1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! - Page 5 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

LT7A · 06-19-2022, 04:13 AM

That's interesting to see. Sorry, I'm no help with it. The bumper looks good!

Honest Bob · 06-22-2022, 08:57 AM

Dont forget to tie up the knock sensor wiring. I failed to secure mine and it rubbed through on some metal (Im guessing the fuel rails) and was shorting out popping the 40amp fuse for the ecu.

Nick_R_23 · 07-30-2022, 11:41 PM

Got into the suspension a bit since it’s been raining the last few weekends. New front springs, went to 8600lb GVWR since the rear was already done long ago.

Out with the old!

In with the new!

Passenger side

All installed!

layinrocker65 · 07-31-2022, 12:24 AM

Keep it up. This is one of my favorite builds to follow.

Nick_R_23 · 08-12-2022, 07:55 PM

Finally! Both driveshafts are finished. The rear was rebuilt, the front is nearly all new. It might actually drive!

The front axle needs to be rebuilt before any serious movement happens. It’ll be getting new ball joints, new brakes, new axle seals, and new wheel bearings. I scored this OTC axle socket kit for $50 on FB!

OutlawDrifter · 08-12-2022, 07:56 PM

Glad to see some more progress!

Nick_R_23 · 08-13-2022, 07:18 PM

Driveshafts in!

Nick_R_23 · 08-28-2022, 01:03 PM

Down to buttoning up a lot of the little things now.

Installed the hood back on, and aligned!

The glove box door was broken off at the hinge, so it’s getting a new one.

New part in!

Utilizing one of the cutouts for the Holley USB cable.

And with the final touch of the original Owner’s Manual, it’s done!

Installed the floor mounted high beam switch.

Ran the wires for the speakers and dome light.

Mounting the new rear speakers in their housings.

Left and right rear speakers installed!

Nick_R_23 · 10-10-2022, 04:15 PM

Getting even closer here!

New front bumper brackets showed up from LMC. Very good fit and quality!

Picked up some stainless carriage bolts and hardware and mounted the bumper.

The hood is looking pretty ratty with the rusted out front section, but we’re going to make it look slightly better in the meantime before I replace it.

Desecrating some old valve covers.

One side in!

Also ordered a front axle seal install tool. For $31, it wasn’t worth screwing around without it.

Nick_R_23 · 10-17-2022, 12:49 AM

I totally forgot about these heat shields. Cleaned them up and bought some stainless hardware to install them!

Getting very close to being done under the hood!

I picked up a different rear bumper in chrome instead of painted. Also installed stainless hardware on the mounts. Ordered new license plate lights as this takes a different style.

The shop is currently a disaster, but the truck is coming together!

OutlawDrifter · 10-17-2022, 08:56 AM

Engine compartment looks very "stockish"...I like it!

Nick_R_23 · 10-30-2022, 01:26 AM

Thanks!

Back to smaller updates! I bought some replacement license plate lights for the new rear bumper.

Old ones removed

New ones installed!

Nick_R_23 · 02-10-2023, 01:28 AM

I picked up a new wiper motor because the old one quit working.

Turns out the new motor didn’t solve the issue, nor did a new switch. After a day of troubleshooting, it turns out the blue wires were swapped in the new harness!

New wiper motor in and all wires where they are supposed to be!

Installed all new wiper washer lines and filled the tank!

Next up, finally rebuilding the front axle!

Hub and rotor removed

Rotor and bearings are well worn due to improper hub nut adjustments.

The calipers are showing their age also

Drivers side!

Even the spindles are damaged beyond repair from the loose bearings

U-joints are completely shot

Everything all apart!

Time for some new parts! Rotors and bearings

New calipers and pads

Removed the carrier and old axle seals, cleaned the housing.

New axle seals!

Pressing the new seals in! This tool was worth every penny

Carrier reinstalled

New spindles

New hub nut kit

New U-joints installed in the axle shafts

New ball joints installed in the knuckle

New rotor and caliper installed

Hub installed

Ball joints installed in passenger side knuckle

Knuckle installed to axle housing

Axle shaft and new spindle installed

Backing plate, rotor, and caliper installed.

Also installed the new trailer brake controller under the dash.

evan · 03-22-2023, 10:12 PM

I need that steering box.

OutlawDrifter · 03-23-2023, 07:46 AM

Glad to see you still plugging away! I just put a new Borgeson box on my Z28. Very good product!

