Dento's LT1/c1500 budget swap

[Dento77]

hey guys! I'm just about finished with swapping a bone stock lt1 from a caprice 9C1 state police detectives car into a 2wd 97 chevy reg cab shortbed pickup. this is going to a DD/burnouts on the weekends during the summer. there is a 1/8th mile track about an hour away i might try once or twice for fun, but no 1/4s in the state that i know of. i've tried to keep the costs down by using junkyard/ebay parts when i could. bought the truck last spring with 136k on the 4.3/5spd combo. the truck is lowered 4 or 5 inches in the front and 6 in the back, got it this way and never asked what drop kit was used. drove it that way until about november and then started tearing stuff apart.
also using the 4L60e from the caprice and waiting on some axle saddles to replace the 10bolt with a 14bSF rear. the rear has 3.42s and a G80.
**** WARNING**** everything is still really dirty from a winters worth of garage dust from other projects going on.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/DSC04295.jpg
^^ before swap
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/DSC04483.jpg
^^ 14bolt scored at the junkyard for $50. i'm keeping the 6lug pattern for a larger wheel selection. fronts are swapped with c2500 2wd light duty 6 lug rotors.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/SAM_0527.jpg
^^ v6 harness after being cut up/before mating the harnesses.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/SAM_0533.jpg
^^ caprice efan relays and fuel inj fuses repinned into the truck fuse block
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/SAM_0535.jpg
^^ covered in garage dust
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/SAM_0479.jpg
^^ caprice radiator with efans. using hedman long tube headers.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/SAM_0606.jpg
^^ 99 Escalade cluster with working gauge, need to mess with fuel gauge tho. fuel worked with a 98 burb cluster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgVXyDbdAgQ
^^ this is from friday. puffs of smoke are from rustoleum 2000 degree primer/flat black paint cooking on and still need to finish up some vacuum issues and find my EGR block off plate.

still need to figure out what i want to run for wheels. the roads here in maine are very unkind to low profile tire/wheels combos so i'll have to keep some sidewall.

let me know what you think!

[Fixxer99TA]

Now thats a nice swap, especially for a DD. And everyone loves to see that body style chevy with something sweet in it :D

What about future plans? In your other thread I think you mentioned some N20?

[popo8]

Great Job man...... LOVIN IT!!!!

[Dangalla]

awesome job man, you really put some time and effort into doing that, and it has payed off

[Dento77]

thanks guys! much appreciated! i owe alot to a good friend that kept us going on this. he also kept me from cutting corners and pretty much said we are doing it right or not at all. his garage and his tools, can't really argue with that!

future plans for the truck include:
leather 60/40 seats (just waiting on the junkman to give me a call when a nice set comes in, already prepaid)
minor paint/body to fix some dings and scratches, also swapping to a GMC grill after we are finished crawling in and out from under the hood
a mild system - no more than 800w RMS total.. may also try some interior trickery with some switches for the HVAC
and a 50-100 shot of n20 for fun (pesky rustangs)
edit: i forgot to add a real tune from Solomon or Wheatly

i still need to upgrade from the v6 vortec fuel pump even before i think about ordering a NOS kit. i'm 99.9% sure the vortec pumps have the pressure needed, but up in the air about the volume. i've heard it flows around 30-33GPH for the v6 model, and no idea what the v8 pump flows. i'd like to stick to all GM parts if i could, to make replacements easier. ask for a walbro pump around here and you get the reply "wall what?"

did get a hour or so in on the truck earlier today. plugged off all the loose vacuums(except for anything egr related) and it idled much better than in the vid, almost where should be. just has a faint surge to the idle(up and down about 100rpms), i'm thinking the pcm is looking for the o2 sensors that i forgot to extend in the caprice harness and are still unplugged. its hardly noticeable, but we can hear it and drives us crazy. hopefully i can get it on the road in the next few weeks and put some miles on it!

[Dento77]

getting closer to getting this thing finished. found out the GPH on the v6 pump, 50-70GPH vs the caprice 50-60GPH. should be enough to get me by for now. also have the 14b in and pretty much buttoned up. hoping to have it back on the ground and moving under its own power today.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/SAM_0716.jpg

[Colossus]

This is a super nice build and a brilliant idea! I want one now!

[lt1truck]

Hey nice swap, i did the same one a year ago. thought i would chime in on the fuel pump. Go to napa and get a gmc typhoon fuel pump, they flow more than a stock camaro/corvette pump and they fit perfect in our truck sending units.

