'89 GMC C1500 build thread

[scotts62]

Originally Posted by 89chevsj

I've been curious about how a 94-98 door panel looks with the older dash pics anyone?

I put a '95 door and panel on my crew cab but just havent changed panels yet, it looks ok i guess..

Ill try and snap a pic later.

[69c10stepside]

Turn of events on the 89 gmc build. I am going to be at the peak of what horsepower that I am comfortable with on the 700r4 build that I have (build was done by a local guy with no doubts of his transmission prowess). So with that said, same said builder is going to be working a 4L80e for me, going full manual valve body, whatever else he recommends for fun... if he deems I have a need for it anyways..

Stuck on what camshaft I am really going to buy now, I had previously said the GMPP Hotcam, but now that I have ordered L92 heads , I am more then likely going with something else.

[69c10stepside]

Update, engine from the black truck is now officially in the 89 blue truck. Several hours spent trying to get the exhaust to line back up, along with some clutch fork issues, I got it all back together. Almost.

Still need to finish up with some fuel lines and put the wires/plugs back in.

On track for hopefully next friday/saturday doing some 6.0L fitments..

[memphismatt]

ditto to that hood. been looking at those myself.

can't wait to see the 6.0 swap

[69c10stepside]

I will be firing off the 3/4 ton and moving it out of the way some point in time tonight. Finished up with the few parts I needed for it with a fuel pressure regulator, heater hose, some fuel treatment...Here is where I stand on what I need for the black truck.

Parts to buy:

Carpet
Cam
3rd Member
Intake
Heads

Going to be using the stock lq4 aluminum heads on the mockup to see how close everything is as far as bolt and go. Local yard has found a late model 6.2 LS2/3 (not sure) engine that has the L92 style heads that I am going to use if I can get them for what they are saying they will sell them for.. Otherwise, will just buy them straight up from sdparts.com.

As far as the carpet, I am needing to figure out for sure on a few things interior wise, but that part should come last anyways!

[69c10stepside]

Long time no post. Have the 3/4ton truck done to the point where I put my focus back on the '89. 3/4ton truck has a rusted brake line by the fuel tank.. It is up in the frame rail and I am not ready to take the bed off of that dirty old truck anytime soon.

Anyways, all motor parts have been ordered and are well on their way. Did some more research and found that GM recommends that the head bolts be one use only. Can anybody vouch that? Headbolt kit looks to be somewhere around 240 dollars, and there is differences in year models. I am sure I would need the later for the L92 heads.

Speaking of the L92 heads, I sent them off to be decked to 64cc instead of the factory 70cc that they were.

Anyways, there is the update, I will get some pictures uploaded of parts in the next few days.

[69c10stepside]

Should be picking up the shortblock tomorrow, along with the heads. Went from 70cc to approx 64cc on the heads for the build also.

If everything comes together tomorrow, I will be taking vacation next week wed-friday to try to get something running.

[jb1016]

Awesome man. Sounds like a good vacation!

[69c10stepside]

I hope so! I want to get it for I can move it around on its own power again.

I did come up with a 14 bolt 10.5" ring gear 4.10 eaton posi.. Going to go around quoting machine work/axle swaps for it today. Atleast I think its 10.5, it is an eight lug rear end out of a 3/4 HD truck, but not a full floater.. anyways its what im going to use..

[69c10stepside]

Spent majority of the weekend with a sick son (1yr 103+ temp and alot of time at the hospital equals not much done on the pickup), I did manage to waste a little time by hanging the 96 model doors on the pickup. Picking up heads tomorrow from machine shop, took Thursday/Friday off this week, maybe things will fall into place better.

[69c10stepside]

Time for some more pictures.. Will take some of the truck and what I have done with it the last little bit. Should get the short block tomorrow, but I could be quoted on how many times I have said that now.

[69c10stepside]

Small update.. Finally got the engine in to start working on it. Will post some pictures when things are going good.

[69c10stepside]

Going to be putting cylinder heads on today, I will take my camera with me this time.

Found a great resource for information, thanks to ebay. I found a 6.0 LQ4/LQ9 specific engine manual for around 30 dollars shipped. It just so happened that there was a part number from this manual, so I google'd it and found that the company had the pdf linked directly off of their site.

www.pleasurecraft.com/manuals/L510016.pdf

It is somewhere around 300 pages printed, but it makes for a great read on the proper torque rating and squence for everything to be clamped down. It has by far been the best resource I have used so far for research. It even shows appropriate metric thread size for the bolt holes etc..

I am still short an oil pan, pickup tube, starter, front drive accessories, coil packs and smaller things..

I did find a seller on ebay that had what I needed to do my a/c compressor relocation due to the Trans-dapt motor mount plates blocking the factory compressor mounting bolts. I will get a picture of that too..

Otherwise, no other updates until pictures hopefully later tonight.

[69c10stepside]

Pictures as promised.. not much more then a tease.















I also did some preliminary measuring and found that from the engine mount to the top of the carb stud is around 25.75 inches.. Stock 350 with tbi unit measured to top of air cleaner is around 24.25 inches. I am going to have to measure the motor that came out of the black truck tomorrow and see its overall height and hope for the best that this new one will clear the center support of my 442 hood.

[69c10stepside]

Forgot to post door pictures, just got one of the driver side, I promise I put one just like it on the passenger side.

[scotts62]

I see you have the newer panels, do you need anything else from a newer style?

Engine looks good too!!

[69c10stepside]

Originally Posted by scotts62

I see you have the newer panels, do you need anything else from a newer style?

Engine looks good too!!

I have a '96 suburban parts vehicle that I pulled the doors off of, I already have the dash out of it, just waiting on "dedicated" funds to buy the gauges I want to use in it.

Still deciding how I am going to tie in the old harness in with everything.. mainly the a/c etc..

[fencepost]

Not sure what route your going on the A/C but I did have some links save somwhere on how to use a 4.3 A/C bracket to run the factory compresor on the new style engine.

[69c10stepside]

Originally Posted by fencepost

Not sure what route your going on the A/C but I did have some links save somwhere on how to use a 4.3 A/C bracket to run the factory compresor on the new style engine.

Interesting, I'll look into that. The company that I referenced that was selling the bracket stuff on ebay is actually:

http://www.kwikperf.com/lsx_ac.html

If I wanted to change brackets to a car variant, I could do some other things too, but..

[69c10stepside]

Glad you posted that, I am all about using parts I think I already have!

[fencepost]

Originally Posted by 69c10stepside

Glad you posted that, I am all about using parts I think I already have!

No problem. Care if I ask why you decided to go with a carb and not the factory EFI?

[69c10stepside]

I couldn't find anything but high priced intakes for the l92 heads. I found some parts that would have been another 300 or so total overall more expensive then what I did to go carb'd.

I do eventually plan on going with some form of efi on it, but I couldn't pass up on doing a carb setup to just see how it would work.

[69c10stepside]

Valley cover will be delivered Friday, hopefully will pickup all of the truck brackets, oil pan tomorrow (and maybe a 4.3 a/c bracket if I can't find one).. I might have everything together for a weekend install, maybe even this weekend

[69c10stepside]

Valley cover did indeed come in today, but that was it. All of the other carriers have already run their routes, so stuck with ANOTHER weekend not being able to get it started.

Weather next week sure does look nice, if it holds out, I will just go find some parts to get it done one way or another..

[69c10stepside]

Purchased the rest of the parts I needed to feel comfortable enough to get the engine atleast bolted in the frame.. IE oil pan, crank pulley, starter, and some other things. Anyways, will be working on it tomorrow after church.