Another ls swap from a new guy

[SlowGreen71]

Hey all. Been lurking a long time and just joined. Getting started on a 6.0/4l60e swap. Going into a 71 K20. Truck currently has a mid 70's 454, TH350 and a 205. So far I've put in a new wire harness from AAW replaced the carb and intake with edelbrocks and undone a lot of handy work from previous owners. I bought a complete 2001 Yukon Denali for a donor vehicle for $1,000. So far plans include keeping the stock radiator and welding in a bung for the steam line and using windstar fans. Motor mounts are sliders I bought on Amazon and have some plans drawn up to build a clean, simple bolt in crossmember. Transmission to transfer case will be a 205 using a 6 to four bolt adapter followed by a spacer to take up the length of the trans output shaft. Both from advance adapters. That'll leave about a 1/2 inch to trim off the shaft and it will be completely bolt together rather than changing the shaft while leaving the t-case in the stock position and moving the motor forward shy of a couple inches. For the fuel system I'll use the stock tank and pump regulator combo from speedway. I'll do my best to keep this updated. Anyway, questions, comments or suggestions are always welcome. I'm still figuring out how to correctly do the picture thing but, here is the recipient, donor and some of today's greasy work. So far the worst part was getting the DBW wire harness separate from rest of the harness

[ls1nova71]

Just an FYI, but you can get the jumper harnes between the TAC and pedal from an '03-05 truck so you dont have to try and dig it out of the '01 harness, but it sounds like you've already done it.

[SlowGreen71]

That'd be good to know for the next go round, thank you. I did however get it out cleanly.

[mongocanfly]

welcome...nice build....you could also switch to dbc throttle...that's what I did on mine. ..

[BR3W CITY]

That donor truck actually looks like it was in decent shape, is something terminally wrong with it?

[SlowGreen71]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

That donor truck actually looks like it was in decent shape, is something terminally wrong with it?

Nothing really wrong with. It was a nice rig in it's day. Completely loaded with a 6 inch lift. Inside smells like, well.. laziness I guess would be a good way to put it. It was wheeled pretty hard for awhile. The front end is shot. My test drive lasted 2 mins and 25 mph. Couldn't control it over bumps etc. otherwise just neglect and lack of maintenance. It did have a couple codes when I bought it. One was a miss which just turned out to be a very loose plug. Threads are still good. The other had something to do with a vacuum problem in the fuel system. I did find a vac line had come apart when I pulled the intake. Hopefully that was it.

[thehata1]

Awesome truck!

[SlowGreen71]

A little more progress today. Engine and trans out. I just pulled them together and left the t case hanging in place still attached to the driveline and a 4x4 to prop it on the crossmember. I did this alone today and it wasn't too bad although hindsight I'd pull the motor separately. Required a big turn in the engine bay and a lot of height for the picker. Bent my trans dipstick in the process. Here's a couple pics. Below also is the two adapters I got to better explain how I'll be mating this to a 205. I realize it does add some length to what will be the weaker spot of the set up, but this is solely a cruiser so it's not much concern. Thoughts?

[izzy_Britton]

Originally Posted by SlowGreen71

So far plans include keeping the stock radiator and welding in a bung for the steam line and using windstar fans.

There is also an option to tap the water pump and plumb the steam line to the pump.

There is a nice build where the builder does the steam line to the water pump thing.

HERE

I plan to duplicate this as well. I understand that the steam lines are supposed to be the upper most portion of the engine to allow for steam/vapor to vent the engine and exit out the fill hole in the sealed 99+ radiator overflow bottles, but i believe that if the steam line is plumbed to the water pump, the steam/air/vapor will eventually be cycle out of the upper most portion of the engine and exit via the radiator in the same manor as originally designed, only differently.

If you were closer, i would be totally interested in the carcass of your donor truck.

[SlowGreen71]

Originally Posted by izzy_Britton

There is also an option to tap the water pump and plumb the steam line to the pump.

There is a nice build where the builder does the steam line to the water pump thing.

HERE

I plan to duplicate this as well. I understand that the steam lines are supposed to be the upper most portion of the engine to allow for steam/vapor to vent the engine and exit out the fill hole in the sealed 99+ radiator overflow bottles, but i believe that if the steam line is plumbed to the water pump, the steam/air/vapor will eventually be cycle out of the upper most portion of the engine and exit via the radiator in the same manor as originally designed, only differently.

