Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Shreck, that is what my wife calls the truck, green but lovable :)

Never did any kind of build thread, many posts on this site but this project that I am undertaking with the truck I feel will help others considering this kind of swap and hope follows interest and involved in my adventure converting my pride and joy from a 350 to a 2005 LQ4 6.0 engine from scratch.

I always considered swapping this engine in the truck, but an adventure into the unknown always kept me at bay, until now.

The 15K mile 350 in the truck gave up, main bearing failure. Don't know why, but a suspected bad line bore in the block wore the bearings down prematurely.

The plan

I picked up a 2005 LQ4 from a friend with 317 heads and going the stock route maybe headers. It is at the machine shop now, getting fresh cam bearings, and a bore hone, and checking the block out for anything out of place. Going to use the stock truck cam, manifold, pan, aftermarket wireing harness, and tuned computer. Plan on going with a truck thermal fan, and accessory mounting.

The trans, I have a stout TH700R4 in there now, giving a call to Bowtie OD for thier cable throttlebody LS1 brackets to run the non computer contorolled trans.

All 3 main bearings looked like this, engine sitting on the stand after the teardown, and the sad part the truck in the driveway with an empty engine bay....

I will post pics as I go along, hope to have it done by end of Jan/early Feb....wish me luck :ito:

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Sounds like a great build start! Too bad your 350 wore out only after 15,000 miles that sucks. The 6.0L will be a much better replacement! :chevy:

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

The shortblock is at the machine shop today still, just doing prep work getting ready for it to come back so I can do the assembly and get the engine mocked up in the frame....

I will post pics when it comes back, I am going with the chevy orange block, valley tray and valvecovers, keeping the aluminum heads natural.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Gees finally got a computer back up, the one in the family room went down mid December

Anyhoo, the engine is back from the machine shop, cam bearings installed and honed with new rings.

I also make my own mount adapter plates from steel bought at Lowes ($10). I drilled the 4 holes for the LS block bolted them on, dropped the block in the frame and bolted it to the trans. I did however had to move the stands back to the 6cyl spot to make it work. I kept the trans in the stock location so I don't have to move my shift linkage and keep the driveshaft the same legnth, and all looks great I am so happy. I still have to mock up the truck pan, water pump and fan. I am going the clutch fan route instead of electric, it's cheaper for me that way.

On a side note, a friend called me the other day and he scored a pullout '03 LQ4 with everything including the harness, computer, every mount/bracket, alt, starter, power steering pump, water pump/fan, truck pan, intake etc for about 1200, he is selling me all of the externals for $400. I did not hesitate when he asked to say yes....

I will get all of this on Saturday after work, and as soon as I get my photo program loaded on this I will post all of my pics I have taken as well.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Looking forward to another LS in our trucks! Going to take a nice truck up another notch!

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Alright, a bit of an update to my progress here this last week or so. Got some pictures to share, spare block is in, placed the position of the block for keeping my trans in the stock location. This keeps me from having to modify my driveshaft, linkage, cooling lines etc so I can avoid complications and cost. I put the heads, intake, alt mount, and water pump/fan on just to see if everything looked good. Now after I get a new reluctor ring (mine is bent, dropped by previous owner) I can assemble the longblock and get this in the truck finally and start the harness conversion. Which I am not looking forward to, first timer here :)

The plates are quite long right now, I will cut them down when I get my final adjustments in place but I still have the front mount bolt sharing with the plate so it looks like that some of the aftermarket plates may have worked with what I have here. But doing it myself I am saving a few bucks and of course bragging rights :)

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

looking good

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Thanks, it's been easy so far but I probably just cursed myself. Man, I did not realize how dirty the engine compartment is, I have some detailing to do.

Early in the week I should have my new reluctor ring so i can have the machine shop do the install. then off to shortblock assembley, I hope to have this done by the end of the month I miss my truck :(

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Started pre assembley on the 6.0 with verifying ring gap, everything checked out great. Also painted the Chevy orange on the new style valve covers I think it looks great myself.

Took the new reluctor ring to the machine shop to have it installed. Should be back tomorrow so I can get my bearing clearances checked on the rods and mains. Then off to final assembley, looking forward to dropping this in the engine compartment finally and getting the wireing harness modded for a stand alone.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

A little more pre assembley today, checked main and rod bearing measurements. The LS based engines use a torque angle method for setting bolt stretch and requires a special guage to do this with. Luckily one was found locally, actually pretty neat setup.

