Finally a c10 owner, now the "fun" begins...

[Operatorfailure]

So, about 3 months ago I sold my 2006 trailblazer SS. I have always wanted a 67-72 shortbed, and decided that I wanted one as my daily driver. After looking around for a few weeks and driving multiple trips to look at pieces of junk that photographed well, my wife found a 68 short stepper, decent body and about half what I was wanting to spend, just a couple miles from my house. Needless to say, a couple hours I drove it home. It ran, but missed and backfired, barely stopped but the body was what I was after anyway, and it was perfect for what I was wanting. A daily driver that looked good, but not so good I was afraid to drive it everywhere. Oh, and I already had planned on an LS swap, so the engine not running right wasn't that big of a deal.

I plan on doing things in phases with this truck.

Phase 1. Get it safe to drive. New windshield, brakes, make sure all lights work, all of that fun stuff.

Phase 2. 5.3/4L60E swap.

Phase 3. Lower the truck 3/5 or so.

Phase 4. A/C.

Phase 5. 76 mm turbo, and more than likely 4L80E swap. (I wanted to go 4L80E originally, but the 4l60 came for free with the engine, so I might as well trash it then upgrade.

Here it is the day I bought it.



I completely rebuilt the drum brakes, new master cylinder, lines, everything to be safe. (disc front and rear will happen, just wasn't in the budget as of now)



I drove it around for about 2 weeks, messed with the carb, timing, everything I could think of and it still had all kinds of issues, so one Saturday I got sick of it, found a 5.3/4L60E on craigslist, drove the 5 hours and picked it up.



Sunday I yanked the tired 350/granny 4 speed out.




Working in my 2 car garage and still parking my wifes car inside every night sucks, I need a shop.



After pulling the engine, I pressure washed and painted the engine bay.










Got the engine in.



I would highly reccomend not using CPP motor stands if you plan on using stock truck manifolds, or tbss manifolds. I tried both, and it was a no go.



So I modified the stands, and now they work with my tbss manifolds.




I am cheap, so I modified my harness myself. For some reason I didn't take any of it finished, but it looked like everyone elses.





That pretty much gets me up to where I am currently, I have a ton of little things to do, I took off work Wednesday to finish up some of that little stuff, and hopefully fire it up for the first time this weekend.

[SeTx67]

Welcome to the site. I recognize your name from tbssowners. Looks like you're off to a good start
Posted via Mobile Device

[Hardesty454]

Great start with that body! Great upgrade with the 5.3... will be fun to watch.

[c10Dream'n]

Truck looks solid. You didn't waste any time on the engine swap. Nice job.

[Low Elco]

Looks like a cool start! Lotta very experienced peeps on the board down your way. Good luck!

[Operatorfailure]

Originally Posted by c10Dream'n

Truck looks solid. You didn't waste any time on the engine swap. Nice job.

Thanks. I have quite a few friends with projects and I have tried to get them all to go LS, so it was a necessity, lol. My last few vehicles were ls powered and I fell in love with how easy it is to make them fast. I had a 99 rcsb GMC, then a 6.0 head/cam swapped 6 speed trans am, then my tbss. It's hard to get away from them once you drive them.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Operatorfailure]

Did a little work on the truck today, a bunch of the piddly little things that need done before the first start up. I finished my heater hose/steam line install.

Installed my idler pulley and serpentine belt, put in my radiator and radiator hoses, new oil filter, new oil, trans fluid, that kind of thing.


Now I am down to mounting my ecm and fuse box, power, key and ground wires to it, finalizing my gauges and a ton of other little things like that. Oh, and saving money because all the little stuff costs more than the big stuff.

[Bomp]

Very impressed.
Watchin
Posted via Mobile Device

[Operatorfailure]

Thanks. I've been doing work here and there on the truck, I will post a few pictures tonight if I have time. I had the in laws in last week so not much got done. I hope to do the first start up this weekend, and off to the exhaust shop shortly after that, then to daily driver duty.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Operatorfailure]

Here are a few picture updates.






Oh, and this is what I am driving while I am working on the 68.

[Operatorfailure]

Finally started it, had problems with the fuel system, got that lined out last night and decided I would throw plugs and wires on it and give it a go.

SUCCESS!

68 c-10 5.3 swap first start up. - YouTube

It runs! I was kind of nervous since I bought it off craigslist and it was such a good deal, but it seems to be perfectly fine.

I still need to hook up the trans linkage, steering wheel and a ton of other little things before I can drive it, but it starting was a giant leap in the right direction.

[Low Elco]

Good news! I likeyour other truck too!

[Operatorfailure]

Thanks! The 66 is actually my dads, he is letting me drive it while mine is under construction. Had a swap meet last weekend, he got a hood, door and fender for it so all the sheetmetal is in decent shape now.
Posted via Mobile Device

[STOCKISH]

Nice quick job on the LS swap. Looking forward to more progress. (and a burnout video)!

