89 1500 parts ????

[Lo78]

I have a 78 short bed and i was wondering if the leaf springs from an 89 1500 will fit on my 78. Also the engine i want to put in my 78 and was wondering if the 89 came with a stock 350. It has tbi so what do i need to do to go with a carb. Thanks Steve

[bitchin85]

it could be a tbi 305 or a 350. you can either go carbed and swap the intake and carb, or you can take all the stuff out of the 89 and put it in the 78 to keep it fuel injected

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=317519

there you go it your going that route

[Lo78]

how hard is it to keep the tbi set up. And will this engine bolt up to my stock tranny. It is a 3 speed , converted to the floor

[ChaseDale3and8]

Rear leaf springs off of an 88 or newer pickup won't fit the 73-87s. ..Joe

[Damien]

Originally Posted by ChaseDale3and8

Rear leaf springs off of an 88 or newer pickup won't fit the 73-87s. ..Joe

The rear springs from the newer trucks are longer. Off roaders use the longer springs to give their '73-'87 trucks a couple inches of lift.

[Lo78]

well its a 350 5.7 so thats good.i did a compression test on it today and all the cylinders except one is beetween 175 and 180. one cylinder is at 148. So i guess thats not to bad. What do you mean about the knock off plate , cant i just use a electric fuel pump. I guess what i will need to buy is a intake manifold, carb, and electric fuel pump. and it should bolt right up to my saginaw 3 speed. if i am headed in the right direction let me know. thanks for all the replies so far. Steve

[old Rusty C10]

you have to look on the motor where the fuel pump is and see if its got a fuel pump block off plate. If the motor has one of those then chances are ( as long as it hasnt been messed with internally) you can add your manual fuel pump and carb with intake. You will also have to plug up sensors and put the correct ones in for your truck. Im betting the 89 came with a 305 as most are stock that way with an 8.. it could be a 350 tho youd need to check the numbers.
You can buy the entire harness motor and computer from the EFI and install it in the 78 but its alot of work and i have no idea as to the tricks of that swap. there are threads within the forum on it tho

[Driveway Dreams]

You are on the right path. Don't mess with a mechanical pump. You can get a good affordable electric pump for very reasonable at the parts store. Then if you have a 350 now, you might even be able to use your intake and carb on the new motor.

[Lo78]

inline six. what should i do about the oil cooler lines on the 350. should i get and oil cooler and set that up or just cap em off

[Damien]

Originally Posted by Driveway Dreams

You are on the right path. Don't mess with a mechanical pump. You can get a good affordable electric pump for very reasonable at the parts store. Then if you have a 350 now, you might even be able to use your intake and carb on the new motor.

The center two bolts on the heads have a different angle starting in '87, so you will either need an intake for the '87 up heads, or open up the holes on the intake to make a pre '87 intake work. Why not keep the TBI?

You can remove the oil filter adapter with the cooler lines and get one with out them, or get a spin on filter adapter. WIX 24061. you can also take one off an older block.

If it were me and I was going to use a carb, I would use a mechanical pump if there is a lobe on the cam for it. Mechanical pumps are about $15. You would also need the pump push rod and the adapter plate to go on the block.

[dropd80s]

I swapped a TBI into a 82SWB not too long ago, I could never get a straight answer aout there being a lobe on the cam for the fuel pump. Im guessing that there probably isn't one. I used a Mr. Gasket Electric Pump they had on the shelf at O'Reillys. Much easier IMO. Just make sure the pump you use is rated at a PSI the carb can handle

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by dropd80s

I swapped a TBI into a 82SWB not too long ago, I could never get a straight answer aout there being a lobe on the cam for the fuel pump. Im guessing that there probably isn't one. I used a Mr. Gasket Electric Pump they had on the shelf at O'Reillys. Much easier IMO. Just make sure the pump you use is rated at a PSI the carb can handle

I am in the process of rebuilding my TBI motor and have retrofit a newer Vortec truck hydraulic roller cam setup into it. I have the stock truck TBI cam sitting on the shelf. I will take a look at it tonight and see if it has a fuel pump lobe on it or not.

[Lo78]

i would like to keep the tbi but, i think that is over my head. i dont know how the set up would be . I really need to keep it becouse ca. wants you to keep the set up for their smog rules

[Lo78]

what do i need to pull of the 89 so the tbi will work in my 78. it would be nice to have the tbi set up . that will also save me 300 or 400 on a new carb. thanks steve

[68 TT]

Pull the entire engine, transmission, engine wire harness and under dash harness as well as the fuel pump out of the tank and all the fuel lines from the tank to the throttle body.

You will need a speedometer cluster out of an 89 to 91 Suburban / Blazer and a fuel tank and sending unit from an 87 truck with the 5.7 TBI motor.

The tank you can get new with a pickup assembly and fuel pump for about $180 plus shipping.

Pull the under dash ECM carrier out of an 87 to 91 square body so you can mount the ECM out of harms way. Also pull the pedal assembly out of the same square body so you have the second switch on the brake pedal that controls the TCC lockup function. You might as well get the steering column too so you have the four speed auto capable column shifter and don't have to spend the money putting in an aftermarket floor shifter.

