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'90 K5 - Project Betty - LS3 Swap for a DD/Offroad/Utility Build

Spindle Relocation

Spindle Relocation

I guess I will give myself a break for my first fabrication project, but of all the measurements I got right, why did I have to screw this one up.

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Spindle Relocation

I guess I will give myself a break for my first fabrication project, but of all the measurements I got right, why did I have to screw this one up.


don't stress it.....that's what builds fortitude, patience and experience.

"no one died and the cops didn't come, how bad can it be?"....that's what my friend used to tell me when i did interesting things........
 
Bumper mock up done

Finished the rough draft of the bumper. Not sure it is going to stay. I do not feel like it looks bad (other than still being in a rough production form, needs grinding, painting, etc), but I do not like that fact that it takes up so much of my rear view mirror. I intentionally tried to move it to the driver's side to prevent too much visibility issues, but the shear size of the tire forced it to like pretty close to center. I am thinking about trying to keep the design, but lower the tire such that the tire only sits a bit above the tailgate.

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With the top on it probably looks great. Without the top it doesn't seem to flow quite right. If you can lower it, like you talked about, I think you'll have it! I do like the design of the carrier but that tire is so damn big it doesn't look like it belongs. I am trying to do something similar with my truck, but a 42 in tire just stands out! lol Good luck with your decision.
 
Getting Truck into the Garage

This was a chore in itself. Wanted to install crossover steering, but driveway has quite the slope, and new it would take me more than a day, so the street was out of the option.

Started off with some puny tires, air'd them down, and used ratchet straps to compress the rear suspension.

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Getting Truck into the Garage Part 2

And it still barely fit.

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New DD

Not going to bore anybody with the crossover steering conversion pics, that is pretty well documented.

I will post some new pics of my new dodge ram. It hard to beat a 390 hp Hemi. However, even though it sounds good. IMHO the Hemi's exhaust note leaves something to be desired when compared to a GM 5.7L.

I traded in the Lexus ISF, for something that haul my new (to me) 91 TBI 454. Probably going to be relying pretty heavily on the advice of some of the more experienced members for the rebuild.

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I see you got different fender too. How complete is the 454 TBI?

Martin
 
Yeah i got new (junk yard) fenders, doors, steering shaft, etc.

The 454 came out of a running but wrecked 91 1 ton. It has the heads, intake, exhaust manifolds, water pump, it would probably be easier to say what it doesn't have.

Thanks for the interest.
 
Did you score the, accessories, throttle body, computer, and harness?

Martin
 
I did not get the ECM, harness, or throttle body, but I was told that it was somewhat plug and play (I know there is some reprogramming the ECM). The guy who pulled it, may still have the harness, if you think its worth asking for.
 
A 454 throttle body is bigger than a 350 throttle body. You want that throttle body.

Martin
 
Ok, yes I did know that, and he doesn't have it. However I am thinking about going to tpmi or some aftermarket efi. Cost more but if i can 3 mpgs better than a carb, it will pay for itself fast. Thoughts ?
 
I don't know that you would see much of an improvement over the TBI.

Martin
 
After doing some research on these BBC's. It sounds like I am going in the wrong direction. I am only looking for 400-500 HP/ft-lbs (something a 327-502 CID can do pretty easy), but would like to get 13 MPG or so. It sounds like that just may not be possible with a 454 regardless of air/fuel intake combo. I wanted to go with a BBC because I feel there is some level of prestige and a cool factor associated with them plus I prefer the sound (not like a 350 with decent exhaust isn't just beautiful either).

The question now is do I try to convert one of the new 5.3L's to something in the 383 stroker range, take whatever SBC I want and go to some after market EFI (like a F.A.S.T system or something), or am I just kidding myself and I will get 10 MPG or less either way, so why not do it in style with a BBC.

Thanks for the advice
 
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Retraction

After doing some research on these BBC's. It sounds like I am going in the wrong direction. I am only looking for 400-500 HP/ft-lbs (something a 327-502 CID can do pretty easy), but would like to get 13 MPG or so. It sounds like that just may not be possible with a 454 regardless of air/fuel intake combo. I wanted to go with a BBC because I feel there is some level of prestige and a cool factor associated with them plus I prefer the sound (not like a 350 with decent exhaust isn't just beautiful either).

The question now is do I try to convert one of the new 5.3L's to something in the 383 stroker range, take whatever SBC I want and go to some after market EFI (like a F.A.S.T system or something), or am I just kidding myself and I will get 10 MPG or less either way, so why not do it in style with a BBC.

Finally, I am not an environmentalist by any means. I actually work in the Oil and gas industry, but you cannot deny the math ($3.60/gal / (13-10)miles/gal=$1.2/mile, so an investment of $3,500 in a EFI system to go from 10 to 13 MPG would pay off in $3,500/$1.2/mile or just under 3,000 miles, which I would like to put on the blazer in under a year after dropping the new engine in).

Thanks for the advice

Neve rmind the above math is flawed (and I am an engineer, sad). At least I caught it before somebody had to chastise me.

I think it should go more like this

$3.60/gal * (13 MPG - 10 MPG) = ($0.36-$0.28) $/mile or an incremental $0.083/mile. So it would 42k miles to make up for $3,500 investment, not including the time value of money. Looks like the BBC build is back on.

Still would like advice
 
Neve rmind the above math is flawed (and I am an engineer, sad). At least I caught it before somebody had to chastise me.

I think it should go more like this

$3.60/gal * (13 MPG - 10 MPG) = ($0.36-$0.28) $/mile or an incremental $0.083/mile. So it would 42k miles to make up for $3,500 investment, not including the time value of money. Looks like the BBC build is back on.

Still would like advice

Haha, yeah I read that first post, and was about ready to correct you, but you caught yourself. I would just go with a TBI 454. A very mild bbc build will be very streetable, and will have gobs of torque. Just find someone that can tune it on a dyno and burn you a chip for whatever modifications you make to the engine after you are done.

Martin
 
My Gen V-VI ish 454?

Bought a 454 from a guy who said he pulled it from a 91 chevy one ton, he was going to put it into this early 90's 1500, but ended up going with a LS1 or something like that. He sold it to me as a Gen V engine for $300 (which would make sense because of the vehicle it came out of).

Once I got it home and cleaned it up a bit, I am not really sure what it is. It's casting number is 12550313, from what info I can find, it is a replacement block Gen V block (somebody said it might be a L19 replacement block). However it has mechanical fuel pump boss & 6 bolt timing cover like the Gen VI motors. I do not believe that is has a roller cam like the Gen VI (just peaked in with the intake removed (looks like flat tappet lifters, the lifter bosses are not elongated like I have seen on the Gen VI's). However, I have heard that some of these replacement engines have provisions for a roller cam. Will have to take the water pump and timing cover off to tell more.

If anybody has any information on this type or information, or a knows of a resources where I might find said information, it would be much appreciated.

Also, any idea what a reasonable cost would be for engine machining, assuming it will have to be bored over .03", cleaned, magnafluxed, pressure checked, etc? Is it common for the block to have to be redecked and the mains aligned/honed?

Also, I have being reading up on engine rebuilding, purchased a copy of virtual engine dyno in attempt to build the perfect 454 in theory, but would ultimately like to stick to a proven recipe for my first rebuild. I have not found much literature that gives you exact dyno'd combinations, especially for truck engines. I want some legitimate horsepower to be able to move around on the interstate, but do not want to move to rectangular heads, loose low end torque, and have my powerband begin 3000 RPM.

Anybody have any suggestions of to create 500ish ft/lbs 400-500ish hp, 454 via TBI?

Thanks

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