Project "Steppin Wolf" LS swap

[Rich84]

Ya ..Keep up the good work. Cant wait to get started on mine.

Are you going to go with the catch can? I have a 6.0 in my 2004 work van and it does suck quite a bit of oil into the throttle body. (345,000 miles)

[Liltroy]

Originally Posted by Rich84

Ya ..Keep up the good work. Cant wait to get started on mine.

Are you going to go with the catch can? I have a 6.0 in my 2004 work van and it does suck quite a bit of oil into the throttle body. (345,000 miles)

Yep, after seeing all the oil deposits in the intake I ordered one. Just a little eBay cheapy but should help somewhat.

[tinydb84]

Originally Posted by Liltroy

Honestly I'm not sure what I need. 😒
Wish I could just find a cheap driveshaft out of a silverado so I'd have the exact yoke I need. All these options are confusing the crap out of me!

I cant see the yolk on your trans. Is it bolt on? Pretty sure you need a counterbored slip yolk. Shot Clinebarger on here a message and he will probably be able to give you a part number or email Jake at Jake's transmissions. He sells them and will be able to tell you which one you need.

[Liltroy]

No it's a slip yoke. Looks just like the tail housing on a short tail th400 and the trans is two inches shorter than the th375 it replaced so I'm pretty sure I'll need a new driveshaft. �� thanks for the info, I'll contact them after I get the drivetrain set in and am able to take some measurements. ��

[bnoon]

My mistake on the headers. That's what I get for doing a quick glance. Oh well. Still a very nice little build you have going on here.

As for the transmission, why did you go with the 80? Do you plan to add a power adder down the road? Or just looking at it from a stock vs stock the 60/65 wouldn't have been enough? Or maybe for 500 you just couldn't pass it up? Just wondering.

[NorCalAnthony]

Nice job on the swap so far dude! I'm still gathering parts for my 5.3/4l80e swap in to my 89 K5 and love watching all of these square body LS swaps for motivation

[Liltroy]

Originally Posted by bnoon

My mistake on the headers. That's what I get for doing a quick glance. Oh well. Still a very nice little build you have going on here.

As for the transmission, why did you go with the 80? Do you plan to add a power adder down the road? Or just looking at it from a stock vs stock the 60/65 wouldn't have been enough? Or maybe for 500 you just couldn't pass it up? Just wondering.

Not a big deal. I'm glad I got people here to give me a heads up on things before I find out the hard way!
I went with the 80 for its factory durability and because I plan to add a cam later on and already have a nitrous kit to put on so I figured why chance it with a 60/65? Plus it's the trans that came gm installed behind this engine in the first place.

[Liltroy]

Originally Posted by NorCalAnthony

Nice job on the swap so far dude! I'm still gathering parts for my 5.3/4l80e swap in to my 89 K5 and love watching all of these square body LS swaps for motivation

Thanks man! I plan to do a parts list at some point to help others figure out what's needed. I bought a lot of unnecessary things and some stuff could be done more cheaply but it'll give people a general idea anyway.

[Liltroy]

Wife's new cooktop arrived last night and I spent the night installing so nothing new to report. Also, works got me covered up for the weekend so I doubt I'll get much else done but gonna try to at least get the trans cleaned up. If all goes well, next weekend I'll be pulling the old engine and dropping in new engine and trans! Still have to pull the bed to do my blazer tank swap and get started on fuel system but I'm hoping a few neighbors will help me get that off sometime next week. Summer is my busiest time at work so progress is definately gonna be slow.

[bnoon]

Originally Posted by Liltroy

Not a big deal. I'm glad I got people here to give me a heads up on things before I find out the hard way!
I went with the 80 for its factory durability and because I plan to add a cam later on and already have a nitrous kit to put on so I figured why chance it with a 60/65? Plus it's the trans that came gm installed behind this engine in the first place.

Oh yeah, if the transmission will stay stock-ish, 80 all the way. I had to have a built transmission either way and the price difference for a 750 horse/torque 65E was less than a comparable 80E, so for me the built 65E was the way to go. The guys at Monster Transmission are great to work with if you ever need parts by the way. I've had three of their transmission in three different vehicles and never one issue with them.

[Liltroy]

Originally Posted by bnoon

The guys at Monster Transmission are great to work with if you ever need parts by the way. I've had three of their transmission in three different vehicles and never one issue with them.

I had actually looked into just getting a rebuilt trans from them at one time but no more power than I'm going to be making, even with the nitrous, I figured an 80 with a shift kit and maybe a good converter would be more cost effective. Of course the converter will have to come later..... Don't think the wifeys gonna let me buy anymore "optional" equipment till this things running again,lol

[Liltroy]

got some new valve cover gaskets since mine were seeping after the paint



and since I had to buy new grommets too, I jyst went ahead and got some new stainless bolts.



New locking transmission dipstick



And a fresh set of iridium plugs



Not really related to the swap but I wanted to raise the rear of my truck a bit so I got some 1 or 2 inch drop shackles. its currently sitting on two leafs and the PO had also extended the rear shackles by cutting and welding 3" of steel into them. axle bottoms out on the frame so this was my cheapest way to be able to gain an inch or two of suspension travel in the rear.

[Liltroy]

Poor girl just begging for a new drivetrain, lol

[Liltroy]

So Ive been doing some preassembly mock up to check fitment and soooo glad I did!She looking good!





BUT, I've got a problem!Everything is fine on passenger side but the two middle plug wires on the drivers side are smashed hard against the header tubes!



I noticed on the box it shows that Taylor makes these 45 degree boots but they arent listed on the website so Im going to call monday and see if I cant special order at least two of them with terminals and re-make the two middle wires or possibly all of them with the angled boots and terminals.

[Rich84]

Originally Posted by Liltroy

Poor girl just begging for a new drivetrain, lol

Do you think she will sit lower in the front with the LQ4 in there?

Engine looks great by the way..

[Liltroy]

im actually going to raise the whole truck up a few inches when this is over. Im thinking the lq4 should weight a bit less than the engine that came out though?

[OutlawDrifter]

the LQ will weigh less, but that 4l80e will make up the difference.

[Liltroy]

Im hoping it all balances out in the end.

[Liltroy]

So Ever since Ive had the truck Ive noticed that the inside of the front wheels are making contact with the lower control arms..its cut a groove into the inside of the wheels and I thought maybe the wheels had the wrong offset until I ran the numbers on these belltech drop spindles and turns out theyre for a 71-72 c10. Im guessing these spindles have moved the front wheels in too far, hince the contact. Guess Im redoing the front suspension for sure now.

[Liltroy]

the new stainless bolts I got for the valve covers didnt have spacers on them.



I assume the spacers are to keep from over tightening and cracking the valve covers so I took the old ones off and put them on the new bolts. I would definately do this if you used this style bolt on the intake as well!

[Liltroy]

This gasket came with my valve cover gaskets and I have no clue what its for! anybody????

[Liltroy]

my ratty interior.....needs ALOT of work!!!!

[Liltroy]

Test fitting intake



How do I attach the filter the the MAF? Its quit a bit larger diameter than the MAF so do I need some sort of reducer?

[Liltroy]

Got a power steering pulley tool from harbor freight.



I thought about using my impact on it but every couple cranks it comes apart and I have to unscrew it and tighten it back again. Very tedious and frustrating and I figured because of this I shouldnt use an impact on it so I decided to use my good old Army force multipier!!!!

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.



LMFAO. Sorry guys....had to throw some humor out somewhere.

[Liltroy]

My engine covers I won on ebay for $50 got here today. Look to be in good shape...just gotta clean them up.