Glock's new project: "Fred" w/ 5.3L LS swap info

[glock35ipsc]

I love it in Colorado! Except for the rattle snakes, don't care for those. Never have.

Good news, engine and trans is here!!!! There are a couple things missing, like the top cover and the yoke off of the driveshaft. But I'll get everything out tonight and see what's not there and let them know. They said they would ship out anything that was not there that should have been.

On another note, I decided against the LS1 intake. After talking to Roger Vinci of Vinci Performance (camshaft maker) and Thunder Racing, I decided it would put me three steps back.

I knew I would lose a little bottom end by going to the LS1 intake, but after some more research and talking to these guys, this would actually be the worst intake to use. I want bottom end, I'm not trying to max out RPM's and HP. The LS1 is the worst at making low end torque. So the best bet is to use the truck intake, followed by the LS6 intake. I don't want to spend the extra couple hundred for an LS6 intake, so I'll stick with the truck intake and try to make it look better. Plus, I don't really want to go to a 2600+ rpm converter.

So since my plan was to build a reliable hot rod that runs hard AND gets great fuel mileage, I'll stick to the truck intake. Later I'll still probably do a cam and converter, but I'll probably continue use the truck intake, unless I find a smoking deal on an LS6 intake. But by that point, the truck will take on a whole other purpose.

[N2TRUX]

Awesome pics! Thanks for sharing...

[menace121978]

beautiful pictures Bob. Fred looks right at home w/ the view in the back ground! congrats on the new arrival!!! now wheres the pics?? did everything arrive safe and undamaged? (besides the missing covers) if theres anything i can do on this end just let me know. i'm only a few miles away...

[SBTork]

Great pics.

I think you can make the truck intake look very good. The 6.0 caddy's and SS silverado's came with a 3 piece engine cover. Here are two pics....







Just something to consider

[glock35ipsc]

Sweet, I like the Vortec Max cover. Might have to look for one of those.

Everything arrive damage-free! I am missing or need a few minor things, they should be able to get them to me OK. I pretty much got everything striped down to where I can separate the tranny and get the engine on the stand. I have the harness off and in the trunk with the PCM ready to send to Jessee to get reworked. Over the next week or two I'll get the engine detailed, and get the tranny detailed too. I've got a few things I still need to figure out, like finding the correct manifolds for the AC compressor. I might try Vintage Air or Old Air to see if they can hook me up. There was no fan in the engine, so I need to see if it had a fan that they pulled off, or if there were elec fans. Since it is a truck, I imagine it had a fan on the engine. I'll see what they say, maybe they can get me a pair of electric fans.

** Note to self... have the PCM set up for elec fans.

I have a lot of pics I'll post up in the morning. I need to get a snack, then get in the shower.

[SBTork]

can't wait, nothing beats fresh new pics

[JohnC]

Sounds good man. Glad to hear it arrived.

I would go with elec fans. That's a good note taker yourself has.

[nlped]

Cool!!!

[Jonboy]

What year is that engine? '05 and later should have electric fans.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

What year is that engine? '05 and later should have electric fans.

2006. I wondered that, because the threads on the water pump shaft are clean.

[bigbadjohn84]

stand alone? are you having the factory harness modified or are you doing it yourself? I want to do that with my 71 when I convert to the 6.0

[Jonboy]

I forgot to add- you are making awesome progress. I am hoping to beg some more to get an old friend to be able to come home (78 Jimmy), but not sure on that yet. I will have to get a lot done, then post a build thread so it won't look so bad next to yours. Seriously though, it's threads like all of these build threads that remind me why we all are here. It's really cool to see everyone's opinions and progress being put out here.

[JohnC]

Hey we can start a Jonboy needs his friend back thread. Let the wife see it, and maybe it will convince her to let it come home.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by bigbadjohn84

stand alone? are you having the factory harness modified or are you doing it yourself? I want to do that with my 71 when I convert to the 6.0

I just boxed up the harness and PCM to send off to Jesse at Wait4Me. He's is reworking the harness to stand alone, removing all the unnecessary stuff from the PCM and giving it a tune, $360 round trip. Some people don't like him, but he has done several mail order tunes for me and they have all rocked!

Originally Posted by JohnC

That will look good detailed like that. Can't wait to see it done man. The hard part is done, shelling out the $$. Now it's time to play.

I like the way that one way done. It's just down to whether I want the color to bed Chevy orange or red. I'm leaning towards red to match the truck.

Originally Posted by Jonboy

I forgot to add- you are making awesome progress. I am hoping to beg some more to get an old friend to be able to come home (78 Jimmy), but not sure on that yet. I will have to get a lot done, then post a build thread so it won't look so bad next to yours. Seriously though, it's threads like all of these build threads that remind me why we all are here. It's really cool to see everyone's opinions and progress being put out here.

I would have never taken on this swap had it not been for all the info I've gathered from builds thread here and at LS1tech.com, LS1truck.com and performancetrucks.net.

Once the engine and trans are detailed and ready to go in, progress will slow dramatically. Except for maybe rebuilding the front suspension, new springs for the rear and lowering. I want to be able to drive it as long as possible before I tear it down. So once the snow starts flying I'll start pulling it apart.

[bigbadjohn84]

let it snow.. let it snow.. let it snooooowww.. lol gonna be cool. that doesnt seem bad at all to make the harness standalone and program

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by bigbadjohn84

let it snow.. let it snow.. let it snooooowww.. lol gonna be cool. that doesnt seem bad at all to make the harness standalone and program

Not at all, especially when most places charge more than that just to rework the harness.

[Bow Tie Scottie]

"Glock"

Good looking project thread. Wow, was that your short list? AND is that the original paint? If it is, then it sure has been well maintained. Again, this is the type of project(s) that we can share and benefit from. Keep up the good work, I am in the process of just trying to keep up with the normal wear and tear like getting new shocks, tires, oil changes, etc.

[Jonboy]

I don't know how that would work. When I look at it at home, she calls it "truck porn". You know, she may be right.

[JohnC]

Yeah I tell my wife that too. I ask her which she would rather have me looking at. The truck porn always wins.

[bigbadjohn84]

[menace121978]

AWESOME!!

looks really clean Bob! yea, when you call rancho just tell them you want the 3 piece cover since they left out the 1 piece.

[nlped]

That sounds like a smokin' deal on the harness and PCM tune. Can you PM me his info so I can do the same for my swap?

Cheers,

Ed

[JohnC]

I think I would go with the red too. It would really match Fred very well.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by nlped

That sounds like a smokin' deal on the harness and PCM tune. Can you PM me his info so I can do the same for my swap?

Cheers,

Ed

Jesse and Hannah Bubb at Wait4Me Performance

I'm trying Dennis, I'll have to see what they say or what I get!

I think the red would look good too, even if it's *cough* F*rd red.....

[Jonboy]

hey Bob, have Jesse slip in an extra 2005 CTS-V PCM too. You can just ship that my way.......