[Bomp]

Motor sounds pretty healthy.
Yes, burn out vid is a must.

[Operatorfailure]

Got it running and driving, just need exhaust and my gauges working, then an inspection and it will be my daily!

My gauges are being annoying, I thought I had it wired up right but nothing on the cluster that runs off my serial data works. Anyone that has messed with this please chime in, I have the same serial data running to the cluster and my obd2 port and the obd2 works fine.

[Operatorfailure]

Got it pretty much tuned, still planning on tweaking some things but at least I'm not afraid to step on it now. I will try and get a burn out video tomorrow after work as long as I can get someone to video it at work.

Still having problems with my gauges, if anyone has had a similar problem post it up and we can try to fix it together!

[Operatorfailure]

I figured out my gauge cluster, it was a little misunderstanding of the wiring list. I was using a post that TchncnDen put up (thanks man) and pin B5 says " B5---ppl/wht----fused ignition feed" and it actually just needs to be hot only when the starter is engaged, I had it hot at all times when key was in run. Cut that wire, and it is all good to go, except my fuel gauge but that is a separate problem. I have the third member out welding it up, since I spin everytime I look at the gas pedal now. (I know most people are 100% against welding up rear ends, but I have had great luck with it in the past and will run it until it breaks)

Originally Posted by TchncnDen

Between my crappy camera and limited space it's hard to get a good picture, but these are a little better. I think I am going to redo my plexiglass face and bring the mask in a little tighter, but other than that I'm very happy with these. Here is a pinout on how to wire them up.

Pin color use
A1-2-not used
A3---pink------fused ignition feed
A4---not used
A5---tan/wht--brake warning indicator lamp input NOT USED
A6-7-not used
A8---brwn/wht-SES light
A9---not used
A10--orn-------fused battery feed
A11--not used
A12--lt blu------left turn input
A13--ppl/wht---seat belt indicator NOT USED
A14-16-not used
A17--lt grn------high beam indicator

B1---brn--------park lamp feed
B2---not used
B3---gry--------security indicator input
B4---not used
B5---ppl/wht----fused ignition feed
B6---gry--------Class 2 Serial Data ***********
B7---orn/blk-----rear compartment lid ajar indicator NOT USED
B8---dk grn/wht--vehicle speed signal
B9---gry---------instrument cluster lamp feed
B10--dk blu------right turn indicator input
B11--blk----ground
B12-13--not used
B14--tan---------oil pressure gauge input
B15--blk wht------ground
B16-17- not used

I unplugged the ribbon cable to the message center otherwise the security light will always flash when on. The oil pressure switch is different for 99-02 and 03-06 so you have to use the switch of the same year as the cluster. The 03-06 gets its oil pressure from the PCM and the 99-02 is wired direct as above.

[Operatorfailure]

I am debating removing my rear bumper, I hate that the PO painted it body color, along with the front bumper. I'm planning on getting a chrome front bumper and was wondering if anyone has removed their rear one, but I can't seem to find any pics. The wide bumper on the back of the stepsides just seem a little off to me and bumperless just might look cool.

Opinions?

[Operatorfailure]

I broke down and bought some lowering springs(5" rear, going to snip a coil up front) new shocks, adjustable track bar, making my own rear shock relocators, ps gear box, inner and outer TRE's, pitman arm, idler arm, all the suspension and steering stuff that I needed.

I went to check out how easy my springs were going to come out tonight and ended up busting into the back end of the truck. Finally got the springs out, after toasting 2 sawzall blades, about 37 knuckles and my pride. I finally ended up cutting the last bolt in two with a hacksaw because my wife wasn't at the house to steal her car to go get more blades. In the end, I got the springs in and will be putting my adjustable track arm, drop shocks and homemade shock relocators hopefully tomorrow.

My coils had been heated so I only got 3" extra drop out of the 5" springs, but just that has renewed my drive to keep fixing this beast.





I haven't even backed it out of the garage for pictures, so these will have to do for now.





And yes, I know it looks ridiculous with the front end sky high but at least part of it got lowered this evening!

[69sinker]

Nice clean truck, your movin along fast! Maybe you should skip step #4 (a/c) and jump on that turbo since you won't need that a/c for about 6 months! Great build and posting all that progress.

[Operatorfailure]

Thanks. Believe me, the thought has crossed my mind.

[Bomp]

Those rear springs look toasty. Keep hearing that Nasty Motor of yours in my head and it makes me wanna get wrenchin on mine.

[Operatorfailure]

You can't go wrong with an ls swap. It is definitely my favorite modification I have ever done to anything I have had.

[Operatorfailure]

The only reason I am planning on doing ac first is where my compressor is going to mount. I need to route my hot side around the ac compressor and without it installed it's just guessing, and I don't want to redo the hot side later. If it wasn't my daily I would just skip ac and boost the crap out of it!