Moby: My Chevy 4x4 ls swap

[bohmankid]

I picked this truck up on October 1st, 2013. I had been looking for a new 4x4 since my 85 k20 was totaled (see old build thread here).

This truck is pretty clean with zero rust. It is a 1981 3/4 ton, 14BFF rear end, 2 inch cowl induction hood, painted 4 months ago, bed lined with rhino liner 2 months ago, GM goodwrench crate 350 that runs very strong, and it's just an all around good truck that doesn't need much. It's a good foundation for things to come... I have a lot of big plans for this truck and hopefully it looks/performs completely different when I'm done. Let me know what you think!

Also, I name all of my cars. This one is Moby. Yes, referring to Moby Dick, the white whale. In the book, Captain Ahab was so obsessed with killing Moby Dick (the white whale) that it, in turn, killed him. Some of you may know that a 'white whale' can be a term used for something you obsess over. An obsession that may become your ultimate goal in life...
It seemed fitting. HAHA.

[bohmankid]

Side shot.

[bohmankid]

I got the truck registered and got the license plates on October 11th. First mod: tinted solid back window.

[bohmankid]

Okay, this is where things will start to get crazy...

I took the radiator support off and got ready to pull the motor on the afternoon of October 12th. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this motor, but I'm going to go with the LS power. I like fuel injection better than a carb.

[77ChevySharkBite]

I'm going to follow this one!!!

I can't wait to see how this one turns out looks sharp if you want to send a Christmas gift free shipping to I can give you the address to my house for the motor jk man can't wait to see it looks good.

I want to see some interior pictures my brotha!!

[bohmankid]

I extracted the motor on October 13th. It took me about an hour and a half to do everything. I set it in the bed of the truck, put a tarp over it and called it a day because it started to rain. I was told that this crate motor has about 7,000 miles on it if I'm not mistaken.. Hopefully I can get some good coin out of it.

I work 4 ten hour days, so I have 3 day weekends. I'm hoping to get an update on here every weekend.

I love pictures.

[Greenlee]

I really liked the old truck. Looks like this one will be just as nice!

Where you able to buy the old one back for parts?

[bohmankid]

Originally Posted by 77ChevySharkBite

I'm going to follow this one!!!

I can't wait to see how this one turns out looks sharp if you want to send a Christmas gift free shipping to I can give you the address to my house for the motor jk man can't wait to see it looks good.

I want to see some interior pictures my brotha!!

Oh ya, I'll try to get some interior pics soon. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Greenlee

I really liked the old truck. Looks like this one will be just as nice!

Where you able to buy the old one back for parts?

Yes sir I bought the old one back and will be parting it out. I'm taking the ls motor that i swapped into my old one and putting it into Moby.


Anyway, updates...


I spent two or three weekends wire-wheeling, degreasing, washing and prepping my firewall, inside of fenders, under hood and the frame. I painted the engine bay gloss white with Rustoleum paint and brushed the frame with Por15.






Dropped in the motor






Installed all the accessories and LS3 longtubes. I'm hoping to put an H-pipe in this exhaust and route it all the way out the back.






rigged up an intake.




This is what I did for the steam line. I just bypassed the throttle body and went straight to this custom fitting i put in the hose.




I rigged up my stainless braided gas lines and Summit fittings back to the drivers saddle bag tank. I think I might start looking for a high pressure valve so I can still use both of my saddle tanks because having 20 gallons on each side of you is nice sometimes. I still need to either drop the tank or pull off the bed to put the fuel pump in there.




Next on agenda is cleaning and painting this nasty radiator support. Too bad I picked a bad time to start working on my cars outside.. it's cold!

[Blackpony]

Nice work!

[Greenlee]

Looking good. Nice work!

[Low Elco]

Awesome! How much lift?

[Jonboy]

I think you could leave your tanks and switching valve alone and put an external fuel pump in front of the valve. That is the premise I am going to use.

[rs72z]

Do the in tank pumps, you will be a lot happier in the long run.
Rockauto has the high pressure change over valvle.

[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by rs72z

Do the in tank pumps, you will be a lot happier in the long run.
Rockauto has the high pressure change over valvle.

I would agree. I was going to go this route but now I think I'm gonna tackle Blazer/Suburban tank install.

You can put 87+ R/V series sending units with upgraded pumps into your tanks or you can get the newer tanks as well. The only difference is the new tanks are baffled. Rockauto sells sending units, tanks, just about everything.

[Big Rat]

Oh man just looked over the '85 thread. Total bummer. Glad you are okay. Where is the picture of the cops shooting the guy for destroying a beautiful piece of American iron?! I got to say, you have some really good luck finding good trucks in this Utah salt! You still have that crate motor you took out? I just so happen to need an engine and possibly the doors you took off your 78 and I am just up the road. Hmmm...

