94 LT1 swap into a 71 c10

[FL71C10]

I am looking at buying a complete 94 z28 with an LT1 motor for $600. He was originally selling just the motor and then called me back and asked me if I would be interested in the whole car. We went back and forth on the price a little bit and Im going to call him back tomorrow. Is this a fairly reasonable swap to do? Are there a lot of extra expenses after buying the donor car?

I keep goibng back and forth from just dropping a carbed 350 automatic and doing some thing a little more interesting.

Anybody done this swap and have advice for me?

[Sammy]

Haven't done it myself but several have there should be several threads on the swap. I think the biggest headache is getting everything you need from the donor which sounds like you would get. And the biggest expense is having the puter reflashed to custom for your application. But that being said. If you have heard this thing run. And your not in a hurry with it for transportation purposes I'd say yes. I've heard having the puter flashed is around $300 or so and takes a few weeks to have done. Someone that has done this swap should be able to guide you to a more reasonable person for the task. That sounds very reasonable of a price, I would go that route.

[Shon]

The only thing that you have to do for the PCM is to remove the VATS if the motor is stock, I can do that for $125 shipped. Just send me the PCM and a MO for $125 and I will send it back to you via USPS the next day.

The only other thing you will need is to take the stock harness and make it work with your truck, pretty "simple".

I would have opted for a 5.3/6.0 LSx based engine instead just to get away from the Opti but that is just me (coming from a LONG line of LT1 cars),

[FL71C10]

Thanks, Shon! Is a 4.8 motor just a smaller verion of the 5.3? I have found a few ls motors for sale with engine and trans and supposedly all of the computer equipment and harnesses, but it was my undertanding that I should get the whole car to make sure I get the right parts. I found this ad on craigslist for a 1999 truck motor and I can hear it run. What else do I need out of the donor truck to make my swap work?

Thanks!


http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/pts/1923154382.html

[Shon]

The only thing we use from the donor trucks are the wiring harness and fuse block under the hood, other than the motor/trans.
If you get the under hood fuse block its about 5 wires to hook up, other wise you can make your own fuse block or buy them the set up from Current Performance (out of FL; its what I used on mine).
4.8 is a smaller version of the 5.3, 4.8 is a good start, but i would get at least a 5.3. We pay about $700ish here for a running 5.3 will all PCM/harness/acessories.
IF the truck is drive by wire, ie the TB is not cable driven, you will want the TAC module, and this is the gas pedal assembly with associated wiring and 'box'.

[FL71C10]

Is that $700 for engine and transmission, or just the engine?

[FL71C10]

Originally Posted by Shon

The only thing we use from the donor trucks are the wiring harness and fuse block under the hood, other than the motor/trans.
If you get the under hood fuse block its about 5 wires to hook up, other wise you can make your own fuse block or buy them the set up from Current Performance (out of FL; its what I used on mine).
4.8 is a smaller version of the 5.3, 4.8 is a good start, but i would get at least a 5.3. We pay about $700ish here for a running 5.3 will all PCM/harness/acessories.
IF the truck is drive by wire, ie the TB is not cable driven, you will want the TAC module, and this is the gas pedal assembly with associated wiring and 'box'.

Are the trucks drive by wire, or does it vary by year?

[Shon]

Originally Posted by FL71C10

Is that $700 for engine and transmission, or just the engine?

engine and harness/PCM, trans are normally $400 I think....we have not bought a full combo (motor/trans) in a long time, been running TH350/400s behind the other ones we picked up lately....

[FL71C10]

I didn't think you could run an older transmission behind the newer motor. I guess you can program the pcm to do whatever you want?

[Shon]

Originally Posted by FL71C10

Are the trucks drive by wire, or does it vary by year?

Varies by year, some 03s have it, just have to see the motor/TB to know.

Originally Posted by FL71C10

I didn't think you could run an older transmission behind the newer motor. I guess you can program the pcm to do whatever you want?

yeah, you just have to get either a crank spacers or have the TC built for the LSx application. but you have to know what crank/flywheel you have.
Most 4.8/5.3s need the spacer, some 6.0s do not.

here is the spacer I am referring to; I have these machined locally:
https://securehost98.hrwebservices.n...&productId=239

[FL71C10]

Does that make the swap simpler or am i better of getting the transmission with the motor?

[TonyJohnson]

A 5.3 is a 4.8 with a longer stroke.

[Shon]

Originally Posted by FL71C10

Does that make the swap simpler or am i better of getting the transmission with the motor?

just depends on what you want to do with the truck.
I was going to tow with mine so I wanted the 6.0/4l80e combo, now that I probably will not tow I have thought about going to a TH350 set up.
if i was going to cruise the truck then I would get a 4spd auto, race the truck stick to the 3spd autos.

[TonyJohnson]

Dang Shon, That '71 of yours is SWEET. Looks like a killer drive train. Be sure to let us know how the mileage/driveability turns out. With the bags out back, it should ride pretty nice...

[Shon]

Originally Posted by TonyJohnson

Dang Shon, That '71 of yours is SWEET. Looks like a killer drive train. Be sure to let us know how the mileage/driveability turns out. With the bags out back, it should ride pretty nice...

need to update the site...no bags now, it has been lowered 3/4 with CPP springs. I was going to use the bags for towing but sold off all my stuff including the trailer so I will use this for the toy. It gets 14-16MPGs around town to/from work and it has went 8.8 @ 80 on motor and with a "100 shot" it went 7.8 @ 88.
I love the truck!!! 114k original miles!! when cooler air is here I drive it every day to work and where ever else I go.

see truck in action:

YouTube- Shon's farm truck at Greer Dragway

got plans for it!!! mods are my Speed Density tune, DT headers, full exhaust with 22" Magnaflows....

[TonyJohnson]

Nice.