88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

MotorHead Lon · 09-08-2016, 11:24 PM

Traded an 84 GMC Sierra for this truck. When the trans started to slip several friends suggested we could LS swap cheaper than a trans. I bought an Avalanche for $750, kept, engine/trans, wire harness, exhaust, fuel pump and some small parts. Sold remainder for $805.

Harness is reworked stock harness, initially I used the Avalanche fuel pump until it died. Now I have a stock replacement for a 96 Vortec truck. Engine mounts are Car Shoppe, 1.5" setback. I moved the trans crossmember back the same amount. Air intake is a cheap Ebay piece for the new body style trucks. I ran it with open cats at first then welded up the exhaust with mandrel bends. I got the bends as scrap cut offs from a 2010 Camaro. I bought v bands, 4 straight pieces and 2 Dynomax bullets.

I'm still working on it as I drive it. Still to come are getting the gauges to work, and clean up the wiring. I have plans of doing some budget mods to the engine, hopefully swapping to a 4L80 and a 14 bolt.

MotorHead Lon · 09-08-2016, 11:29 PM

Exhaust pics. A friend and I started with a pile of scrap and cut and pasted. Some how the tips moved between the truck and the table. Not paying attention, I fully welded one side, and discovered the mistake. I'd like them closer.

MotorHead Lon · 09-08-2016, 11:52 PM

The front was lowered with Craigslist springs. The rear, another friend wanted a 6" drop, but had dropped hangers. I swapped with him and help with his drop. To grind off the rivets, I used a36 grit flap wheel on an angle grinder. I made a bracket to hold my e brake cables.

MotorHead Lon · 09-08-2016, 11:57 PM

That brings it up to date. Newest projects not related to engine swap was fixing damage from hitting a deer. I pulled the clip off a 4wd Sub, used the driver's fender, core support, grill, and bumper. Also swapped on the tow hooks. Next project is replacing the door hinges.

OutlawDrifter · 09-11-2016, 02:52 PM

i followed your build on mark's facebook page. nice to see you on here!

MotorHead Lon · 09-12-2016, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

i followed your build on mark's facebook page. nice to see you on here!

Thanks! Mark is one the best guys in this hobby. He helped a lot, and gave a lot of insight into this.

MotorHead Lon · 09-12-2016, 10:49 PM

Exhaust video.

https://youtu.be/-johhUC4SY8

MotorHead Lon · 09-28-2016, 10:58 PM

Fuel lines. There are a million ways to do it. I couldn't get the return line's braided section off, and broke a line wrench in the process. So I went with a fuel line repair kit and patched an adapter of sorts. After some research this is the permanent method I used.

Russell LS fuel rail fitting, -6 AN, -6 AN couplers, and -6 AN to o-ring adapters. Not pretty, but it is functional.

MotorHead Lon · 08-07-2019, 12:03 AM

Realized it's been nearly three years since I updated this. Truk has a new yard mate, a 00 Tahoe Z71, has had a trans swap and has seen passes at 3 local tracks, Jakes's in Moulton Al, Baileyton, and Huntsville.

MotorHead Lon · 12-07-2019, 11:04 PM

Newest addition swapped to a fleetside bed.

OutlawDrifter · 12-07-2019, 11:59 PM

Right on

Greenlee · 12-08-2019, 12:09 AM

Cool truck. Nice work!

LT7A · 07-03-2020, 10:01 PM

Your truck keeps getting cooler as you go. Now that you've done all your sheet metal fixes and tweaks is there one color of paint in the cards?

dusterbd13 · 11-08-2020, 08:51 PM

do you remember what size tires were on the steelies? they look righteous, and my truck needs tires on the same era rallys.

09-08-2016, 11:24 PM	#1
MotorHead Lon Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 241	88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver. Traded an 84 GMC Sierra for this truck. When the trans started to slip several friends suggested we could LS swap cheaper than a trans. I bought an Avalanche for $750, kept, engine/trans, wire harness, exhaust, fuel pump and some small parts. Sold remainder for $805. Harness is reworked stock harness, initially I used the Avalanche fuel pump until it died. Now I have a stock replacement for a 96 Vortec truck. Engine mounts are Car Shoppe, 1.5" setback. I moved the trans crossmember back the same amount. Air intake is a cheap Ebay piece for the new body style trucks. I ran it with open cats at first then welded up the exhaust with mandrel bends. I got the bends as scrap cut offs from a 2010 Camaro. I bought v bands, 4 straight pieces and 2 Dynomax bullets. I'm still working on it as I drive it. Still to come are getting the gauges to work, and clean up the wiring. I have plans of doing some budget mods to the engine, hopefully swapping to a 4L80 and a 14 bolt. Attached Images __________________ 88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap. 98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig. 03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.