Also, the machine shop called me, said they will not be able to install the reluctor ring :( Requires a special indexing tool to locate the ring on the crank. I am not sure what I am going to do here, Goodson sells one but it's near $200 for one time use. I am going to think about what I want to do with this, an alternative can be home made I am sure.

Here are some pics, my camara might blur some of this or the flash too bright but I will post anyway.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

A little update, I bought a new reluctor ring, made a jig to locate it but I could not get it to seat correctly on the flange of the crank after a home oven heat method. It had too much runout, don't want to take a chance on getting this wrong so using my spare crank and buying another ring ($16 at dealer) I'm heading over to my buds race car shop and we will make another jig out of steel and use his heat and presses to get this right. I'm kind of anal about things like this, with good reason most of the time :)

Started modding my 2001 truck harness, I was looking into an aftermarket harness but seeing the prices I decided to tackle this myself. Using www.lt1swap.com I am slowly getting this done. Website has nice clear instructions for what I want to do so success here looks very promising. And saves a few bucks too, the wife is liking this :)

No pics yet, I will be doing some more harness work tonight I will take a few and post them as I go along.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Nice project! I'm interested in seeing how you do the 700r4 tranny.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

For the 700R4 I have a flexplate from a LQ/4L80 trans that is hubcentric to the 700 converter, all I have to do is elongate the bolt holes to fit the older style converter and it has been said it will work with no issues. We will see, GM has a conversion flexplate that exists for about $50 that has the same part number mine has so I would imagine this is a production item already on a large scale to keep it inexpensive.

The TV cable, bowtieoverdrives sells a LS1 bracket assembley that will work with the cable operated throttle body, I still need to call them about adapting it to the truck intake. It does have an existing bracket bolted to it for the throttle cable and has another slot for I am assuming the cruise control.

I am going to keep the harness hookups to the 4L60 in case one day the 700 gives up or I decide to just go that route. Just going to have the tuner remove the trans functions in the computer for now. I have a brake pedal lockup switch already existing with the truck.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Hey, it looks like you're making good progress. I've been thinking that the 6.0 would make a great engine for my '69 GMC, but it's going to be a while before I need to worry about that. :lol:

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Here are a couple of pics from what I have done so far with the harness. 1st is the whole harness out on the floor and the 2nd is what I have done to the bulkheads and pins to make a standalone work. I know you can't see the lables I made but so far I have 12volts constant, 12volts keyed, engine speed, vehicle speed sensor, TCC brake switch (not going to use) serial dataport, fuel pump relay, MIL function (check engine light).

Tonight I am working on elimiating the fuse panel bulkhead C2, going aftermarket, want to keep from using the large factory panel. No pics yet of new fuse panel, just ordered them today from moser and allelectronics for relays/connectors and LED indicator lights.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Hey, thanks for the info about the 700 conversion. I am always looking for ways to save cash too.


Your harness is looking very good too. I am not looking forward to that part of the money savings thing.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Your welcome Mike, little more progress tonight.

Spent about 4 hours modifying my harness, what a mess of spaghetti but if you keep it organized you should have no issues. I do however have a couple of concerns with this harness. One is the person who took it out cut a couple of connections. One is from what I believe is the rear tank connections, the colors the wires are say rear fuel sensors and secondary pump relays. I think I am safe here, and the others say HO2SsignalB1S1 O2 sensors which I think are the rear O2 sensors that I will not be using. BUT these are what I am reading off of the website I mentioned above and may not be true to the harness I am using. One way to get this all sorted out is to install this on my engine and if one of the sensors don't jive I am in trouble :)

No sweat though, nothing that can't be fixed. Anyhoo here are a couple of pics of the harness and what I was able to trash, and as I mentioned I am not using the electronic trans but will keep all of the connections in case I want to run with it in the future. That big greasy thing is the neutral safety switch and gear selector sensors? Anyway, it's being disconnected for the time being.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Well today I figured out at least what the harness lead that the person removing the engine cut from the truck did that I mentioned in a prior post, it was the front and rear O2 sensor plugs bank 2. SO I now need a front O2 plug and leads to complete this. Rear is none of my concern because those will be programmed out.

