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

[Manbearpig]

Ah I'm blind

[nlped]

Man, you are really moving along. I am definitely a candidate for the info on your passenger side bracket info...

[glock35ipsc]

I'll keep everyone in the loop. Man I wish I had a bare Gen III block, that would make this soooo much easier and lower the risk of jacking up my red paint.

Note to self - be careful!!!

[menace121978]

good luck Bob! and yes be careful! i hate having to redo something that turned out so nice the 1st time around.

i was out looking at my mount plates and i'm racking my brain trying to think of an easier way. are there any other motor plates that would work and keep the motor back the 1" that we need?

[glock35ipsc]

Actually, in order to keep the bellhousing flange in the OEM spot, the brackets would need to move the motor mount another 1"forward on the block, putting it right smack in the middle of the AC bracket.

I suppose I could get or make new plates that move both mounts back 1" on the block, but then that would pull the entire drive train forward 1" as well, and may result in needing to have a new driveshaft made.

Then again, I am probably over thinking this! I'll know more once I have everything setting in place.

[glock35ipsc]

Hmm, new month and no update! I'm slacking!

I have found another rearend, a member in Colorado Springs is going to give me one! Thanks Tucknuts!

The Blazer cluster showed up Monday. It is in perfect condition, and will clean up real nice.

This weekend, I plan on getting the Burb out of the shop. Then I'll get Fred pushed out so I can degrease and pressure wash the engine compartment. I'll also be pulling the bed off so I can get ready to do the fuel system, and clean and paint the back end of the frame. It will also make it easier to cut the front hangers off and move them up, and will make it easier to notch the rear floor cross sill to install longer shackles later.

Wednesday, Driveway Dreams and I will head to Denver to hand off an engine he is selling, then we'll head on to Colo Springs to pickup the rearend.

[HuggerCST]

It's gonna be sweet, Bob! I'm jealous!

[glock35ipsc]

I'm getting pretty stoked about it Wynne. I'm going against the grain a little in the fact that I'm aiming to squeeze out the best mileage that I possibly can, yet still have respectable performance.

Although, I have been getting a little ribbing at home about not waiting until this winter to do the swap like I first said I was going to do. :d But lucky for me it's a good natured ribbing!

[HuggerCST]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

I'm getting pretty stoked about it Wynne. I'm going against the grain a little in the fact that I'm aiming to squeeze out the best mileage that I possibly can, yet still have respectable performance.

Although, I have been getting a little ribbing at home about not waiting until this winter to do the swap like I first said I was going to do. :d But lucky for me it's a good natured ribbing!

It may be against the grain, but that's the direction that I'd take too.
We all knew that you wouldn't be able to wait until winter! It's a good thing that you have such a understanding wife!

[nlped]

I'm going for mileage & reliability on mine too. I have a Mustang w/ a 351 stroker for speed

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by nlped

I have a Mustang

I'm so sorry.























J/K

[nlped]

I have wanted an '86 Mustang 'vert. since my senior year in high school. So when the chance came to buy one really cheap, I jumped on it. I have not driven it more than 25 miles since I got it in April. It's stuck in the garage in front of it's parts donor, so I won't be able to drive it until the new shop is built.

[menace121978]

used to love those fox bodies....

hey Bob, congrats on the rear. hope it looks good inside. have you figured out the engine plates and mount brackets yet. i know you have a plan brewing in that brain of yours...

and i agree with Wynne, there's nobody here that believed this was going to wait till winter!

[glock35ipsc]

Yez, I has it all figgur'd out. I hope.

This is the style plates I have now. This image is flipped so that it appears as it is on the passenger side on the block :



The far upper right hole, and upper middle hole are the two holes for the clam shell mount. It is the far upper right hole that is being covered by the AC bracket:



So, I am going to make one of these mounts (image flipped again):



Knowing that the block mounts are a in rectangle pattern (all four outside holes on this one), you can then visualize the "V" pattern of the SBC clam shell pattern. This should set the clam shell back far enough to clear the AC bracket. If not, I can then flip it so it mounts to the block like this, which will set it back even more:



I could use two of the smaller plates, but that would pull the entire drivetrain forward almost 2" or so, and I don't want that.

So, I am going to tack weld a plate on to the rear of the passenger side engine stand like this (the dotted blue line is the top rear edge of the stand, the red line is where I will extend it to):



Then I'll bolt up both clam shells and the tranny and set everything in place, bolt the drivers side motor mount to the truck, and put the back of the trans where it should be so that it is straight and centered in the frame like it should be. Then I'll tack the passenger side engine mount to the stand, unbolt everything and pull the engine/trans out. With the mount tacked to the stand, I can then mark the holes to be drilled. Then I can break the tacks and remove the mount, make some gussets, then shape and weld the plate up, then drill (and maybe tap) holes for the mount.

