1996 454 tbi in 87 GMC. Easy swap??

[NASTY-LSX]

Thanks to this thread I had to buy another truck because I fell in love with his truck and being a stepside. You just dont see step sides around here anymore. http://www.gm***************/forum/sh...ght=circuitguy

To make a long story short, I ended up with a long bed fleetside. 87 GMC sierra TBI. Im going to shorten the frame for a shortbed and am in on the hunt for a stepside bed. I have a forum member here helping me out on a bed.

The truck has a tired but good 350 TBI with 700R4. Everything I got planned for the truck will take some time to plan.

My question is, How hard would it be to swap in a 96 454 TBI into my 87. I have the complete donor truck. 96 suburban 2500. Runs excellent. I know they get real bad gas mileage, but in a lighter truck with the tbi and true dual exhaust everything else stock, should make for a fun truck to drive.
Anyone done this swap??

[87Skier]

I can't personally say how difficult it would be, but I see the transfer case being an issue. Later Chevy's used independent front suspension and switched to driver side drop on the transfer case. Those 87's are passenger side drop. Also, I saw somewhere that 3/4 ton trucks used more splines on the transfer case than the 1/2 ton.

The wiring should be relatively straight forward. You are going to need most of the suburbans wiring.

Never dealt with the big block stuff, so I don't know how the engine will sit in there. I'm guessing at a minimum you will need a new engine cross member and possibly a transmission cross member.

Keep us posted on this! I have an 89 with a motor that will need rebuilding soon. Debating on whether to swap or rebuild.

[Domer]

1996 454 is not tbi. It's a vortec engine with mulitport injection. So if it is tbi, its 95 and older. The wiring isn't terribly bad, and just have the ecu tuned by a company to delete all the extra crap not needed. If it is a TBI, you need the ecu flashed. Vortec can be tuned with a program. I have my 97 tuned with out smog and all the extra crap that gm puts in their computers

[NASTY-LSX]

Originally Posted by 87Skier

I can't personally say how difficult it would be, but I see the transfer case being an issue. Later Chevy's used independent front suspension and switched to driver side drop on the transfer case. Those 87's are passenger side drop. Also, I saw somewhere that 3/4 ton trucks used more splines on the transfer case than the 1/2 ton.

The wiring should be relatively straight forward. You are going to need most of the suburbans wiring.

Never dealt with the big block stuff, so I don't know how the engine will sit in there. I'm guessing at a minimum you will need a new engine cross member and possibly a transmission cross member.

Keep us posted on this! I have an 89 with a motor that will need rebuilding soon. Debating on whether to swap or rebuild.

Thanks 87, I should have said the burb is not a 4x4 its 2Wd. It has a 400 trans. Im not using it. Im keeping my 700R4. The 454 is not powerful or built, so the tranny can handle it.

[Domer]

As for the physical swap part of it, get a set of big block towers and its a bolt in deal. The blocks didn't change as they got newer. If the 454 has a 400 behind it stock, its definitely an older tbi engine.
Posted via Mobile Device

[NASTY-LSX]

Originally Posted by Domer

1996 454 is not tbi. It's a vortec engine with mulitport injection. So if it is tbi, its 95 and older. The wiring isn't terribly bad, and just have the ecu tuned by a company to delete all the extra crap not needed. If it is a TBI, you need the ecu flashed. Vortec can be tuned with a program. I have my 97 tuned with out smog and all the extra crap that gm puts in their computers

Thanks Domer, your right its a 95 model. im sure its peanut headed and probably just a tank. only thing great about it is its TBI. Im thinking i would be better off with the 350 till i get my LS2.

[Domer]

If your ultimate plan is ls, then save your money and keep your SBC..
Posted via Mobile Device

[87Skier]

Originally Posted by Domer

If your ultimate plan is ls, then save your money and keep your SBC..
Posted via Mobile Device

I second that. No sense wasting time and money if your current setup works and will hold out until you get what you really want.

[andrewmp6]

Yeah if your truck runs and drives now i would wait and go ls.