Thread: My 1984 K10 - LM7 swap!!

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

that parts washer is the bee's knees.

It's pretty handy!

Originally Posted by SgtMarshal

that parts washer is awesome. you really lucked out on that. this is another very good example of how good luck is often better than skills.

Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity. Good things come to those with cash in hand!

Engine is nearly complete. All bearing clearances (mains, rods and cam) have been checked and are on the tight side of spec. Rings are gapped and the rotating assembly is in. Back cover is on (new barbell installed). I found an SFI approved flex plate for $60 so I tossed that on. New Cloyes timing set installed. New Melling M295 was shim set and installed. Reconditioned lifters are in. Valley cover with new knock sensors installed, and the balancer is pressed on.

Tomorrow should be oil pan and heads. Then I can measure for pushrods. I'll probably reuse the old water pump and belt drive components. All that stuff has less than 3k miles on it.

Well there it is. I still need to pressure prime, but for all intents and purposes it's done. I set the breadbox intake on there just for grins. I'll be using the intake and front drive from the old motor. I just wanted to get to this point before the 60e builds started rolling in again.

Wow that looks great! Your going to love it

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So it turns out that the low mount compressor is NOT going to work for me. Which is a bummer, cause I really liked the way it tucked out of sight. Anyhow, I sent that kit back in exchange (+$70) for the high mount kit. Since I have a motor on the stand, I decided to pre assemble it. Not as discrete as the low mount, but it will have to do. Supposedly this is a better compressor, for whatever that's worth.



Between the new(ish) engine, rebuilt transmission and modern HVAC, this thing should feel like a whole new truck. Can't wait to get it all in.

looks like a novi blower lol

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

looks like a novi blower lol

Only way cooler. See what I did there?

Honestly, I'm not holding out high hopes that I'll be able to run the charger with the high mount compressor. Decisions will be made after it's all together. Either way, the rings are gapped and the oil pan has been tapped for a turbo drain so I have options. I guess it will depend on if they make me pop the hood during my next smog check. Last check was a cluster "F" so I can't use that as a reference. The charger has a CARB OE number so theoretically it would pass. A turbo... less likely.

AZ is now carb compliant? id think a turbo is ok as long as it exits through a muffler.

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

AZ is now carb compliant?

Not a state issue. It's a county issue. Pima county (which contains Tucson) and Maricopa county (which contains Phoenix) are required to pass a smog chack.

id think a turbo is ok as long as it exits through a muffler.

Man I don't know. It doesn't make sense to me. I would think ALL that matters is what's coming out of the tailpipe. However, if you are required to have certain systems (AIR pump, EGR...) on the vehicle, they need to see them on the vehicle. My hope is, since I have a waiver/exemption for the AIR pump and EGR, that they don't even want to look under the hood. We'll find out at the next test.

If I'm not required to open the hood, I have many more options for power adders.

Got my little priming pump built. Less than $20 into the entire setup, and now I have the piece of mind that the whole system has oil in it and *should* build decent pressure. I managed to pull the needle off zero of my rigged up pressure gauge just from spinning the motor over by hand





Pressure prime the LM7 - YouTube

I think that's pretty much it until I actually swap this thing in. Unless I'm forgetting something...?

All the old garbage is out.



New stuff going in next.



Eating this elephant one bite at a time.

Gorilla tape. Stuff is amazing.

New drivetrain is in. I fired the engine this afternoon. That thing fired INSTANTLY. Like it had just been running and shut off a minute ago. I don't think it even made one revolution before it popped off. 45 psi cold oil pressure. Man I'm happy, and relieved. I'm running some radiator flush through the block before I final fill it with coolant and connect the brand new heater core. For all intents and purposes, the engine is done.

Now I can focus on the trans. Need to instal converter bolts, add fluid (transfer case too), make cooler lines, and instal shift linkage.

I'm really looking forward to driving this thing with a higher stall converter.

Aaaaaand, we're back! Only took it for about a 5 mile drive, but those 5 miles were great! Trans shifts are solid and that converter is a game changer. My trans builder must know what he's doing. LOL

Still need to flush and final fill the cooling system, hook up the heater core amd put a couple covers on but at least it's mobile again. I'll worry about getting the AC system complete when it gets hot. I'm just happy to drive it again!

your trans builder is a god lol nice to see it under power again.

Carefull. He's also got a HUGE ego. lol

Thanks! I'm super to have it going again AND better than before. I got the heat hooked up and the Vintage air wiring connected. The blower on that thing is a RIPPER! Went on a 30 mile drive into town round trip to grab some parts. Half highway, half surface streets. Motor ran like a top and the trans shifts were very crisp up and down. I regret not logging the trans temps while driving in town, but I'm not really concerned right now. I'll pay better attention as the temps here climb, especially into the triple digits.

My only issue so far is a slight stumble off idle when cold, and it wants to stall when just barely touching the throttle to get up a small incline, like my driveway. I need to work on the tune, but I really don't enjoy that. I'd rather be wrenching.

Hey FFDP, want to take a look at some log files for me?

Finally got to pull apart the first 5.3 I swapped in. Spun a couple of main bearings. Seems pretty random to me. I never touched the bottom end on this motor. Just yanked it from a running Yukon, cam'd and spring'd it and dropped it in. Only drove it a couple months before the oil pressure started to fade.



Anyhow, it's going back together with a dingle ball hone, new rings, main bearings, rod bearings and cam bearings for a friends car.

and a cut or new crank id hope. thats got to be all scared up.