79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap

[79gmc5.3]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

X2 on more pics. I would really like to see one of the colors together. Looks really good in the little bit we can see!

Jonboy: I posted a few more pics. The colors are from the 2008 GMC truck line. Ming Blue and Birch Silver. Sorry I don't have the color codes. The tag on the front is in honor of my dad. He was a POW in Korea for 3 years. He passed away in 1996 and he loved this truck. He bought it new in 1979, 1st new truck he ever bought. So when he passed I had to restore it.

[menace121978]

sure is a beauty... i love to hear stories like this. nothing more special than something that was bought new years ago and passed down through the family.

as for the mounts, i was going to go with BRP http://www.brphotrods.com/Truck%20LS1.html but they cant garantee that the stock a/c will work in the stock location. still reasearching this...

[mcbassin]

This is a nice looking project! I will tuned in to watch this one.

[Jonboy]

Well, I think you did your dad proud. The colors really look good together. From the first pics, it almost looked like a white diamond in the middle, it was hard to tell. The truck really turned out sharp.

For the PCM and wiring, you might try Jesse at wait4me, or Brendan at LT1swap.com

[79gmc5.3]

Originally Posted by menace121978

sure is a beauty... i love to hear stories like this. nothing more special than something that was bought new years ago and passed down through the family.

as for the mounts, i was going to go with BRP http://www.brphotrods.com/Truck%20LS1.html but they cant garantee that the stock a/c will work in the stock location. still reasearching this...

Dennis: BPR is local for me I live in the Atlanta area. I called Phil the owner and he is a restorer. He has done alot of these LS conversions. I think you have to move the AC pump that is why I am still looking. The problem is the rear of the compressor hitting the crossmember the side rails will clear. I am looking into moving the engine forward 1". Have you heard about this. Also BRP's kit includes a new trans crossmember and I was told just move the stock one. Any input on this?

[menace121978]

you can just move the tranny cross member instead of buying another.

i talked to Jeff over their yesterday and he wants me to send him an a/c compressor with factory lines to try and mount it to their test engine/truck. the only reason i'd go with their kit is if i didnt have to get a top mount a/c compressor and bracket. that would make up the price difference in the plates vs. brp's kit. i heard if you move the motor forward an inch you will have problems with finding headers/manifolds to fit and the trucks weight balance will be off or something like that.(?)

[menace121978]

maybe you'd have better luck with those guys at brp. they honestly pissed me off the other day wanting me to ship out my own compressor on my own dime and not guarantee their kit and headers will work.

[79gmc5.3]

Originally Posted by menace121978

maybe you'd have better luck with those guys at brp. they honestly pissed me off the other day wanting me to ship out my own compressor on my own dime and not guarantee their kit and headers will work.

I will call Phil and take him my AC compressor and when I get an answer I will post and let you know. Good to know about the trans crossmember I need to save money were ever I can. I like BPR's headers. Very nice looking......

[68Timber]

Subscribing...

[smokedat]

when you do a swap you will always run into clearance problems, you will need an A/C relocator to top passenger. I have seen some notch the frame to clear the AC but i wouldn't recommend that. You can use the same trans crossmember.

[nlped]

Another cool swap!

[Shon]

I am enjoying my 6.0 in the 71!

[Dads79GMC]

79gmc5.3

Great truck. We have a lot in common. My Dad, a Korean and Vietnam Vet, purchased his 79 Heavy Half GMC brand new and he gave it to me before he died in 2001. He ordered it just the way he wanted it: Oyster colored high-back buckets/headline/door panels etc (must have been a 70s thing), power everything, 2WD and two-tone blue. You can see a bit of it in the avatar.

I'm in the middle of totally going through it right now. At some point I need to start a build post.

Did you have to find another grille or is that the original? I know mine is bit different.

Again, great truck. I'm inspired again.

Mike

[79gmc5.3]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

79gmc5.3

Great truck. We have a lot in common. My Dad, a Korean and Vietnam Vet, purchased his 79 Heavy Half GMC brand new and he gave it to me before he died in 2001. He ordered it just the way he wanted it: Oyster colored high-back buckets/headline/door panels etc (must have been a 70s thing), power everything, 2WD and two-tone blue. You can see a bit of it in the avatar.

I'm in the middle of totally going through it right now. At some point I need to start a build post.

Did you have to find another grille or is that the original? I know mine is bit different.

Again, great truck. I'm inspired again.

Mike

The grill in most of the pics is a 79 chevy from GM Goodmart because I could not find a new GMC Grill for that year. And the GMC grill in the front pic is the original I cleaned real well painted the whole thing black, taped off what I wanted to keep black and sprayed a silver/pewter and used a torch red for the GMC letters. And cleared the whole thing. Turned out much better than I thought it would.

[BIG10]

I think I've said this before, but dang I love your truck.

[79gmc5.3]

Originally Posted by Shon

I am enjoying my 6.0 in the 71!

