Ol'Yeller! I picked up a '72 GMC, and so it begins!

[MercRising]

Found one, and pretty excited about it. I'll be starting a build thread just to keep track of progress but, here's the debut!







I already put a new section of fuel line on to curb a leak, then I spent an hour chipping of 15lbs of dirt from over the trans! It was a glorius night in the garage for sure!


It will get a white cab roof and fresh coat on the bumpers too. Also will be spending some time with the random orbital to see if I can get this banay to shine a little more! Then in the next 3-4 months it will get lowered probably with a 4/6 or may 5/7. For now, the 31x10.5r15's will have to do sooooo, I went to the dirt and blew some doughnuts this morning!

Happy to be back into a truck, and it's nice that 3-4 people have already waived at me or said "cool truck."

Anyway, cheers!

John

[bs46488]

That looks like a good starting point.

[RenoKeene]

I'm digging it too! Looks like a keeper.

[mcbassin]

Very solid truck to start with.

[MercRising]

I am planning on slowly working through each corner and also cleaning/inspecting the engine and trans too. I plan to flush most of the fluids and hit all the grease points as I get to them.

Any cleaner products or methods you guys can recommend so I can get this beast where I can actually see the parts I working on? Probably pull the plug wires and cap so I can bag/tape those, then I was planning on getting the pressure washer up in that son of a gun!

Also want to give it a buff with the random orbital my buddy has. I hot one spot with some detailer shine and it's got potential!

Pretty new to engine work other than bolt ons for my 2010 wrx so.....trouble shooting this thing and tuning it up should be awesome to learn!

Can't decide if my uncle,"Lohgbed65", is more excited or if I am!

[MercRising]

Finally have some cash saved up for an engine/trans swap. If I can find a Lq4 or Lq9 for the right price, that's my chosen path, along with a 4l60e. I plan to run it stock for a while, as I save up and stack parts for a turbo kit. Thinking single turbo for now, considering costs and all.

This will be my first try at a swap, so please feel free to help me along with missing items in my parts list below!

So far here's my ever growing parts list:

1) Motor w/all front accessories
2) Harness/Computer/Pedal to match motor
3) Standalone harness conversion
4) Computer Tune to work with standalone setup (buddy with HPT)
4) 4l60e trans, 2x4 (Not sure how this will mate with my stock column shifter?)
5) Gas Tank w/Sender-Pump assembly from 98-02 Camaro (have this already)
6) Walbro 255 fuel pump, or maybe bigger since I want to turbo this later??
7) Fuel Lines and fittings (TOTALLY LOST HERE, HELP ME)
8) Motor mounts/adapter plates
9) Trans cross member
10) Drive shaft if stock won't fit (maybe)
11) Rad-Fans from 98-2002 Camaro, relay kit to power them
12) Gauges, how do I get my stock gauges to read off this new setup??
13) Other electrical....not sure how all my current lights, heat, etc play into this....

Actual questions coming soon, plus updates of all the work I've done slamming the truck 5.5"/7" with new wheels and a painted cab top.

[berch 69GMC]

Love it, .....obviously

[LPoole]

nice lookin old truck. subscribed...

[mcbassin]

Originally Posted by MercRising

Finally have some cash saved up for an engine/trans swap. If I can find a Lq4 or Lq9 for the right price, that's my chosen path, along with a 4l60e. I plan to run it stock for a while, as I save up and stack parts for a turbo kit. Thinking single turbo for now, considering costs and all.

This will be my first try at a swap, so please feel free to help me along with missing items in my parts list below!

So far here's my ever growing parts list:


7) Fuel Lines and fittings (TOTALLY LOST HERE, HELP ME)

This is the list I used on my truck:
I am using a Walbro GSL392 Universal Inline 255LPH Fuel Pump and Kit (Ebay $100 shipped)

1ea. 33737 Wix filter Corvette style filter/reg. (Found on Ebay or Epay $30 shipped)
2ea. RUS-644123 6AN-female quick connect HERE
(1 for the rail and 1 for the filter)
1ea. RUS-640940 6AN-Male Q.C. HERE
1ea. RNB-800-120 5/16 Q.C. (from return on filter to tank) HERE
1ea. RUS-670470 (Fitting for fuel pump)HERE
1 ea. Stainless Fuel line HERE
4ea. AN-6 fittings HERE

[centuryhousedw]

Congrats! I look forward to seeing your progress on this one.

[MercRising]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

This is the list I used on my truck:
I am using a Walbro GSL392 Universal Inline 255LPH Fuel Pump and Kit (Ebay $100 shipped)

1ea. 33737 Wix filter Corvette style filter/reg. (Found on Ebay or Epay $30 shipped)
2ea. RUS-644123 6AN-female quick connect HERE
(1 for the rail and 1 for the filter)
1ea. RUS-640940 6AN-Male Q.C. HERE
1ea. RNB-800-120 5/16 Q.C. (from return on filter to tank) HERE
1ea. RUS-670470 (Fitting for fuel pump)HERE
1 ea. Stainless Fuel line HERE
4ea. AN-6 fittings HERE

I think I'm going in tank pump since it came out of an LS car. Will I need a regulator and filter still?