09-08-2016, 11:29 PM	#2
MotorHead Lon Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 241	Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver. Exhaust pics. A friend and I started with a pile of scrap and cut and pasted. Some how the tips moved between the truck and the table. Not paying attention, I fully welded one side, and discovered the mistake. I'd like them closer. Attached Images __________________ 88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap. 98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig. 03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.

09-08-2016, 11:52 PM	#3
MotorHead Lon Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 241	Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver. The front was lowered with Craigslist springs. The rear, another friend wanted a 6" drop, but had dropped hangers. I swapped with him and help with his drop. To grind off the rivets, I used a36 grit flap wheel on an angle grinder. I made a bracket to hold my e brake cables. Attached Images __________________ 88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap. 98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig. 03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.

09-08-2016, 11:57 PM	#4
MotorHead Lon Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 241	Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver. That brings it up to date. Newest projects not related to engine swap was fixing damage from hitting a deer. I pulled the clip off a 4wd Sub, used the driver's fender, core support, grill, and bumper. Also swapped on the tow hooks. Next project is replacing the door hinges. Attached Images __________________ 88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap. 98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig. 03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.

09-11-2016, 02:52 PM	#5
OutlawDrifter Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Northeast KS Posts: 1,789	Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver. i followed your build on mark's facebook page. nice to see you on here! __________________ 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 SLT, 454/4L80E 1991 Z/28, 6.0L/T56 1949 GMC 250, S10 Frame, 6.0L/4L80E Instagram @aceshighspeedshop

09-12-2016, 10:49 PM	#7
MotorHead Lon Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 241	Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver. Exhaust video. https://youtu.be/-johhUC4SY8 __________________ 88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap. 98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig. 03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.

09-28-2016, 10:58 PM	#8
MotorHead Lon Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 241	Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver. Fuel lines. There are a million ways to do it. I couldn't get the return line's braided section off, and broke a line wrench in the process. So I went with a fuel line repair kit and patched an adapter of sorts. After some research this is the permanent method I used. Russell LS fuel rail fitting, -6 AN, -6 AN couplers, and -6 AN to o-ring adapters. Not pretty, but it is functional. Attached Images __________________ 88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap. 98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig. 03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.

08-07-2019, 12:03 AM	#9
MotorHead Lon Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 241	Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver. Realized it's been nearly three years since I updated this. Truk has a new yard mate, a 00 Tahoe Z71, has had a trans swap and has seen passes at 3 local tracks, Jakes's in Moulton Al, Baileyton, and Huntsville. Attached Images __________________ 88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap. 98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig. 03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.

12-07-2019, 11:04 PM	#10
MotorHead Lon Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 241	Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver. Newest addition swapped to a fleetside bed. Attached Images __________________ 88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap. 98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig. 03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.

12-07-2019, 11:59 PM	#11
OutlawDrifter Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Northeast KS Posts: 1,789	Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver. Right on __________________ 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 SLT, 454/4L80E 1991 Z/28, 6.0L/T56 1949 GMC 250, S10 Frame, 6.0L/4L80E Instagram @aceshighspeedshop

12-08-2019, 12:09 AM	#12
Greenlee Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: El Lago, TX Posts: 1,668	Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver. Cool truck. Nice work!

07-03-2020, 10:01 PM	#13
LT7A Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: PNW Posts: 3,627	Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver. Your truck keeps getting cooler as you go. Now that you've done all your sheet metal fixes and tweaks is there one color of paint in the cards?

11-08-2020, 08:51 PM	#14
dusterbd13 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: albemarle, nc Posts: 42	Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver. do you remember what size tires were on the steelies? they look righteous, and my truck needs tires on the same era rallys.

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