Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit.
The Suburban is home now after having the driveshaft and exhaust wrapped up.
Today found a couple hours to get some things done on the suburban.
Installed the radiator and realized it is still an inch or so too short! Ordered some side mount radiator brackets from LMC hope these will work, if not going to have to get creative and go to Home Depot and see if I can make something.
Also found out the nipple on the back of my intake manifold for my brake booster is larger than the nipple on my brake booster so have to figure something out there. Any suggestions?
Got my regulator/filter installed and installed all the fittings for the fuel system and trans cooler lines. Also replaced the inline fuel filter under the truck.

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Here is a pic of one of my new Magnaflow exhaust tips installed.

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Looks good. Any more exhaust pics? Sorry can't help on the vacuum line. I've been all hydroboost for some time.

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Thanks, next to me I'm under the truck I'll snag some pics.
Should sound great. Dual 2.5" exhaust, magnaflow mufflers and tips, with no cats.

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Can you post the muffler part number? I'm curious what model you bought and how you like it. I have a pair of them in my parts pile, but since I bought them I've read several posts about how obnoxious they are. And mine are on the small side...

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Here you go: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mpe-11265
I'm sorry I haven't started it yet so I can't comment on how they sound.

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Awesome - I'm just glad you have the part number and also aren't running cats. I'll be curious to see how you like them. I'll sheepishly admit the pair I bought have a 14" case and 3" in/out...

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Well, new radiator brackets from LMC won't work either. They are for a radiator way smaller than mine. I have bought every bracket from LMC and nothing works. The stock one piece top bracket is still too short also. Looks like I am going to have to start making some sort of spacer. This is frustrating, spending all this $$$ on such a nice radiator and the damn thing doesn't fit. I currently have some pieces of rubber hose wedged between the radiator and the rubber mounting pads and it seems to be secure for now, but sure would feel better if I knew it was more secure.

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Seems like this is very common. I saw this video while radiator shopping, it's changed my mind about aftermarket aluminum radiators: http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo....050635&jsn=423

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

I've ran into the similar issues mounting my aluminum Champion radiator to my core support. None of the brackets from LMC work. I'm thinking I'm gonna get a couple pieces of aluminum tig welded to the side and bolt it to the core support.

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Well that's annoying. Could you build some simple spacers out of square stock to go under the bottom mounts?

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

That is what my plan is now, heading to home depot this weekend to take a look around and see what I can come up with.
Glad to know this problem is not unique to me!

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Good news found a creative solution for my radiator problem.
Using the small block LMC brackets I bought, some neat aluminum spacers I found on an old sign at work, my old exhaust manifold springs, some extra radiator pads I had laying around and two small bolts.

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Bad news, I got the wrong fittings for my radiator cooler lines!
Does anyone know what fittings I need to connect 6an hoses to my radiator?

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

I'm not sure what your radiator takes, but my stock one has inverted flare fittings. Link below.

http://m.summitracing.com/parts/AER-FBM2111

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Thanks man!
Just ordered two of those!

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Well got a little more done today, relocated the fuel regulator, mounted my overflow tank, then ran into a problem. When attaching the nipple to the radiator for the overflow tank, I found out the radiator was dented in where the filler neck is and the hole for the overflow nipple was too low and I couldn't thread it in. I pulled the neck up a little using a prybar and was able to install the nipple, but broke the weld where the filler neck meets the tank!!! In a panic I grabbed some JB weld and patched it up. Because the crack was so small and close to the filler neck, I could reach the crack from the inside and I was able to JB weld it from the inside and out. Going to wait a few days and re- apply. Wish me luck.

Good news, connected my fuel pump and turned the key and squirted fuel on the ground for a few seconds. I have been meaning to do that to make sure I have fuel comming out of my feed line. Without the engine running I am supposed to only get fuel for a few seconds right? when the engine is running it will Keep pumping correct? Figured it was a safety thing in case of an accident.

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Yeah pretty sure they just prime for a few seconds unless it sees rpm.

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Mine fit. Hope yours do too.

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

The more I have thought about it, I just don't trust JB weld to last forever.
I am worried I would have a problem at the perfectly wrong time. Going to a shop on Monday to have it properly welded up.
My two month build estimate is gone for sure now (going into month 4 soon), no big deal, as my dad is very kind to let me use his truck until mine is done.

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Nice build. You probably already covered this but what did you use for the ac Comp bracket?

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Thanks for the kind words!
used the Dirty Dingo Compressor mount:
http://www.dirtydingo.com/shop/produ...oducts_id=1418
let me know if you have any more questions.

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Here is a pic of where the crack in my filler neck is (can't see the crack now because of the JB weld I foolishly tried to fix).
Taking it to a shop Monday to get welded.
also another pic of how the motor looks now. Getting close, only a few fuel lines to connect once the radiator is done!

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

You are close. I think in the long run you will be happy you had it welded. When you're blasting down the highway in Mississippi doing 80 when its 90 degrees out and the AC is cranked up you will know the system will hold 15 psi... Speaking of AC, what is your plan there?

Re: 1987 R20 Suburban LQ4 4L80E swap
 

Yeah, that is what I was thinking too. It would always be on the back of my mind that it may "blow" at the wrong time. I took it yesterday to get welded. They called a little while ago and said it was ready. pressure tested and all was good. Only cost me $71!
Glad I had that done. Will pick it up tomorrow.

For A/C going with the Sadden 508 Compressor w/Dirty Dingo brackets. Keeping everything else stock, but will have some A/C hoses made once it's up and running again.