SmacD72's project "Wicked Blue" 71 LWB C10 5.3/4L60E Swap

[SmacD72]

Fellow Gearheads, I wanted to start by saying thank you for all the inspiration and knowledge I've gathered over the past 8 months from everyone that has put their projects and builds on here. I feel the need to give back and maybe do the same for others. I've owned my C10 for a couple years now and was driving it daily with a old SBC 350 and TH350 trans. I got tired of messing with choke issues, timing issues, leaks, etc. Not to mention that the engine was just tired of me beating on it, lmao. I decided in April that I was gonna do a LS swap. After much research, time, and money later, I took Mr. Wicked off the road Oct. 8th. It took me exactly one month to complete this project with many late hours after work and any spare time I had over the weekends. Here some pictures how it looked back in the summer.

[SmacD72]

This is motor and trans I bought used in July from a salvage yard for $1600. A 2002 5.3 LS with a 4L60E from an Avalanche with 96k miles. Came complete with PCM, harness, and accessories. It's a DBW, and unfortunately didn't come with pedal and TAC module which I later found was pretty hard to find.

[SmacD72]

First order of business was to tackle the wiring harness. I felt pretty confident that I could do it myself after gathering all my info from LT1swap. This was a huge saving for me so I figured I'd make it happen. Labeled all the connectors, kept it organized as possible, and soldered everything. Also made the fuse block and relays that Brendan recommended doing.

[SmacD72]

I originally wanted to keep the factory fuel tank in the cab and run an inline walbro pump but decided to go all out and buy me a rear mounted Boyd EFI tank. Came with an internal aeromotive stealth pump and gauge sending unit.

[SmacD72]

Added some speed engineering 1 3/4" long tube headers with the O2 bungs already installed. Got some new MSD wires with the bendable boot for tight clearance as well.

[SmacD72]

Truck came factory with manual steering and brakes. With the 5.3 having a p/s pump and lines, I was smiling ear to ear knowing that driving this C10 daily after converting it to p/s would be a major difference. So, I ended up buying a gearbox that came out of an 81' C20 from a junk yard. I cleaned it up, painted it, but it was still junk. I say this cuz shortly after I put fluid in the pump reservoir it leaked from the front seal. I couldn't take it back and get my money back or a different one because it was over the 30 day return. Whatever, lessons learned I guess. Sometimes you try and save a buck but in the end you get what you paid for. Ended up getting a reman one from the local parts store. I suppose it all worked out because I was able to give them the piece of junk as the core instead of being charged $100.

[SmacD72]

Why are some of these pictures coming out sideways? Maybe someone can help Me on how to fix that.

[SmacD72]

Did a lot of cleaning, sanding, and painting. Freshened things up a bit. Added a cold air intake and needed to see how it was gonna look.

[SmacD72]

This is the old engine/trans pull day

[SmacD72]

Spent a lot of time using degreaser, wire brushing, sanding, and painting to get the engine bay looking decent before I put the LS in. Last pic is the POS gearbox that got from the junk yard. Ending up replacing it with a reman as mentioned before.

[SmacD72]

Here is the 5.3 and 4L60E installed. I had to move the perches forward but all in all fit pretty good. I used the ICT Billet LS adaptors and OEM mounts for a SBC. Clearance with the headers turned out great too; no cutting at all.

[SmacD72]

Moved my battery tray to the drivers side for ease of connecting to LS harness. Did a little sheet metal fab work to fill in the gap. Mounted nicely, and strong.

[Jason7121]

Nice work on the truck. I'm putting an Ls 6L in my project and moved my tray to driver side also. I used lt1 for doing my harness also. Where are you mounting your ecm?

[SmacD72]

Thanks Jason, funny I was just about to share some pictures of where I put the PCM. Located it inside the drivers fender. Got the dirty dingo PCM mount which made it mount real easy. Also, some pictures of where I put my fuse block/relays.

[SmacD72]

Found a DBW pedal and TAC module from an 02' Escalade. Thanks to Hartrod; I picked up this bracket for the pedal. Just a little modification needed but worked out awesome.

