85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Well I have been lurking around this forum for a while and figured I'd start my build thread. I have an 85 Chevy Silverado that was my first vehicle. I tried building a couple motors for it when I was younger and that didn't work out well. Now that I am older and wiser...I have decided to get it back on the road with a LS swap. When looking for a motor/trans, I ran across an 86 project truck that has a running 6.0 4l80e from a 2005 truck. I bought it to use as a donor for my project. I will post pics and info on it in a minute.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Here is a pic of the truck and the motor. I am trying to figure out everything that is on the truck and what is left to be done. We drove it up on the trailer quickly as the trans cooler and radiator aren't hooked up, but it seemed to run great. It has the 6.0 and 4l80e installed with a posi rear end and one piece drive shaft. He changed the gas tank to fuel injection one with external pump and corvette reg setup. It seems to be very close to complete except for hooking up a few hoses for PS, AC, etc.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

This has been a slow go so far but just to update...the donor truck is gone. Mine is now slammed and getting ready for the motor to go in. We painted the firewall but it turned out a lot darker grey than what I meant so we are rethinking color schemes.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Also, when getting ready to paint the 6.0, I took off the manifolds to find a cracked head. Not exactly a great find but it gave me an excuse to have a cam and new heads. I went back with stock 317 heads to keep my options of a turbo or SC open. Cam and head are done. I will post some pics to update today and for the next few days.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Here is a pic of the truck that I am putting the 6.0 in. In this pic, I had just finished putting the drop kit on and swapping the rear end out to a 3.42 posi. I had also removed the old engine and transmission so it should sit a little lower in front when I get the 6.0 in. It really needed a bath lol

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

This is where I took the front off to clean up the firewall for paint. It was a huge pain getting all the black crap off the firewall. I will have to thank the body/paint guy for that lol.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

cool! keep us updated

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Here are a couple pics of the firewall painted Cyber Grey. It is too dark for the paint scheme I wanted (charcoal grey on top and black on bottom) so I am repainting it today or tomorrow. I love the color so I am now doing silver on top and cyber grey on bottom split with a red pinstripe to match red interior.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Here is a picture of my AC compressor. I have the top mount brackets. Have to keep that factory air for the humid SC summers.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Doug Thorley 1 7/8" swap headers. Got these from Shon @ Herron Performance on here for a great price! These things are top quality.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Ok, got the firewall painted again. This is the silver I chose to go on top, the cyber grey will be on bottom. I should get the frame and suspension painted black this week if it will stop raining here. Going to pick up the computer from being re-tuned for the cam and should be putting the motor in Monday while I'm off work.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Sweet deal.. Ive been wanting to do a 6.0/4L80 swap into my truck.. I'm going to follow your thread. Can you post any issue's you had doing the swap with clearances or bracket issues.

Thanks

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Good looking project! That should be a lot of fun to drive with the new powertrain.
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Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Nice project. That truck is going to get up and go! :metal:
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Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

nice project...the 6.0/4l80 is alot of fun.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

No problem, I will be glad to. I hope to start putting the motor in this week. I was going to yesterday but weather didn't want to cooperate.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Thanks guys! I sure hope so...I'm very anxious to see what kind of power it will make. I'm sure I will be surprised since I am used to working with old carb motors.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Moose, I have been watching your project for a while. I can't wait to get this thing going.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Got my valve covers and upper mount A/C brackets powder coated...look pretty good. Also got the frame painted in the engine bay...will try to get pics of that tomorrow when I pull it out of the paint booth after work.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Here is the frame painted black. Going to have to pull the bed off to make it easier to run the fuel lines. This isn't really a have to but more of a might as well since I want to paint the rest of the frame and rear end.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Looks real good. What kind of fuel lines are you running?
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Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Thanks man, I'm thinking about running hard lines so I don't have to worry about the rubber getting cut or coming loose. I'm not 100% yea because I don't really like the look of them as much.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Just had to subscribe! Keep it up man.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Well it has been a while, we had a few set backs but we are almost ready to crank it now. When sitting the motor in, we realized something was wrong. The motor was sitting about a foot from the firewall and the oil pan was hitting the front cross member. We were scratching our heads trying to find why it came out of one truck and wouldn't sit down in mine. After examining the other truck that it came from, we found the motor mounts had been moved back about 4-5 inches. I knew this was wrong because the adapter plates should have taken care of not having to move the motor mounts. Well the people that put it in the other truck had the adapter plates on the wrong side of the motor, switched those and it fit like a glove! Here is a pic of the test fit.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