Nick_R_23 · 03-28-2023, 01:46 PM

I’m glad to hear that, I’m hoping it will be a worthwhile upgrade even on a 3/4 ton truck!

I got the tires mounted on the rims and balanced last night! New wheels are going to really make it stand out! I’m still disappointed that I can’t find 16.5’s anymore, but I’ll save the old wheels to maybe go back on in the future.

Nick_R_23 · 03-31-2023, 09:07 PM

More parts!

New sway bar bushings!

New steering stabilizer!

New RH rear bed corner since it was rusty to the point of nearly falling off.

Finished deleting the power steering cooler and connected the lines to the new steering box.

Tie rod installed!

Steering stabilizer installed!

Sway bar bushings installed!

Front shocks installed!

Front steering and suspension completed!

Nick_R_23 · 04-21-2023, 08:01 PM

Getting close to the last of the needed parts! Pretty much down to rear brakes and shocks at this point!

New rear drums!

New rear shoes!

New rear hose and hardware kits!

New wheel bearings and wheel cylinders!

New axle gaskets!

Drums painted!

OutlawDrifter · 04-21-2023, 09:35 PM

Looks good! Always nice to go back with new parts.

Nick_R_23 · 04-30-2023, 03:01 AM

Getting down to the little things now!

Ran the vent lines for the fuel tanks and rear axle.

Ran the harness for the new license plate lights.

Adapter for the 7 pin trailer connector.

Made an interior harness for the trailer brake controller that tied into the brake light switch.

Made a circuit breaker block for the power feeds for the 7 pin and brake controller.

Driver front brake line was pretty rusty looking at the fitting, so I made a replacement.

Perfect fit!

Nick_R_23 · 04-30-2023, 08:03 PM

Started on the rear brakes today. Didn’t make it that far, mostly because I could’ve sworn up and down that I had 13” brakes, but turns out that I actually had 11” rears. Instead of returning all the parts and going with 11”, I’m going to locate the 13” backing plates and end up with a better set of brakes!

The original ones were destroyed…

Both wheel hubs stripped. Probably going to take these into town with me and have them hot tanked since they’re pretty nasty.

OutlawDrifter · 04-30-2023, 08:33 PM

That's the 11in "oil bath" RPO code, haha

Nick_R_23 · 05-07-2023, 01:10 PM

Yeah no kidding.

I’m not sure if I mentioned this earlier, but for some reason I’ve had an interference issue with the hydroboost and master cylinder. I’ve had everything apart several times and can’t find any issues, so since I’m into the brakes now, I decided to just make a shim to gain the proper clearance back.

Sheet of aluminum measuring .058”. I used an SBC thermostat housing gasket as a template and just moved the holes out a little bit for the booster bolt pattern.

Perfect fit! With the shim in place, I can measure .007” clearance now between the pin and piston.

Still not sure why there was a clearance issue, but this turned out to be a nice solution!

93M6Formula · 05-08-2023, 08:44 AM

Interesting, so was it applying slight pressure to the MC without that shim?

Nick_R_23 · 05-08-2023, 09:55 AM

Yeah, noticeable enough that I could slide the master cylinder onto the booster studs and seat it by hand and have nearly a washers’ width of gap between the two flanges once the pin touched the piston. I could feel it pushing the piston in if I pushed the master cylinder the final bit manually.

06-19-2022, 04:13 AM	#1
LT7A Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: PNW Posts: 3,528	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! That's interesting to see. Sorry, I'm no help with it. The bumper looks good!

06-22-2022, 08:57 AM	#2
Honest Bob Registered User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Easton PA Posts: 212	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Dont forget to tie up the knock sensor wiring. I failed to secure mine and it rubbed through on some metal (Im guessing the fuel rails) and was shorting out popping the 40amp fuse for the ecu. __________________ 1975 GMC C35 - Junk yard survivor. 1986 Pampered Private - M1009

07-30-2022, 11:41 PM	#3
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Got into the suspension a bit since it’s been raining the last few weekends. New front springs, went to 8600lb GVWR since the rear was already done long ago. Out with the old! In with the new! Passenger side All installed!