If you were closer, i would be totally interested in the carcass of your donor truck.

Thanks Izzy, I'll look more into this. I'd prefer find the cleanest way to do it. I'd like everything to appear as stock as possible.

[Devil Pup]

Nice looking truck. I really dig the green. How many miles are on the motor/trans set up? I ran the windstar fans on my swap and they keep my truck nice and cool, good choice. You're gonna love the LS.

[SlowGreen71]

Originally Posted by Devil Pup

Nice looking truck. I really dig the green. How many miles are on the motor/trans set up? I ran the windstar fans on my swap and they keep my truck nice and cool, good choice. You're gonna love the LS.

About 180k. More than I'd like it to have but it runs well and for the price it seems to be worth it. You have any pics of how you mounted the windstar fans?

[Devil Pup]

Originally Posted by SlowGreen71

About 180k. More than I'd like it to have but it runs well and for the price it seems to be worth it. You have any pics of how you mounted the windstar fans?

I do. post #94 on my build thread. it might be different than yours though because i have an aftermarket radiator.

[1970 CST Short Wide]

Originally Posted by SlowGreen71

Thanks Izzy, I'll look more into this. I'd prefer find the cleanest way to do it. I'd like everything to appear as stock as possible.

I had the Rad shop put a nipple in my top tank to run steam line to. I have my original rad and it works fine.

Looks like you got a nice build going. Welcome to the site and bears of luck with your build. You’ll always fine some kinda help here

Steve
1970 CST

[SlowGreen71]

I ended up brazing a 1/8" npt fitting into the upper tank. Figured I could run the steam line along the upper radiator hose and it'd blend in fairly well.

[BR3W CITY]

moving along dude

[SlowGreen71]

In between kids and work I attempted to get the engine and accessories cleaned up a little. Lots of super clean and pressure washing. Got a little time to get some motor mounts done. Looks like everything will clear easily. A little finish welding and some paint and they will be finished. I'm not a fabricator by any means and I've definitely built prettier things but these should work. I bent up some 3/16 plate into a c channel for frame insterts bolted into the original mount locations on the frame and left them long to make future combinations of motor placements easier. The rest is cut out of 1/4 plate and bolts together. It's a little hard to see but the crossmember is removable to access the oil pan if need be.

[SlowGreen71]

Aluminum template I cut out for the mounts. Made layout much easier. For a fuel return I'm using a new fuel sender. I drilled a hole and bent up some fuel line from napa. All they had was this coated stuff. Hopefully the poly coating doesn't affect soldering it in place too bad. Also got my radiator flushed and brazing in an 1/8 npt bung for my steam line.

[El_C10]

Awesome work!! following this thread for sure.

[SlowGreen71]

Little more work done today. Got my fuel system mostly laid out. Still have to bend the hard lines from the sender to the flex lines at the pump. I redid my motor mounts. They didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped the first time. Anyway, here's some pics. If anyone sees anything that could work better, please share!

[izzy_Britton]

I really like the way you did your fuel sending unit setup. Looks pretty slick!

Keep it up.

[SlowGreen71]

Originally Posted by izzy_Britton

I really like the way you did your fuel sending unit setup. Looks pretty slick!

Keep it up.

Thanks Izzy. I'm trying to use as little braided line as possible and keep the whole works from looking too hokey.

[SlowGreen71]

Slow but steady progress. I got the engine and trans put in place for the last time. So far everything has been fairly smooth. Getting down to the odds and ends. Also got my windstar fan. They fit surprisingly well. Simple brackets top and bottom.

[SlowGreen71]

Front clip is back on and more falling into place. It's in the home run. The harness was a rework from easy Efi in Vancouver wa. These guys were a pleasure to work with. So far I recommend them. It layed out and install was a snap. I picked up an auxiliary battery tray out of mid 90's chevy diesel. Took a little cutting and welding to work but it was pretty close. Of course I forgot to take pics. Used and s10 ecm mount behind the headlight on the core support. It's tight but works well. Dbw box mounted near the wash reservoir. Still working on getting a mount for the fuse box made and need to pick up a relay kit for the fans. Anyone have a suggestion there? Otherwise we're down to trans cooler lines, final wiring, new fluids and see if it'll fire off.