[SmacD72]

For the fuel tank and lines I used the Boyd welding EFI tank mounted in the frame rails. First had to cut the spare tire carrier bracket out. I ended up using the Dorman nylon fuel line kit. I have the factory steel supply and return lines off the 5.3 that comes down to the trans tailshaft area and from there is nylon fuel line to the tank. Glad I did; worked out great. For extra insurance, I used regular rubber hose on the outside of the nylon fuel lines along the frame rail and 2" clamps to keep it all snug and secure.

[SmacD72]

Nylon to steel line connections

[Jason7121]

Looks nice and we'll thought out.

[SmacD72]

Some pictures of things buttoned up. Used the steam vent tee from jagsthatrun.

[Jason7121]

Fire it up!

[SmacD72]

Here is a YouTube video of my first startup after fixing my P/S gearbox leak.

https://youtu.be/KlBxPVg0lM4

[SmacD72]

Here is a detailed breakdown of EVERYTHING I spent to make this swap happen:

LSX SWAP

COST OF ITEMS:
-2002 5.3 96k miles with 4L60E trans
$1664
-Heat gun, Soldering Iron, misc electrical, Evap block off
$90.18
-OBD2 connector, terminals, 12 AWG wire, wire loom
$23.71
- Relays, Check light indicator, Terminals
$18.85
-16 AWG wire bundles
$37.95
- Sensor Adapters, Alternator Pigtail, Trans. Drain Plug, K&N Oil Filter
$69.97
- Serpentine belt, thermostat
$49.98
- Boyd EFI Fuel Tank
$793.65
- Longtube Headers
$269.98
- Dorman Fuel line repair kit
$175.19
- Engine Paint, Wire loom, MAP sensor, & Misc.
$44.98
- Tac Module & Pedal (02' Escalade), Harness (03' Suburban)
$89.00
- Spectre Cold Air Intake
$134.08
- MAF, MSD spark plug wires, exhaust gaskets & bolts
$140.47
- ICT Engine mount brackets, K&N fuel filter
$50.27
- Power steering gearbox used(81' C20)
$81.00
- Gas Pedal bracket
$100.00
- ATF, P/S fluid, grommets, vacuum caps
$35.11
- Steam Vent Tee
$33.00
- Neutral Safety/Back up switch, thread locker
$30.04
- Lower Radiator Hose
$15.76
- Engine Leveler, Sawzall Blades, Cut-off wheels
$62.37
- Steering Ragjoint, O2 Sensors 2ea.
$106.78
- PCM flash $75 plus shipping $6.60
$81.60
- Fuel tank fittings
$59.84
- Trans cooler line adaptor fittings
$22.02
- Misc Clamps, Oil level Delete Plug, Ground Strap
$36.90
- Dirty Dingo PCM mounting plate
$43.49
- Lokar Shifter conversion kit
$130.84
- Degreaser, Dex Cool antifreeze, ATF qt., spray paint
$54.60
- Fuel tank bed access door
$31.15
- Engine Oil, Simple green, Sanding masks, terminals
$30.81
- Motor mounts, 10 AWG wire, wire loom
$54.12
- Jegs terminal block
$23.97
- Exhaust header to pipe connectors
$75.75
- Rubber Hoses, Misc Clamps & Screws, Misc Hardware, 12 AWG wire, fuses, terminals, Spray paint,
$133.87
- Radiator flush & repair
$50.00
- P/S Gearbox, fluid
$154.78
- CPP Trans Crossmember, OBD2 Scan tool
$101.02
- Accuseal Exhaust Clamps
$42.47
- Brake light switch
$14.20


TOTAL: $5,282

[Jason7121]

Did the 82 gear box have the metric o ring style fittings and hoses. The gear box on mine has themetric fitting po had put on and was trying to estimate the year.

[SmacD72]

Jason, yes the gearbox I used had the o'ring style fitting. I believe frim 81-87 gearboxes will fit perfectly. Hope this helps brother. Any questions let me know

[Jason7121]

Perfect thanks for info.