Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

Ok I've been using this site for a while now, figure its about time I start my build thread. To start off I've got an '87 GMC swb that I've had about 5 years now and it used to be my daily. Long story short it had motor problems, and i got a new car so this is now my project. My general plan is to get the 6.0 I have in the truck and back it by a 6L80. Pictures are next.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

Here are some pics of it before I started a few months ago.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

Here are some as i took the front end apart. I wound up finding a crack in the passenger side of the block under the center 2 exhaust ports.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

My Vortec 6.0 LY6... now all I need is a 6L80 I can afford and to tie up a whole lot of ends.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

Looks great. Any pics of the 6.0? Great looking project.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

:wop:

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

There ya go! Accidentally left them off the first time.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

right on man! going to be sweet. looks like the motor was taken out clean. no hacked wires or hoses i can see. :metal:

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

Hey glad to see you're getting started on it. Looking forward to updates.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

You know, if the turbo 400 that was in there is good you can just use a crank spacer and run the turbo 400 since you dont have a trans yet. Just an option.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

Great looking project! I can totally relate to the cracked block. All you need is a little JB weld....it will fix you right up. Sweet looking new engine too! subscribed.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

hey how much did it cost for that motor and where did u get it?

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

That was my original plan but what I've read about the ly6 says there isn't a manual tune version of it because of the vvt. Please correct me if thats wrong.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

I bought it locally after seeing it on ebay, ebay listing was for 2k but I paid 1850 and tax for it because I was local. None of the vacuum line or wires appear to be cut only thing I see that were are the radiator hoses and ac lines.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

nice.. good luck with build

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

So I've been trying to get undo the cab mounts so that I can clean up the frame and install new body mounts but I can't get the bolts out.
An impact wasn't cutting it so I put a couple small holes on the inside of the cab to get some wd40 on the nuts. That didn't work. Anybody have a similar situation? If so how did you go about getting them out? I considered cutting the head of the bolt off so i can just start on the frame, but that still leaves me with a bolt stuck in the cab. Any suggestions?

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

Any chance you can try to use a torch or heat gun on it? Sometimes heat can go a long way, just a thought.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

Doing the same swap, subscribed.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

That's what I was thinking next and I can get to the nuts pretty easy now that I cut a couple holes. Just don't have a torch right now so i guess I'll have to get one.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

instead of wd40 you should try some pb blaster or better yet Kryoil.

They are some of the best penitrating oils i have found. With kryoil beinghte best but less commonly avaiable. You may want to soak it and let it work for a day.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

Thanks I'll look into them

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

1/2" or 3/4 brake over bar with a cheater pipe should do it that how I got mine off

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

I 2nd the cheater pipe... do it do it do it

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

nice build thread man that swap is exactly what i have been wanting to do.. this is the guy who sold you the plastic trim pieces.. ill let you know on back window..

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

Cool, thanks for those btw. I was about to search and send a friend request, looks like you did the work 4 me.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

I picked up a nice pipe from my dad's this afternoon. I'll give it a shot in a day or 2. I'm trying to secure a second project this week from my brother. He decided he wants to move to Alaska so I'm taking his '70 cj5 off his hands. If the pipe don't work looks like I'm investing in a good torch, everybody needs one right?

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

Ok so I figured I'd post an update with some progress and pictures. The multicolored 85 is my parts truck and thats my 12 bolt that needs a little overhauling. There isn't much that's still good on the truck except the parts I need. I got the bed on it and on my truck unbolted and ready to take the 2 apart and between them I'll have one good bed. Next up is the rest of the cab bolts and some frame prepping. What motor mounts is everybody using? I'd like to use stock manifolds and if possible use the stock ac compressor location. S&P's is just too expensive and I found another kit I liked (here) but again too expensive. I'm open to hear any suggestions cause I'm trying to keep this as cheap as I can.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

I got the bed taken off and had to cut some massive holes in the cab floor to get to the nuts on the cab bolts. After pulling with a 2' breakover bar on the bolts, the cage holding each nut in place gave way and lets the nut slip. The only way I could get it to stop spinning was to cut a hole in the floor and wedge the nuts with whatever would fit in the gap. Finally got 2 bolts out and gave up on the other 2 once it got dark and figured I'd let them soak over night with some penetrating oil. Hope everybody has a Happy Easter.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

At least with the holes cut the way you did it they will be easy to close up and weld back shut. Good progress man. Cant wait to see the LS in there.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

That's what I had hoped for when my buddy and i started cutting. I figure any uneven spots will be hidden by dynamat, padding and carpet. Once the cab comes off the frame gets stripped and painted. Then comes time to get a transmission and mount it and the motor.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

One question, what ECM/TCM combo are you using to control the 6L80 with the LY6? And what was the donor vehicle for the LY6?

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

The motor is from a 2007 2500hd chevy truck. My plan was to use both factory controllers because they were offered as a combo from the factory. The 6l80 has an internal tcm. If I'm wrong on that please help me becuase I'd rather not buy a $1500 transmission a can't use.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

Any way to get the 6L90 that came behind that LY6 from the donor truck? From the research I've done, the 6L80 and 90 are basically the same trans, with the 90 having a stronger output shaft. If the motor you have came out of a 07 2500HD it probably had a 90 too. I believe all you would need is the original wiring harness and ecu, which would control both the engine and trans. I'm not positive on that, maybe someone will confirm it for you. I'm doing the same swap, and have my eye on a LY6/6L90 complete takeout. The only thing holding me back on it is how to shift it. Do you have any ideas on what you're going to do about the shifter?

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

The ECM that came with your LY6 should be an E67 and although the 6L80 has the internal TCM, your ECM has tables that it uses to "link" into the TCM for various controls.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

Everything you said is on par with what I've seen and the only reason i was leaning towards the 6l80 over the 90 was price and availability but both seem to be becoming more reasonable. I bought the motor almost a year ago so getting the donor's tranny is probably out of the question. I also need to get a dbw pedal that will work with my motor because it didn't come with one from the recycler. Shifting is one thing i have not worked out yet, I've considered pulling a column from a vehicle with paddle shifters but I don't know how to work that in. I remember hearing a while back that the 6l80/90 use a 4 position shifter like what a 700r4 would have and the computer shifts the overdrives if needed, but I don't know how true that is.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

That was kind of what I had in mind too. I was thinking about how to fab some paddle shifters and integrate them into the steering column, behind an aftermarket steering wheel. I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

You don't have to do anything with paddle shifters, just so you know! You can run any B&M style Ratchet Shifter and keep the thing in Drive and always let it shift itself. You would only need the paddles if you want to activate the Manual mode.

But you should have no problem controlling the trans integrating the ZF TCM with the E67 ECM. The E67 has all the OS provisions you need!

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

I would honestly rather not have paddle shifters simply to make it easier to drive. I'm hoping I can just hook it up to the column shifter and go from there but I guess I'll figure that out as it come up because I'm going to do the 6l80 for the incredible gear ratios it offers.

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

nice work man!
what gas tank are you planning on running?

Re: Project 6.0 (my '87)
 

Thanks for the info Evil. I was hoping it would be plug and play. Any idea if the column shifter will work? I like the cleaner install it offers compared to a floor shifter