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This is quickly going to go way over budget. Forgot to put in the the floor mount shifter. That's another $200 or so. Plus fluids, and filters. Also need to figure out the gauges. Probably Make my own cluster from some gauges.
Anything else I need to think about?
Truck will also need brakes, but that's a whole different issue then getting running and driving. That's all I'm concerned with in this part of the build. Need to hear the engine run. Then the motivation will pick up.
i personally would use $50 ebay adapters instead of the cpp stuff. mine went in easy and not a peep in 3 years of daily driving.
I had my driveline shortened and had 4l60e yoke installed. That would have been $100, but I also needed a new carrier bearing and u joints. $300 on the nose.
you may not need a stall if you dont cam it and the gears arent too bad. my rig has 3.73's and 5.3 with only LT headers and a tune it'd light 255/60-17s clear into third gear.
i personally would use $50 ebay adapters instead of the cpp stuff. mine went in easy and not a peep in 3 years of daily driving.
I had my driveline shortened and had 4l60e yoke installed. That would have been $100, but I also needed a new carrier bearing and u joints. $300 on the nose.
you may not need a stall if you dont cam it and the gears arent too bad. my rig has 3.73's and 5.3 with only LT headers and a tune it'd light 255/60-17s clear into third gear.
The cpp mounts are engine, and trans mount and croccmember. He said there the new style. I want this done by the end of march. So if I can spend a couple hundred to speed up the process that's no big deal to me. I hear from a lot of guys on here cpp is top notch.
The drive shaft will hopefully be a one piece unit. I will supply the shaft from '66 and the yolk from the 4l60. And whatever measurements they need.
Stall converter is planned for the future. I want to turbo someday, but just want driving now. One step at a time. So now it will be stock t/q.
Also for now I plan on stock manifolds. Either trucks, and notch the frame. Or tbss.
if you are planning a turbo, i would seriously reconsider the 4l60e. I'm swapping the second dead one out of my '66. I don't tow, barely haul and drive pretty sedate. They just aren't all that tough in stock form.
if you are planning a turbo, i would seriously reconsider the 4l60e. I'm swapping the second dead one out of my '66. I don't tow, barely haul and drive pretty sedate. They just aren't all that tough in stock form.
I've been parts searching for a bit now. All I find is 4wd 4l80's. I found one local 4l60e. I jumped on it. If it fails I will rebuild it.
I assume there's something wrong with both of your transmissions if there going out that fast. I know tons of guys who beat the hell out of them and they keep going and going. Yes, an '80 would be nice, but as of now won't be happening.
here's mine. I'm not LS yet but i am gathering parts for one... We swapped the front lower control arms, spindle, brake calipers from a 84 Suburban ($30 at UPullIt) and bought CPP 6 lug rotors ($90 for both) for the 73-87 trucks. Then put in a S10 power brake booster/master cylinder that we had from another project. but it gave me power disk brakes for $130... just a thought for you later down the road. I also re-wired the truck with the Speedway kit for $145...
that's a sweet truck!
it will need brakes asap. AFTER the drive train is running.
I assume the brakes are non existent. just put in the order on ebay for $975. transmission is on its way, and wheels and tires are down at the tire shop. I hate how we don't have our own tire machine here at the dealership but owell I guess.
took off Friday, and have a trailer lined up to go fetch the truck.
Well me and the woman dropped our 2 boys of and grandparents Thursday evening. Early Friday we were off! 3.5 hrs each way. Lots of stops for fuel, food, and a couple stops for some firearms needs.
Anyways got there and truck is nice! Dirty, but nice. Only rust is bottom of front fenders.
I sent my 2 little brothers on a road trip also friday to get the 5.3.
This ones after some polishing. I can't really afford to have the truck clear coated. So some polish and wax will do.
Well I have nearly the entire truck polished up. A few hours left.
Parts are showing up fast!
Cpp sent the mounts out yesterday. Total came to $455 with them. Got the engine block mounts, engine frame mounts, trans mount, and trans crossmember. Got it with poly bushings. Figured if I was spending the money, spend a bit extra for better.
Going to try to find either a set of bucket seats and a center council, or a bench with a fold down council. Out of like a newer single cab Chevy work truck. Not 100% as of now.
This forum seems slow. Not a lot of discussion in any builds.