[Zane M]

Looking forward to seeing the progression on this one based on what you have done with your other trucks.

[bohmankid]

Originally Posted by Blackpony

Nice work!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Greenlee

Looking good. Nice work!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Awesome! How much lift?

Thanks! Stock height, but I did just purchase a 6 inch lift for it...

Originally Posted by Jonboy

I think you could leave your tanks and switching valve alone and put an external fuel pump in front of the valve. That is the premise I am going to use.

Hmmm after you try it, let me know if it works

Originally Posted by rs72z

Do the in tank pumps, you will be a lot happier in the long run.
Rockauto has the high pressure change over valvle.

I just got my in-tank pump put in. Model number EP381.

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

I would agree. I was going to go this route but now I think I'm gonna tackle Blazer/Suburban tank install.

You can put 87+ R/V series sending units with upgraded pumps into your tanks or you can get the newer tanks as well. The only difference is the new tanks are baffled. Rockauto sells sending units, tanks, just about everything.

I put a 31 gallon baffled suburban tank into my old 85 that I crashed. It was cool, but I had the hardest time figuring out where I wanted the fuel filler located!
I do eventually plan on swapping out my tanks for the baffled 87+ on Moby. Rock auto is a good cheap place to buy from. I like figuring out what I need and buying it all at once from them! Pay shipping once.

Originally Posted by Big Rat

Oh man just looked over the '85 thread. Total bummer. Glad you are okay. Where is the picture of the cops shooting the guy for destroying a beautiful piece of American iron?! I got to say, you have some really good luck finding good trucks in this Utah salt! You still have that crate motor you took out? I just so happen to need an engine and possibly the doors you took off your 78 and I am just up the road. Hmmm...

Funny thing, I almost ran over to the guy who crashed into me and beat the crap out of him for running that red light and destroying my truck. But with a dislocated shoulder, I couldn't move much. Not to mention he was incapacitated from t-boning a 3/4 ton truck in his Corolla and smashing his own windshield with his face. So I think justice was served. I'm paid off and healed from the injuries so all is good now. I do still have the crate motor and the doors.

Originally Posted by Zane M

Looking forward to seeing the progression on this one based on what you have done with your other trucks.

Thanks man!

[bohmankid]

Oh and another update.. The motor starts and runs. I just need to button everything up (specifically paint the radiator support and put it on). I'll try to get a video up!

[Hankster]

Its a real bummer about the other truck, I remember reading that thread some time ago, I had no idea it got in a wreck, Glad you found another, and got the wrecked one back for parts! Are you gonna put the wheels off the wrecked one on here?

[nekkidhillbilly]

keeping th400?

[bohmankid]

Originally Posted by Hankster

Its a real bummer about the other truck, I remember reading that thread some time ago, I had no idea it got in a wreck, Glad you found another, and got the wrecked one back for parts! Are you gonna put the wheels off the wrecked one on here?

Thanks for reading! Yeah what happened to my old truck was a tragedy that I'm still not over. But I'm going to use as many parts off it as a can. I want Moby to be Bear, 'reborn' Hahaha. The front wheel was hit at 60 mph so it's pretty dinged up, but it still holds air and doesn't look bent. I'll probly get new wheels and mud tires.

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

keeping th400?

Yes I'm keeping the th400. For now..



I got a chance to work on the truck. I painted the inner fenders white. Too much? I thought black would look out of place or too plain. Don't judge my wires hanging everywhere, I plan on hiding the wires last cause it's my least favorite job.. And I don't know how I'm going to mount my computer yet. Does anybody have any ideas for me? As you can see, it's just chillin in the corner along with a bunch of other wires I need to run. My check engine light is on as well. I haven't hooked up an OBD2 port yet to find out why, but I think it might just be a vaccum leak.








Yesterday, I put together my exhaust. I used the exhaust the truck came with, it's 2.5 inches with some sort of thrush or flowmaster mufflers. I just needed to re-weld the collectors into the correct position for the ls3 headers. I also put in an H-pipe after my transfer case. I've never welded up anything like an H-pipe before, so it was a learning experience. It turned out PERFECT.



Here's a picture for the road. Looking better than when I bought it! I put the wheels and tires on it off of my old one I crashed.



Speaking of LS swaps.. Who would drive this?

[hardcore4life]

Is that LS Prius your brain child or someone else's?

[Greenlee]

Looks like you are making some good progress. That white under the hood makes it look nice and clean.

That Prius is the bomb! That is the ultimate sleeper.

[y5mgisi]

Subscribed! For the computer mount, mount it on the inner fender. Use the $12 ebay mounts. Search, ls1 computer bracjet".

[Hankster]

Looks good, I've seen worse looking rims on the road before! Keep up the good work.