6.0 or Bust!!!

[buckshot305]

Thanks to Glock, Mennace, 72SuperCheyenne, and many others I am going to be doing yet another 6.0 swap. I have been lurking for some time now and have read every page of the aforementioned member's build threads. I'm soaking up as much info as possible, and this site has, by far, the most and the best information available! Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to stop wrenching and post pics and update their threads. I know how hard it is to put down the wrench! In 2006 I did a "cab-on, bed-off" restoration on my 83 K10 SWB that was my first truck. I still have it but it turned out so nice that I'm scared to drive it. I wish I would have gone the Ls route on that project, but instead it has a GMPP 350/330HP crate, SM465, NP205 and 4.10s. So needless to say its not much of a highway driver.

I'm buying a really nice 87 Silverado R10 Short Bed/Fleetside this weekend. It had a nice repaint 7 years ago, and the PO has spent some cash on the interior - new dash pad (not just a cover), new door panels, reupholstered bench seat, etc. It has all power options, cruise, ac etc (This is a big deal to me becuase my 83 has a rubber floor mat and no power or AC) It currently has a 350 TBI and 700R4 with a recent rebuild. I'm really excited about it and can't wait to get started on the swap.

For the swap I'm planning to go the LQ4/LQ9 and 4l80E route. If the budget permits I may have some head work done and do a cam swap. I really want to run a set of true long tube headers. I don't like how the S&P's have such a huge flange at the collector. So my first question is this: Does anyone make a long tube header for these swaps? Next is the A/C - I have seen that it is possible to run the stock LS compressor without cutting the frame, but exactly which mounts or what modification will I need to use to do this?
Also, will the stock ls compressor work with the 87's A/C system, if converted to R134? There's not much info on actually integrating the ls compressor to the truck's factory system. Does the factory cruise control switch on the turn signal lever use the same wiring that a late model switch uses?

The swap may get off to a slow start as I still have to save some more money and do some serious planning and budgeting first. However once my budget and plan is in place the build will be pretty fast paced. I did the full resto on my 83 in just under 4 months, working every single weekend and almost every single evening. I was able to knock it out fast becuase I had a well laid plan and a realistic budget and timeline. So from that experience, I'm sure things will progress smoothly and quickly, but not until I have my ducks in a row. Sorry for the long winded post, but I wanted to introduce myself and my background. I'll get some pics posted of my soon to be mine 87 when I get her home. (If I can figure out how) For now here's a link to my 83:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDswdajaWks

Thanks,
Travis

[bigdnew]

Gonna keep my eye on your build. I am doing the same swap in my '86.

[Jonboy]

Right on. Looking forward to seeing this.

[STOCKISH]

Glad to see another swap going on. The LS compressor worked perfect on mine without cutting the frame. I just used the adapter plates that are on ebay or you can use the carshopinc plates like Glock did. You have to modify the plate but it takes all of about 15 minutes to do so. There is a write up on the plate mod in Glocks thread. The rest of the A/C system on the 87 will be just fine. Good luck and post lots of pics.

[menace121978]

hey buckshot! i like the '83! is that the one you were scared to drive?

if there's anything i can do to help let me know. its been a learning experience and i still have a ways to go and a few things to figure out. post up some pics of the new truck this weekend

[79gmc5.3]

Yea go for it there are a lot of people who can guide you through and this forum has an answer for about everything that can come up. I have read about every thread that is doing one of these swaps, and except for a few things they are a carbon copy of each other. The guys on here are more than willing to answer any question on how they solved their problems and have a lot of pics to illustrate. Welcome to the best LSX swap forum on the web

[buckshot305]

Thanks guys! Like I said, it will get off to a slow start while I gather parts, but once everything is in place its on! I'm trying to find a electronic speedo gauge cluster, but no luck. I can't remember who bought the 87 cluster that had the electronic speedo, but is it possible that my 87 already has one? There is a slight noise that sounds like it's coming from behind the dash that increases with speed - so I suspect that it has a mech. speedo. Any thoughts?

Anyone dealt with Hot Rod Revolutions in Cumming, GA? I spoke with the owner today and he was very nice to deal with. He said he could set me up with any motor trans combo, engine mounts, modify my harness and tune the ecm. He even said that he would build a trans mount for free if he could have my truck for a few days of R&D. I'm thinking about trying to get a "package deal" where I buy an engine/trans, mounts, and have him do the harness and ecm for a "package price". He also told me he has a 85 C10 shop truck with a carb'd genIII and TH350. He told me that with his mounts Pacesetter F-body headers fit with no modifications. He is supposed to be sending me pics from his truck, I'll post them when I get them.

