Project Lead Sled

[LeadSled96]

I am about to undergo my first LS swap. I picked up a Very Very clean 96 3/4 ton 2 wheel drive Suburban for $900. It has a blown head gasket but a new 4l80e transmission. I am calling it project Lead Sled.... L.S. ...L ead S led.... See what I did there? I am picking the truck up tomorrow. So far I have the mounts ordered have part numbers to order the sending unit adapters and have my eyes on a 6.0 under 100k miles. I think I can get the whole project done for around $3000.
I have a few questions though and I am sure that more will arise as I start into the build. So far here is what I am unsure about: 1) what do I need to do to make the 6.0 bolt to the 96 4l80e 2)Will all the gauges from the 96 work or do I need to get one of the new style clusters and fit it into the dash 3) Do I need a different torque converter... the truck has 3.73 limited slip gears. Thats all I can think of at the moment.
Any wisdom anyone can add to my build is GREATLY appreciated. I am in no way new to doing swaps of this nature but haven't done this particular swap yet. I own a 04 GTO currently so I am familiar with the LS family motors. I recently also converted a 88 Camaro to a LT1 and then sold it. I am doing this swap to create a dependable fuel efficient work truck for my contracting business. I just happen to LOVE the LS motors and this truck was too cheap to pass up. I will see about posting up some pics of the truck tomorrow.
I plan to delete the rear side and rear door glass and install tool boxes flush where the side windows are currently. It will look like the old style panel trucks only with a couple tool boxes on each side that can be accessed from outside the truck for convenience. I have photoshop so I will edit up some pics to illustrate this at some point so its a lil easier to see what I am going to do.

[RedHeartbeat]

What year engine?

[myzterray]

welcome! im doing a smilar swap myself. stock gauges will work fine and stock torque converter. you will need to slot the holes on the flywheel and add a spacer to make the 96 trans bolt up with the new motor. from what ive read this is one of the easiest swaps to do. im almost finished mine and its been pretty uneventfull. wiring was the main issue i was having but other than that the other stuff was pretty simple. good luck! oh and this guy redheartbeat helped me with alot hes full of info!

[LeadSled96]

I am currently shopping for a motor. I expect to buy over the next couple weeks. I wish I could afford one of the 6.2s but budget doesn't permit. I want to get as much baseline HP and TQ as I can but still stay in my budget of around $1000. If anyone has a 6.0 for sale please get in touch. The wiring doesnt seem like it will be all that bad after doing the Camaro I just finished. I completely de-pinned the harness and went through it wire by wire. I think I can avoid doing that this time and just graft in the needed wires for the LS motor to run. I read your thread the other night Myzterray, looks like you about have yours whipped! I have always liked the two door Tahoes but they just aren't big enough for what I need.

[LeadSled96]

What radiator is everyone using? The original radiator to the truck body or the radiators from the LS trucks???

[RedHeartbeat]

yep, both kinds.

[LeadSled96]

yep, both kinds.

So either radiator can be used? Any particular advantage or disadvantage to using one or the other? If I reuse the original sub radiator what is the easiest electric fan setup to use? I was also considering replacing the main seal and oil pan gasket before installing the motor but as I recall isn't the oil pan gasket a reusable gasket?

[RedHeartbeat]

yeah, the original one will work but you'll need to retrofit fans. Do you have the 28" core or 34" core radiator?

[LeadSled96]

Im unsure but I will measure tomorrow. Its a 3/4 ton so I would guess its the 34" core.

[LeadSled96]

Picked up a new Optima yellowtop battery today along with AC Delco Iridium spark plugs and MSD plug wires. So far the tally on the build.....Truck $900, battery, plug wires, and plugs after tax $300.35 from Advance Auto and motor mounts from Ebay for $58.00. I will try to keep this tally updated as I go for a reference for others thinking about performing this swap. I didnt get a chance to measure the radiator today as I was at the hospital all evening with my sister who just gave birth to my newest nephew Damien Robert.