[Dento77]

Hey nice swap, i did the same one a year ago. thought i would chime in on the fuel pump. Go to napa and get a gmc typhoon fuel pump, they flow more than a stock camaro/corvette pump and they fit perfect in our truck sending units.
thanks, your build is pretty sweet as well. how is the nv3500 holding up? i almost kept mine, but figured it would implode after a few 2nd gear rollbacks. i'll check the typhoon pump out at the local gm dealer. the parts manager has been pretty interested in what i've been up to, and have gotten some pretty good deals so far.

no progress to speak of. been busy with other stuff. need to find some ebrake stuff and about 10 hours to finish it off. both are proving tricky to find...

[Dento77]

its on the road! still have a few minor things to finish up, but at least i can drive it. this is what i've got up to today.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/SAM_0867.jpg
looks pretty ghetto, but it works until i get more escalade wheels and figure out tire size to get it level again.

i am having an issue when trying to do burnouts from a stand still. as soon as it revs 4.5/5k, it starts falling on its face until i let out of it. almost like a traction control system. if i take off as fast i can without breaking loose, it will spin up to 6k between shifts and pull like a freight train while doing it. do the 95 9c1 police pkg'd caprice have a traction control system? i don't have the DLC wired up so i can't offer any codes if any are even there and no fuel pressure readings. i'll try to wire up the DLC and bum a scanner for a few hours in the next few days.

[n2ocamaro]

Just found this thread. A couple weeks ago I was thinking about getting a older Chevy truck and swapping in a LT1 for a nice/cheap tow rig. Now you have me really thinking about it.

[Dento77]

Just found this thread. A couple weeks ago I was thinking about getting a older Chevy truck and swapping in a LT1 for a nice/cheap tow rig. Now you have me really thinking about it.
do it! the buddy that helped with this build has a 72 chevy k20 4x4 that might get a stock lt1 too. its a work truck and gets plowed in the winter. we are thinking the reverse flow cooling would help keep things cooler with the plow blocking airflow and the extra TQ wouldn't hurt either.


as for my truck, i've put about 500 miles on it and its going good so far. mpg is somewhere around 15-16, better than the 12 i was getting with the v6 and tons more fun to boot. i'm trying to get it ready for street day at the local 1/8th mile track. i might take a few cars/trucks by surprise, but i expect to get eaten up by the big boys.

[Dento77]

small update with the truck.
got about 650+ miles plus on it so far, still working out a few bugs (temp/fuel gauge working intermittently and still fighting a nasty draw that will kill a battery in 2 days) , and haven't broke anything yet. i do have a SES/CEL coming on after a few minutes, been that way for the last 400 miles or so. i came across a used obd1 usb cable for a good deal and got to mess with it today some. using Tuner Pro RT v5, i can see all the live values changing but they are really erratic. like sitting at idle, its shows 550 rpm, then 5300, then 1800, 545, 4800. its not giving these exact numbers, they are just for reference. i didn't want to start a new thread for something that is normal, so if anybody reading could chime in with a "that's how it is" or a "you got problems somewhere". i would greatly appreciate it. i'm hoping to get an email power tune from solomon next week or so and don't want it to go hay wire because its goofy. as for the SES/CEL.. its getting pretty warm. like the 230* range while putting to the store and back. i don't have any leaks and 99% sure i have the coolant hoses plumbed right. i'm going to drain the system, check the thermostat for giggles and put new coolant in. the stuff in the coolant tank doesn't look so hot. theres no oil in it, just looks like a mix of green and orange coolant.
again, any help for this lt1 noob would be greatly appreciated!

[Blubird]

what did you paint black ? the headers ?

[Dento77]

yes. i wire wheeled off the black shipping paint and rattle caned some 2000* prime/flat black on the headers before i installed them. i don't know if it will help them last longer or not, just was bored one night with nothing better to do.

