My 91 C1500 LS1 Swap thread.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 280
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From: Las Cruces, NM
My 91 C1500 LS1 Swap thread. Hey guys, doing this thread to help people out with similar swaps like mine that are on a budget as well.
5 months ago my buddy spun a bearing in his 98 trans am, asked if anyone was interested cause he got a 6.0 block he was going to build. I asked him how much and he sad "$500" and **** i couldn't let a deal like that pass so i bought it.
5 months ago my buddy spun a bearing in his 98 trans am, asked if anyone was interested cause he got a 6.0 block he was going to build. I asked him how much and he sad "$500" and **** i couldn't let a deal like that pass so i bought it.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces, NM
Got to stripping it down later that week.
Was very busy so i left some of what I didn't finish to the machine shop.
Turns out my crankshaft was messed up as well as a rod. Machine shop sold me a crank that was polished with a rod for $130. Guy at the machine shop installed cam bearings, honed cylinders, and cleaned block all less than $150.
Guy at machine shop ordered me a rebuild kit with out pistons or lifters for $580. Plastigaged the bearings and turned out they were the wrong set. Member always PLASTIGAGE better safe than sorry. Oh and the crank was off a 4.8 so I had to go back and return that as well.
Finally got the right crankshaft and set of bearings.
Time for the Build!! I plastigaged again to make sure bearings were the right ones and they were so i built the shortblock with my buddy using the How to Rebuild LS engines and performance.
Ordered a cam kit from Tick Performance for $690. Great deal, Cam is a SNS TORQUEMAXX Stage 2 with a set of Brian Tooley Dual springs.
Took my heads to the machine to get them cleaned,resurfaced, and install new springs all for $100. Also ordered ls7 lifters from Ticks Performance for $135
Was very busy so i left some of what I didn't finish to the machine shop.
Turns out my crankshaft was messed up as well as a rod. Machine shop sold me a crank that was polished with a rod for $130. Guy at the machine shop installed cam bearings, honed cylinders, and cleaned block all less than $150.
Guy at machine shop ordered me a rebuild kit with out pistons or lifters for $580. Plastigaged the bearings and turned out they were the wrong set. Member always PLASTIGAGE better safe than sorry. Oh and the crank was off a 4.8 so I had to go back and return that as well.
Finally got the right crankshaft and set of bearings.
Time for the Build!! I plastigaged again to make sure bearings were the right ones and they were so i built the shortblock with my buddy using the How to Rebuild LS engines and performance.
Ordered a cam kit from Tick Performance for $690. Great deal, Cam is a SNS TORQUEMAXX Stage 2 with a set of Brian Tooley Dual springs.
Took my heads to the machine to get them cleaned,resurfaced, and install new springs all for $100. Also ordered ls7 lifters from Ticks Performance for $135
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces, NM
A month or 2 passed by so i bought whatever was left to finish the build. Since my buddy needed the fbody oil pan we traded and he left me the 6.0 oil pan. I bought the 6.0 oil pick up tube and used the thicker gasket which is green i think. Later that night i installed everything to finish the build, except for the intake manifold, i read the book wrong, set the torque to ft lbs instead of ft in. and boom it snapped. Was scared as heck but i got a screw driver and tapped it out slowly until i got it with the pliers . Couldn't do much because it was late so i called it a night.
Went to the dealer later that week and the intake manifold bolt was $21.60, for 1 single bolt!!! I didn't want to spend that much on a bolt, so I asked if anyone had a spare and this guy told me to ask Cordes Performance and Racing store. So i did and they sent me a intake manifold bolt for free!!! They made my week so much better. Finished the build the next week and ordered myself a wiring harness from Joe Lopez for $400 and a set of LS Swap Schoenfeld headers for $280.
Went to the dealer later that week and the intake manifold bolt was $21.60, for 1 single bolt!!! I didn't want to spend that much on a bolt, so I asked if anyone had a spare and this guy told me to ask Cordes Performance and Racing store. So i did and they sent me a intake manifold bolt for free!!! They made my week so much better. Finished the build the next week and ordered myself a wiring harness from Joe Lopez for $400 and a set of LS Swap Schoenfeld headers for $280.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces, NM
Installed headers just to see how they would look....
Didn't really like how the headers looked so i took off the paint...Much Better!!
Got new NGK TR55 Spark plugs and MSD wires. Also got my dirty dingo a/c r4 bracket and motor mounts. The engine was ready to drop in.
