2008 Suburban HD - 8.1L swap (frankenburban 2.0)

[VisionxOrb]

This thread is so full of win. I've been literally waiting for 10 years to see a 6l90e behind a 8.1!!

Now would a duramax flexplate bolt to a 8.1? I ask because the duramax does come with the 6l90e in an express 3500 van.

 

[fidelity101]

This thread is so full of win. I've been literally waiting for 10 years to see a 6l90e behind a 8.1!!

Now would a duramax flexplate bolt to a 8.1? I ask because the duramax does come with the 6l90e in an express 3500 van.

No I don't think so, their cranks are different is my understanding. I did look into this route though.

Right now I'm sorting out the intake ducting and hopefully have a startup vid this weekend.

 

[fidelity101]

So it turns out you need to put weld nuts or rivet nuts in all of the unused locations on the core support because the fan shroud is different between the small/big block so you need to use those to attach the upper half of the fan shroud.



Need to hook up the heater core lines and then add fluids and we are ready to test fire later today. Not sure how well the truck will run without the maf hooked up, waiting on the intake kit to come in the mail and that should be the last thing before getting a tune done.

 

[fidelity101]

Happy belated friday the 13th! got some fluids in and with everything hooked up, it started and runs and idles! no scary story here

The stock intake (LY6) has too many resonators on the piping they collide with virtually everything, otherwise it should fit but with the 8.1 TB kind of clocked upward a bit I am worried about hood clearance. I will try and junkyard a solution meanwhile I wait for my flowmaster unit.

All that's left to do:

• Resolve the intake piping issue,
• Weld minor exhaust leak
  
• Bleed the air out of the coolant
• Finish installing the fascia
• Tune/Re-calibration

 

[ZooMad75]

That is drop dead sexy right there. Nice work dude. Just the way the general should have built them.

 

[Chevy305]

Hey you have a check engine light on

 

[fidelity101]

Hey you have a check engine light on

yeah... its not to happy without the VVT solenoid plugged in if anyone is interested in the drop out let me know I'll work ya deal...

https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/pts/d/57k-mile-ly6-drop-out-gm-6l-v8/6347097768.html

 

[78K30]

So much want! But much less money haha good luck with the sale, it shouldn’t last long.

 

[fidelity101]

So much want! But much less money haha good luck with the sale, it shouldn’t last long.

eh send me an offer if your serious but I know Iowa is a bit far away. I'm right now trying to make cash on some local idiot who is gonna waste his time all winter building a project that will never finish.

anywhoo.... Can't really proceed without the new intake because I can't close the hood and drive.

Wednesday can't come soon enough! Even though I think I may need to get an 8.1 specific intake piping due to the angle of the dangle of said throttle body but this was good enough to get it idling long enough to check for leaks and help bleed the coolant, recharged the A/C etc. Also managed to install the fascia 100% over the weekend.


literally the only remaining steps:

• Check/add transmission fluid
  
• Intake piping
  
• fix minor exhaust leaks
  
• bleed coolant more?
  
• Tune

 

[jekquistk5]

yeah... its not to happy without the VVT solenoid plugged in if anyone is interested in the drop out let me know I'll work ya deal...

https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/pts/d/57k-mile-ly6-drop-out-gm-6l-v8/6347097768.html

Tempting, but for something that i'm going to fully rebuild(rod knock) I'm only gonna spend at max 300.

 

[85k5witha6.2]

Tempting, but for something that i'm going to fully rebuild(rod knock) I'm only gonna spend at max 300.

The heads go for more than double that easy.

 

[fidelity101]

I'm tempted to do a 1 cyl rebuild and put it in something else, always wanted to a c10 burnout machine, one of these and 4.10s would do the trick. or a boat...

 

[85k5witha6.2]

I'm tempted to do a 1 cyl rebuild and put it in something else, always wanted to a c10 burnout machine, one of these and 4.10s would do the trick. or a boat...

I would've just dropped the pan and put 1 rod bearing in it haha

 

[VisionxOrb]

If the frames/core support are basically the same, why couldnt you just bolt in the intake piping from the 8.1?

 

[454Sub]

I would've just dropped the pan and put 1 rod bearing in it haha

In high school a friend of mine overheated his 88 K5 and it started knocking, at the time we didn't have access to a cherry picker or any "fancy" tools. We limped it to AutoZone and changed 2 rod bearings in the parking lot and boiled the tires when we left a few hrs later.

 

[Big Ray]

Those engines are about 4000-5000 at the junkyard before core/shipping/tax

 

[Justin V]

In high school a friend of mine overheated his 88 K5 and it started knocking, at the time we didn't have access to a cherry picker or any "fancy" tools. We limped it to AutoZone and changed 2 rod bearings in the parking lot and boiled the tires when we left a few hrs later.

Pics or it didn't happen

 

[Big Ray]

Damn nice job you're doing!

 

[fidelity101]

If the frames/core support are basically the same, why couldnt you just bolt in the intake piping from the 8.1?

yeah that's what I ended up doing, had to find one and wasn't able to locally so I sourced one on a facebook 8.1 group and it should arrive today so then I can go for a quick test drive (light throttle)

 

[VisionxOrb]

yeah that's what I ended up doing, had to find one and wasn't able to locally so I sourced one on a facebook 8.1 group and it should arrive today so then I can go for a quick test drive (light throttle)

Im living life vicariously right now. Im might be having a harder time waiting than you do lol.

If you ever wanted to throw an 05+ ford dana super60 upfront on some coils check this out
http://www.wfoconcepts.com/cr/Chevy-GMC-2500-and-3500-HD-99-10/10446