[MercRising]

Grabbed a set of 2002 Camaro Z28 fans today, for the LS swap parts stack.

Should I grab that matching radiator too?

As for what I done since I bought the truck and started the post...... it's got 2.5" drop spindles w/3" drop springs up front, then a JDM flip kit out back. That flip kit netted probably 6.5+ drop. I had to take out the original 2" drop springs up front and replace them for 3", making the front about 5.5 drop . Otherwise the front end looked about an inch too high.

Also had some interim brushed 15" wheels, then the new 20x9 black wheels, Cab is now painted white too, much better!! I'll post up some pics once I get my to my external hard drive but, lets just say it looks MUCH better now.


Itching for the motor swap........

[MercRising]

Moving along.......

Picked up a 2005 L59 5.3l with all the accessories, harness, and computer etc. Ripped it down to inspect it and all looks pretty clean, crank/pistons spin very smooth. Saw no major leaks around the motor, which is nice.

I've got the harness/TCM/gas pedal/flex plate from the 5.3l but, I think I'm going back to swap it for a 6.0l harness/TCM etc, and a 4l80e flexplate. I say that because I'm going to mate a 4l80e to this 5.3l motor, just to cover the stress of boosting it later!

I've decided that using the 6.0l/4l80e harness will be easier with respect to the transmission controls/tune. Also for the fact that we can tune the 5.3l with the ECM from the 6.0. Using a matching 4l80e tune as well as having all the right trans connectors makes the swap more simple, I think. Does this make sense?

[MercRising]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

This is the list I used on my truck:
I am using a Walbro GSL392 Universal Inline 255LPH Fuel Pump and Kit (Ebay $100 shipped)

1ea. 33737 Wix filter Corvette style filter/reg. (Found on Ebay or Epay $30 shipped)
2ea. RUS-644123 6AN-female quick connect HERE
(1 for the rail and 1 for the filter)
1ea. RUS-640940 6AN-Male Q.C. HERE
1ea. RNB-800-120 5/16 Q.C. (from return on filter to tank) HERE
1ea. RUS-670470 (Fitting for fuel pump)HERE
1 ea. Stainless Fuel line HERE
4ea. AN-6 fittings HERE

Since I am using the 02 Camaro tank, my set up will look like this......with the T fitting leading to my rail. I assume I'll need to get a Fuel Pump Relay kit too.

[MercRising]

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

[MercRising]

Current tracks of thought.....

-Worried I'll overlook something on the harness conversion and ECU flash
-4l80e segment (or whatever)
-Fan/FP Relays
-Tow Haul switch (perf mode)
- Remove VATS etc..
-Rewire/add for 4l80e on 4l60e harness
-Neutral Safety Switch delete..is this normal to remove?

-Still not 100% on my returnless fuel system and plumbing the '02 F-Body pump/reg to the rail.
-Also wondering if I will not need the pressure sensor hooked up ?


-Since I will boost in the next year or so.....should I get a larger than 255lph in-tank FP....maybe a 400lp for plenty of grow room??

-How do I link the the 4l80 to my current column shifter?

-Gauges....keep stock or spend $$ on new bezel and gauges? What's involved with keeping stock?


And more will come to me any minute.....just trying to start solidifying my list of to do's and start ordering some parts/services!!

:uhmk:

[MercRising]

Found out an '03 harness has different injector plugs than my '05 injectors. Need to head to the yard and swap it with the guys. I got my stuff at Boothill Truck Salvage here in Denver, they've been real cool about the whole process of getting my motor/harness. Also, I still need to get a 4l80 and flex plate to match.

Can you guys tell me if there's a checklist of harness conversion items that need to take place?

ie items such as....Fan relays, FP relay, CEL, OBD-II Port, Tow/Haul toggle wire?

[Ram-Man]

Looks awesome. What size tires and backspacing do you have on the wheels? 5/7 drop?

[MercRising]

Originally Posted by Ram-Man

Looks awesome. What size tires and backspacing do you have on the wheels? 5/7 drop?

Wow, I am a slacker!! Haven;t been on in a while to post. Dang kids and life .

These are Black Rhino, Imperial, 20x9 with -25 offset I believe. Tires are 255/50s and I had to take out the fender liners up front but....that was going to happen anyway.

BTW....LOVE that truck of yours. I have some parts to possibly swap my front end to the 67-68 hood, I much prefer it.

Lots more on the way...my LS 5.3/4l80e swap is sitting in the truck as we speak!