[n2ocamaro]

small update with the truck.
got about 650+ miles plus on it so far, still working out a few bugs (temp/fuel gauge working intermittently and still fighting a nasty draw that will kill a battery in 2 days) , and haven't broke anything yet. i do have a SES/CEL coming on after a few minutes, been that way for the last 400 miles or so. i came across a used obd1 usb cable for a good deal and got to mess with it today some. using Tuner Pro RT v5, i can see all the live values changing but they are really erratic. like sitting at idle, its shows 550 rpm, then 5300, then 1800, 545, 4800. its not giving these exact numbers, they are just for reference. i didn't want to start a new thread for something that is normal, so if anybody reading could chime in with a "that's how it is" or a "you got problems somewhere". i would greatly appreciate it. i'm hoping to get an email power tune from solomon next week or so and don't want it to go hay wire because its goofy. as for the SES/CEL.. its getting pretty warm. like the 230* range while putting to the store and back. i don't have any leaks and 99% sure i have the coolant hoses plumbed right. i'm going to drain the system, check the thermostat for giggles and put new coolant in. the stuff in the coolant tank doesn't look so hot. theres no oil in it, just looks like a mix of green and orange coolant.
again, any help for this lt1 noob would be greatly appreciated!
Those idle numbers are not normal. They should change but only about 50 rpm. Make sure you bleed all the air from the cooling system. What codes are you getting?

[Dento77]

thanks n2ocamaro! i didn't get a change to see what codes there was. i had weak laptop hinge issues and the roads around here are brutal, i need a co-pilot to hold the laptop so the lid doesn't slam shut on bumps. i'll try to get to it again tonight and pay attention to the codes.
when i wired up the aldl, i just ran the data/data enable from the pcm into the cab and spliced a ground into the harness. could my choice of ground be cause the erratic values? its not just RPMS bouncing around, its all data displayed.
i only bleed the air out once after i filled the coolant system. i totally forgot about bleeding it again, thanks for the reminder. hopefully i haven't caused any/much/excessive damage by being dumb...

again, thanks a million with the help. i'd love to get it running right soon. i had a vortec 305 ex-cab walk all over me the other night..totally unacceptable!

[Dento77]

short update...
started messing with the truck today and noticed the primary fan not coming on. tore the wiring apart and did have it pinned wrong. must of cooked the relay sometime in the last ? miles. repinned into the fuse block correctly, replaced relay and works as it should now.. coming on when the thermostat opens at 180*. that was hopefully the source of my draw, i'll find out in the AM. my gauge temp sender is bad, hit the connector with a ground and saw the gauge jump. i'll replace it when i do the coolant change. i was going to change it today, but never got that far. i did bleed it a few times tho and had a tiny bit of air come out each time. headed out on a few hundred mile trip tomorrow and will burp it a few more times while out and about.

oh.. as for the tuner pro erratic numbers. if i disconnect then reconnect, the numbers smooth out with only an occasional jump. despite the goofy temp reading from the bad sender, it works good most of the time now. and no code the last time i took it out. i'm sure it will pop up tomorrow while on the road...

[CDeeZ]

What did you use for front rotors? C2500? In that pic of the truck it looks like you still have 5 lug wheels up front. I swapped in a 14 bolt SF 6 lug into my 1990 RCSB 2WD street truck with a hopped up 350 & T56. Now I'm trying to swap the C2500 rotors up front to get the front 6 lug to match. The problem I'm having is that I can't find the proper inner-wheel-bearings that fit the races of the C2500 rotors, AND, ALSO fit the 1.250" diameter of my 1/2 ton spindle.

I've read all over the internet that the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton OBS spindles are the same. But then I've also read in a few places that maybe there was an oddball spindle or something so I don't know?

My next step is to grab some C2500 spindles if they have a bigger diameter than my 1.250" 1/2 ton spindles.

[Dento77]

sorry i missed your post over on FSC, i just saw it before you posted here. i haven't gotten to the rotors yet. fuel pump died on me during the weekend cruise last month with the wife and i haven't messed with it since.

what did you get your rotors from? they *should* just slap on if they are close to the same year. the only thing i can think of is your rotors are from a c2500 burb. they use the larger spindle from the c3500 trucks but still have 6 lugs. something to do about the extra weight from the body putting it over capacity. this info came from very knowledgeable FSC member and i hope i remember it correctly.

(edit)^^^ this info is wrong. it looks like in 95 gm used a different spindle on the c2500 series than previous years. so rotors from a 88-95 c2500 should bolt up to a 88-95 c1500. 95-98(and 99/00 classics) should work the same. also going to try and see what Belltech and DJM use for their drop spindles too. i'll post the FSC thread once its finished in case others stumble across this.

[HotLines]

Well Dento, it seems you are the man to follow as your descriptions are quite useful and so all I need now is ink for the printer and with that said if you would be so kind please check my last question on FSC.

Since you are changing the spindles from the 1500 to the 2500 I am assured both are with 5 bolt patterns, are you doing this because of strength? And are you lowering this truck, if so which kit?