I have the fuel lines run and am almost ready to fire it up. I want the exhaust hooked up so I can hear the motor better so I am going to make a template and get the local exhaust shop to make an adapter for me to go from my old long tube headers to the mid length I have now. I also have the computer mounted under the dash and only have a couple more wires to finish hooking up. One more little snag from previous owners of the motor, they bought one new O2 sensor and it is the wrong one so I am having to get another sensor. Almost there, I will get some more pics this week and hopefully a video of it running by next week!

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Oh I almost forgot, I ordered my wheels and tires last week. Chrome Ridler 695 20x10 for rear with 295/40/20 Toyos and 20x8.5 for the front with 245/40/20 Toyos. Hopefully they will be here by next week also.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

So baby's got new shoes! Those should look real good at that size.

Any idea of whose motor mounts were on the motor? And can you post a picture of the motor in place with the Thorley's mounted? I'd like to see what kind of clearance issues might present themselves!

Oh, that two tone paint scheme is going to look wicked cool! Can't wait to see it!

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Thanks man! I can't figure out which adapters plates I have. The previous owner didn't seem to know either. They are a two piece non adjustable with LS1 engraved in them. The guys trying to do the swap in the other truck really didn't know what they were doing. Instead of figuring out they had the plates on the wrong side, they moved the motor mounts back 4 inches. They had so many things wrong, I am glad I gutted that truck and started clean putting it in mine or I would have been chasing all kinds of problems.

I will be glad to post some pictures with the headers in place. I will be working on it some more this week and I will take some then.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Yeah, I bet you're glad to be cleaning up the PO's problems rather than duplicate them in your ride! It sound's like the PO was having an issue in the learning curve department.:lol:

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Haha one lesson they were going to have was that just running rubber hose for fuel lines without proper clamps would have come off and dumped gas on their exhaust. That would have been a HOT lesson to learn. :smoke:

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Do you have the truck painted yet? Will look really good with that tri-tone!

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

No I don't have it painted yet. I am going to get everything running good first and drive it a few weeks working out any kinks I have. I am also still trying to decide if I want to do any custom body work first. Thanks, I hope the colors look good together!

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Following it looks really nice what your doing, im planning LQ4 swap into my 78 soon, maybe you can give me some advise:smoke:

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

I will be glad to help any way I can. It is a pretty fun process. I have been dragging mine out for a while but I can finally see the light. I can't wait to see the power difference it makes.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Well I haven't been able to work on the truck for the last week and a half, maybe I will be able to get back to it this week. But on a good note, my wheels came in! I know everyone has this style but I love the way they look on these trucks so I jumped in too. :metal:

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

They be looking good! You can't beat the classics! One question though, well, maybe two. What size wheels and tires did you go with? And did you go with light truck tires or passenger tires and what size and kind? Inquiring minds want to know!

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

looking good mccurrkm. the rims arent my cup of tea cause like you said alot of people are using them. but i just found out our sqaure bodys did have the option of factory aluiminum slotted wheels, round holes, these rims were mistanken for aftermarket rims, when i went to go pick up my truck guy wanted $200 for all four when they were the originals? well good luck hope to hear back on some progress soon :smoke:

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

nice build! I have a 85 c10 I am going to swap the motor and trans from a wrecked 01 suburban in. I also dont live to far from you.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

Thanks! The wheels are 20x10 in the rear with 295/40/20 Toyo Proxes ST-II and the fronts are 20x8.5 with 245/40/20 Toyo Extenza HP. I went with the two different tires to save some $$$$. The only tire I could find with these two sizes matching was the BFG KDW and they are a little more expensive. I figure with the drop you won't see them all that much anyway.

Re: 85 6.0 lq4 4.80e swap
 

I never knew that either. That is pretty cool to know.