5.3 swap into '94 Full Size Blazer - aka Big Ugly - build thread
This is my first post, so hopefully it’s the beginning of a thread that ends in success with all kinds of cool sh** along the way and lots of pictures and info. Either that, or at the end it’ll be a sweet youtube video of me lighting the truck on fire.
This is Big Ugly. Kind of an odd name, considering it’s not really that big, and there are lots of uglier trucks out there, but when a name sticks you just go with it. For the record, my wife hates it… but once a name is there, you can’t get rid of it. Sorry wife, I don’t make the rules.
I washed Big Ugly once… didn’t feel right. Probably won’t make that mistake again.
Anyway, back to why where here. Big Ugly is a ’94 full size Blazer, she has the worst designed 4” lift ever, and a 350 TBI motor that, as all of you know, can barely get out of its own way. 35’s and 3.42’s don’t help. Combine all that with towing a 5,500lb Malibu Wakesetter and trailer, toss in a steep boat ramp and you probably know what happened next. Yup… same thing that happens to everyone else sooner or later, the 4L60e popped. Beefy little trans, that 4L60, isn’t it? Kinda like it’s built with toothpicks and duct tape and someone at Chevy said “this is a great design, let’s keep this for a decade and a half, shall we?”
Anyway, I digress. I was in the middle of researching LQ4 swaps, because that has been the plan for a while when something finally puked, when a friend of mine called me this past weekend with some news that made me OK with making some concessions on the build. He just bought a running ’05 Z71 Suburban that had been hit on the side. He wanted the full interior, but for a small chunk of change he told me to come snag everything I needed in order to make the swap work. Radiator, electric fans, all accessories (ac compressor, condenser, alternator, ps pump, hoses and lines, starter) engine, transmission, accel. pedal, TAC module and harness, engine harness, ECU/ECM etc. – Whatever I need is fair game. Having spent the last 6 months reading about these swaps until my eyes bled, I jumped at the chance and said “I’ll be there Saturday.” - So, that’s 4 days from now.
That brings me to why I’m here. Hopefully this will be a place for me to share my successes and document my frustrations with their ultimate resolution (God willing). I imagine I’ll be venting as well, but I doubt that’s anything new. I’ve read most all of your build threads for OBS Chevy’s, and I’ve just about memorized the “lisatahoe” document that S&P did and I’ve talked to several friends that have swapped LS motors into all manners of cars.
Here’s my “to grab” list from the donor Suburban this weekend. From my research, this should be a 5.3, L59 with a 4L60e trans, drive by wire. If you happen to see something I’ve left off the list, then by all means feel free to speak up. The truck is two states away, so I’m not making two trips.
Engine
Transmission
Intake with maf, etc.
Radiator
Coolant hoses/lines
Trans cooler and lines if there is one, although I’ll upgrade it to a much larger one
Electric fan(s)
AC condenser
AC lines
AC compressor
Alternator and wires
Starter
PS pump, with lines
Engine wire harness
ECU
Accelerator pedal and assemble
TAC control module, and wire harness to TB
All vacuum hoses, fuel rails, misc wires attached to sensors etc.
Any fuse box / relay box with relays under the hood.
The “To Buy” list. Here are items that are swap specific, based on my reading I’ll need to purchase. Again, if you happen see something blatant that in your experience I might not have on my list, feel free to speak up.
Wire Harness – I’m paying someone to make it as plug and play as possible. I’m mechanically inclined, I’m electrical harness retarded. It’s just one of those things. (The exact vendor is up in the air, I spoke with Current Performance, but their lead time is 6-8 weeks from date of order, and have emails out with Speartech, Tech Rods, and PSI. I’ve read good things about all of their harnesses – however I haven’t read every swap thread on the planet, so if you have seen something negative in the more recent past point me in the direction of that thread so I can read and make my own decision. I’m also going to call S&P tomorrow and speak with them, as they didn’t have an email address I could shoot my list to. I read that I should probably call Speartech as well, since he responds better to phone than email, but I’ll give him a day or two.) This is the big part for me, since it’s the part I’m least proficient at troubleshooting if something were to go funky.
Fuel pump, probably the AC DELCO EP-381, or maybe I’ll do a Walbro since I’ve had lots of luck with those in previous builds.
Motor mount brackets, probably Dirty Dingo or similar
‘Vette fuel filter / regulator
AC bracket to move the compressor – this I have to research a little bit more, I’m reading that you have to run an aftermarket compressor, the Sanden I think is recommended most, because of something to do with how the compressors cycle on and off differently.
Misc stuff that all swaps need:
Coolant, oil, trans fluid, brake fluid
Electrical tape and enough zip ties to build a bridge across the Hudson river
Fuel line, hose clamps, a small blood sacrifice to the car gods before I start
Blahblahblah
OK, so that’s it. Just the beginning of a regular build thread I suppose. I’ll take pics of yanking the motor this weekend and post them. Probably nothing exciting… I imagine there will be bourbon involved so hopefully I don’t forget something on my list. I plan to grab a whole helluva lot more than I need, and then can firesale the rest to someone that can use whatever parts I don’t.
Oh… and the screen name is just an old inside joke from several forums ago. I don’t actually sell meth, kick babies and have neck tattoos or anything. Again, sometimes a name just sticks. (not that there’s anything wrong with selling meth, kicking babies, or having neck tattoos – it’s your boat, whatever floats it)
I like things with spark plugs...
... oh, and boobs - I like those too.
Reply With Quote
Good job with all the details!! Keep it up, we're all watching your progress and waiting for details. Now I'm off to rethink my thread lol
