1987 GMC V1500 Sierra Classic LS swap/build

[Hankster]

I think I seen the thread for that body swap, now that ya mention it! You just get all kinds of good deals!

[y5mgisi]

You have more ambition than just about anyone i know.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

You have more ambition than just about anyone i know.

I really appreciate you saying that. It drives my wife nuts b/c I am always wanting to be doing something. It is going to get a lot "worse" when I finish this shop. I have so many projects in mind and things I want to try and do, sometimes it amazes me! However, #1 priority is finishing this LS swap. After that I need to focus on mastering how to use the EFI Live scan/tune tool I bought. Then it will be a toss up between doing my 87 crew cab swap onto the 01 chassis or finishing out my 79 Trans Am. I have craving something with some speed lately so I got a feeling the Trans Am will be next.

I really appreciate all the support on here, besides about 2 friends it is all the support I get. Everyone else I know just likes sitting inside and watching TV.

In the end all of this is to gain experience and product knowledge. I have a friend who is just like me in the ambition/motivation department but he has a little bit more money to play with due to no wife or kids, so the plan is for us to start a business in the future. We plan to design/build/sell our own parts and products.

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by NastyBuzzard

I really appreciate you saying that. It drives my wife nuts b/c I am always wanting to be doing something. It is going to get a lot "worse" when I finish this shop. I have so many projects in mind and things I want to try and do, sometimes it amazes me! However, #1 priority is finishing this LS swap. After that I need to focus on mastering how to use the EFI Live scan/tune tool I bought. Then it will be a toss up between doing my 87 crew cab swap onto the 01 chassis or finishing out my 79 Trans Am. I have craving something with some speed lately so I got a feeling the Trans Am will be next.

I really appreciate all the support on here, besides about 2 friends it is all the support I get. Everyone else I know just likes sitting inside and watching TV.

In the end all of this is to gain experience and product knowledge. I have a friend who is just like me in the ambition/motivation department but he has a little bit more money to play with due to no wife or kids, so the plan is for us to start a business in the future. We plan to design/build/sell our own parts and products.

Finish the trans am! And I'll be looking for y'alls business!

[NastyBuzzard]

Yeah, I have a big feeling the Trans Am will be next on the list. I am really yearning for something I can go get on the highway and bang through some gears. First things first though, I have got to finish this shop. All this damn rain just keeps pushing back progress b/c I really can't get too much farther until I get the rest of the land graded for the lean toos and extra pad... I could really use a few dry days back to back.


I didn't get barely anything productive done this weekend on the shop. I did install a new drain in my bath tub though and bought a $600 washing machine. Those damn things have gotten too expensive. If I can get my refridgerator to stop leaking water then all my appliances will be in good working order.. Knock on wood...

[Hankster]

Good luck on the appliances, And I too am ready to see it going.

[NastyBuzzard]

Small update on the shop.

Trying to grade/level some addition land for the side and rear lean-tos I plan to add. Also flattened out on the other side for my addition 20' long pad I want for outside.





I also got some of the side metal up and one door.



Picking up another big load of materials tomorrow. Hoping to get my lean-tos frame in this weekend, or at least most of it and some metal on the front. Depends on the weather I suppose.

[y5mgisi]

Good job!

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

Good job!

Thanks, I am hoping to finish or get close to finishing framing up my lean-tos this weekend as well as getting as much metal on as possible. My bday is 4/30 and I would love to have concrete poured by then!! However, since I am doing this all myself I am not sure if that date is reasonable. I am trying though. I got to get it done and get my 87 in there to finish this LS swap!!

[NastyBuzzard]

Some updates for those following. Getting closer. I am wore out from this weekend.







I really miss actually working on my truck.

[CodyWorks]

Man... I have no interest in doing an LS swap. But I gotta say, that is impressive man. Especially with the steering column you put together. How did you figure that one out? That trucks gonna be sweet... especially when you pop the hood to see a vortec staring at you. Strong work man.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by CodyWorks

Man... I have no interest in doing an LS swap. But I gotta say, that is impressive man. Especially with the steering column you put together. How did you figure that one out? That trucks gonna be sweet... especially when you pop the hood to see a vortec staring at you. Strong work man.

Thank you for that!! All the compliments keep my spirits up and my motivation! I am dying to get back to work on my LS swap and get it done!

The steering column was a mix of some research and just winging it to be honest. I still need to weld a few nuts to it to be able to bolt it down completely but it is close! I actually had a cookout last Saturday and fired it up for a bunch of buddy's and now they all want me to help plan their LS swaps. Fun stuff. I love it!

