1980 C1500 LQ4 and 4L80E Swap Help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mjimenez1010 · 10-13-2016, 08:38 PM

Hey guys I am currently building a 1980 c1500 from ground up. I purchased a 2004 lq4 engine and 2004 4L80e Trans. I am in the process of setting the motor in the frame and I am having clearance issues. First what motor mounts and transmission cross member have you guys used? I have a set of Dirty Dingo motor mounts and I cant slide the motor far up enough to use the stock trans cross member like I was told I could. Also I have maybe a half inch clearance from my oil pan to my steering bar. Let me know if anyone can help me, maybe I should use different mounts or something? I have done lots of research on this and thinking maybe I have missed something on the start of this build.

mjimenez1010 · 10-13-2016, 08:50 PM

Here are some picture of the clearance issue.

Dads79GMC · 10-13-2016, 09:44 PM

I'm all the way forward on my dirty dingo mounts as well. I had to move the AC and starter wiring harness to below the pan because I couldn't install the drag link (I think thats what you call that x-bar

) when putting together the front end - it is tight, but I think it'll work. Also, I moved my factory crossmember and had a new driveshaft built.

mjimenez1010 · 10-14-2016, 12:55 PM

Were you able to use the existing hole or did you have to drill new holes for the cross member? My only issue is as it sits im worried about A) the steering hitting the oil pan and B) the transmission hitting the firewall. I am more than willing to use different mounts if they truly will make it fit better.

Dads79GMC · 10-14-2016, 01:57 PM

It didn't seem to rub when moving drag link left to right. Not that it would matter, but the only weight on the frame is the engine and trans. I'm crossing my fingers. As for the crossmember, I was able to use a couple holes, drilled the others.

mjimenez1010 · 10-14-2016, 02:45 PM

Have you had any issues with the dirty dingo brackets having to relocate anything? ac compressor etc? also do you have the cab on how much room do you have with the transmission?

Dads79GMC · 10-14-2016, 04:08 PM

No cab on at this time. I relocated the compressor, not due to Dirty Dingo brackets, convenience only. There are pic's on my link below. Thanks Mike

mjimenez1010 · 10-16-2016, 04:11 PM

The build is looking good! My transmission is a 4l80e though and the mount is further back on the transmission so looking like i'm going to have to buy a new cross member.

Anyone out there use a different cross member on a similar build? What brands and how'd it work for you?

BB72CHEVKT · 10-30-2016, 03:40 PM

I would look at the Tejas Steelworks mounts.

l92powered77 · 11-07-2016, 04:45 AM

Tejas steelworks talk to scotty. He makes a transmissiom crossmember. I am running dirty dingo mounts and have my engine all the way back with a 6l80e . On problem i have is i cannot find a set a of long tube headers to fit my truck. Only ls3 manifolds work for me. Downside to dirty dingo...

I already have everything built wish i could go back and get a set of mounts that allow me to rub long tubes.

10-13-2016, 08:38 PM	#1
mjimenez1010 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 5	1980 C1500 LQ4 and 4L80E Swap Help Hey guys I am currently building a 1980 c1500 from ground up. I purchased a 2004 lq4 engine and 2004 4L80e Trans. I am in the process of setting the motor in the frame and I am having clearance issues. First what motor mounts and transmission cross member have you guys used? I have a set of Dirty Dingo motor mounts and I cant slide the motor far up enough to use the stock trans cross member like I was told I could. Also I have maybe a half inch clearance from my oil pan to my steering bar. Let me know if anyone can help me, maybe I should use different mounts or something? I have done lots of research on this and thinking maybe I have missed something on the start of this build.

10-13-2016, 08:50 PM	#2
mjimenez1010 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 5	Re: 1980 C1500 LQ4 and 4L80E Swap Help Here are some picture of the clearance issue. Attached Images

10-13-2016, 09:44 PM	#3
Dads79GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 1,237	Re: 1980 C1500 LQ4 and 4L80E Swap Help I'm all the way forward on my dirty dingo mounts as well. I had to move the AC and starter wiring harness to below the pan because I couldn't install the drag link (I think thats what you call that x-bar ) when putting together the front end - it is tight, but I think it'll work. Also, I moved my factory crossmember and had a new driveshaft built. __________________ Instagram @HomeBuiltC10s Dads 79 GMC Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=642929 1978 Silverado Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=756016 Last edited by Dads79GMC; 10-13-2016 at 09:46 PM. Reason: spelling

10-14-2016, 12:55 PM	#4
mjimenez1010 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 5	Re: 1980 C1500 LQ4 and 4L80E Swap Help Were you able to use the existing hole or did you have to drill new holes for the cross member? My only issue is as it sits im worried about A) the steering hitting the oil pan and B) the transmission hitting the firewall. I am more than willing to use different mounts if they truly will make it fit better.

10-14-2016, 01:57 PM	#5
Dads79GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 1,237	Re: 1980 C1500 LQ4 and 4L80E Swap Help It didn't seem to rub when moving drag link left to right. Not that it would matter, but the only weight on the frame is the engine and trans. I'm crossing my fingers. As for the crossmember, I was able to use a couple holes, drilled the others. __________________ Instagram @HomeBuiltC10s Dads 79 GMC Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=642929 1978 Silverado Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=756016

10-14-2016, 02:45 PM	#6
mjimenez1010 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 5	Re: 1980 C1500 LQ4 and 4L80E Swap Help Have you had any issues with the dirty dingo brackets having to relocate anything? ac compressor etc? also do you have the cab on how much room do you have with the transmission?

10-14-2016, 04:08 PM	#7
Dads79GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 1,237	Re: 1980 C1500 LQ4 and 4L80E Swap Help No cab on at this time. I relocated the compressor, not due to Dirty Dingo brackets, convenience only. There are pic's on my link below. Thanks Mike __________________ Instagram @HomeBuiltC10s Dads 79 GMC Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=642929 1978 Silverado Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=756016

10-16-2016, 04:11 PM	#8
mjimenez1010 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 5	Re: 1980 C1500 LQ4 and 4L80E Swap Help The build is looking good! My transmission is a 4l80e though and the mount is further back on the transmission so looking like i'm going to have to buy a new cross member. Anyone out there use a different cross member on a similar build? What brands and how'd it work for you?

10-30-2016, 03:40 PM	#9
BB72CHEVKT Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hideaway, TX Posts: 4,948	Re: 1980 C1500 LQ4 and 4L80E Swap Help I would look at the Tejas Steelworks mounts. __________________ 71 Suburban 350/700R4 Project Trixie 72 CHEVY,Highlander,SWB,396,T400

11-07-2016, 04:45 AM	#10
l92powered77 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: texas,2california Posts: 123	Re: 1980 C1500 LQ4 and 4L80E Swap Help Tejas steelworks talk to scotty. He makes a transmissiom crossmember. I am running dirty dingo mounts and have my engine all the way back with a 6l80e . On problem i have is i cannot find a set a of long tube headers to fit my truck. Only ls3 manifolds work for me. Downside to dirty dingo... I already have everything built wish i could go back and get a set of mounts that allow me to rub long tubes.



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