My 1991 Crew Cab project

[joe231]

So, I did pull the valve body and had a trans shop check it out. Everything's good. I installed a trans cooler (why it didn't have one from the factory,, I can't understand), it helped immensely. I believe my torque converter is bad. It's slipping and creating excess heat. When the computer sees the high temperature it puts the trans in limp mode. So after the cooler install, everything was going great, I even helped a buddy move by pulling his gutted travel trailer full of tools with no problems. Then one weekend we took the truck to get a load of compost for the wife's garden, the trans got hot and wouldn't shift. I was cruising the back roads stuck in first gear with the load. I was reving the engine higher than I should have and it got pretty hot. It lost oil pressure, so I pulled over and had a buddy come pull me the rest of the way home. I changed the oil hoping that would help. It didn't help. It has some pressure cold and it drops to nothing after it warms up. Just idling in the driveway to warm it up, it developed a lower end knock. So now it's just sitting, waiting for me to pull the engine. I'm going to try and do a budget rebuild, depending on what I find inside it...

[MTCK]

Yikes sorry to hear this. My truck is having the transmission rebuilt as we speak... Should survive behind the motor after that.

[whitels1]

Bummer on the truck problems, I hope you can get it back on the road soon!

[joe231]

Thanks for the sympathy guys!

Look what followed me home


And look what's in it


Runs and drives great!
good oil pressure too

Thanks for the inspiration Marcus!!!

[whitels1]

Hell yes man! I love new projects...

[joe231]

Originally Posted by whitels1

Hell yes man! I love new projects...

Me too
I'm super excited to get this engine in my truck!

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by joe231

Me too
I'm super excited to get this engine in my truck!

I like this plan!

[MTCK]

Nice!!! You will love that L29. Going to stab her in there? Only 218k it looks like on the ODO.

[joe231]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Nice!!! You will love that L29. Going to stab her in there? Only 218k it looks like on the ODO.

Yep
And yep, 218K
I'm gonna pull the pan and valve covers to see what it looks like inside. New gaskets where they are needed, and Slap on a coat of paint too.
It runs great so I'm hopeful!

I only paid $600 for the burb and I drove it 45 miles home with no issues.

[joe231]

Well, it’s been awhile and not much actual progress. I decided not to part out the Burb with the Vortec 454. So I found a 2001 Burb with an 8.1 liter in it to swap instead. I drove it around the neighborhood and love it too much to part it out either. It’s fully loaded with leather interior. The 8.1L is impressive, even with a bad trans. I got it dirt cheap, I traded an AR-15 for it. Main problems are the interior is disgusting, rusty rockers, and the trans is bad. So I’m gonna fix the trans and clean it up. It’s gonna be our hunting/camping rig, eventually lol

[joe231]

So now what do I do with this crew cab? I could rebuild the tbi 454, but I’m not impressed at all with its performance. Seems like that would be a waste. Well fate intervened, I was picking up some spare wheels and tires from a guy I found on Facebook. He mentioned that he had an engine that would be perfect for my truck. We struck a deal and I brought it home. I’m currently collecting parts for the swap.



It’s from a 1991.5, VE pump, 12 valve. I also got the 1st gen radiator, intercooler, and intercooler piping with it.

[MTCK]

Sweet. Another big block and a Cummins. Looks good to me!

[daddyjeep]

Originally Posted by joe231

It’s from a 1991.5, VE pump, 12 valve. I also got the 1st gen radiator, intercooler, and intercooler piping with it.

It's a good thing you didn't get the truck with that motor. You probably would have fell in love with that one too.

[joe231]

Originally Posted by daddyjeep

It's a good thing you didn't get the truck with that motor. You probably would have fell in love with that one too.

You are probably right haha!

[mingoman]

Great scores on the 454 and 496!

[whitels1]

Get that thing swapped in yet??

[joe231]

Dave,
Not yet. I almost have all of my parts, now I gotta get a garage tent or some coveralls. It’s cold up here ❄️☃️

[whitels1]

Originally Posted by joe231

Dave,
Not yet. I almost have all of my parts, now I gotta get a garage tent or some coveralls. It’s cold up here ❄️☃️

Cold here too, I think it's 55 today... I'm freezing!!

[joe231]

Originally Posted by whitels1

cold here too, i think it's 55 today... I'm freezing!!

😂😂😂

[joe231]

Made some major progress on my swap

[joe231]

[joe231]

Building a stitch panel for my torque converter lock, tow/haul mode, and momentary button for my grid heater.


I’m also in the process of installing one of 73-87chevytrucks.com triple a pillar pod for my boost and pyro. I’m trying to decide if I want a fuel pressure gauge or a transmission temperature gauge in the 3rd hole...
I’ll get pics of it soon.

[MTCK]

Yes! Exciting. I was going to guess big block by the gas pump pic.

[joe231]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Yes! Exciting. I was going to guess big block by the gas pump pic.

That was the maiden voyage to fill up the new tank.
I have a new one for the driver side also, but I need to fix mine or buy new tank brackets for it. It can wait til spring lol

[joe231]

Got my front end back together & Swapped wheels and tires