My 98 K2500 Heart Transplant

[carnutdallas]

I just joined the group but wanted to share my foray into engine transplant. I have a 1998 K2500 Reg Cab with the 5.7ltr. Bought the truck with a bad engine, so I have no idea what else could be wrong. But brakes look good. Driveline looks good. Tranny fluid looked good. Overall condition is nice. I love this truck for simplicity - Cheyenne, so no power stuff to worry about. I do have cruise though It has the big tranny of course, which is a must for me. It already had full Ranch style bumpers. Gooseneck hitch and brake controller. Bed is in good shape and overall body condition is nice, better than average for a 13 year old truck.

I will document as a I go a long with pics and daily updates. This is how I bought it 2 weeks ago:



Today, I bought a set of later model Silverado HD aluminum wheels and 285/75-16 Tires. Went to the shop and mounted them up and decided to clean up the interior and start prepping to pull the engine. I pulled 95% of the harness, drained the coolant and removed upper fan shroud, fan, breather assy and coolant related items. Truck has a head gasket issue and the PO drove it into the ground. She is way, way tight. Will not turn over with out pulling plugs. Lots of rust and oil in coolant so I am putting in a brand new GM Crate engine. The 4-bolt main made for this rig. 5 year - 100k warranty. I am getting it for $1977.00 I could do a local re-builder for $1000, but the GM engine comes pretty ready to go. I hope to have it done in the next two weeks. Will keep you posted. Here are some pics of where I ended up after 3.5hrs of work today.





Have a great week guys! -Rob

[jb1016]

Looks great with the new wheels. Good luck with the swap!

[carnutdallas]

Todays update - Bought the cheaper engine

Had to save some money and I just could not fork over the $2K plus a Radiator, water pump, heater core, new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, etc...needed for a proper swap. I still get a decent warranty and I am not going to drive this truck 7-8k miles a year,so should be good - I hope. I really wanted a crate motor, but need the truck up and running with lots of other new parts. Paid $1120 for a reman-motor.

Will update again this weekend. -Rob

[bpeters5814]

Good luck with the swap. Nice looking truck, except the blue interior! Just kidding, I'm just not a fan of that interior color. Hope the swap goes well. I need to get pics of my truck up, but the frickin' alternator I just put on a month ago is already out. It's a '94 K2500 reg. cab long box. Hope you can get yours up and running soon.

[carnutdallas]

Originally Posted by bpeters5814

Good luck with the swap. Nice looking truck, except the blue interior! Just kidding, I'm just not a fan of that interior color. Hope the swap goes well. I need to get pics of my truck up, but the frickin' alternator I just put on a month ago is already out. It's a '94 K2500 reg. cab long box. Hope you can get yours up and running soon.

I hear you on the blue. Not my favorite. I like the gray or dare I say red. But blue will do. At the end of the day, I do like that it does hide dirt pretty well. The gray looks bad after a few years. The interior looks really good in person and has held up well for its age and 202K miles. Get that alternator replaced with a good unit soon. Have a great weekend.

[carnutdallas]

Update...got the motor out, what a pain. I hope I can get every little clip and retainer back into place. I will ad pics tomorrow. Off to bed to get up early and get parts swapped over to new engine and back into truck Sunday...

[carnutdallas]

Done!! Started Friday evening at 5pm...had old motor out by 10pm. Went home and crashed...back to shop Saturday morning at 8pm...ran to get new heater hoses and drivers side exhaust manifold from dealer....swapped all accessories from old to new engine worked till noon Saturday. Home for Soccer games and family time until 5pm Saturday. Stayed at shop until 10pm finishing up engine dressing and build. Church on Sunday till noon. Back to shop and installed motor. Done with complete install and fluids with new rad and all accessories by 5:30. NO START!!!! AAAGGHHHH!! Home by 9pm with no fire . Code for bad crank sensor!! New crank sensor and still no fire!!! Finally realized I stabbed distributor on exhaust stroke and not compression for #1 TDC. Idiot! Fixed it today. Fired up and purred like a kitten 60 psi cold oil pressure. Little oil leak at timing cover. Figures. Stayed a few hours dropped pan and fixed, I hope. Should be all good. Will drive it tomorrow!!

Here are pics in order. First ones are for install reference before and then a few of empty engine hole, then new motor assy and finally all done. Like factory accept for coated manifolds. We will see how long that last. Already messed up my wrinkle finished valve covers. Oh well it is a truck first and foremost.

[bpeters5814]

Well, it looks pretty! Good job on the swap. Always wondered if one could be done in a weekend, so that answers that question. What's next on the agenda?

[carnutdallas]

Just detailed it and drove it home tonight! Drives great. Will need new Idler and Pitman, but not too bad. Tracked well down the road. I am going to install 4 new shocks (Bilsteins) and align it too. I have a CEL for distributor timing. I am off one tooth. Will fix that tomorrow, no biggie. I am going to replace mirrors, buff out all lenses front and rear and re-spray fender flares. I may have a little gear whine in the rear. I will live with that for a bit. Do a fluid change and then see how it goes. I have the LSD option, so I will want to rebuild it soon, so I do not damage that.

I LOVE THIS TRUCK!

I hope the Good Lord lets me keep it for many years to come.

Will keep ya posted. -Rob

[carnutdallas]

Well, finished a lot over the weekend. Will add pics tomorrow. It did not need Idler and Pitman....oops. Had an extremely bad Rt upper and lower ball joints. I went ahead and did new brakes, right front axle and the ball joints. Getting it aligned tomorrow. Also add Jimmi Jammers and some additional anti-theft devices. I hate to add up what I have spent

[carnutdallas]

Here are the latest pics. Pretty much done. I need to buff out all light lenses and repair seat cover; otherwise done for now. I do have a slight oil leak at my pan, due to poor workmanship - mainly me not dabbing the corners with silicone before installing it...ugghhh. Oh well Winter project.

[jb1016]

Looks tough!!

[hossrocker]

masterful work. for a less skilled mechanic, would you be willing to post detailed photos of the oil cooler lines (particularly, the first hard pipe length from the oil filter adapter to the soft hose)? i am treed, no paddle.

[carnutdallas]

^^^^Thanks!. Sorry, that truck is long gone. I am plowing through my 1999 K2500 Suburban now.

[hossrocker]

might found myself a paddle. thanks, anyway. yours is still masterful work.