I guess I should post my build thread on my '69 C10 now...

[Ford Assassin]

Hey guys, I've owned my '69 C10 for a few months now. I traded a good buddy for it straight acrossed for a 1974 K5 I had. Although my K5 was in alittle better shape, I've always wanted a '67-'72 C10.

After getting it home it was clear that it had some issues (which I was warned about). The biggest one ended up being a flat cam lobe.

After tossing a few ideas around I decided to bite the bullet and swing for an LSx swap. A local wreaking yard had a 5.3 with 37k miles on the clock from a rolled 2004 'Burb for $700 and it included everything (PCM, harness, gas pedal, etc). Later I scored a 4L65e from a wreaked 2004 GTO with 13k from LKQ for $800.

I sent off the harness and PCM to Wait4Me Performance to convert the harness for stand alone operation and edit/tune the PCM for removal of the various smog/emissions stuff and the VATS. They also included a performance 'canned' tune for the PCM. I should have it all back by the middle of the week.

I also sprung for Hedman long tube headers (Torque-Step) intended for a '98-'02 F-Body . I am having to modify the headers with a few dings with a hammer and grinding the frame a bit to make them work.

In the meanwhile I also bought a complete front clip from a '67 C10, Walbro 255 inline fuel pump, Corvette filter/regulator, frame-rail style tranny cooler, '71-'72 power booster, Brothers tubular engine stands, GMC Paul's tranny cross-member, Trans-Adapt LSx motor mount adapters, rear roll pan, front 3" drop springs, Slam RE7 (rear) bags, nitro-drop shocks, ECE adjustable track bar, second row Tahoe leather 60/40 split bench seat, and few other odd and ends.

Today I installed the engine and tranny with the new tubular engine stands and the new tranny cross-member. It all went fairly well, no major snags except the headers (which I expected). A buddy is making some changes to the headers, including cutting off the smog/AIR injection tubes and welding them shut.

Sometime this week I am modifying a rear coolant plug to accept a electric sender for an Auto Meter water temp gauge. I am also drilling and tapping a oil block off plug to accept a manual oil pressure sender.

Among others things, I have to mount the gad pedal, install the electric fuel pump as close to the stock tank as possible, install a return line in the stock pickup, run a return line from the Corvette filter/regulator (after installing it), run a fuel line from the end of stock fuel line to the fuel rail, install/plumb the frame-rail mounted tranny cooler, and of course install the re-worked harness and PCM.

Later I'll swap to the '67 front clip, change the various suspension stuff, and hopefully I'll have the funds to ditch the 'Dukes of Hazzard' rims (AR Vector) in favor of some 20's pieces.

Updates as they follow......

Thanks guys!!

[67_C-30]

Sounds like an awesome project. I like that you're staying with the stock tank also. Can't wait to see the progression on this one!

[LuckyHenriksen]

This looks fun, I wish I had a short bed. I love LSX motors

[Hart_Rod]

I think you should put an 01 on the door, paint it orange, and leave the rims on there..................., JK. Good luck with your build.

[MrBeast]

Welcome to the club, Good luck with the build, it sounds like its going to be nice.

[my67chevytruck]

nice looking project. Good luck with your build.

[Ford Assassin]

Pics for you guys......

[MrBeast]

Saweeeet!

[68 short step]

got any pics of how you did the coil relocation??

[Ford Assassin]

Originally Posted by 68 short step

got any pics of how you did the coil relocation??

I am not sure I know what you are asking. If you mean the coil packs, I am going to put them back in the stock location mounted on the valve covers.

[68 short step]

yea, i was talking about the coil packs, sorry i thought you had them mounted on the backside of the head....upon second look thats the block (red) not plug wires i was seeing

[Ford Assassin]

Originally Posted by 68 short step

yea, i was talking about the coil packs, sorry i thought you had them mounted on the backside of the head....upon second look thats the block (red) not plug wires i was seeing

No biggie. I wish I knew of a way to re-locate them though. I personally think they are the ugliest thing on the LSx motors. No wonder these things always had engine covers.....

[steelhorse]

Ive seen these with the MSD coils on them it gives a splsh of color to the motor.

[Ford Assassin]

Well I got the modified PCM and harness back from Wait4Me and plugged everything back in today. Still have to mount the PCM somewhere on the driver's side, prob on the inter fender well. I also have to wire up the the harness for stand-alone operation (3 ignition switched and 1 constant 12 volt) fuel pump and relay.

[MisterE72]

I dig the way those new engines can be adapted to the old trucks. Looking back, I should have gone that route.

[jkade]

Originally Posted by Ford Assassin

Well I got the modified PCM and harness back from Wait4Me and plugged everything back in today. Still have to mount the PCM somewhere on the driver's side, prob on the inter fender well. I also have to wire up the the harness for stand-alone operation (3 ignition switched and 1 constant 12 volt) fuel pump and relay.

The harness should be long enough to mount the computer on the inside of the firewall out of site if you wanted to. I mounted mine on the inside with a stock f-body harness and still had a little length left. As far as relocating the coils you can make some brackets to mount to the back of the heads, you will have to mark which plug goes to which coil and pull the wire back from the harness to the new location. That is how my father did his on the 66 vette, I think he has made some covers to hide them now.

[jkade]

or you could hide the coils like this

[72BlckButy]

That motor looks nice tucked in between that old sheetmetal.

Sweet looking project!

[OARNGESI]

Looks good anything new

[Ford Assassin]

Yeah, I am about done with the swap, just a few more wires. The project has kinda been on hold due to buying a house and then getting married last weekend. Then I am going on my Honeymoon this weekend and I have a buddy's wedding to attend the weekend after that. Soon all that's over with I can get back to playing with my truck.

My plan is to have the motor at least fired up before the end of the year, time will tell....

[gringoloco]

[Rreemo]

Very cool project - interested to see more. I'm seriously considering an LSX replacement for my BBC.

[Ford Assassin]

Okay guys, time for an update.

The swap is 99% complete. I could of fired it up tonight, except I have two things holding me up.

First I have to have a custom power steering hose made, which I am having done tomorrow morning. I didn't want to risk burning up the pump.

Second is all I have hooked to the car is stock '98-'99 F-Body manifolds and nothing else. I might fire the motor for a second, just to confirm it runs, but again I don't want to risk burning/bending a valve if run too long.

Here's the bad part. Even if everything goes according to plan I am flat outta cash for an exhaust for the time being..... or at least for a month or so.

[Ford Assassin]

Where's the love guys?

Okay, I have the power steering hooked up.

Guess what? With the very first crank of the ignition it fired right up. I only let it run long enough to check the oil pressure (60+ psi) which was only about 15-20 seconds at most.

Now I am on the hunt for exhaust flanges for my '98-'99 F-Body manifolds, which I am finding no one carries.....

[SCOTI]

Cool build. Good luck on the 'hunt'.