Thank you for all information you've given me, JM

[Dento77]

actually the spindles are 6 lug. doing this to match the pattern on the 14 bolt semi float rear end i installed. the rear is identical to a 454SS rear end except for the lug pattern and brake size. i called a few machine shops to price out having my axles and drums redrilled for the 5 lug pattern but 3 out of 3 shops passed on the job. i just went with it after that.

my truck had a DJM 4/6 drop on it when i bought it and had to mod a western chassis kit to get the 14 bolt rear in. if you're thinking about dropping your truck that much, look at Belltech stuff. its a bit more $$, but the flip kit won't bend like a pretzel.

[jms]

he im new to this forum so i wish you can give me some pointers and help im doing the same swap youj did i boght a 96 chevy impala and i have the motor in the truck but i cant get bit to line up any help will wor thanks

QUOTE=Dento77;152530]hey guys! I'm just about finished with swapping a bone stock lt1 from a caprice 9C1 state police detectives car into a 2wd 97 chevy reg cab shortbed pickup. this is going to a DD/burnouts on the weekends during the summer. there is a 1/8th mile track about an hour away i might try once or twice for fun, but no 1/4s in the state that i know of. i've tried to keep the costs down by using junkyard/ebay parts when i could. bought the truck last spring with 136k on the 4.3/5spd combo. the truck is lowered 4 or 5 inches in the front and 6 in the back, got it this way and never asked what drop kit was used. drove it that way until about november and then started tearing stuff apart.
also using the 4L60e from the caprice and waiting on some axle saddles to replace the 10bolt with a 14bSF rear. the rear has 3.42s and a G80.
**** WARNING**** everything is still really dirty from a winters worth of garage dust from other projects going on.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/DSC04295.jpg
^^ before swap
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/DSC04483.jpg
^^ 14bolt scored at the junkyard for $50. i'm keeping the 6lug pattern for a larger wheel selection. fronts are swapped with c2500 2wd light duty 6 lug rotors.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/SAM_0527.jpg
^^ v6 harness after being cut up/before mating the harnesses.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/SAM_0533.jpg
^^ caprice efan relays and fuel inj fuses repinned into the truck fuse block
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/SAM_0535.jpg
^^ covered in garage dust
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/SAM_0479.jpg
^^ caprice radiator with efans. using hedman long tube headers.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/SAM_0606.jpg
^^ 99 Escalade cluster with working gauge, need to mess with fuel gauge tho. fuel worked with a 98 burb cluster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgVXyDbdAgQ
^^ this is from friday. puffs of smoke are from rustoleum 2000 degree primer/flat black paint cooking on and still need to finish up some vacuum issues and find my EGR block off plate.

still need to figure out what i want to run for wheels. the roads here in maine are very unkind to low profile tire/wheels combos so i'll have to keep some sidewall.

let me know what you think![/QUOTE]

[Dento77]

he im new to this forum so i wish you can give me some pointers and help im doing the same swap youj did i boght a 96 chevy impala and i have the motor in the truck but i cant get bit to line up any help will wor thanks
does your engine look like this?
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k283/dento77/truck/SAM_0156.jpg
if it does, you're more than likely using the wrong engine mounts. when i swapped from a v6 i removed the old frame mounts (total pain in the butt), bought new 2wd v8 frame mounts from rockauto, and then tried to put the engine in using the caprice clamshell (part of mount that bolts to block). this did not work and would not line up at all. the problem was solved by running over to the junkyard and getting a pair of truck clamshells. the engine practically bolted itself in after. the problem with the mounts is car and truck clamshells are different heights/angles.

if you have other fitment issues, please post a pic, and i'll try to help as best i can. heck, post a pic of your project anyways, LT1 trucks are awesome.
i have a more detailed build thread on fullsizechevy.com @ http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forum/general-discussion/performance/engine-swaps/412761-dentos-97-rcsb-lt1-build.html
it shows a TON more than what i've posted here.

[ChevyZ1500]

Hey I see this is a really old thread but figured I'd start here. I'm about 7 months into my build and now I'm confused on how to wire my 93 LT1 up to my 93 Chevy C1500. I have the motor completely wire up with about 3 plugs with no mates.

[popo8]

Hey I see this is a really old thread but figured I'd start here. I'm about 7 months into my build and now I'm confused on how to wire my 93 LT1 up to my 93 Chevy C1500. I have the motor completely wire up with about 3 plugs with no mates.
You should really start a fresh thread... more people will notice it and be able to help.