BillBoost37
New member
FWIW when doing a 3800 trans swap on the floor.. an ATV jack is my tool of choice.
Looks good Brandon, where's the donor for the K10?
Looks good Brandon, where's the donor for the K10?
My 1984 K10 - LM7 swap!!
- Thread starter BrandonHall10
- Start date
BrandonHall10
Solving problems
The LM7 is still on the stand in the garage. The 60e is taking up space on a shelf. Both are clean and ready for installation.
The 700r4 is all cleaned up and in the garage. I did the math and it's got 27,959 (mostly highway) miles on a Jasper rebuild. Should fetch a couple dollars. I think I'll wait to sell it till the swap is complete. Or at least until everything in the drivetrain is mocked up and properly laid out. In the past, I've sold things right as they came out. Typically that's fine, but there have been occasions where it would have been nice to have the old components for reference. I think it will be especially useful on this build.
The 700r4 is all cleaned up and in the garage. I did the math and it's got 27,959 (mostly highway) miles on a Jasper rebuild. Should fetch a couple dollars. I think I'll wait to sell it till the swap is complete. Or at least until everything in the drivetrain is mocked up and properly laid out. In the past, I've sold things right as they came out. Typically that's fine, but there have been occasions where it would have been nice to have the old components for reference. I think it will be especially useful on this build.
BrandonHall10
Solving problems
After a couple days of unscrewing, unbolting and unclipping, I think this old mule is ready to come out.I am so ready to get this grease bomb outta there and get the bay cleaned up. Forecast was saying it could rain, and the sky was getting pretty dark so I stopped there. We'll wait till tomorrow to lift it out. I'm really hoping I can get it out without pulling the hood completely off. I think if I leave the hinges on, but unbolt the springs I should be able to open it far enough to slip through. Fingers crossed!
BrandonHall10
Solving problems
Engine is out! Went better than expected. No injuries, nothing broken. We opened the hood up to the "Service position" (2nd picture) and that gave us plenty of room.
BillBoost37
New member
Looking like some good progress
BrandonHall10
Solving problems
Honestly, I wouldn't be half as far done if not for my kid pushing things along. I try to put in a minimum of 20 minutes a day, but have been averaging over an hour due to his persistence. Today was all cleanup. Round one at least. I totally forgot to do the underside of the hood and the jack assembly. There will be a round two tomorrow. Here's some before pictures.
BrandonHall10
Solving problems
Cleanup is done. Not going to win any "Show and Shine" trophies, but it's on par with the rest of the truck. Bonus; I won't look like a coal miner just working on the thing. Next step is to lay down some OSPHO and satin black.
BrandonHall10
Solving problems
Not bad for a 35 year old truck. I cherish every minute we wrench together. There are a lot of "teachable moments" when tackling a project of this scale.
You have something specific in mind? :th_biggrin1: I'll put a turbo on the S10 before I put a turbo on this old thing.
Engine bay is all prepped.
Next will be setting the engine in place. That'll be a bit of musical chairs. Moving the engine off the stand and into the bed of the S10. Then getting the hoist into the backyard. Then picking the engine out of the S10 and on the ground. Then swinging the hoist around so it's facing the right direction to drop the engine in the K10. The things we must do when working outdoors. Oh well.
Engine is mostly prepared as well.
Just need to pull the starter. I decided to reuse the original clamshell mounts. Had to make a little clearance for the headers and the one ground bolt on the left side of the block. Also had to grind off a large hump on the back side. Fortunately I had some help.
BrandonHall10
Solving problems
Engine, trans and T-case are in.
Figured that was enough for one day so we stopped there. Made a run over to my brother in laws to grab some goodies. He's parting out a 2500HD. I got the big boy cats, a couple chambered mufflers and a brand new trans mount.
Figured that was enough for one day so we stopped there. Made a run over to my brother in laws to grab some goodies. He's parting out a 2500HD. I got the big boy cats, a couple chambered mufflers and a brand new trans mount.
BillBoost37
New member
Forgive me..but where did this engine come from? Wifes driving the white truck.. your driving the S10.. see my confusion
BrandonHall10
Solving problems
I do see the confusion. This project has been a little less.... linear. There have been many detours and side quests. Post 44 shows the donor vehicle. Drivetrain from that got pulled and refurbished. Then I went down a rabbit hole of 4L60e builds and procrastination. Back on track now.
Spot on.
BrandonHall10
Solving problems
Trans/transfer case crossmember is done. Rough guessing, 2" square tube puts everything where it needs to be. Made some access holes on the bottom to service the mount, and laid some beads with the Lincoln. Easily reversible if I ever want to return to a stock/original setup by cutting the welds. Hindsight being 20/20, I probably should have cut the tube ends on an angle for better accessibility and aesthetics. Not too worried though. Everything clears.
BrandonHall10
Solving problems
There is SO MUCH room in there too... Hmmmm... That 60e and stock 10 bolt rear end though???
Okay. Maybe. Maybe. Someday.
BrandonHall10
Solving problems
We did a little more work today. When we installed the engine, it wasn't sitting level. Got it all squared away then tightened the motor mounts. Installed the Dakota Digital pulse generator and the speedo cable into the T-case then bolted on the skid plate. Wire brushed, OSPHO'd, painted and installed the driveshaft. That was pretty much it. At least now we can put the truck in park to keep it from rolling.
I need to find a left side battery tray out of a GMT400. My K10 has a drivers side tray, but the battery is turned with the posts facing inward. I need them to face toward the back. Otherwise the negative cable is too short. Not sure how rare they are in the JY, but it will give me an excuse to make weekly trips there I suppose.
I need to find a left side battery tray out of a GMT400. My K10 has a drivers side tray, but the battery is turned with the posts facing inward. I need them to face toward the back. Otherwise the negative cable is too short. Not sure how rare they are in the JY, but it will give me an excuse to make weekly trips there I suppose.
Scottydoggs
Killa Bee
new battery cables dont cost all that much.....just saying... when i ran dual batterys in my 03 gmc, i had new cables all over the place. iirc one was 10 foot.