Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Still working on transmission lines, started on the oil cooler side….

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

More of the transmission lines

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Here's the cushion clamp installed, and the finished product. I don't really like using compression fittings, but it was the only way to use the stock components from the 06' truck because of the "push connect" type fittings the factory uses. I'll probably try to come up with something better later. Greg

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

IT LIVES!!!……….I got to this point and hooked up only the wires I needed to start it up. I slung wires every which way, and it started on the first try. There's still a lot of work to be done, but at least I know it fires up and will go into gear. I can't say enough about Bill from BP Automotive, the guy has literally answered the phone or returned my call every time I've tried to contact him. Thanks, Greg

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Lines look good. Glad to hear about the engine, should only get better from here...Jim

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

I really like what you did with the trans cooler. I may have to borrow that idea!

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

At start up I had a gas leak, an exhaust leak, and an oil leak. The gas leak was easy, I didn't tighten one of the fittings all the way. The exhaust leak is going to be fixed at the exhaust shop, they missed a small bit at the top of one of the seams when they welded it (not happy with that or the job they did overall). The oil leak was the oil cooler block off, where I had drilled and threaded the port for the oil sender. I have ordered one of these to fix that issue: http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...Term=555-23681

I don't have any of the gauges hooked up, so I have not let it run more than 2 or 3 minutes at a time. I'll start running wires with permanent connections, and wiring up the gauges this week. Thanks, Greg

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

I need to find a good (above average?) black and chrome gauge bezel, if anyone has or knows where I can find one. I don't want to use a new one, I think it would stick out. My interior is in good shape, but not new. I have contacted a few board members, no luck so far. Greg

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Ill look through my parts and see if I have a decent one if so im driving through waco on the 31st

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Congrats! I did something similar with my trans cooler.

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Thanks guys! Little progress this week, started wiring the gauge panel.

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Received a few things in the mail this week also. The new block off plate, to fix the oil leak, it's well made and beefy. I went with the Holley A/C brackets with a sanden compressor mount. Greg

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Would this work? Not a chrome bezel but a nice dusty black one.

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Still working on the wiring. I'm probably going way more into this than I have to. I want to keep the bulkhead connector on the outside of the firewall able to be separated into the two halves. I have moved a couple wires, first the original coil wire is now the ignition on for the ECM. I have moved that wire to the left side of the block. Second the oil sender now has a wire, I used one side of the old amp gauge to get it up to the cluster and moved the lead to the left side of the block. The new gauge package has a volt meter and only requires a positive and negative lead to work.

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Last, the fuel gauge wire, I de-terminated the lead on the front of the of the fuse block, swapped out the male connector for a female connector and routed it thru the left side of the block. Pic #2 & #3 are of an extra fuse block I had laying around. Greg

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Excellent planning and work!

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

I recommend ordering some of these Packard 56 type terminals before doing this, they are easy and make your install look factory when routing wires thru your firewall bulk head connector. Greg

I ordered most of my connectors here:
http://theelectricaldepot.com/index....43e4aaf857036e

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Things have been going slow lately. I've been tidying up the wiring and working on the mount for the air box, and some other things. Started with the support for the battery tray from the 06 truck, and made it fit the core support.

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

If you're looking at the pictures above and thinking that bracket is mounted at an angle, it is. The first was straight, then I realized that the bottom of the air box was at a slight angle to the top. Had to make a trip to pick n pull and start over with another bracket. So, next a flat plate to connect the support bracket and the box mounting plate. If you look back at the battery box I made using the tray from the 06 truck, you will see I cut a two holed mounting tab off it (post #149). That was welded onto this plate and used to bolt it to the inner fender, the inner fender had to be worked a bit also. I thought about welding all this together, like the original battery box was, but this allows for disassembly for access to wiring and some adjustment of the mount. Greg

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Back from powder coat and installed.