I have my intake with the harness tonight, plugging in everything to make sure it is complete and nothing is missing and so far so good minus the bank 2 O2 plug.

Now off to online hunting :ito:

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

I feel you on the harness. I'm right where you're at with mine and it took me about 3 hours. I referenced lt1swap.com but my pin outs were very different and ended up mostly using the wiring diagram from alldata. If you are looking for harness parts, I just ordered some PCM pins and a MAF connector from http://www.eficonnection.com/eficonnection/default.aspx Or if you just need the o2 connector I have both my rear O2 connectors I could send you. Great work!

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Thank you USM, I will brouse that site when I get some more time tomorrow that you :)

I do however need one of the front O2 plugs not rear so if you come across one of those I am all game :)

It's getting close, now off to engine assembley starting this weekend IF I can get this reluctor ring install right. This alone has been a headache, to those looking at doing a build do yourself a favor and get a known running engine before you start it makes life much easier :ito:

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Today went to a freinds shop to install the reluctor ring on the crank, took more time than expected but we got it indexed right on the money and runout is less than .002 so this is ready to be installed:)

Here are few pics of his shop, customers cars, and the crank and jig we made. The Nascar Taurus is Jeff Burton's old car, the Raybestos #8.

I am pretty happy now, get to assemble the engine and get it installed in the truck :)

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

wow that is all i am gonna and can say

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

nice job...and cool shop!

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Thanks guys, and yes his shop is pretty awesome I must say myself. Pretty much everything we hobbiests and restorers need to start and finish a project plus more. I am just a little envious, the tools and space he has is something I only dream of...

A little more progress, wireing stuff. I was able to get one thing I ordered in this weekend a simple 4 fuse block so I can start eliminating the bulky factory setup. I need full battery power for orange wires and the pink get key on 12 volt. I labled the needed wires and followed guidelines from the LT1 website and got it to the point of the last step before hard wireing it to the truck for power. I still need a front O2 plug but i am one step closer. The intake on the floor looks like a monster of some sort, kids don't know what it is and think I am crazy :lol:

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Another 6.0 build!
I'll be watching.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Yup, getting excited because it's all starting to come together finally. Tomorrow I am off to the local dealer and picking up some new head bolts, a pan gasket and off to engine assembley.

Meanwhile I wait for the rest of the harness odds and ends to be delivered by the big brown truck so I can finish the wireing and then start organizing the engine compartment. I am sending the PCM to the guy who runs the LT1swap site and have him plug in the things I need and get it back here. I still do need to do a bit of cleaning up and spraying some black on the frame just to make it look a bit better, ya know I need to look pimp :).

Need to buy a Walbro 255 and use the regulator on the truck manifold with a return line. If that is not an option I will run the Vette regulator, still do not know what's best so any guidance on this is very welcome.

Also still trying to figure out what exhaust to run. I am tempted to run the thorley headers but they are pretty pricey so I may look for some trailblazer SS manifolds. I don't think they have O2 bungs in them so I would have to have the muffler shop cut and weld those in for me.

Either way if all goes well I will get the long block in this week and start hooking things up.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Lots of progress today, started out at the local parts place picking up new head bolts and a few odds and ends. I also picked up a nice 4" bore ring bowl style comressor. I love this thing it is so easy to install pistons, even my mother can swing this task :)

Got the shortblock assembled. Went smooth and without problems, but the cam and chain are not in yet that's tomorrow. I took a few pics, a couple are of the main bolts, the stretch guage and the book that is giving me guidance because this new gen engine is a new experience for me. One is of the new way GM seperates the rod halves, breaks them instead of machining. This makes each rod extremely specific to one another. One is the endplay, very tight .002 which is on the small end of tolorance but passable. Anyhoo, more pics tomorrow, this is what got done today...

