The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1988 - 1998 GMT400 Chevy & GMC Pickups Message Board > projects and builds 88-98

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-08-2016, 11:24 PM   #1
MotorHead Lon
Registered User
 
MotorHead Lon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alabama
Posts: 241
88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.

Traded an 84 GMC Sierra for this truck. When the trans started to slip several friends suggested we could LS swap cheaper than a trans. I bought an Avalanche for $750, kept, engine/trans, wire harness, exhaust, fuel pump and some small parts. Sold remainder for $805.

Harness is reworked stock harness, initially I used the Avalanche fuel pump until it died. Now I have a stock replacement for a 96 Vortec truck. Engine mounts are Car Shoppe, 1.5" setback. I moved the trans crossmember back the same amount. Air intake is a cheap Ebay piece for the new body style trucks. I ran it with open cats at first then welded up the exhaust with mandrel bends. I got the bends as scrap cut offs from a 2010 Camaro. I bought v bands, 4 straight pieces and 2 Dynomax bullets.

I'm still working on it as I drive it. Still to come are getting the gauges to work, and clean up the wiring. I have plans of doing some budget mods to the engine, hopefully swapping to a 4L80 and a 14 bolt.
Attached Images
     
__________________
88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap.

98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig.

03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.
MotorHead Lon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2016, 11:29 PM   #2
MotorHead Lon
Registered User
 
MotorHead Lon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alabama
Posts: 241
Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.

Exhaust pics. A friend and I started with a pile of scrap and cut and pasted. Some how the tips moved between the truck and the table. Not paying attention, I fully welded one side, and discovered the mistake. I'd like them closer.
Attached Images
     
__________________
88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap.

98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig.

03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.
MotorHead Lon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2016, 11:52 PM   #3
MotorHead Lon
Registered User
 
MotorHead Lon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alabama
Posts: 241
Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.

The front was lowered with Craigslist springs. The rear, another friend wanted a 6" drop, but had dropped hangers. I swapped with him and help with his drop. To grind off the rivets, I used a36 grit flap wheel on an angle grinder. I made a bracket to hold my e brake cables.
Attached Images
   
__________________
88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap.

98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig.

03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.
MotorHead Lon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2016, 11:57 PM   #4
MotorHead Lon
Registered User
 
MotorHead Lon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alabama
Posts: 241
Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.

That brings it up to date. Newest projects not related to engine swap was fixing damage from hitting a deer. I pulled the clip off a 4wd Sub, used the driver's fender, core support, grill, and bumper. Also swapped on the tow hooks. Next project is replacing the door hinges.
Attached Images
    
__________________
88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap.

98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig.

03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.
MotorHead Lon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-11-2016, 02:52 PM   #5
OutlawDrifter
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Northeast KS
Posts: 1,775
Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.

i followed your build on mark's facebook page. nice to see you on here!
__________________
1999 GMC Suburban K2500 SLT, 454/4L80E
1991 Z/28, 6.0L/T56
1949 GMC 250, S10 Frame, 6.0L/4L80E

Instagram @aceshighspeedshop
OutlawDrifter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2016, 10:48 PM   #6
MotorHead Lon
Registered User
 
MotorHead Lon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alabama
Posts: 241
Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.

Quote:
Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter View Post
i followed your build on mark's facebook page. nice to see you on here!
Thanks! Mark is one the best guys in this hobby. He helped a lot, and gave a lot of insight into this.
__________________
88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap.

98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig.

03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.
MotorHead Lon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-12-2016, 10:49 PM   #7
MotorHead Lon
Registered User
 
MotorHead Lon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alabama
Posts: 241
Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.

Exhaust video.

https://youtu.be/-johhUC4SY8
__________________
88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap.

98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig.

03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.
MotorHead Lon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-2016, 10:58 PM   #8
MotorHead Lon
Registered User
 
MotorHead Lon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alabama
Posts: 241
Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.

Fuel lines. There are a million ways to do it. I couldn't get the return line's braided section off, and broke a line wrench in the process. So I went with a fuel line repair kit and patched an adapter of sorts. After some research this is the permanent method I used.

Russell LS fuel rail fitting, -6 AN, -6 AN couplers, and -6 AN to o-ring adapters. Not pretty, but it is functional.
Attached Images
   
__________________
88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap.

98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig.

03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.
MotorHead Lon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2019, 12:03 AM   #9
MotorHead Lon
Registered User
 
MotorHead Lon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alabama
Posts: 241
Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.

Realized it's been nearly three years since I updated this. Truk has a new yard mate, a 00 Tahoe Z71, has had a trans swap and has seen passes at 3 local tracks, Jakes's in Moulton Al, Baileyton, and Huntsville.
Attached Images
   
__________________
88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap.

98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig.

03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.
MotorHead Lon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2019, 11:04 PM   #10
MotorHead Lon
Registered User
 
MotorHead Lon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alabama
Posts: 241
Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.

Newest addition swapped to a fleetside bed.
Attached Images
   
__________________
88 Chevy C1500, step side, LS swap.

98 Crew Cab Dually, tow rig.

03 Dodge Neon. ECTA Ohio Mile record holder.
MotorHead Lon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2019, 11:59 PM   #11
OutlawDrifter
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Northeast KS
Posts: 1,775
Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.

Right on
__________________
1999 GMC Suburban K2500 SLT, 454/4L80E
1991 Z/28, 6.0L/T56
1949 GMC 250, S10 Frame, 6.0L/4L80E

Instagram @aceshighspeedshop
OutlawDrifter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2019, 12:09 AM   #12
Greenlee
Registered User
 
Greenlee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: El Lago, TX
Posts: 1,668
Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.

Cool truck. Nice work!
Greenlee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-03-2020, 10:01 PM   #13
LT7A
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PNW
Posts: 3,472
Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.

Your truck keeps getting cooler as you go. Now that you've done all your sheet metal fixes and tweaks is there one color of paint in the cards?
LT7A is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-08-2020, 08:51 PM   #14
dusterbd13
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: albemarle, nc
Posts: 42
Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.

do you remember what size tires were on the steelies? they look righteous, and my truck needs tires on the same era rallys.
dusterbd13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:45 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com