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

I got side tracked by some other projects and the mess under my dash. I have been wanting to try this intermittent wiper set up for a while now:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=32017

This works, but I made a few of my own changes

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

First was the mounting of the knob. The knob that comes with the switch has an aluminum bushing that is useful.

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Use about a #18 (or about a .169) drill to oversize the threaded hole in the factory knob. Drill the factory knob out with a 1/2" to about a .390 depth, be careful not to push thru. I did that with the standard knob in the pic above, it helps to have a practice one. The deluxe knobs are easier because there is a hole in the bottom and you can see the back of the stainless to see when you're getting close. I recommend doing this in a drill press BTW. The bushing can be worked out of the other knob with a pick, it has a knurled place about 1/8 wide about even with the set screw, once you get past that it goes easier. Greg

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Next the tricky part, use a nut/bushing from the headlight switch. Order a 7/16"-28 tap, I got mine from McMaster Carr, about $11 plus shipping, I think the total was around $20. Remove the plastic bushing inside BEFORE you drill it out, it will cause you problems and theres not a lot of extra material. Drill the center of that out with a 25/64" drill, then tap 7/16"-28. BE CAREFUL, it is close, and there is not a lot of extra material, but it does work.

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

More pics

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Second, in that thread for the wipers, some were trimming the lip of the dash. I found that doesn't have to happen. The switch hits at the top and the inside lip of the dash, trimming that lip didn't seem to gain anything. Instead, make a shim for the bottom inside, about the same height as the lip itself. My shim, or spacer came out to about 1/4" X 5/16". using a 1/4" piece of aluminum, I just sanded it to the same height as the lip. Then epoxied it to the back side of the dash. That gave a solid even mount for the top and bottom of the switch. I did file the lip up in the corner to allow the switch to be centered in the hole, But I only filed a fraction of an inch, nothing that would be noticeable.

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

With all of that this was the most important thing. Follow the wiring diagram completely in that thread and you will have low speed only. I spent a day alone on this. The wiring for the relays is correct, if you look at the orientation of the factory plug (the 3 wire one that plugs into the stock switch) it is backward or upside-down. If you wire this up as I did and have low speed only swap the hi and low speed wires at that plug and all will be well. Also all the Cole Hersee switches with the 75600- part number look to be the same as long as they are 12v. If you get the 75600-02, it comes with a 6 wire packard 56 connector already on it, and you can order the female connector #2977044 and wire directly to it. I found the switches at a local big truck repair shop here in Waco (Truckmotive) for $59.

Relays I used: https://theelectricaldepot.com/index...93964d5ce92511

6 way connector: https://theelectricaldepot.com/index...93964d5ce92511

Use these 3 way connectors to replace the factory plug for the original switch: FEMALE: https://theelectricaldepot.com/index...d709cb2db5040b MALE: https://theelectricaldepot.com/index...d709cb2db5040b

I used these also to hold the relays, the bases lock together: https://theelectricaldepot.com/index...93964d5ce92511

Last thing, order the terminal connectors for the relays if you use those bases: https://theelectricaldepot.com/index...93964d5ce92511

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Subsribed

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

yes same here been kicking the idea around and think im diving in "the swap" and this thread is AMAZING!!! subscribed. ceige :metal:

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Great work, I like all the diy work.

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

I want to update this thread, since the truck is on the road now. This is the last pic from the wiper mod, I used the mounting from the washer pump, made a bracket and mounted the three relays to it.

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Pics of the last bit of wiring under the dash, and the gauge panel installed. As I stated before the truck is now on the road, licensed, tagged and inspected. There are about 200 miles on it so far and all is well. Thanks to everyone who commented and helped me out along the way. I'll get some final pics with the truck all back together as soon as I get some time and the weather is nice. Greg

Re: First Steps LS Swap......
 

Very thorough thread. Thank you for all of the guidance you have given the rest of us that are planning the same. Last post in 2015. I'll be referencing it in a build in 2018. That's a great testament.