07-31-2022, 12:24 AM	#4
layinrocker65 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: California Posts: 521	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Keep it up. This is one of my favorite builds to follow. __________________ ‘53 GMC COE stock ‘53 Chevy 3100 LSA/TR6060 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?t=805949‘ '70 Chevy C10 LWB 350/sm465 ‘74 Chevy C10 SWB 5.3/4L80e, Vintage Air, Dakota Digital, US Mags

08-12-2022, 07:55 PM	#5
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Finally! Both driveshafts are finished. The rear was rebuilt, the front is nearly all new. It might actually drive! The front axle needs to be rebuilt before any serious movement happens. It’ll be getting new ball joints, new brakes, new axle seals, and new wheel bearings. I scored this OTC axle socket kit for $50 on FB!

08-12-2022, 07:56 PM	#6
OutlawDrifter Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Northeast KS Posts: 1,775	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Glad to see some more progress! __________________ 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 SLT, 454/4L80E 1991 Z/28, 6.0L/T56 1949 GMC 250, S10 Frame, 6.0L/4L80E Instagram @aceshighspeedshop

08-13-2022, 07:18 PM	#7
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Driveshafts in!

08-28-2022, 01:03 PM	#8
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Down to buttoning up a lot of the little things now. Installed the hood back on, and aligned! The glove box door was broken off at the hinge, so it’s getting a new one. New part in! Utilizing one of the cutouts for the Holley USB cable. And with the final touch of the original Owner’s Manual, it’s done! Installed the floor mounted high beam switch. Ran the wires for the speakers and dome light. Mounting the new rear speakers in their housings. Left and right rear speakers installed!

10-10-2022, 04:15 PM	#9
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Getting even closer here! New front bumper brackets showed up from LMC. Very good fit and quality! Picked up some stainless carriage bolts and hardware and mounted the bumper. The hood is looking pretty ratty with the rusted out front section, but we’re going to make it look slightly better in the meantime before I replace it. Desecrating some old valve covers. One side in! Also ordered a front axle seal install tool. For $31, it wasn’t worth screwing around without it.

10-17-2022, 12:49 AM	#10
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! I totally forgot about these heat shields. Cleaned them up and bought some stainless hardware to install them! Getting very close to being done under the hood! I picked up a different rear bumper in chrome instead of painted. Also installed stainless hardware on the mounts. Ordered new license plate lights as this takes a different style. The shop is currently a disaster, but the truck is coming together!

10-17-2022, 08:56 AM	#11
OutlawDrifter Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Northeast KS Posts: 1,775	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Engine compartment looks very "stockish"...I like it! __________________ 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 SLT, 454/4L80E 1991 Z/28, 6.0L/T56 1949 GMC 250, S10 Frame, 6.0L/4L80E Instagram @aceshighspeedshop

10-30-2022, 01:26 AM	#12
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Thanks! Back to smaller updates! I bought some replacement license plate lights for the new rear bumper. Old ones removed New ones installed!

02-10-2023, 01:28 AM	#13
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! I picked up a new wiper motor because the old one quit working. Turns out the new motor didn’t solve the issue, nor did a new switch. After a day of troubleshooting, it turns out the blue wires were swapped in the new harness! New wiper motor in and all wires where they are supposed to be! Installed all new wiper washer lines and filled the tank! Next up, finally rebuilding the front axle! Hub and rotor removed Rotor and bearings are well worn due to improper hub nut adjustments. The calipers are showing their age also Drivers side! Even the spindles are damaged beyond repair from the loose bearings U-joints are completely shot Everything all apart! Time for some new parts! Rotors and bearings New calipers and pads Removed the carrier and old axle seals, cleaned the housing. New axle seals! Pressing the new seals in! This tool was worth every penny Carrier reinstalled New spindles New hub nut kit New U-joints installed in the axle shafts New ball joints installed in the knuckle New rotor and caliper installed Hub installed Ball joints installed in passenger side knuckle Knuckle installed to axle housing Axle shaft and new spindle installed Backing plate, rotor, and caliper installed. Also installed the new trailer brake controller under the dash.

03-22-2023, 10:12 PM	#14
evan Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SK, Canada Posts: 488	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! I need that steering box. __________________ Evan B.