A week passed by and I was impatient so i went on and took the old 350 out with my buddy. Out with the old!!!
Didn't really like how the headers looked so i took off the paint...Much Better!!
Got new NGK TR55 Spark plugs and MSD wires. Also got my dirty dingo a/c r4 bracket and motor mounts. The engine was ready to drop in.
A week passed by and I was impatient so i went on and took the old 350 out with my buddy. Out with the old!!!
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces, NM
And in with the new!!
I then found out i needed new chassis mounts so i just let it sit in the bay and dressed it up just to see how it would look.
Well the next day i went to autozone bought my mounts, I was excited to install them, and found out that there is no way in hell to get to the bolts and was told I might need to take my lower control arms out....I was depressed and just frustrated i called it a night. Until one of my buddies came over got underneath my chassis and said that i can get to the bolts i just need a swivel and extensions. So it kind of got my hopes up so a week passed by and i asked my lil bro if he can help me out. We used an air gun with a 15mm socket and i had a ratchet with a 15mm socket as well. It took me a while to get to the bolts especially on the passenger side since there is less space to work on and see where the bolt is but we got it done. I lost a swivel and a nut in the chassis but its done with.
I then found out i needed new chassis mounts so i just let it sit in the bay and dressed it up just to see how it would look.
Well the next day i went to autozone bought my mounts, I was excited to install them, and found out that there is no way in hell to get to the bolts and was told I might need to take my lower control arms out....I was depressed and just frustrated i called it a night. Until one of my buddies came over got underneath my chassis and said that i can get to the bolts i just need a swivel and extensions. So it kind of got my hopes up so a week passed by and i asked my lil bro if he can help me out. We used an air gun with a 15mm socket and i had a ratchet with a 15mm socket as well. It took me a while to get to the bolts especially on the passenger side since there is less space to work on and see where the bolt is but we got it done. I lost a swivel and a nut in the chassis but its done with.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces, NM
So i dropped in the motor for good but before i dropped it in all the way to where the motor mount sits on the chassis mount I put the A/C compressor on the bracket because when the motor was sitting on the engine bay I tried putting the A/c compressor and it was impossible. So its easier to just put the compressor on the bracket before the engine fully sits on the engine bay. (This is if you didn't take out the hoses to the A/C compressor, which I didn't.)
Installed LY6 water pump. Only $80 and it fits good and clears ls1 intake manifold. Looking very good so far.
Installed LY6 water pump. Only $80 and it fits good and clears ls1 intake manifold. Looking very good so far.
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Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces, NM
Oh and also the 6.0 Oil pan clears the cross member. Last week I Ordered a PCM and mail order tune by tunedbyfrost.com, heard he was good at tuning so I gave it a shot. I also ordered Sachs NFW1050 Flywheel, hopefully my pressure plate bolts on to it. This week I ordered the Gates K061105 Serpentine belt as well as a idler pulley relocation plate so the alternator bracket can fit with the ls1 intake. Hopefully my power c1500 power steering fits and will work with the bracket.
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Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces, NM
Thanks. And i got my wiring harness from Joe Lopez, people told me about him on facebook. He did my wiring harness for the ls1/t56 for $400. He can make it work with your gauge cluster for $50 extra.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces, NM
Just got my computer from tunedbyfrost.com. computer was $105 and mail order tune was $200 so it was $300 for everything. Great deal!!
This weekend I should mate the tranny to the engine. Lets see how it goes, but for now I'll be working til Saturday. I'll keep ya updated to see how everything went.
This weekend I should mate the tranny to the engine. Lets see how it goes, but for now I'll be working til Saturday. I'll keep ya updated to see how everything went.
You are gonna liquefy that NV3500 behind that LS1. Ask me how I know. Lol. 6 speed is gonna be garbage in a truck. You will need super short gears in the rear bc the gears in the trans are too tall to move that heavy truck. Especially if there is anything in the bed. Just pulled my 6 sped for a built 60.
Nice build man im putting a carbed 6.0 bored to a 370 in my 92 c1500. Did you hook up your power steering yet? Im wondering how you did it and if it worked well. I hear those motor mounts are a mother im not really looking forward to changing those.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces, NM
You are gonna liquefy that NV3500 behind that LS1. Ask me how I know. Lol. 6 speed is gonna be garbage in a truck. You will need super short gears in the rear bc the gears in the trans are too tall to move that heavy truck. Especially if there is anything in the bed. Just pulled my 6 sped for a built 60.