1964 C20 Turbo LQ4 Build

[tmills213]

I have been lurking but never made a build thread. I figure I should start one since I keep changing stuff I may forget what all I have done. A brief intro to where I am now.

-Truck was a college grad present from family members. It came with a 292/4speed 5.14 gear treel pulling special. Its life was mostly spent hauling a camper (not a camper special I learned from you guys :p)

-I got it, ripped the drive out and first put a 383/th350 combo in and rarely drove it since I couldn't tune it or something else

-then the rear axle was swapped to a 14 bolt with new trailing arms since they rotten and broke.
-New to me 1979 from spindles and disc brakes.
-started air ride but never completed yet as I am changing my mind again.

Plans:
I have sold (gave away almost) the old driveline and am in the parts process of a LQ4 turbo 4l80 build. I am very uneducated in it all so I am learning as it go.

So far the parts list is 317 heads with BTR kit, trunion upgrade, stage 2 turbo cam, s475 turbo, motor is from a 2002 2500.
-power steering
-complete 79 crossmember swap so I get better linkage.
-fuel cell
-hydroboost brakes
-finish air ride

enjoy

[tmills213]

I forgot to add Turbo in the title. could a mod edit this? thx

[Captainfab]

A turbo'd 6.0 should make for a fun ride

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by tmills213

I forgot to add Turbo in the title. could a mod edit this? thx

Send one of the mods a PM and put the title you want, in the PM so they can just copy and paste.

[chad64chevy]

I'm in for this! i'm saving to do a ls turbo for my truck as well, just not sure if I want to go with a single turbo or twin! doing a lot of research for now before I buy any turbos, looked at some kits but would have to modify them to work so going to build tubing from scratch

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by tmills213

I forgot to add Turbo in the title. could a mod edit this? thx

How does it look now?

[tmills213]

Perfect, THANK YOU!!

[tmills213]

Originally Posted by chad64chevy

I'm in for this! i'm saving to do a ls turbo for my truck as well, just not sure if I want to go with a single turbo or twin! doing a lot of research for now before I buy any turbos, looked at some kits but would have to modify them to work so going to build tubing from scratch

From what I have gathered, twins are not really needed for street. It is going to be the common 6.0 stock bottom end build that lots are doing. I am only shooting for a 6-650 whp which I thought was easily doable with lower boost. I want the thing to be reliable and still be my main fun toy since im selling my motorcycle. (oh and OD is nice too hah)

The Turbo is a BW s475 with a 83mm turbine 1.1 ar ratio. it was about 700 which I thought was a dcent price for a well known mfg. I was going to originally go with a ebay special but I decided not to. With the smaller 1.1 ratio it is supposed to spool much better for the street and since I am not in it constantly I will not really have to worry about it restricting.

here is my current build log: the recovered items could have been more but the wife wanted her spot back and the 2 stall is crowded already. so I had to give away and axle, tires, full truck utility service box, doors (rolling chassis) for about 200.

-1700 Old motor trans "recover"
1800 base donor truck
-2100 recovered
700 Cam/springs/kit
100 head gasket
700 Turbo
330 head clean/machine/valves
130 timing chaing/gears
300 all other gaskets
100 lifter
130 pump
100 trunion

590

[chad64chevy]

yea I single turbo sounds better, I still want to drive mine as a daily at some point! not just a weekend warrior, would you mind posting parts numbers, I just might have to use your thread as a reference for when I get around to doing mine

[tmills213]

Bear with my on this. it might get messy. I spent far too many hours comparing rock auto, advanced, amazon, gm direct, jegs, etc etc for pricing.


This is the better running list I have on my home computer. 0 means I just have not gotten it yet.

Injectors 0
lifters -100 http://www.briantooleyracing.com/del...x12499225.html
push/guides/springs/ etc (BTR) http://www.briantooleyracing.com/bundle-cam-kit.html-680
head gaskethttp://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet-Perf...22033/10002/-1 -100
Turbo http://www.liljohnsmotorsports.com/b...rner-s475.html -700
Trunion upgrade https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 -140
oil pump https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1-150
gaskets, knock, misc advanced online w/ store pickup -300
fuel pump 0
BOV 0
Wastegate 0
Timing chain and gears (from a friend GM direct) -130
manifolds (trade) 0
intercooler 0
plumbing 0
head work/spring install (local shop) -340
crossmember misc 0
engine mounts 0
in bed tank 0
Engine stand (harbor freight) -48
driveshaft 0
Transmission shift kit
Head bolts, crank, and tensioner -230 https://www.summitracing.com/parts/TFS-K30675600
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ARP-134-3609
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ARP-234-2503

[tmills213]

more

[tmills213]

slow weekend, house duties, making wife happy, and making sure im doing stuff right really slows the pace.