03-23-2023, 07:46 AM	#15
OutlawDrifter Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Northeast KS Posts: 1,775	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Glad to see you still plugging away! I just put a new Borgeson box on my Z28. Very good product! __________________ 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 SLT, 454/4L80E 1991 Z/28, 6.0L/T56 1949 GMC 250, S10 Frame, 6.0L/4L80E Instagram @aceshighspeedshop



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03-28-2023, 01:46 PM	#16
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! I’m glad to hear that, I’m hoping it will be a worthwhile upgrade even on a 3/4 ton truck! I got the tires mounted on the rims and balanced last night! New wheels are going to really make it stand out! I’m still disappointed that I can’t find 16.5’s anymore, but I’ll save the old wheels to maybe go back on in the future.

03-31-2023, 09:07 PM	#17
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! More parts! New sway bar bushings! New steering stabilizer! New RH rear bed corner since it was rusty to the point of nearly falling off. Finished deleting the power steering cooler and connected the lines to the new steering box. Tie rod installed! Steering stabilizer installed! Sway bar bushings installed! Front shocks installed! Front steering and suspension completed!

04-21-2023, 08:01 PM	#18
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Getting close to the last of the needed parts! Pretty much down to rear brakes and shocks at this point! New rear drums! New rear shoes! New rear hose and hardware kits! New wheel bearings and wheel cylinders! New axle gaskets! Drums painted!

04-21-2023, 09:35 PM	#19
OutlawDrifter Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Northeast KS Posts: 1,775	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Looks good! Always nice to go back with new parts. __________________ 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 SLT, 454/4L80E 1991 Z/28, 6.0L/T56 1949 GMC 250, S10 Frame, 6.0L/4L80E Instagram @aceshighspeedshop

04-30-2023, 03:01 AM	#20
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Getting down to the little things now! Ran the vent lines for the fuel tanks and rear axle. Ran the harness for the new license plate lights. Adapter for the 7 pin trailer connector. Made an interior harness for the trailer brake controller that tied into the brake light switch. Made a circuit breaker block for the power feeds for the 7 pin and brake controller. Driver front brake line was pretty rusty looking at the fitting, so I made a replacement. Perfect fit! Last edited by Nick_R_23; 04-30-2023 at 03:08 AM.

04-30-2023, 08:03 PM	#21
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Started on the rear brakes today. Didn’t make it that far, mostly because I could’ve sworn up and down that I had 13” brakes, but turns out that I actually had 11” rears. Instead of returning all the parts and going with 11”, I’m going to locate the 13” backing plates and end up with a better set of brakes! The original ones were destroyed… Both wheel hubs stripped. Probably going to take these into town with me and have them hot tanked since they’re pretty nasty.

04-30-2023, 08:33 PM	#22
OutlawDrifter Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Northeast KS Posts: 1,775	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! That's the 11in "oil bath" RPO code, haha __________________ 1999 GMC Suburban K2500 SLT, 454/4L80E 1991 Z/28, 6.0L/T56 1949 GMC 250, S10 Frame, 6.0L/4L80E Instagram @aceshighspeedshop

05-07-2023, 01:10 PM	#23
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Yeah no kidding. I’m not sure if I mentioned this earlier, but for some reason I’ve had an interference issue with the hydroboost and master cylinder. I’ve had everything apart several times and can’t find any issues, so since I’m into the brakes now, I decided to just make a shim to gain the proper clearance back. Sheet of aluminum measuring .058”. I used an SBC thermostat housing gasket as a template and just moved the holes out a little bit for the booster bolt pattern. Perfect fit! With the shim in place, I can measure .007” clearance now between the pin and piston. Still not sure why there was a clearance issue, but this turned out to be a nice solution!

05-08-2023, 08:44 AM	#24
93M6Formula Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Norfolk,NE Posts: 136	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Interesting, so was it applying slight pressure to the MC without that shim? __________________ 1982 Sierra Classic K15 RC/LB 6.2L Diesel 700R4 1988 GTA Trans AM 305 TPI 700R4 1993 Formula Firebird LT1 T56 1995 GMC K2500 ECLB 6.5L 4L80E 1996 GMC K3500 CCLB LB7 6L90

05-08-2023, 09:55 AM	#25
Nick_R_23 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Willow, Alaska Posts: 847	Re: 1978 Chevy K20 longbed with nearly 500,000 miles! LS Swap begins! Yeah, noticeable enough that I could slide the master cylinder onto the booster studs and seat it by hand and have nearly a washers’ width of gap between the two flanges once the pin touched the piston. I could feel it pushing the piston in if I pushed the master cylinder the final bit manually.

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