1984 Chevy Crewcab 4x4 Conversion build

[Mattman2010]

Damn you moving on this thing fast. Sorry to hear about the primer. What kind of paint are you using?

[bikes&bowties]

I'm just going to use some cheap rustoleum paint. It looks to turn out good for more people. I painted our trailer with it no primer or nothing and it turned out good. Took forever to harden tho. But now it's staying strong to bare nasty metal. The reason I'm able to move so fast is because I gave up on 2 doors and just said screw it. I got the burban I bought running. And I'll be pulling it apart tonight. Hopefully I can get the Inside cleaned up tonight
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[bikes&bowties]

Well last night I got the front clip off the burban. And the truck sanded and re-Primed. It looks way better!



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[Mattman2010]

Looking good bud!

[Dieselwrencher]

Looks great!

[bikes&bowties]

Well this is how I left her tonight. Hopefully will be white on Friday.. I know that's way after I was planning but that's life. I won't be around all weekend so it will give the paint lots of time to cure before I start bolting **** back on!

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[rocking chevy]

looks good

[bikes&bowties]

Well I really screwed up the paint this evening. Runs everywhere. So I gave up after the first coat.



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[Mattman2010]

It dont look to bad till you get close

[rocking chevy]

That sucks, but it happens, good practice I guess. Sand it down and try again.

[bikes&bowties]

Yeah. I guess I just need to go a bunch of light coats. If I don't thin this paint enough it doesn't shoot smooth. But idk.
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[bikes&bowties]

So I'm thinking about a 5.3 swap. Can it be done for about $1500?
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[gmech]

Nice build there! Cool to see the younger generation doing their projects.

[cletis]

Originally Posted by bikes&bowties

So I'm thinking about a 5.3 swap. Can it be done for about $1500?
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Do lots of research first, I was thinking of a LS swap and gathered from other people as well as my searches that it will nickle and dime (or dollar and 2) The heck out of ya. I started pricing all the little things and found out that things add up quickly. Do your research, get some people that have done it to chime in, and decide if you're gonna go for it.
I love watching this build, good job!

[bikes&bowties]

Well round two barely went better. I finally got the paint mixed right but I already had runs... I'm giving up and am going to salvage this cheap not so quick paint job. These picks are after it dried.


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[Mattman2010]

That sucks man, painting can be one of those pain in the ass things when trying to get it to look how you want.

[bikes&bowties]

Yeah. Oh well I'll cut my losses and rock it till I can lay some good paint down. Get different doors and really finish it well.
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[Mattman2010]

Sounds like a plan!
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[bikes&bowties]

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[Telecasterjoey]

looks badass man! you work fast!

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by bikes&bowties

So I'm thinking about a 5.3 swap. Can it be done for about $1500?
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well a 5.3 in that big of truck isnt the best idea. 6.0 4l80e would be better. your looking at 1500-2k for the engine and the trans and all the computer wiring. as for nickel and dime idk if it would really be as bad as you think. i guess if you pay someone to mod you harness rather do it yourself. pay for some big name motor mounts or ac mount you might. but if you just use some cheap motor mounts that people sell or build your own thats not really much money. the ac compressor well you can trim for clearance or get a better bracket. vette ones are cheap there are some aftermaket ones that arent a fortune too. the next thing is a tune 250-500 bucks to whoever does it. wiring harness you could do if you got a wiring diagram which is like 25 dollars. the trans will bolt up to the 205. the oil pan may need some mods but if you know a person that can tig good thats nothing either. last is the fuel system. you can do a sump and external pump or swap in a baffled tank with a in tank pump(if it will fit just get the pump and tank off the truck you get the engine from). and that about covers it really. it would be a good idea to get a 99-02 6.0 though cause there cable driven via the throttle body. the drive by wire system requirde the new trucks gas pedal with the servo and it would be a headache to get a cruise control system to work with it if you want cruise. (it can be done but if it like a dmax you will have to have the bcm wired into the truck tow haul mode is the same way). as with anything your going to run into little expenses unforseen but a good estimate would be about 3k.

[nekkidhillbilly]

look at this way though 3k plus what you have in the truck already vs a new 6.0 cc 4wd 1 ton trucks price. you cant buy a 02 with a massive amount of miles on it for under 12k. it would shock me if you had 12k in it with the engine swap and everything be basically gone through and like new. i have plans for a duramax swap on one of these trucks looking at 10k to do it and the diesel with the trans is double what a 6 liter is. you also have to look at the fact you can sell any old parts you dont use that current truck has. the biggest thing get a whole wrecked donor truck or get everything you need off the truck your getting the donor parts from.

[Mattman2010]

That looks cool man, basically how I want my truck to be haha. Cant wait till you get it all back together and take some more pictures.

[Gordonr1973]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

well a 5.3 in that big of truck isnt the best idea. 6.0 4l80e would be better. your looking at 1500-2k for the engine and the trans and all the computer wiring. as for nickel and dime idk if it would really be as bad as you think. i guess if you pay someone to mod you harness rather do it yourself. pay for some big name motor mounts or ac mount you might. but if you just use some cheap motor mounts that people sell or build your own thats not really much money. the ac compressor well you can trim for clearance or get a better bracket. vette ones are cheap there are some aftermaket ones that arent a fortune too. the next thing is a tune 250-500 bucks to whoever does it. wiring harness you could do if you got a wiring diagram which is like 25 dollars. the trans will bolt up to the 205. the oil pan may need some mods but if you know a person that can tig good thats nothing either. last is the fuel system. you can do a sump and external pump or swap in a baffled tank with a in tank pump(if it will fit just get the pump and tank off the truck you get the engine from). and that about covers it really. it would be a good idea to get a 99-02 6.0 though cause there cable driven via the throttle body. the drive by wire system requirde the new trucks gas pedal with the servo and it would be a headache to get a cruise control system to work with it if you want cruise. (it can be done but if it like a dmax you will have to have the bcm wired into the truck tow haul mode is the same way). as with anything your going to run into little expenses unforseen but a good estimate would be about 3k.

6.0L Motor: $1,000 to $2,000 depending on milage
If it needed new gaskets and sensors: another $500 to $1,000

4L80E Trans: $500 to $800

Harness: $500
Tuning: $250 (might need it done twice though)

DBW: pedal plus computer module: $250

Add 20% for unforeseen costs (e.g. like a bellhousing that is made to mate your motor to your tranny if not purchased together) and that's probably what you are looking at after everything is said and done.

Your build is looking good though!!

[14hatchie]

what did you have to do to make it 4X4 besides the obvious? did you have to do anything different to the trans? etc... I have been wanting to do the same thing since orginal 4x4''s are getting hard to find