'04 6 liter in a '70 k5 swap

[LVJimmy]

I just did a ’04 6 liter swap into a ’70 Jimmy. If anyone is curious here is some info.

The 6.0 liter out of a van has a cable operated throttle body.

The mechanical fan is 4” away from the throttle body.

Don’t think that there is tons of room to play with because there isn’t. Measure it all before you start. Most important is between firewall and radiator.

The Advance Adaptors output shaft for the 700R4 keeps the engine tight against the fire wall but does not leave any extra clearance for any thing but a stock front driveshaft u-joint. At least I hope there aren’t any issues with the stock one.

With a little frame modification the 6 liter exhaust manifold and AC compressor fit with lines attached.

If you order a radiator get a double pass with both hoses on the passenger side.

Autozone sells adaptors (Equus 6848) to fit 1/8”npt senders to the metric engine threads. Engine temp for the computer is in the driver’s side head. I put the temp sender for my gauge in the passenger side head.

Oil pressure is in the same place a small block Chevy but would be easier to replace before the engine is installed.

Engine price with computer, harness, exhaust manifolds and all accessories was $1999 + $150 shipping.
The 700R4 with an Advanced Adaptors output shaft was ~$2000 from Bowtie Overdrive.
Rework of the wiring harness, computer flash and Diablo Predator tuner was $850.
Mallory fuel pump, regulator and Fram filter were ~$450
Hoses (all AN -6,-8,-10 steel braid but not the pretty stuff) were $1000
Home made exhaust with Magnaflow mufflers that ends before the axle. $182
Homemade 4” cold air intake $150 with K&N
Radiator, electric fans and hoses $950
Transmission cooler and oil cooler $170
I will be upgrading the stock mass air flow sensor to the corvette one ~$150
O2 sensors $140
Rum and coke ~$300
Truck Fluids ~$130 1 oil change fo a flush, change to mobil 1, 2 oil filters, synthetic gear lube for axles, tranny fluid, anti freeze, water wetter, distilled water and redline PS fliud,

The engine has been started but not driven. I screwed up and reloaded the V.A.T. system into the computer and had to send it out to be reflashed. It would have had to be reflashed for the corvette mass air flow sensor anyway.

 

[NorCalKid]

wheres the pictures?

 

[beastmode]

nice parts list, i will be doing this in the future hopefully to my Blazer but probably wit a 5.3

did you run the Fbody efans or the 05+ truck fans?? Thanks.

cant wait to see some pics

-Bill

 

[LVJimmy]

I used two Spal 14" fans and shroud ($450) from Ron Davis. It matched up perfectly to the the Ron Davis radiator. I ordered the stock car radiator which isn't a direct fit but saved a few hundred dollars.

 

[LVJimmy]

I figured someone would want pictures. I'll get some today.

 

[Yukon Jack]

Definitely eager to see pics!

 

[vtblazer]

It's a cool mod, be curious to hear how you like driving it.

 

[LVJimmy]

I had a decent 350 in it but couldn't deal with 8-10mpg. So I figured for $6000 I could swap in the 6 liter keep my power and get 15 mpg. The modification would pay for itself in 40K miles. Now I'm $4000 over budget and still going. I now have to take it to 150K miles to break even. If you were to ask me right now if it was worth it I'd say NO!!!!. Let's see how I feel after I drive it for a few weeks.

Now that most of the problems have been fixed I'm starting to enjoy driving it at night, in the day it is way to hot to enjoy anything besides the pool and a drink.

 

[LVJimmy]

pics

wheres the pictures?

The steel tubing on the upper radiator hose will be replaced with a properly bent bent one instead of sectioning and welding it to get the bend. The MAF is beig chagned to a corvette one (4" diameter) to match the rest ofthe tubing. The MAF that is currently in there is the 3" that came with the engine.

 

[NV_K5]

Nice work, how does she run? have you gotten the computer re-programmed?

 

[LVJimmy]

The computer is being shipped back to me today. Hopefully it will be driving by the weekend.

 

[redneckdude]

so let me get this right...you have almost 6K into this swap currently? i have less than that into my 5.3/80e, and 2000 of mine was for a fresh 80e and 1000$ was for HPTuners and a laptop...I can buy a 6.0 longblock for 600$ and then i might hit 6K. Not trying to knock you, but there was some money just thrown at it for the sake of throwing money...Im still using my stock radiator, ford windstar electric fans, stuff like that. Cheap stuff that works just fine for the swap...

on to other business...did you try running a stock silverado upper hose? I used stock hoses on my swap. Upper fit perfectly, lower had to be cut off about an inch. It appears yours may sit a hair further back from the rad than mine does, but atleast the upper should fit...lower is a straight shot, so its not hard to find one to fit.

and are you sure that the motor is a 04? most/all vortec stuff had gone to DBW.

 

[billyjo]

LVJimmy,

Glad to see that you are getting close, driving it around will be one the best feelings, next to the first start up. If you get some time I'd still like to see some pics of your AC unit and how you plumbed it.

