Thread: My 1984 K10 - LM7 swap!!

Well that didn't last long. The Yukon wasn't even gone half a day before I filled the spot with something else.





It's a 2006 2wd 2500HD. LQ4/MT1 (6.0/80e) with 300k on the odo. Needs some work, but the price was right.

1.) Has a code for a fuel level sensor causing a CEL. Thinking I'll just put a whole new pump module in due to the miles. Assuming that's the cause of the code. Need to research.
2.) It pours water out the back of the right head just as quick as you dump it in the reservoir. I can reach my hand back there and feel a trail of goo coming from the plug location. Have to pull the head to fix. (?)
3.) There's something rattling underneath. Sounds like flexplate. Could be a heat shield.
4.) The U-joint is doinked. It maybe kind of entered the space that the spinning pinion yoke occupied. Needs a 1410 U-joint, 1 strap and a couple bolts.
5.) Some of the gauges don't work. I guess that's pretty common in the GMT800 clusters. Probably just get one of those cheap OBDII dash display things. I'm not about paying to have the cluster rebuilt.

Contrary to everything I've done in the past, this one is not coming apart. It's no beauty queen, but it's a 1 owner clean title truck. I'm going to fix what's wrong and run it till it quits or gets hit. For what I paid, I won't feel bad when either one of those things happen. Be nice to have a decent tow rig and something that will haul a heavy load.

Needless to say, this will take priority over the K10. At least I got this before I tore the K10 apart.

I expect your OCD will force you to deep clean the interior before the weekend is over. lol

looks like its been hit already, this truck is safe lol

300k and no rust LOL. What bull****!

Originally Posted by WarStryker13

I expect your OCD will force you to deep clean the interior before the weekend is over. lol

Nah. Oddly enough my OCD seems to be limited to the mechanicals. Under the hood and such. I might turn the kids loose with a tub of Armor All wipes but that's probably it for detailing. I'm filing this interior under "lost cause." LOL. It will never be nice.

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

looks like its been hit already, this truck is safe lol

Haha! Yup. Already been christened. Fortunately the front end is in good shape. Small dent in the bumper but the hood is mint. I guess the HD hoods are worth some dough.

Originally Posted by ItHurtz

300k and no rust LOL. What bull****!

You should see the underside. Looks like it never even got wet.

It might never be "nice", but if it's clean the condition of the interior really doesn't matter. Especially if it's a "work truck" lol

You must enjoy the buying and selling of this stuff and meeting people in the process. Answering phone, yuck! Hope the new old rig serves you well with little drama.

Originally Posted by WarStryker13

It might never be "nice", but if it's clean the condition of the interior really doesn't matter. Especially if it's a "work truck" lol

That's a good point. I might take the Bissel to what's left of the seats once all the mechanicals are fixed.

One project to the next one lol! I wish I didn’t live in rust belt you hardly ever see no trucks without rust especially that old and mileage. I hope it turns into a good truck for you man.

Thanks! As someone who used to live in the rust belt, I do not take a solid truck for granted! Even though the bed is beat to snot, I appreciate that all the fasteners come apart by hand. Maybe with the help of some WD-40, but certainly without the blue wrench!

Originally Posted by idrivejunk

You must enjoy the buying and selling of this stuff and meeting people in the process. Answering phone, yuck! Hope the new old rig serves you well with little drama.

I really do enjoy playing the game. The hunt, the negotiating, the handshake deal... All that. Not a huge fan of voice calls though. I much prefer email, text or face to face conversation. Thanks for the well wishes! Kind of looking forward to getting a little deeper into the GM GEN3 engine. This will be the first time I'll have taken the head(s) off. Still debating on buying new TTY head bolts and angle gauge, or ARP reusable head bolts. No way I'm buying studs. Way too expensive.

Okay... Making slow but solid progress on the '06. Both heads have been removed, cleaned, replaced expansion plugs and reinstalled. Couple more weeks and I'll be back on the K10...



This is like automotive "Inception." I'm three projects deep right now...

The '06 is complete. I now have a running, driving 2wd 3/4 ton long bed truck for a grand total of $1577.

My main focus is back on the K10. I should have more parts rolling in as my budget allows. More frequent updates coming soon.

talk about deals all over. you could resell the 06 and make money off it now.....if the body was in better shape even more id think.

Sell em in the rust belt, get a nice coin for them!

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

talk about deals all over. you could resell the 06 and make money off it now.....if the body was in better shape even more id think.

I'm thinking I could conservatively double my money on that one. From time to time, I see those utility boxes for very reasonable prices. Can't sell it though. Wife wants to drive it.

Originally Posted by ItHurtz

Sell em in the rust belt, get a nice coin for them!

Can't sell anything. I'm a hoarder.

Originally Posted by 98grand

^^So true in the rest belt those would sell so quick.

Mama wants the '06 and the black truck is a family heirloom. I'm "stuck" with them all. Poor me.

Well I suppose it's time for an update. Now that the weather is warming up I can do some outside work. I also wanted to wait till I had a layer of landscape rock down before I started. Anything to separate me from those little goat head prickers. One of those in the back will wreck your day! Laying on a harbor freight moving blanket makes it very tolerable.

Skid plate is off, T-case is drained and driveshaft is out. Up next will be pulling the T-case, draining the trans and pulling that. I probably won't post as frequently as I usually do. This swap might take longer than it should/could. Turns out, my middle kid has really taken a liking to turning a wrench. I want to get him involved as much as possible. Maybe this will keep him out of trouble!



That's the 4th generation to work on this truck. I'm happy.

kids gonna be all spoiled with air guns and crap aint he? could see him hanging on a 4 foot bar and not moving some truck bolts lol

stuff like this he will never forget, take yer time.

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

kids gonna be all spoiled with air guns and crap aint he? could see him hanging on a 4 foot bar and not moving some truck bolts lol

stuff like this he will never forget, take yer time.

No air tools. We're in the backyard. I have that little Dewalt 1/4" impact, but that's for me. He's gotta master manual tools before he gets to use power tools. I'm hoping he remembers our time together.

Originally Posted by FordMan77

That's awesome, good to see a kid take interest in something besides a phone or video game. Go out and get dirty and learn why the jobs not done until you're bleeding from somewhere, lol.

He's always been the hands on kind. Obviously I'm biased, but I think he's got a pretty good mechanical aptitude for being so young.

T-case is out and all cleaned up. 4L60e adapter is mounted. Some quick ciphering with a tape measure tells me I'll have 2" of spline engagement and 1/2" of dead space before the shaft bottoms out. All good there! The 60e adapter is a lot shorter than the 700r4, so I'll have to build some spacers. I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Next up is the trans...

Trans is down, but technically not out. I'll drag it out tomorrow, probably. I almost feel bad for not using the 700r4 considering it only has like 20k miles on it, and the fluid looks great. However, I want that full computer control of the 60e. Should be able to make a couple dollars of the 700r4. At least enough to buy the rebuild and shift kit for when the 60e dies.

FWIW, an ATV jack makes a really nice tranny jack in a pinch.