5.3 swap build so far

[dman1982]

Tankers....jeez

[dman1982]

well got my truck in the shop to get the tranny rebuilt, 1800 for a mild build up, not too bad or good i guess, hope its done monday so i can get the seats in!!!!!

[ivorton74]

tranny's getting rebuilt already?? what happened?

[dman1982]

Sunshell, common issue with 4l60's, just getting it rebuilt so I know it's done

[dman1982]

Picking up a c10 soon, posted a thread on it lol

[dman1982]

I hate waiting on the shop!!! My trucks been there since Friday!!!! I hate this!!!

[dman1982]

Got my trans back in, had to make the 5 hour trip to Charlotte, 60-65 is the sweet spot for mpg's got almost 19 hwy...70-75 15 mpg, either way both respectable numbers for the old girl...like I told the wife, it's better than the 8 or 9 I was getting

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by dman1982

Got my trans back in, had to make the 5 hour trip to Charlotte, 60-65 is the sweet spot for mpg's got almost 19 hwy...70-75 15 mpg, either way both respectable numbers for the old girl...like I told the wife, it's better than the 8 or 9 I was getting

19 HWY is impressive for a lifted 4x4 truck!! Very impressed by those #s. I'm jealous!!

[dman1982]

Me too, really happy with them

[dman1982]

a little update, i ordered a grill, headlight bezels, all new light covers all the way around, and a lokar shifter linkage kit (the stock linkage works but can only go down as far as drive...just kinda erks me so I'm fixing it) can't wait for all this stuff to come in so i can get it installed and working getting her done tho!!!

[NorCalAnthony]

Just read through this whole thread today. Great job on your build so far. I'll be starting a similar project swapping a 5.3/4l80e in to my '89 K5 in a couple of months and will definitely be referring to your thread for ideas. Keep up the good work

ps. I was a 'Tracker back in '02-'06 at Pendleton. Nice to see a few of us jar heads around the forum

[dman1982]

Originally Posted by NorCalAnthony

Just read through this whole thread today. Great job on your build so far. I'll be starting a similar project swapping a 5.3/4l80e in to my '89 K5 in a couple of months and will definitely be referring to your thread for ideas. Keep up the good work

ps. I was a 'Tracker back in '02-'06 at Pendleton. Nice to see a few of us jar heads around the forum

There's a few of us here man, and thanks, it's been a lot of work, all worth it though!!! I got out in January and started trucking...it's not bad but it does slow down on truck play time...I'm actually going to be starting my second build here soon...I got a thread on that one called the addiction lol

[NorCalAnthony]

Originally Posted by dman1982

There's a few of us here man, and thanks, it's been a lot of work, all worth it though!!! I got out in January and started trucking...it's not bad but it does slow down on truck play time...I'm actually going to be starting my second build here soon...I got a thread on that one called the addiction lol

Right on man and I know what you mean. I had a '76 K5 that me and my dad built together and I had to get rid of it when I enlisted. My '89 will be my second build and I'm trying to do everything I never had a chance to on the first one. I work for a gas utility out here in Cali and the pay is good but the 50-60 hr work weeks don't leave a lot of time for the truck... Addiction is great name for another build lol.

[dman1982]

Originally Posted by NorCalAnthony

Right on man and I know what you mean. I had a '76 K5 that me and my dad built together and I had to get rid of it when I enlisted. My '89 will be my second build and I'm trying to do everything I never had a chance to on the first one. I work for a gas utility out here in Cali and the pay is good but the 50-60 hr work weeks don't leave a lot of time for the truck... Addiction is great name for another build lol.

Ya man, when I heard the motor firing for the first time I was hooked, and couldn't think of a better name after I started looking again and found one so cheap, I also had two Blazers in high school 79 and 87 or 88, I had to sell mine to enlist as well...lost a bunch of money when I sold them

[Lazyb]

Im new to this site and joined because I'm getting ready to do a swap in my 69 c10. I was wondering who did your wiring harness and how much it cost? This site has got me even more excited!! Thanks Zach

[dman1982]

Originally Posted by Lazyb

Im new to this site and joined because I'm getting ready to do a swap in my 69 c10. I was wondering who did your wiring harness and how much it cost? This site has got me even more excited!! Thanks Zach

i had a guy somewhat near me do my harness, he didnt charge me a whole lot to do my harness, it was pretty cheap actually, i can't remember exactly what it was to be honest, i was really happy with it, I'm gonna have him do my next one when i start it which I'm hoping will be soon

[dman1982]

Originally Posted by Lazyb

Im new to this site and joined because I'm getting ready to do a swap in my 69 c10. I was wondering who did your wiring harness and how much it cost? This site has got me even more excited!! Thanks Zach

messaged ya man...sent you the details, i was very happy with mine

[dman1982]

Got my new seats in

[NastyBuzzard]

Whoa... Whoa... Whoa... How did you do that without chopping floor pans up and relocating gas tanks????????????? Please tell me !

[dman1982]

Originally Posted by NastyBuzzard

Whoa... Whoa... Whoa... How did you do that without chopping floor pans up and relocating gas tanks????????????? Please tell me !

well I'm only 5 foot 6, i used part of the original seat bracket, for the forward and backward, i made a frame out of some 1/4 inch steel and hacked off the forward and backward section on the new seats to drop them down a couple inches, the up and down motors still work along with the lumbar, i know a guy that stands almost six foot fits in there pretty good, the only thing i dont like is my steering wheel is stock, so its pretty big i dont get to pull it down like i like to but its not even a problem, and comfortable anyways, eventually going to swap out the wheel and column for aftermarket

[dman1982]

Sorry the pics ain't that good but is was dark and was guessing where the stuff was with the flash lol

[NastyBuzzard]

Pics helped. I ran into a set of those seats for cheap and passed them up b/c every one was like got to chop floor pans and move gas tanks. So I passed on them and started looking for another type of seats. The search is back on!!

[dman1982]

Originally Posted by NastyBuzzard

Pics helped. I ran into a set of those seats for cheap and passed them up b/c every one was like got to chop floor pans and move gas tanks. So I passed on them and started looking for another type of seats. The search is back on!!

if you did all that stuff they would fit in there lower, but those guys might be like 6'3 or something, it is funny i do have to jump in there since my truck sits high, i can't wait to see my ol lady try and jump in there!!!

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by dman1982

if you did all that stuff they would fit in there lower, but those guys might be like 6'3 or something, it is funny i do have to jump in there since my truck sits high, i can't wait to see my ol lady try and jump in there!!!

Nice

Can you put some pics of just how it looks in there from different angles? Not like how you mounted it just like more pics of how they sit in there, how far forward, distance to steering wheel... et cetera.

[dman1982]

Originally Posted by NastyBuzzard

Nice

Can you put some pics of just how it looks in there from different angles? Not like how you mounted it just like more pics of how they sit in there, how far forward, distance to steering wheel... et cetera.

ya, sure can, plus its light out now...can see better