Good luck,

Bill

 

[LVJimmy]

so let me get this right...you have almost 6K into this swap currently? i have less than that into my 5.3/80e, and 2000 of mine was for a fresh 80e and 1000$ was for HPTuners and a laptop...I can buy a 6.0 longblock for 600$ and then i might hit 6K. Not trying to knock you, but there was some money just thrown at it for the sake of throwing money...Im still using my stock radiator, ford windstar electric fans, stuff like that. Cheap stuff that works just fine for the swap...

on to other business...did you try running a stock silverado upper hose? I used stock hoses on my swap. Upper fit perfectly, lower had to be cut off about an inch. It appears yours may sit a hair further back from the rad than mine does, but atleast the upper should fit...lower is a straight shot, so its not hard to find one to fit.

and are you sure that the motor is a 04? most/all vortec stuff had gone to DBW.

My truck has been driven about 5000 miles in the last 20 years so it was in really bad shape. I'm actually about about $11K into the swap if you include all the little stuff. I could have used the stock upper hose if I cut it and extended it about 8". I never measured the lower but it would have been pretty close. No offense taken at throwing money at it just to throw money at it. The swap was above my skill level so the wife talked a friend of mine who has been a wrench for 20+ years, ASE master certified in all the mechanicals, Ferrari factory trained, etc. He was asked to help and he could do it his way. This guy also races SCORE and SNORE off road. So it was built like it would be racing hence the $1000 in fuel line, PS, oil, trans lines.
I thought the DRW was a little off but I did some checking and the engine has the 6.0 cast in the back of the block, the computer is from a '04 and the vans did have cable operated throttle bodies in '04.

 

[LVJimmy]

LVJimmy,

Glad to see that you are getting close, driving it around will be one the best feelings, next to the first start up. If you get some time I'd still like to see some pics of your AC unit and how you plumbed it.

Good luck,

Bill

The AC compressor is in and the lines are attached but I haven't seached for a condensor yet. I sent picture to your email but apparently you didn't get them so I'll post.

everything still needs a lot of work making it all fit right covering lines that are next to manifolds, shortening hoses and wiring, etc.

The passenger side frame rail had a lip bent up which I assumed was factory. We just helped the bend a little more. If I was running soft motor mounts I would worry about it but the mounts are captured polyurathane(sp?) so I don't think they will move much.

 

[redneckdude]

My truck has been driven about 5000 miles in the last 20 years so it was in really bad shape. I'm actually about about $11K into the swap if you include all the little stuff. I could have used the stock upper hose if I cut it and extended it about 8". i never measured the lower but it would nave been pretty close. No offense taken at throwing money at it just to thow money at it. The swap was above my skill level so the wife talked a friend of mine who has been a wrench for 20+ years, ASE master certified in all the mechanicals, Ferrari factory trained, etc. He was asked to help and he could d it his way. This guy also races SCORE and SNORE off road. So it was built like it would be racing hence the $1000 in fuel line, PS, oil, trans lines.
I thought the DRW was a little off but I did some checking and the engine has the 6.0 cast in the back of the block, the computer is from a '04 and the vans did have cable operated throttle bodies in '04.

i dont blame you spending a bunch of money on it...i just didn't want people reading it to be scared off by the swap. Motor itself can be swapped in for under 2K, motor included, if you can find a deal on it...on the flipside, you can go ALL OUT and spend 12K on it like you have.

1000$ in fuel, PS, oil cooler, and trans cooler...thats insane. I dont think my idea of perfect lines for my truck would set me back that much. I thought i was crazy to have a couple hundred dollars in my coolers and lines...

and yea, if the PCM shows it to be an 04 and doesn't have all the stuff really set up for the electronic throttle, i reckon it is possible...i know all the trucks and cars were electronic...but sometimes they do some funky stuff with vans. I perfer the actual cable linkage.

 

[LVJimmy]

The engine, harness and computer were $2000 another $2000 for the trans If I skimped on everything else maybe $6000 to install. Maybe in your neck of the woods you can get better prices on used engines but out here they usually go for a premium.

 

[1972dozer]

man who did u buy the wiring harness and computer from because i did a 5.3 swap and got harness and a computer flased for $950 and it was perfect i have not had a bit of trouble with mine.....

 

[LVJimmy]

man who did u buy the wiring harness and computer from because i did a 5.3 swap and got harness and a computer flased for $950 and it was perfect i have not had a bit of trouble with mine.....

Current Performance did the harness, tune and I got a diablo Predator (I still reserve my opinion about Current Performance). I still have some problems with the truck running properly but I'm not sure of the cause. I drove it to get smog checked, it passed. I have a miss at higher rpm and the following codes are showing up P0101, P0315, P0507 and P2761. It also idles @1600 rpm and the timing is ~29 degrees at 1600 and advances to 44 degrees a at 4000 rpm. I'm hoping to get a chance to look at it today. I've already posted my codes on LS1tech but no help so far.

I've checked with several people and the timing is typical when there is no load. If the engine is under a load the timing is significantly reduced.

Although I had some computer issues with Current Performance they were very good at fixing all of the problems that I had. They did a great job on the Harness and I would recommend them to someone else.

 

[LVJimmy]

Got the truck running and driving. It passed the smog test but still has some problems. It seems to have decent power but I really haven't gotten on it yet.