You will need to plumb the throttle body to the fuel tank but much of the 89 fuel line and filter system should work with minor tweaking. My 90 had cool stainless steel braided lines coming off the throttle body that ties into hard lines on the frame.

Getting power to the right wires and proper grounding will be the hardest part and that is not that hard. There should be a power distribution block in the 89 that you can retrofit to get the proper fused power sources.

You can put the rear end in too if you don't have the truck arm rear suspension.

[Lo78]

yup 68tt you proved 1 thing to me. its way over my head

[Lo78]

the 89 chevy still has everything except the radiator. what should i take along with the engine and tranny that will work on my 78 shortbed. Will the steering column work? and where is the computer located on this model. do i just take the wiring harness that is going to the computer so the tbi will work? I have so many ????????????? thanks Steve

[cjracing15]

68 tt with all due respect, you do not have to use all that stuff from the tbi trucks that you have listed. On my swap I still have the orig dash, colum (you do need a nuteral satey switch from a tbi truck) orig trans, and he can run a external electric fuel pump if he is going to just run one tank.

If you wnat to go this route read this thread it will answer a bunch of quetions. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=317519

[Lo78]

hey cj is it a pretty easy to do ? are you happy with the way yours runs compaired to a carb? where and what do i do to find the neutral saftey switch? thanks steve

[Lo78]

cj can you tell me how to go about getting everything out of the 89 that i am going to need, to swap everything over. where is the computer located? and how to get all the wires out that i am going to use. thank you steve

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by Lo78

cj can you tell me how to go about getting everything out of the 89 that i am going to need, to swap everything over. where is the computer located? and how to get all the wires out that i am going to use. thank you steve

If I remember right the computer on the 89 is above or next to the glove box.

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by Lo78

cj can you tell me how to go about getting everything out of the 89 that i am going to need, to swap everything over. where is the computer located? and how to get all the wires out that i am going to use. thank you steve

If you disconnect the ECM from the harness all the connectors will pass through the firewall grommet so the harness can come out with the engine. Just take your time and disconnect all the wires that lead off of the computer under the dash and you will be fine. It is not as hard as it sounds.

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by cjracing15

68 tt with all due respect, you do not have to use all that stuff from the tbi trucks that you have listed. On my swap I still have the orig dash, colum (you do need a nuteral satey switch from a tbi truck) orig trans, and he can run a external electric fuel pump if he is going to just run one tank.

If you wnat to go this route read this thread it will answer a bunch of quetions. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=317519

Yes, he could just retrofit the TBI system to the existing motor in his truck, use an external fuel pump and keep his current trans. This is the route I may go this winter just to get the carb off my truck but I was assuming he wanted to use all the parts he could from the 89 donor he has and make it as functional as it was in the 89.

His truck is a 78 so it won't have many of the things he needs to use all the parts on the 89. He won't have the electronic speedo needed with the 89 trans and ECM so the easiest thing is to get the 89 to 91 cluster. He also won't be able to shift the 700R4/4L60 properly without a 4-speed auto steering column and this will also get him the neutral safety switch he needs too. The pedal assembly he may be able to get the TCC switch bracket to fit the older assembly but all these parts are all cheap. I can get gauge clusters for $17, steering columns for $22 and pedal assemblies for $13. For about $60 it is well worth it to do it right.

I hate the noise of the external fuel pumps, they are not cheap and they don't last as long as the in-tank pumps. I ran one for a while but in the end switched to an in-tank pump and was much happier.

The steering column from the 89 may work on the 78 but I don't know for sure. For the minimal cost of the correct one it is no big deal if it doesn't fit.

[78-5.3]

Originally Posted by 68 TT

Yes, he could just retrofit the TBI system to the existing motor in his truck, use an external fuel pump and keep his current trans. This is the route I may go this winter just to get the carb off my truck but I was assuming he wanted to use all the parts he could from the 89 donor he has and make it as functional as it was in the 89.

His truck is a 78 so it won't have many of the things he needs to use all the parts on the 89. He won't have the electronic speedo needed with the 89 trans and ECM so the easiest thing is to get the 89 to 91 cluster. He also won't be able to shift the 700R4/4L60 properly without a 4-speed auto steering column and this will also get him the neutral safety switch he needs too. The pedal assembly he may be able to get the TCC switch bracket to fit the older assembly but all these parts are all cheap. I can get gauge clusters for $17, steering columns for $22 and pedal assemblies for $13. For about $60 it is well worth it to do it right.


I hate the noise of the external fuel pumps, they are not cheap and they don't last as long as the in-tank pumps. I ran one for a while but in the end switched to an in-tank pump and was much happier.

The steering column from the 89 may work on the 78 but I don't know for sure. For the minimal cost of the correct one it is no big deal if it doesn't fit.

hijack
im looking for an 90 -91 blazer-burb elec speedo anyone;-)

[Lo78]

hey 68tt what is this power distribution block in the 89 . and why do i need to take the pedals out of the 89, and when you say im going to have to plum new fuel lines why is that wont the fuel lines work that i take out of the 89 ? They work in the 89. IM gonna go for it the whole tbi build ? Does any1 know if the steering column for the 89 will work in my 78? am i gonna have to do something with my drive shaft when i put the tranny from the 89 in my 78? what kind of tranny will that 89 have is it a 400th? thanks steve