Thinking of swapping to ls

[NCTyphoonKid]

Getting bored with the truck it now has a charging issue and won't hold a charge. Really getting tired of the engine in it along with the trans that sometimes likes to act weird. I've contemplated selling it and I've considered tearing the engine and trans out and upgrading/updating. I would like to do a 4.8 or 5.3 ls swap to it but how difficult would it be to swap to ls power? I don't really want to see the truck go but it needs some updating. Also would like to upgrade the suspension and brakes but my main concern now is engine and trans. Ive looked at the swap headers and engine to frame mounts on eBay but haven't went into extreme depth

 

[Old77]

There are several folks who've started threads on LS swapping their trucks. You should take a look around and read up on it. Overall, doesn't seem that difficult from what I'm reading in everyone's LS swap threads.

 

[NCTyphoonKid]

I found one thread on here of a swap someone did to an 84 trying to find a decent how to that shows majority of the parts I need

 

[Old77]

I found one thread on here of a swap someone did to an 84 trying to find a decent how to that shows majority of the parts I need

Look at Foamy 3+3 build. He's doing a 6.0 but for the most part the process and a lot of the parts will be the same. It can be a different year square but the parts should be pretty close regardless. I'll do some poking around and posting of links to help ya out

 

[Old77]

http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9759
http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14428
http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13904

Foamy's build. Very detailed and will turn out really nice...
http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13237

 

[dougbert]

The 87 R10 is a good candidate, because you can reuse the gas tank and maybe the lines, if they are in good shape. you will need a new fuel pump that should fit fine in your existing gas tank assembly.

I cover that in my build thread listed in my sig (and above - thx for that referral old77, maybe I might be doing things right to get referrals)
in a couple of posts I link to my spreadsheet listing part numbers I used and their cost. You can pick from that if you wish and save some research time

I am getting well into my swap, but am still learning things regarding the 84 K1500 and various subsystems

dougbert

 

[NCTyphoonKid]

I thought of doing the 87 but its too good for me to want to tear into right now and the long bed is very useful compared to the wimpy short bed on the 84. I think I could get a engine in the 500 range and then get a 4l60 or 4l80 whichever I could find somewhat cheaply. Where should I look at getting a harness from

 

[dougbert]

I thought of doing the 87 but its too good for me to want to tear into right now and the long bed is very useful compared to the wimpy short bed on the 84. I think I could get a engine in the 500 range and then get a 4l60 or 4l80 whichever I could find somewhat cheaply. Where should I look at getting a harness from[/QUOTE

get one with the engine and a ECU, then modify it from instructions at www.lt1swap.com. I am in the middle of that right now. Very double if you are just willing to study it and do it a step at a time

my 2 cents

dougbert

 

[NCTyphoonKid]

Yeah I'm thinking about just going ahead and start collecting parts for the swap and hopefully have everything I need when I get ready to drop the ls in I'm pretty certain this is what I want to do. Would I be able to use my original driveshaft?

 

[HotRodPC]

First things first in the LS decision, is to decided are you going cable throttle linkage or Drive by Wire? 2002 and down are cable throttle, 2003 and up are drive by wire and will require an aftermarket gas pedal.

Personally, if I convert one, may as well go all the way, and convert to drive by wire. That's where all the technology is going and has gone, so may as well go for the latest greatest and have more options and also chance of finding lower mileage donor. Also, won't have to worry about the throttle linkage transition that way either.

 

[HotRodPC]

Here's a drive by conversion I towed to the exhaust shop to have pipes installed. This was a sweet truck and nicely done too. I think you can see that gas pedal in the one interior pic.

 

[yevgenievich]

Biggest benefit of a drive by wire is cruise control

 

[HotRodPC]

Biggest benefit of a drive by wire is cruise control

I forgot about that one too.

 

[oneluckypops]

you can still have cruise control with a DBC.

 

[NCTyphoonKid]

Mmm didn't think about the DBC and DBW its not really that much a difference to me I think there are conversion companies selling the DBW pedals i'll have to go back to check out the hotrod garage episode where they put a LS into Finnegans el camino. I found a 4.8 out of a 01 Silverado for 500 bucks but for 170 bucks more it comes with the harness and computer and power steering not that the power steering matters