Trying to prep the block for starting install. lot more buildup than I initially thought. I am thinking just running it anyway. Tried blowing everything out the best I could. Read I need some $200 alignment tool for the main seals, cool. some guys get away with it. not sure if I will.

[tmills213]

Engine Assembly day. Started finally using all the parts I have been staring at. Got the cam in, damper installed after the bolt fiasco, timing gears, oil pump shimmed (BLUE spring), and lifters in.

The retainer plate went to a C'SINK version which I guess I didn't look into enough which required special bolts only from GM. drove an hour round trip to dealer that had them for $4 each. bought $ but ended up using one. Stupid Me.

Rest went on pretty smooth

[tmills213]

Few things since last time. Got the heads on, waiting for correct stock push rods to get valves done. covers are located using alignit tool, pan and oil pickup tube are in and a few goodies.


I had to clean out the head bolts with a slit old head bolt. also used air nozzle with straw and a shop vac with a straw to make sure they were dry.

I ordered the pickup clamp but mine didnt fit and a decent amount of grinding was needed on all parts involved.

The alignit tool worked well but then I tightened oil pan bolts first and it jammed the pieces on. took a minute to get them off. we shall see if it is ok.

Twin 38 WG and tial q 50 bov. lots of welding in my future.

[chad64chevy]

looking good, thanks for the documenting

[tmills213]

Work has slowed a little because I am getting into the parts that I know little about (fuel and computer) and research is taking forever..... The motor is about ready to go back in the truck minus the flex plate. I got "wrong" one since its a 3 bolt. I may just order a TC to match. So now I am moving towards getting the trans done. HD-2 kits ordered and Circle D single disk soon.

Most focus has shifted towards suspension at this moment because before I can even put the drivetrain in I wanted to finish the 76 swap so I can do things correct. I originally pushed the BJ into the 64 arms so i could use the spindles but I don't like the idea.

Picutres are random things like
-spacers I picked up to run my DEKA 80 injectors (because they are 800 cheaper than other options).
-12AN return for my turbo that I wanted to test fit into pan while it was out.
-My pressure washer sandblaster works well. and some POR 15 action

[tmills213]

part numbers for deka spacers (thanks sloppymechanics)

last one is for fun. new TIG. learned I forgot how to weld. starting over

[tmills213]

updates

crossmember is in. had to drill top forward holes and then ream out the bottom forward holes. little tricky but its in. Backing plates are apparently normal for the 70+ xmembers. Also got my new bags in today. they are much smaller than the d2600 and look like they will fit the front with very little modifications.

[tmills213]

Been slow moving, kids do that apparently. got the new crossmember fully in with air bags finally. had a hard time with getting correct A arm and making sure i was tightening the shaft nuts correctly essentially just turned until they bottomed out and I am supposed to torque to 200+ but i cant even get that. anywho.

I ended up using the newer mounts because they are stronger. I added some material on the back side instead of drilling bigger holes on the frame. Either way works at this point id say.

the air bag plates were misaligned with the LCA I thought so i shifted over a hole and made the pipe fitting a larger opening.

I also installed a Transgo hd2 kit in the 4l80. I am waiting for my single disk CIRCLE D TC to show up in the next few days. Here is a link to my process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRrRnm0ZjkU

[tmills213]

Its under its own weight and the motor is in for the first of many mock ups.

looks like there is a decent amount of room. this is with the motor slid all the way forward in the dingo mounts.

[aggie91]

Nice work so far. What bag is that you used in the front? I don't think I have ever seen a single bellow style bag used on the front suspension.

[tmills213]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Nice work so far. What bag is that you used in the front? I don't think I have ever seen a single bellow style bag used on the front suspension.

I got them after my d2600 didnt fit and someone else in the facebook forum used them.

They are UNiversal air airhouse 2 bags

[tmills213]

Slow progress and will be stagnant for a year or so. new job in different state really hurts progress.

I did get the IFS Xmember in and mocked. I may need to shim is since I think the Dingos lift the engine higher.

[Bomp]

Cool build, I'm in.

[tmills213]

Well I pulled the harness out of storage since there isn't much else I can do in a rental. Following http://www.lt1swap.com/2000harness.htm slowly using the stock 411 computer, hopefully.