Drama's Build- '88 Crew

[drama808]

Welp, figured I'd start a thread and a little introduction. My name is Brandon and I am a heavy equipment operator at a coal mine. I work a goofy shift work schedule and when I'm not at work, I am a dad. 3 kids under 6 with the 4th due a month from today.
All that said, you can probably guess I don't have a ton of time to spend in the garage. So this will be a fairly slow build.
Anyway, I am working on my '88 Crew Cab Dually. Will be pulling the 454/th400 combo and swapping in a ls1/4l80e combo. I hope to have this in and running by the time my boy is born, then after that it will slow down a bit.
The pickup. Super clean, zero rust, no dents and some sweet 80's graphics. haha.







The parts car.





Hopefully I will finish pulling the ls1 and 4l60 this weekend. Picked up a 4l80 to run instead of the 60, that way when I boost it I should still be safe.
I'll quit being so windy and just post some updates as I go.

[Gordonr1973]

Nice truck!

Looking forward to seeing what you do with it!!

(But I would keep those graphoics, they look cool to me!)

[drama808]

I should have the engine pulled tomorrow morning. Dropping it out the bottom and the only thing left holding it in are the 6 engine cradle bolts...I hope.

What a mess.


Once it is out, I will box up the harness and pcm and send it off to Yates EFI for a new harness and reprogram. I am also going to run their mounts and radiator. 30 days til my wife's due date. I gotta hustle.

[drama808]

Finally out

[drama808]

Still been working on it. Got my mounts, harness and pcm back from Yates EFI. Harness looks great. Then I decided to stick with the th400 so I have to send my spare pcm back to him to have programmed. Tomorrow my new flexplate will be here, but I go back to work tomorrow night. Progress will be slow for a little bit as my wifes due date falls just before my week off in August. Needless to say, I don't think this will be getting done before that, but I'm still going to try!
Also, anybody got a link to some cheap headers that don't have any clearance issues? Thanks!

[Devillusion]

nice.....subscribed!

[rocking chevy]

this is going to be cool. subscribed.

[drama808]

Thanks guys!
Engine is cleaned up, new flexplate is here along with my mounts/harness/pcm from Yates EFI. They were/are great to deal with. Quick responses to email questions and the parts look great.

Engine cleaned


New Harness


Still trying to figure out what headers to run. Open to suggestions...
I'm also curious, can I "T" my return lines from my hydroboost to just run a single return to the stock ls1 power steering pump? I've searched around and can't find anything. Thanks!

[drama808]

Originally Posted by drama808

I'm also curious, can I "T" my return lines from my hydroboost to just run a single return to the stock ls1 power steering pump? I've searched around and can't find anything. Thanks!

Anybody?

[yousesteers]

That is what i did on my cummins swap it works ok

[drama808]

I appreciate the response man!
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[terrylgreenjr]

I know some guys a reunning the hydro boost power steering pump that comes off of the newer vans that have the same system then you will have a spot for the othe rline if you dont want to T it

[JCampbell]

Sweet ride. Subscribed.

[drama808]

Thanks guys. Progress had been fairly slow. Waiting on my s&p headers, should have ordered sooner. And still need to plumb my fuel setup.
Engine bolted in place.


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[82ccshorty]

I'll be watching this. Looks awesome. But a ls1 is going to be kinda low on power don't you think?
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[drama808]

Originally Posted by 82ccshorty

I'll be watching this. Looks awesome. But a ls1 is going to be kinda low on power don't you think?
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Won't be a huge difference over stock as far as power, but fuel mileage will be way better. I would have rather gone with a 6.0, but got the parts car cheap and will about break even and have a free engine out of the deal. Not only that, but it will be getting a turbo in the near future.
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[Devillusion]

Originally Posted by 82ccshorty

I'll be watching this. Looks awesome. But a ls1 is going to be kinda low on power don't you think?
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Should be considerable difference to the stock truck engine.........weren't they only rated at like 180hp?

[82ccshorty]

A turbo will help it a lot
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[drama808]

I guess I'm not positive about stock horsepower but I think I remember reading it was ~230 and tq was ~380...but I could be off.
Progress will slow for a few days. My boy was born at 7:36 am today!
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[C25 Farm Truck]

Hope Mom and baby are doing great!

On an unrelated note, nice build!

[drama808]

^thanks man. On both accounts.
I got my headers yesterday from S&P. They look like pretty nice pieces. My fuel parts will be here Thursday so I'll get that all plumbed in this weekend. My exhaust gets run on Tuesday so I need to have it all buttoned up by then.
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[drama808]

Been awhile since I have updated...
Engine is and and runs like a top. Now my transmission is slipping like mad. Tearing it all back apart and throwing in my 4l60e and shortening the frame for a shortbed. That way I only need to have the driveshaft done once. Boost will be put on hold for awhile.
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