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

nice progress! Keep at it and you'll be driving in no time ;)

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Looking good man! I would like to try my hand at building one of these ls engines some day. I't still very intimidated by the changes since the old school sbc days.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Thanks guys for the props, I feel I am moving at a snails pace on this project :)

The LS engine was pretty intimidating to me too at first, but if anyone has had thier hands in a GEN 1 family this engine with a couple of exceptions will be very familiar and easier in some aspects. The only thing one has to do is read and read some more then on to hands on which that's what side of my brain likes so once I do it once I can do it again if that made sense :)

Today, more shortblock assembley, cam, chain, windage tray, pickup, pan valley tray etc so off I go....I will post pics later.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Cool build...LQ4's in 67's = Long Range Pimpin... Im going with a LQ4/4L60e combo in my 67 as well. I'll be taking notes. BTW What part of Cen-Cal are you in?

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

I'm in Turlock :)

More progress but hit a brick wall when the part I ordered had not come in, a timing chain to replace the slightly stretched one that I have. No sweat, i still did many other tasks that still need to be done. I installed the windage tray, front and rear main seals, rear cover (aligned the rear seal too) fitted the oil pan and cleaned a few odds and ends up.

That piece I am holding is the front cam plate that serves 2 jobs, one is to locate the front of the cam so it does not do to much walking and also to route oil to the lifters through the front and rear of the block. Rear not shown, this is handled by the rear cover that is the last pic.

That brown looking hunk of metal on the crank snout is the oil pump in case anyone was wondering. It's crank driven and has a long pickup tube, I imagine this was designed this way so this style of engine could drop in many different chassis that is is fitted in for oil pan design.

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

wow nice progress!!!! engine looks great cant wait to see it installed in the truck!

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

What cam are you going to use?

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Just read you are in Turlock........ doing almost the same build here as well. A LQ4 with 243 heads/4l80 and other assorted goodies.
Nice to see you are tackling the harness yourself. That LT1swap site has been very informative. I will probably do the same to my harness....
Who did your machine work?
Oh, if you need any Gen III parts, PM me. I just might have it.

Looks good!

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Jay, nice looking engine there :)

I have Steve over at Valley balancing do all of it, had good luck with them so far. I do need a couple of things, I will shoot you a PM and see if you have it. I am using the stock truck cam for now, this truck I drive allot and want something mellow.

The harness has been just time consuming so far, nothing too difficult as long as I have good instructions to follow. But I have not tried to start it yet :lol:

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

More work on the harness tonight, finally got all of the parts in from a couple of parts places.

Have alot going on here, grouping up the pink wires to fused key on ports. Orange wires are hot and coming from the truck 12V constant, fuel pump green relay 12V key on. It may look like an unorganized mess, and it kind of is :lol:

One thing I don't like is the 3 fused connections for 12 pink wires makes for a little crowding so I am going to solder the connections to make sure this gets voltage when the key is turned on.

So far so good on the harness though, pretty straight forward overall when you have instructions. And believe me I am not to good at electrical work but thinking my way through this :ito:

In the end I will have, 12V constant hot, 12V keyed, ground, fuel pump power MIL connection (check engine light) signal to OBD2 port (where you plug in programmers under the dash) tach signal, and brake switch which I will not be using but in case I want to run a L60 trans one day I can do light mods and be good to go,

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

Great Job so far.... where did you get instructions on how to modify the harness? I could definitely use some instructions!!!!

Thanks

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

wow that is alot of wiring! i would have been lost:lol:

Re: Shreck's 6.0 build
 

I used this site for guidance www.lt1swap.com if you can fish through what you don't need and what you do need that site is very helpful on modifying one of these harnesses but you do have to read and read some more.

Got the harness now to where it can be hard wired to the truck, has about 8 wires to hook up and it will provide power and input to the PCM. I have a aftermarket fuse panel that has all of the key on functions like MAF, coils, all of the injectors, trans selenoids, MIL, front O2 sensors etc fused with 15A.

This was a job, no doubt about it and I feel very worth the effort. It saves money for one plus I know now how to do it again if something like this comes up again which is almost priceless to me because my brain loves ingesting new knowledge.

I will organize the wires and tape them up, put that plastic covering over them when the truck starts and runs just so I make sure I don't have to go back in the harness for anything. Then it will look much better.

Here are some pics, I soldered the pink wires (key on) just want to make sure they have a good connection. What's not pictured as well, I wired up the under dash plug for OBD connections, 5 wires. This way I can plug in a dignostic handheld and or a HP tuner.