Shon: I just looked at your web site, great looking truck and that 6.0L looks like the truck came with it. My goal for my truck has always been make it look bone stock on the outside but all the things like engine,trans,and inside creature comforts update with late model stuff. I hope with all the good info in these threads I will not have to many problems. Again I think your truck looks great.

[Shon]

Originally Posted by 79gmc5.3

Shon: I just looked at your web site, great looking truck and that 6.0L looks like the truck came with it. My goal for my truck has always been make it look bone stock on the outside but all the things like engine,trans,and inside creature comforts update with late model stuff. I hope with all the good info in these threads I will not have to many problems. Again I think your truck looks great.

THANKS!!!! That has been my goal too.

[79gmc5.3]

I wanted to take a look on the inside to make sure everything is OK. Wire brushed the heads and top of pistons. Have a few days off, will be putting it back together.

[mcbassin]

Your motor looks good! Couple of questions, Just curious, with it being low mileage, what made you want to pull the top end? How much did you spend on the gasket sets and bolts? Since you are already this far, check your knock sensor wire harness under that valley cover. Good looking build!

[menace121978]

X2 on the knock sensor harness. i gotta get one myself... if i remember right its only 38 dollars from GM

[79gmc5.3]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Your motor looks good! Couple of questions, Just curious, with it being low mileage, what made you want to pull the top end? How much did you spend on the gasket sets and bolts? Since you are already this far, check your knock sensor wire harness under that valley cover. Good looking build!

Just did not want to take a chance. I did not see the engine run or see the donor vehicle. The guy I bought it from seemed truthful but had no proof of mileage or condition of engine. Was going to just take the intake, exhaust manifolds and spark plugs out. When I found a little rust on the intake valves (1), must have been just from sitting. Everything else looks great. Got $400.00 in all the gaskets, ARP studs, spark plugs and belt. Also bought a "How to rebuild an LS series engine". I have built many engines, but not like the GM LS engine. When I was searching for torque and sequence for the heads I learned they are a little different than what I am use too. But I feel good now knowing the shape of the engine. The knock sensor harness looks OK do I need to replace any way?

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by 79gmc5.3

The knock sensor harness looks OK do I need to replace any way?

I have seen one bad one on 2000 model I did a head job on. But, I read about a lot of problems with the sensors and harness under that cover. I think it was more of a problem on the earlier engines.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

The truck looks great! I really like what you have done so far. I am not far from you at all (Woodstock), and I may be installing a 6.0 in an '87 C10 in the next week or so (still working costs out with the customer). He wants to keep the A/C, and like many of you I'm reluctant to cut the frame for clearance. I can easily reinforce anything I cut, but I'd rather make a change to the accesories, or the mounting therof. I know the BRP guys, and will be using their swap kit, and more than likely their headers (customer may run manifolds, not sure yet), so I'll be able to let you know if the stock A/C location will work.I'm planning to do a full build thread on it, with lots of pictures and a parts/cost list. Once I get started on it, you're welcome to come by and check it out.

[79gmc5.3]

Originally Posted by BulldawgMusclecars

The truck looks great! I really like what you have done so far. I am not far from you at all (Woodstock), and I may be installing a 6.0 in an '87 C10 in the next week or so (still working costs out with the customer). He wants to keep the A/C, and like many of you I'm reluctant to cut the frame for clearance. I can easily reinforce anything I cut, but I'd rather make a change to the accesories, or the mounting therof. I know the BRP guys, and will be using their swap kit, and more than likely their headers (customer may run manifolds, not sure yet), so I'll be able to let you know if the stock A/C location will work.I'm planning to do a full build thread on it, with lots of pictures and a parts/cost list. Once I get started on it, you're welcome to come by and check it out.

That would be great. I am at the point of choosing mounts. Why are you using BPR mounts, seems expensive to me, when you can use adapter plates and just move the stock trans crossmember. I like there headers. I have not decided on the headers or stock manifolds yet. If you give me an address I would love to come by and see you work. Just PM me.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Originally Posted by 79gmc5.3

That would be great. I am at the point of choosing mounts. Why are you using BPR mounts, seems expensive to me, when you can use adapter plates and just move the stock trans crossmember. I like there headers. I have not decided on the headers or stock manifolds yet. If you give me an address I would love to come by and see you work. Just PM me.

Compared to most other mounts (which are just plates), the kit is more expensive, but I'd really like to be able to use the original (to the engine) A/C compressor and I think that the extra clearance they give will make the difference. I may be wrong, but there is only one way to find out. I'm not an expert on these trucks, and question the need for a new crossmember myself, but it may have to do with the raised mounts and keeping proper geometry. I'll find out for sure hwen I tear into the swap.

I could build the mounts myself and do any crossmember mods, and if it was a personal project I probably would, but when a customer is paying me by the hour the design and fabrication time adds up. Plus, it will eliminate any surprises with headers not fitting, since they make the headers, too. If I save the customer even 3-4 hours of labor, then the difference on the kit price over other options is negated. I'm going to be working with BRP closely on this, and will offer any pics, measurements, etc to make their kit better, if needed.