97 3500 454 4x4 project

[mingoman]

Originally Posted by Terrick down Under

Attachment 1715952
This is my single din, flip up, reverse camera, dvd, stereo. Just a cheapy but works real nice. It just shows the top of the tow ball, very easy hook ups.

Terrick, pretty sure I'm going the dbl din route. There's a metra dash in my future and probably a kenwood of some sort.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by Terrick down Under

I see the caution on the display that the image may be reversed. The image out the windshield (screen) appears to be reversed too, haha, for those of us in N America.

[mingoman]

Originally Posted by LT7A

The push button lights that flank the center dome light look good with LEDs. Are you happy with them? Did you get them local or order them online? The build looks great. Like to see these rigs be saved from the abuse they have endured.

Really happy with them so far. I've gotten most all of them online, super bright lights, ebay, etc.
Glad you're enjoying the build, thanks!

[Terrick down Under]

I had the same problem, found a bad earth.
I checked the supply and it was ok, the earth was insulated by some oxidation between the lug and screw

[mingoman]

Have 7 straight nights behind me so I went "junkin" today. Found a decent set of seats, though they're blue, and the bumper I'd been looking for.

[mingoman]

Back seats are home. He still has the head rests, but I picked these up to give him a little more shop space. Cleaning up my risers now.

[mingoman]

Back seats are home again! I picked the front ones up yesterday. I've got to clean up the risers a bit, paint over the blue and bolt them in.

[mingoman]

LED lights are awesome. I do wish I had changed the ash tray bulb out before I put the dash back together though it wasn't to much of a problem.

[Terrick down Under]

Looking good!

[mingoman]

Had a little time to work on the truck today so I started bolting the front seats in. I took the risers off, cleaned them up and painted over the blue. When I went to bolt the passenger seat in I discovered the risers weren't the same, quite a bit longer. Got my originals out and after another round of cleaning and paint, that one is in.
I've still got to clean the drivers side up and double check everything on the power seats, it's getting there.

[mingoman]

Busy time of the year for me. I've been planting apple trees, mostly limbertwig varieties and found time to camp out in the deer woods, but I couldn't resist this. It's a 2002 496, supposedly 120k good runner. After I'm done with the interior and I'll probably paint it first too, this will replace the 454.

[95 S_Trucker]

Originally Posted by mingoman

Busy time of the year for me. I've been planting apple trees, mostly limbertwig varieties and found time to camp out in the deer woods, but I couldn't resist this. It's a 2002 496, supposedly 120k good runner. After I'm done with the interior and I'll probably paint it first too, this will replace the 454.

Looks good. I really like the vortec 454, but that engine will look good in there!

[Wide Open]

Cool! I'm in the middle of putting one of those in my 86. Should be a noticeable improvement.

[Terrick down Under]

Very curious to how much you have to change!

[mingoman]

Originally Posted by Terrick down Under

Very curious to how much you have to change!

Here is a link to a swap thread. This guy is also a member on this forum as well. I'll need a new harness, computer, brackets, this is Arkansas I'm keeping my air, and a few odd and end things. It's really a great write up for someone wanting to do a 8.1L swap.

https://ck5.com/forums/threads/l18-8...thread.308019/

[OutlawDrifter]

Cool addition to the rebuild...I guess if you ever have to pull a battleship you'll be set!

[Wide Open]

I assume you are keeping the 4L80E behind it when you swap?

[95 S_Trucker]

Originally Posted by Wide Open

I assume you are keeping the 4L80E behind it when you swap?

There's no reason to not keep the 4l80e. It was behind the 8.1 in 01 and 02 3500HD trucks(15,000 GVW) and the 3/4 ton suburban and avalanche.

And an Allison won't fit without a body lift.

[Wide Open]

Originally Posted by 95 S_Trucker

There's no reason to not keep the 4l80e. It was behind the 8.1 in 01 and 02 3500HD trucks(15,000 GVW) and the 3/4 ton suburban and avalanche.

And an Allison won't fit without a body lift.

My question isn’t about the strength of the 4L80E or it’s compatibilty behind the 8.1.
More related to what are his plans for running his engine and transmission.

In the link he posted the guy (Dirty Larry) used an NV4500 which was available in the GMT400 trucks just not Mingoman’s so I wondered if he was staying with the auto (assume so) or swap to something else like the NV4500 (assume not)
Is he going to try and use the stock L29 setup (distributor and all) to keep it simple or swap in L18 stuff? Inquiring minds want to know.
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[95 S_Trucker]

Originally Posted by Wide Open

My question isn’t about the strength of the 4L80E or it’s compatibilty behind the 8.1.
More related to what are his plans for running his engine and transmission.

In the link he posted the guy (Dirty Larry) used an NV4500 which was available in the GMT400 trucks just not Mingoman’s so I wondered if he was staying with the auto (assume so) or swap to something else like the NV4500 (assume not)
Is he going to try and use the stock L29 setup (distributor and all) to keep it simple or swap in L18 stuff? Inquiring minds want to know.
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The 454 intake/distributor is not compatable with the 496. Really the only thing you can change is the throttle body on the 496(OE is drive by wire, you can swap on a drive by cable throttle body(off the 454)

Larry used an NV4500 from a 92-95 truck. Lots of variables. I think his truck is a 78 K10. I havent read through his stuff in a while.

[mingoman]

I'm planning on keeping the 4l80e trans and using my L29 throttle body on the 8.1. From what I've read that's a better way to go than drive by wire. I've got to find the right spacer to use, don't remember if that was listed in his parts list or not.
I did get some things done yesterday. My drivers seat is in, checked, cleaned, and lubed the screws and such on the power riser, everything works.
Changed my blower motor resistor, another thing I should have done with the dash out.
Installed the new heater control unit, put blue led lights in it first, with the rear defrost controls to power my heated mirrors when I get that far.

[Wide Open]

Originally Posted by 95 S_Trucker

The 454 intake/distributor is not compatable with the 496. Really the only thing you can change is the throttle body on the 496(OE is drive by wire, you can swap on a drive by cable throttle body(off the 454)

Larry used an NV4500 from a 92-95 truck. Lots of variables. I think his truck is a 78 K10. I havent read through his stuff in a while.

Yeah I'm not sure what I was thinking. I remember reading that the 8.1, despite being a tall deck, is compatible with standard height distributors (not with the stock intake of course) but I forgot the 8.1 firing order was also changed so it wouldn't be a simple install after all even with an aftermarket intake set up for port injection. So despite already having the wiring to operate the 4L80 it won’t be a simple drop in which is what I was thinking. Not simple of course but simplified than an entire harness swap.

[Wide Open]

Originally Posted by mingoman

When I saw this engine for sale I checked into what I'd have to do to swap over and I'm pretty confident I can do it. It's going to be unique for sure.

Heck yeah! It should be pretty awesome. The 96-00 GMC's are some of my favorite trucks.

Are you thinking of going with the brackets Larry used to retain your AC?

[mingoman]

Are you thinking of going with the brackets Larry used to retain your AC?[/QUOTE]

Yes definitely. I'm very grateful he has already done this and was kind enough to post all the part numbers online. Air is really nice in July and August around here and I don't want to hack the frame up when I don't have to.

[Wide Open]

Originally Posted by mingoman

Are you thinking of going with the brackets Larry used to retain your AC?

Yes definitely. I'm very grateful he has already done this and was kind enough to post all the part numbers online. Air is really nice in July and August around here and I don't want to hack the frame up when I don't have to.[/QUOTE]

Yeah for sure. I bought a complete 01 Express as a donor vehicle because I couldn’t find the brackets around here. Hopefully you have better luck.
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