Jeff_88MJ_WI

I've been working on this project for awhile now and thought perhaps others that search here could get some ideas from what I've done. The truck is going to be an off road rig that might see some street time. I'm putting a GM 5.3L engine from an '03 Silverado, a '01 4L60 E tranny, a Klune V 4:1 underdrive and a STAK 4x4 Dana 300 Replace A Case in my Jeep Comanche pickup. The pickup has had the frame chopped behind the cab with the plan to build a 1/4 elliptic 4 link rear suspension and tube bed. The sheet metal frame has been plated with thicker steel on top forward of the firewall and the complete bottom and sides. The front portion of the frame rails was completely replaced with 3/16 2x6 box tubing back to where the frame begins to curve. The inner fenders have been cut loose with the idea to narrow the front some. I placed the engine and tranny in the wide open engine bay only to find that it was way too tall. I ended up switching to a Cadillac CTS-V oil pan and Corvette LS2 front accessories. I made a conversion bracket to allow me to run the truck alternator in the Vette bracket. I installed a LS1 intake manifold but kept the truck injectors and fuel rails. I tried a couple different exhaust manifolds but settled on early Corvette sheet metal units from a '99 I believe. I had to cut the manifolds right at the flange and push them in a bit tighter to the block to clear the frame rails, but this was pretty easy and seems to have worked fine. I also wanted to retain Air Conditioning since the Jeep cab already had the controls and an evaporator so I went looking for a compressor to use. I didnt' want to use the original GM unit since I believe it is a variable displacement unit that needs the body control computer/system to work correctly. Space was tight but I eventually found one that fit well. It is a '96 Geo Metro compressor that is a Sanden unit very similar to a Sanden 7176 which is a unit sold by a lot of the aftermarket air cond. companies. I made a slick mount for the compressor that needs no tensionor pulleys and directs the lines to the side to clear the frame rails. With the A/C compressor mounted I built a nice set of motor mounts that bolt to the engine, use replaceable torsion rubber bushings, and clear the exhaust manifold and A/C compressor. I still need to make the frame side of the motor mounts, but I'm working on it. I've been posting various progress reports over on www.naxja.org under the user name of Jeff_98xj_WI. I've been saving all the engine install pictures on a Photobucket account that I believe can be found here: http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z...point%20three/ Here are a few pictures of the progress so far:























If you find this interesting feel free to follow along over on NAXJA.org. I probably won't update this thread much unless I make some real progress on things the LS engine crowd might be interested in. Jeff

S10xGN

iTrader: (11)

I had an '89, it was one of my favorite vehicles. Good luck (and good swap)!

Russ

frojoe

iTrader: (10)

Very nice job on the motor mounts/plates and accessory drive brackets! I like the look of those Jeep pickups, gonna keep track of this build for sure..

atli126

iTrader: (1)

any updates?