I would not need to do all this if it weren't for wanting to keep the AC in it's original spot. If you mounted it high with an aftermarket kit, this won't be necessary. Or if you won't be using the AC.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by menace121978

and i agree with Wynne, there's nobody here that believed this was going to wait till winter!

I held out as long as I could! Hard to do with that 5.3 hanging on the engine stand, staring at me every time I pulled in to the shop.

[menace121978]

wow... that seems like a bit of work buddy. what would you suggest for those of us that want a/c in the stock location and that are not as skilled as you are in fabing up a different engine stand? arent there mounts out there so this can be avoided?

sorry for the dumb @ss questions man... i didnt really pay too much attention to the other builds mounts. i figured it was just a matter of bolting on the plates, stands, and mounts and then "maybe" having to trim a small part of the frame to let the a/c clear.

[glock35ipsc]

I know I am probably over thinking the whole thing, after all..... "the dash"!!

I could probably move the entire stand back and do a small plate on the crossmember for the bottom of the stand, and redrill the frame for the top of the stand.

Meh, once I actually get the engine set in, then the best possible solution will probably present itself.

BRP Muscle Rods does make a swap kit with brackets, but it's $450. http://www.brphotrods.com/Truck%20LS1.html I don't like spending money where I don't have to. Hmmm, now that I look at those brackets, I think I could make something veeeeery similar fairly easy........

[glock35ipsc]

Hmmmm........gears are turning........ gotta find my graph paper......I think I will run to the 4x4 shop at lunch, see what kind of bushings I can find......

[Manbearpig]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

Your dimension's are backwards.

[glock35ipsc]

After a few beers, they start making perfect sense!

UPS just showed up with my Summit order. Fuel hose, SS braided hose, AN fittings and a 37* flare tool. I should be able to get most of the fuel system done now, except the place I ordered FI hose for connections and the FI hose clamps isn't here yet. Oh well, I still have a TON I can do this weekend.

Oh, I also went to one of the 4x4 shops in town and picked up a set of poly leaf spring bushings. I found some pipe here at work with the correct ID, so if it comes to it, I can make my own motor mounts.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by menace121978

what would you suggest for those of us that want a/c in the stock location and that are not as skilled as you are in fabing up a different engine stand?

The more I think about this today, I think my original way will be the quickest and easiest. I just ramble on describing things sometimes and make it sound harder than it really is!

It's really nothing more than welding a piece of plate to the rear of the existing stand, setting the motor in place to mark the motor mount holes, then drilling those holes and weld a couple of gussets under the plate to support and strengthen it.

I'll make templates as I go, as well as when it is done, so that if anyone wants to they can send me their passenger stand and I will modify it for them. That is, if this turns out to be "the way to go".

[menace121978]

your Da Man Bob! that sounds really easy now... just find a box and write an address on it... piece of cake!!

seriously though, i hope it turns out to be the best way. that kit looks nice and all but for $450!? i'm liking your plan much better

btw, congrats on the latest arrival. which flare tool did you get? i was hoping to not need one (just bought a $100 45* flare tool for brake lines)but looks like the only way to go. this is kinda cool Bob... i'm just putting together an exact list of what i'll need while watching you do yours. thanks again man!!

[nlped]

I'll be watching

[joe231]

Very cool build thread!
I'm not sure how I have missed it for so long....

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by menace121978

which flare tool did you get? i was hoping to not need one (just bought a $100 45* flare tool for brake lines)but looks like the only way to go. this is kinda cool Bob... i'm just putting together an exact list of what i'll need while watching you do yours. thanks again man!!

I got a Summit house brand tool, it's a 37* flare tool as that's what the AN fittings require.

I have some revisions to make to the fitting list for the fuel system, so don't go ordering stuff just yet!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I got quite a bit done today. Everything on my list too! I got the Burb out of the shop and moved to the north so I can get in both bays. My son and I got the bed bolts off (only had to torch one) and all the wires, hoses, and filler tubes unhooked. Then I pushed him out and soaked the engine compartment with degreaser. While that was soaking, I got the bed pulled off and set on saw horses. Pressured washed the engine compartment and the rear, and as much as I could under the cab.

Pushed it back in after it dried some and went to work on the under hood wiring. Got everything stripped off that I won't need, and left things like the AC wires, starter, oil and temp, etc. Cut the front light harness about 3' from the firewall, and later I'll start splicing that to the Burb harness. Also got the rest of the AC stuff off, and pulled a few other things that will be in the way to paint, so I'll have to push him back out tomorrow and do some more pressure washing. I also need to drop the tranny out.

Hopefully tomorrow I can get the 5.3 and trans set in place and start working on the engine mount.