself would have taken quite a long time. I came to find out the short-block was a Vortec 5.7 from the late 90s. The heads were Gen 1. All of the accessory stuff was missing. The bolts were all missing...for the engine and body. I found out later that the engine wouldn't manually turn with a pry-bar and socket while wrenching down the rockers. I had such a massive learning curve with this but after reading like crazy I found out that a Vortec 5.7 all throughout the 1990s would work, but need to get the intake and exhaust handled. The owner acquired a 1998 Tahoe (he is a dismantler) and said the engine was good. I ripped into it all the way to remove the engine...only to find out while cutting the exhaust, that it had a massive gash in the oil pan. It wouldn't turn either. Some days later a 1993 Suburban came through and that truck actually ran. Charged battery and key and vroom. I heard it run personally. It was a good year because it could use a Gen 1 intake so the Edelbrock stuff he had laying around could be used on it. I got it cleaned up and painted (the sludgyest motor ever and just doing this was worth 1/2 the money I'm being paid) and got everything re-assembled and the Performer intake manifold bolted on. The trans came out and got sprayed and painted and everything went back into the truck clean and nice. The truck has been put up onto a lift and the frame and undercarriage was pressure washed and everything was given some paint to make it look 1000x better.

Now comes the fun part. I have to connect everything up to this thing and I'm clueless. He was missing his engine harness so I found someone close-by that parts out Squarebodies and got one from a 1976 and one from a 1982. The 82 harness has all of the engine related stuff snipped during a motor pull and the 1976 is complete...I think. It's 110 degrees here and I'm not a PHX native and after all the fun with this truck so far I'm fried.

I need a guru to adopt this truck and help me go the last mile and get this thing running. It might be several problems/questions, but it's a cool truck and shouldn't end up scrapped. The owner is becoming impatient and owning a car scrapping company it's a good idea that little to no more money is spent and this thing just gets driving and moved onto the cosmetic phase.

Some things to know...

It is a 1984 K10 Scottsdale Short
1993 Vortec 5.7 longblock in it.
Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold
Edelbrock Carb with elec choke (not bolted on yet)
No wiring connected to engine or accessories yet
No cooling system installed yet...I got a radiator from the parts guy...the firewall and interior were seemingly complete.
Retained the serpentine belt setup and all 1993 accessories.
Stock 700r4 Trans
? Transfer Case
Corporate Diffs


Let me know what you need from me in terms of info and pics. I would greatly appreciate your help, thank you!

 

[MattPHX]

What I am trying to get help with are:

What is the difference between the cooling system of the Gen 1 vehicles and the Vortec vehicles? I read that the Vortec trucks have reverse cooling. How does this translate into Gen 1 vehicles. The engine is 1993 Vortec and the intake manifold and the rest of the truck are 1984 Gen 1. An Edelbrock Performer RPM intake is being used. How do we setup the cooling for the intake manifold for proper cooling function?

The intake manifold gaskets I bought for the Vortec 5.7 had the rear water passages blocked off. There was a small hole in the gasket and the rest of the gasket was closed and stamped "REAR" but the passageway was closed.

The wiring harness. These are simple harnesses but is there a way to identify the wires coming from the plug so I can prevent a huge amount of timing determining where these wires go?

Thanks again.

 

[Turbo4whl]

I have some multi-year wire diagrams. The wire colors are more or less the same through the years. Hopefully you can still grab the connectors from the 1993 engine donor.

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[yevgenievich]

93 would still be basic sbc with reverse rotation water pump. Hoses connect the same, just belt wraps around the other way when compared to v belt set up. Vortec 5.7 came out in 96. It might or might not have mechanical fuel pump compatibility

 

[Salty Crusty]

NOT reverse cooling, just reverse rotation pump to work with the serpentine system.

 

[Kiely]

A 96 motor might need a basic engine control module. I’m not certain, my truck is a 74. But if you need that module and don’t have it you may not get it running.

 

[AuroraGirl]

my dad has 96 5.7. vortec. it has a provision for fuel pump.

but this is obd2 territory, let alone obd1. the distributor isnt gonna behave like an HEI, its electronically controlled.
find a HEI distributor. Wire it up. Because you arent keeping EFI and you would spend more time getting it to work with carb.
I can take pics of his engine if something is needed

Otherwise if you got HEI, mech fuel pump, a carb, and your heater core hoses hookup, i dont see whats the issue.

pics would help.

as rusty would say.

 

[shiftpro]

I wish i could help but honestly I couldn't get past the first sentence..

 

[highdesertrange]

yep nothing like a good first impression. highdesertranger

 

[oneluckypops]

my dad has 96 5.7. vortec. it has a provision for fuel pump.

but this is obd2 territory, let alone obd1. the distributor isnt gonna behave like an HEI, its electronically controlled.
find a HEI distributor. Wire it up. Because you arent keeping EFI and you would spend more time getting it to work with carb.
I can take pics of his engine if something is needed

Otherwise if you got HEI, mech fuel pump, a carb, and your heater core hoses hookup, i dont see whats the issue.

pics would help.

as rusty would say.

Yes you are correct 96 vortecs do have mechanical pump provisions, However its only the casting, they are not drilled for the pump pushrod, and the cam is not eccentric for the mechanical pump.

 

[oneluckypops]

I wish i could help but honestly I couldn't get past the first sentence..

Something tells me you don't have to worry, not like he gonna come back. Doubtful that he even remembers his password and username.