Well I got the CPP mounts in Friday night. Also I ordered some cheap eBay headers. Couple other guys with this swap say they have cleared well. I'll try them, stock manifolds will bit clear. Could cut frame easily enough, but for $180, I'll go headers.
Got the old 305v6 and 4speed removed. 4l60and 5.3 are in and mounted. Cpp kit worked great, but was not what I was told it was with the guy on the phone. I was told its 100% bolt in, non adjustable. Well it's adjustable mounts, and the trans crossmember did not line up correctly. I did manage to get it lined up with 2 current holes, and had to drill 2. If i would have known they were adjustable mounts, I would have simply took the advice given here earlier and went to the eBay mounts. And saved a ton of money. Sorry for not taking advice,this kit was not what I was sold. ALSO, not a single shred of instructions. And I consider there hardware scrap metal. Them Allen head bolts for the mounts are cheddar cheese soft. Very frustrating @$460 or so.
Got the front coils cut down 1full turn. Got the drop shackles in the back. Not sure this will be the final stance yet. Think the bac k May need to come down a bit. Won't know till front clip is installed. May need to come down another inch or inch and a half.
I have measured for sway bars front and rear. Waiting for a trailblazer to come in the shop, and compare measurements and see if they will adapt. They are huge on them. If not, I will keep looking.
We also got the power steering conversion done. Got a conversion bracket and I shaft flange from a guy on another forum. It worked great and instructions were awesome! Have the return line on, just not in picture.
I know I have mentioned going turbo in the future. As of now, I don't see it in the budget for quite some time. Found this nx nitrous kit locally for $100. Needs a tank. I will be checking in the nitrous section of the forum to find the do's and dont's. This will be my first adventure in it.
Also, looks like this 4l60e is from a 98. Not a 2000. It bolts up, but the tq converter does not. I have been reading some scattered info. Ranging from won't work, to drill the flex plate and install a spacer. Some urban legend of a conversion converter too. any links to a good remedy?
Nice to see people still swapping out old trucks. Im currently getting an ls1/4l80e ready for a 71 gmc shortbed pickup. So far it's a fun project. Good Luck with the swap! I'm looking forward to see this one run
you can put that gen 2 tranny behind your gen3/4 motor but you are right you will need a different flexplate as well as a spacer and bolts. this works with any tranny that was bolted to a gen 2 motor.
i'm sure these parts could be found cheaper elsewhere, but i just copy and pasted them from a link i had saved. I used them to put a 1995 4l80e behind a 5.3
you can put that gen 2 tranny behind your gen3/4 motor but you are right you will need a different flexplate as well as a spacer and bolts. this works with any tranny that was bolted to a gen 2 motor.
i'm sure these parts could be found cheaper elsewhere, but i just copy and pasted them from a link i had saved. I used them to put a 1995 4l80e behind a 5.3
if you were closer you could have this 2002 4l60e i got here...only needs 3rd gear clutches :/
Thanks for the info. I have been reading for the past couple hours on this issue. This looks the best. I'm not comfortable egg shaping the converter holes. If the shoulder of the bolt head is not 100% tq' down against the plate, it may come loose. I want a little more peace of mind then that. Haha I have just ordered these parts. Thanks!
Also, eBay headers showed up. Nice flat 3/8" flanges. Tubing is quite thin though. Oh well, $180 doesn't get you to much with them. Anyways, they fit well. Parts for transmission should be here late this week. I'll do that this weekend. Then actually install the headers for good. Have an appt at exhaust shop for next week. Y pipe from headers to a 3" pipe. Into that eBay muffler, and dump in front of back pass tire.
That looks good man! Waiting for the weather to get better here so I can do mine. Got a 66 Chevy. C10 waiting for the ls to go in.
Snice! Where ya located? Pretty cold here too yet, but thankfully I have this small block garage. No insulation, and not even close to sealed up. 75k btu nipco style furnace gets it toasty in here though. Best $150 I ever spent
Well as I said i ordered the flex plate and adapter with bolts. It came today. Flex plate still needed holes slotted to work. That sucked to do to a new plate. Oh well iguess.trans is in for good now. Will be working for quite a few hours tonight on it. Have to keep pushing through on it. It's is starting to wear on me though. May sell it once running, and persue a chevelle or nova build. Time will tell pics late tonight.
02-22-2016 | 09:55 PM
