CK5
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1989 K5: the slowest resurrection

Handloader90 said:
I would definitely be interested in a SWB C10 or K10 if you have one that you'd be willing to part with

I do not have any SWBs currently. That blue Blazer with the copper hood is two-wheel drive though.

Jealous of those parts trucks. Any of them happen to have Hickey/Confer axle trusses?

Sadly no. Most of these trucks are old farmer rides; largely left stock and driven until the wheels fall off. Then I have to fight off scrappers at equipment auctions.
 
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There is of course going to be a veritable laundry list of problems that need addressing. Including the door striker bolt being torn out of the body and passenger seat mout trying to exit through the floor.

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The striker bolt was probably collateral damage from the wreck that took out the front clip.

The floor is a bit of a mystery, but it does explain why the passenger seat always sat a little crooked.
 
Id stick the 207k motor in then start building a nice fresh one from the cam muncher.

I think this is the way I will go. The 207K engine only needs valve cover and oil pan gaskets -if- I decide to be fussy about appearances. Use money in other places instead of bellying up for a rebuild out of the gate.

I picked up some LS to clamshell mounts off of ebay that should arrive tomorrow.

I need to decide on the transmission. Originally my plan was to go the @ZooMad75 route and use the bowtie overdrive kit in a 700R4, but I have been hemming and hawing about just running a 4l60E.

The Blazer has a GM reman 700R4 in it, but I have a 4l60E in the white '94 which was a running truck when I picked it up.
 
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It takes more work and time to get an old 700 to work with an LS than just using the 60e. Plus the ability to control everything which is nice.
 
I need to decide on the transmission. Originally my plan was to go the @ZooMad75 route and use the bowtie overdrive kit in a 700R4, but I have been hemming and hawing about just running a 4l60E.

The Blazer has a GM reman 700r4 in it, but I have a 4l60E in the white '94 which was a running truck when I picked it up.

Order the right flex plate (with slight modifications to the torque converter bolt holes) and spacer and it bolts up the same way as the 4l60e. The bowtie overdrive kit is not hard to install at all. Follow the instructions for the setup and it works just fine.

It takes more work and time to get an old 700 to work with an LS than just using the 60e. Plus the ability to control everything which is nice.

It isn't that much more work. The question really comes down to what you are using on the engine side of things. Throttle type? Going 700 will require a cable throttle. The 60 will take either. If you plan on going drive by wire, you have to go with the 4L60e. Next is harness and PCM type. Running the stock 5.3 harness you should be able to go with the 60 without too much issue. I'm certain there are a few changes between the 94 4l60e and the later versions running so you need search out if there are any wiring differences between the years. You could run an aftermarket controller for just the trans and remedy any differences to the stock 5.3 harness and earlier 4l60e. Obviously, the 700 don't need the PCM to work, so it really don't matter what you used for the engine.

There are pros and cons for each. It really depends on those factors and your budget. In my case the budget is always skinny. I already had the 700 in the truck. Since my 5.3 didn't come to me with a flex plate already, I had to buy one. The part number I used was for a 4l60e anyway, just a quick trim with a die grinder to oval out 3 holes. No added cost over going 4l60e. I had a cable throttle to start with. Only extra cost I had was to run the bowtie overdrives tv cable kit. That by itself was cheaper that finding a 4l60e. Plus in my case since I'm using an aftermarket controller and harness that does not have provisions for the trans I would have had extra expense in getting a stand alone trans controller and harness.

Don't get me wrong had I had the budget for it, a new 60e and TCI controller and harness would have been the ideal way to run for me.
 
Ovaling out the holes doesn't address the torque converter pilot hub. You also need the bushing thingy. Or all that centers your converter is the bolts.

Edit. I seen you mentioned that. But this isn't commonly known info. Free info never hurts.
 
Order the right flex plate (with slight modifications to the torque converter bolt holes) and spacer and it bolts up the same way as the 4l60e. The bowtie overdrive kit is not hard to install at all. Follow the instructions for the setup and it works just fine.



It isn't that much more work. The question really comes down to what you are using on the engine side of things. Throttle type? Going 700 will require a cable throttle. The 60 will take either. If you plan on going drive by wire, you have to go with the 4L60e. Next is harness and PCM type. Running the stock 5.3 harness you should be able to go with the 60 without too much issue. I'm certain there are a few changes between the 94 4l60e and the later versions running so you need search out if there are any wiring differences between the years. You could run an aftermarket controller for just the trans and remedy any differences to the stock 5.3 harness and earlier 4l60e. Obviously, the 700 don't need the PCM to work, so it really don't matter what you used for the engine.

There are pros and cons for each. It really depends on those factors and your budget. In my case the budget is always skinny. I already had the 700 in the truck. Since my 5.3 didn't come to me with a flex plate already, I had to buy one. The part number I used was for a 4l60e anyway, just a quick trim with a die grinder to oval out 3 holes. No added cost over going 4l60e. I had a cable throttle to start with. Only extra cost I had was to run the bowtie overdrives tv cable kit. That by itself was cheaper that finding a 4l60e. Plus in my case since I'm using an aftermarket controller and harness that does not have provisions for the trans I would have had extra expense in getting a stand alone trans controller and harness.

Don't get me wrong had I had the budget for it, a new 60e and TCI controller and harness would have been the ideal way to run for me.



Budget is also my biggest constraint, but I also want to be pragmatic and build a reliable truck I can enjoy using as much as I can from what I already have available.

Enter the 4L60E. My engine, accessories, PCM and harness came out of a 2004 C1500. 5.3, drive by wire, et. al.. This of course has a 4L60E, but of the two wheel drive variety.

Even if I had a 4L60E from a '04 four wheel drive I would still be looking at finding a transfer case and adapter.

The 700R4 that is in the truck is, or at least was nine years ago, in good working order, and no transfer case issues. But, this would mean acquiring all the cable throttle bits and purchasing the bowtie kit, and so on and what not.

This leads to the '94 4L60E. It works with my transfer case and adapter and -may- work with the '04 PCM. Here is where the fun begins: the transmission harness and pin-out for the '94 and the '04 are the same except for the control circut for the TCC PWM solenoid, the mechanical component of the torque management system. Questions include: Can this be 'tuned out'? Are any solenoids different between the two that would cause PCM problems? What happened to Jim Hoffa?
 
Looks like the '94 4L60E is not compatible with the LS PCMs.

Taking this further for anyone that is interested any 4L60E before '96 will not work with the LS PCMs because of the 3-2 downshift solenoid. Pre '96 uses PWM and '96 and later are an On/Off ground controlled solenoid.
 
I am going to have to find a hydraulic schematic and compare them. There appears to be some significant valve body changes.
 
And then one topper bolt decided it doesn't want to leave its hole.

Now to see how many feet of extension cord Dad has in his house.

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Trying to gut the interior while in Kansas for the holiday. The mice apparently thought it was a fine place to live over the last nine years.
 
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