I just need to finish my dang shop, hopefully before I go too broke or the wife kills me for spending too much time on it. At least when it is done I can go out there and work on stuff at night while they sleep!

[NorCalAnthony]

Great job on the work shop so far I wish I had that kind of room to work instead of just my driveway and a packed garage lol.

I ran across a thread the other day on one of the other forum’s I frequent that I thought you might be interested in. The guy is swapping in the same disc brake GMT800 rear axle that you have under his ’88 Suburban as well as converting the front brakes to a disc over hub setup like the newer trucks using an aftermarket bracket and stock Hummer H3 calipers and rotors. It actually wound up being a lot simpler/less involved than it sounds and turned out really sweet. So of course now I’m thinking about doing the same thing with the spare GMT800 axle on my donor. Anyways here’s that thread to help give you some ideas while you’re finishing up your workshop: http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthr...=316597&page=6

Keep up the good work bud

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by NorCalAnthony

Great job on the work shop so far I wish I had that kind of room to work instead of just my driveway and a packed garage lol.

I ran across a thread the other day on one of the other forum’s I frequent that I thought you might be interested in. The guy is swapping in the same disc brake GMT800 rear axle that you have under his ’88 Suburban as well as converting the front brakes to a disc over hub setup like the newer trucks using an aftermarket bracket and stock Hummer H3 calipers and rotors. It actually wound up being a lot simpler/less involved than it sounds and turned out really sweet. So of course now I’m thinking about doing the same thing with the spare GMT800 axle on my donor. Anyways here’s that thread to help give you some ideas while you’re finishing up your workshop: http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthr...=316597&page=6

Keep up the good work bud

NICE!!!!! I already have the H3 rims too!! Thank you for that link!

Now if only there was a way to use 8 lug.....

[NastyBuzzard]

Shop is pretty much done being framed up. Here is some pics I took while working on it. So I got a lot done working by myself in the rain and mud. I got metal on order and hopefully will get a lot up this weekend.





In other news.. I bought this setup. It is a roller chassis setup from a 2003 GMC Sierra 4.8/4l60e 2wd ext cab short bed, drive train has just under 90k miles with 3.73 posi rearend. However, I may have bought this on a whim and now need to sell if I want to get my concrete done in time. I will just have to play it by ear.

Everything needed for a LS swap.

[mcbassin]

Nice progress on the building. Looks good! I think you guys are getting some of the same rain we have been lately I see.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Nice progress on the building. Looks good! I think you guys are getting some of the same rain we have been lately I see.

Thank you! I am kind of tired of this rain/flooding and tornado warnings and watches. I wish it would move out west to the people who need it. I am just hoping it isn't another rainy summer like last year was and the year before that.

I am hoping for big progress this weekend on the shop but then again it is supposed to rain so we will see. I don't like putting up roof metal in the rain, new metal is slippery enough dry.

[77K10Silverado]

Cool build. I guess you couldn't get that gas tank from the new truck to work?

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by 77K10Silverado

Cool build. I guess you couldn't get that gas tank from the new truck to work?

It is too deep. It hung like 6" below the frame and was very visible. It could be possible to mount it in another location than the stock gas tank location but I found a better solution. I just mounted the new style LS pump in a 20 gal longbed tank from a 85 longbed so it would be carbed and not have the baffle in the bottom like the 87 fuel injected tank would. Vette works makes an adapter to easily mount a LS pump into old style metal tanks.

[NastyBuzzard]

Starting to wrap this thing in metal. I am so ready to get some concrete in!







Anyone know a good/cheap place to order roll up shop door? Not like the paneled garage doors but the ones that rolls up in a can to save overhead space. I would love to order one through home depot or find one used.

Still need to find the screw for the back of the power steering pump!

I am ashamed my birthday has come and gone, which marks a year since I started all this and it isn't on the road! I cannot wait to get back to it.

[y5mgisi]

No help on the door. But it is looking good!

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

No help on the door. But it is looking good!

Thanks! I am trying. It gets a little frustrating at times. Like the other day I was fighting the wind putting up the insulation and busted my ass... I recovered though, I had too much to do. Luckily my father came and lent a hand. It was a big step for me getting all the roof metal up and the gable done. One step closer.

I kinda wish I coulda just bought all new metal though, it sucks having the pretty metal and then running out and starting to have to put up the used stuff. Maybe if I have the motivation I can wash/wipe it all down and make the old stuff look as new as possible. I still got a lot of holes to fill/silicone.

[Hankster]

Well I think it is looking good! I am also ready to see some concrete in it

[NorCalAnthony]

Nice work bud, it's starting to look like a real shop

[mcbassin]

Excellent progress on the building.