The truck in the video is my 83 K10 that I built in 06. I dd it for a year and put 15K on it before I parked it. I still drive it a good bit, but I'm scared of 2 things: parking lots and other drivers, but it doesn't keep me from enjoying it. If I had the patience to do it I would post a retrospective build thread on it, as I have over 300 pictures of the whole process. It's been 4 years since I've had a project, so I can't wait to start on this one. I've always wanted a 2wd Brother for my K10!

[STOCKISH]

The instrument cluster from a 91 Suburban is what you'll be looking for. Yours has a mechanical speedo.

[buckshot305]

I forgot to add that I have been going back and forth all day on my transmission choice. I'm thinking about doing a T56 to be different. What do yall think? Would it hold up to 400HP/400ft-lbs and 4200 lbs?

I'm also undecided on a 4L65/70 vs the 4L80. The parasitic loss of the 80 is holding me back a little. Does anyone have any mpg numbers on a 6.0/4l80 swap vs a 6.0/4L60 swap? Educated guesses will suffice too.

I wanna know what yall think - 3 pedals or 2?

Travis

[buckshot305]

I picked up my new 87 Short/Fleet Today! As promised here are some pics.

[menace121978]

WOW!! what a clean truck man! CONGRATS!!!!!!

[buckshot305]

This truck is all original with the exception of a repaint. According to the build sheet in the glovebox it was originally two tone Blue and Silver. You can find a few hints of blue on the firewall, but whoever painted it did it right. I was shocked to find it still had all of the smog equipment, right down to the original cat! I also found the original owner's manual, maintenance book, and other papers and a second full set of manuals! I actually have 3 maint. books, one of which looks to be a reproduction and the other had a completely different VIN on it, but I do have one with the correct VIN. My Dad has a 71 GTO 455HO 4spd that is all original, unrestored and is numbers matching. He's big on the numbers matching thing, but I'm all about having a truck that suits my tastes and not a build sheet. That being said, it's pretty cool to have a "numbers matching, mostly original" truck. My 83 K10 has a C10 VIN, and a bunch of mix and matched parts. When I stripped it for paint I found a rainbow of colors, and have no idea on the history of the truck, so I'm really excited to have all of this information on this truck. Based on all the papers I've found in the glove box, I am the 4th owner, and the truck was sold in TN and then spent the rest of its life in GA.

[buckshot305]

Originally Posted by menace121978

WOW!! what a clean truck man! CONGRATS!!!!!!

Thanks! Now I REALLY can't wait to drop in some modern muscle! Luckily though, it's a driver as it sits. Now I just need to sell my 2500HD to fund this project. Anyone need a toy hauler?

[79gmc5.3]

Very nice!!!!!!! We are practitally neighbors I live near lake Allatoona in Acworth. Anyways that is a great find! And you can't go wrong with this type of swap.

[buckshot305]

Originally Posted by 79gmc5.3

Very nice!!!!!!! We are practitally neighbors I live near lake Allatoona in Acworth. Anyways that is a great find! And you can't go wrong with this type of swap.

In the context of the internet we might as well be next door neighbors! I've been following your thread, and would love to come see your truck once its finished. It would be nice to see the swap in person, and get a better hold on everything I've been reading on this forum.

[menace121978]

i just bounced over here from Josh's build and was looking at your pics and thinking "man, that motor looks outta place in there!"

[79gmc5.3]

Originally Posted by menace121978

i just bounced over here from Josh's build and was looking at your pics and thinking "man, that motor looks outta place in there!"

Yea it does Got so use to looking at that 6.0L in there that the old one does look out of place. Yea I hope to be finished in a week or so and we'll get together. Anything I can do to help, let me know.

[STOCKISH]

Hopefully this is what you'll be seeing before long...

[menace121978]

^^^^^ thats what i'm talking about!

[BGRAFX]

Man that looks good! Where do you guys get your 6.0 engines? what's the going price?

[STOCKISH]

I got everything for $1500. Thats a steal though.

[78-5.3]

are you using a stock late model top rad hose?? that what i used !!

[STOCKISH]

Yes I will. Still havent picked one up yet though.

[79gmc5.3]

Originally Posted by BGRAFX

Man that looks good! Where do you guys get your 6.0 engines? what's the going price?

Got mine for $1500.00 also. But a friend of mine got his for 600.00 but it had 135,000 miles mine had 45k

[bigdnew]

Got mine for 1100.00 with 26,000