New Life for a truck passed its prime

[flattopwill]

Im starting my swap this weekend so I thought Id start a build thread for anyone who cares. Im sure I will have plenty of questions so if you think you can help please subscribe here and watch for my updates.

This is my first vehicle and it has had many faces from solid blue to blue with silver ghost flames to gray primer to its current state of Solid black primer. Back in its prime it was a respected sport truck in my town and now it has fallen to barely running. I hope to regain some respect for my old truck through this swap. This truck needs new life now that its heart is failing (smoking and sputtering).

Truck: 1991 RCSB Silverado C1500 originally 350tbi/700r4
Donor: 2002 Tahoe DBW 5.3l flex motor with '96 4L80E

Go-fast parts:
Schoenfeld Headers
Thunder Racing TR 220 cam (en route)
Z06 valve springs
RevMax 9.5" 2800rpm stall converter (en route)
Nelson tune (en route)

I had my harness reworked by a friend who is a GM tech at the local GM service center. Plus, he is just plain awesome when it comes to wiring and IM NOT. I am doing the swap at a friends' shop and Im taking it there tonight so I will take pics of everything tonight and will start the tear down tomorrow morning. I will have a printout of RedHeartBeat's OBS LSX Swap thread at my side at all times LOL especially during the tear down. The goal is to have the old motor/trans/wiring out by Sunday night. Wish me luck!

Ok first question: Can anyone point me in the direction of some fuel line fittings that will go on the end of rubber fuel line hose and mate to my fuel rail? This seems very simple but im at a loss....

[PitchBlackC3]

Here are the fittings:
Russell Fuel Rail Fitting Adapters - SummitRacing.com

Something you need to be aware of with a Flex fuel 2002 engine when/if you start tuning it. The flex fuel engine runs a lower fuel pressure than the normal 5.3. They have a different regulator. When you check your fuel pressure and see it is a little low, that's why.

[keniff]

i used the SS fuel line vs the rubber line fitting. just a lil security.

those headers are awsome.

the valve springs should be changed to a better spring. whats the lift/LSA of that 220 cam sir?

what radiator are you gonna run? are you keeping your AC? are you gonna go ahead an put some vette servos?

[flattopwill]

Here are the fittings:
Russell Fuel Rail Fitting Adapters - SummitRacing.com

Something you need to be aware of with a Flex fuel 2002 engine when/if you start tuning it. The flex fuel engine runs a lower fuel pressure than the normal 5.3. They have a different regulator. When you check your fuel pressure and see it is a little low, that's why.

Thanks. I will remember that. Hopefully with Allen doing my tune I wont have to mess with tuning much. But that will be good to remember for diagnosis.

[flattopwill]

i used the SS fuel line vs the rubber line fitting. just a lil security.

those headers are awsome.

the valve springs should be changed to a better spring. whats the lift/LSA of that 220 cam sir?

what radiator are you gonna run? are you keeping your AC? are you gonna go ahead an put some vette servos?

The Z06 springs should be good to .550 lift and the TR220 is .551. I know maxing them out is not a good idea but Im out of budget.

Speaking of budget, I just got back from Oreilleys auto parts and have a $450 receipt. (!!!!) All I bought was fluids, lines, hoses, clamps, connectors, etc etc etc etc

Im using my 5.7 radiator. Gonna buy the Powers AC kit when I get the money. No trans modifications at this time. Just the stall converter.

[keniff]

your 1-2 will be very soft imo...we'll see

yeah those things get costly fast man...i got 5500 in my swap
easy.
i put a 220/224 .585.588 113+4 cam in mine with Patriot Extreme springs even though ill nvr go any bigger of a cam.

i wish i had a 5.7 radiator but its ok the 05 one worked out just fine for me.
if you need any help just lemme know. your not pulling the heads right? get 16 pencil magnets an hold the lifters up as you pull the cam an replace the cam. dont be skimpy with the cam lube imo
im curious how this simple but performance build will turn out.

[flattopwill]

Ya I'm afraid with the 4l80e I will be wishing for some 3.73 gears to replace my 3.42s.

I havent added it all up but I bet I've hit the $3000 mark. I'm still in shock over this 450 dollar trip to Oreilleys.

I kept waiting for a cheap set of 918 springs to come up for sale on the boards but never found them. (for the right price I guess)

As for the cam swap, I think I'm gonna run down to the hardware store and grab some wooden dowels to stick in the service holes to keep the lifters up.

I too am curious how it will turn out. I hopin for a reliable daily driver with a hot rod flare.

[keniff]

true forgot about those Gen IIIs having those.

oh an i just realized the 80E so no servos im sorry i missed that.
youll be begging for 4:10s!!!

[flattopwill]

Well I think 4.10s would be a bit much for what I'm lookin for. I wanna be able to hop on the interstate for 3 hours straight and be able to keep the rpms down.

My goal is to have this truck driving again by next weekend. I'm on spring break this week comin up so i'll have some extra free time. And I only have to work 3 12-hour shifts this week so I oughta have time. Unless some thing major comes up (like needing a new drive shaft cut) then I think it's doable.

[keniff]

im not sure if the d shaft has to be cut or just swap out the u joints so you can run the 80E yoke on your d shaft...

your fp will be simple if your gonna pull the bed
uh the LTs have to go in from the bottom
uh do you have the o2 sensors for the harness youll be using?
are you gonna go DBW or go DBC like i did?
did you grab the 80E flywheel or have the stall made for the LS1 flywheel an 80E pump?
how are you gonna do the water temp/ oil temp gauges?
did you already grab the cam kit or just picked up the few gaskets you needed? i recommend the ARP crank bolt over the stock crank bolt. just my extra security imo.

im sure ill think of more questions later.