LS Swap - Throttle Cable and TV Kickdown Question...

[PWagon]

I am installing a 5.3 LS engine (drive by cable) in my '86 K5 Blazer, and I'm trying to come up with a painless way to connect my throttle cable to the throttle body.

I also need to attach some kind of adapter to the throttle body to accept my tv cable for the 700R4. Any suggestions for both throttle and tv? I'm looking for something like what's in the picture below...

 

[496truck]

TV Made EZ

http://www.tvmadeez.com/ls1_cam/

 

[Blue85]

Here's the geometry diagram from my B&M manual:

 

[dyeager535]

For the throttle cable, that is identical in design to the F-body '85-91 TPI throttle cable, which is what I am using in my truck (but I've got the TPI throttle body of course). It's too long, but there is plenty of room to route it without kinking it.

Bracket will be a bear most likely, but I still see these cars in the wrecking yards...

 

[PWagon]

I've looked at the TV Made Easy kit, and sweet Jesus!!!! ... I'm getting one-hundred-dollared to death on this engine swap! I don't know how you guys can afford to do this stuff. I'm quickly approaching $2500, and I'm not finished yet.

Do you guys have a cheaper solution to mating a K5 Blazer throttle and 700R4 TV cable to a LS 5.3? I'm about to start getting creative and welding up some brackets. My only concern is getting the geometry right on the tv cable bracket (that mounts to the LS throttle body). I just can't afford to buy anymore parts.

 

[dyeager535]

Go to a wrecking yard (or craigslist) and take the bracket and throttle cable off a camaro/firebird. The bracket is setup for TV/throttle/cruise, so the distance aspect of the TV cable should be solved pretty easily. AFAIK as long as the bracket is "close enough" so that at WOT the TV cable ratchets the mechanism without running out of adjustment, you are good to go. Only challenge will be mounting it to your motor, but if you can weld, you'll be fine.

At worst, and I cringe at the thought, you could cut the F-body throttle cable end (probably a nightmare to get out of a complete car) and take the bracket, which wouldn't be real pricey. If it works, great, but if not, you wouldn't be out but $10-20, and I'd think $20 to be a ripoff. But if you cut a good throttle cable, and find out it works, you'd have wasted a good piece.

Here is what the bracket looks like alone http://www.ebay.com/itm/85-92-Camar...Am-5-0-5-7-TPI-Throttle-Bracket-/160858024875 and here is what they look like installed http://www.transamws6.com/pics/formula/tpi_nos1.jpg Again, no idea if that would be something you could make work, but it's what I know.

 

[496truck]

I think you need the F body TPI throttle cable for it's length. The truck TBI cable will not reach to the front of the intake.

If/when I ever do this it's gonna be DBW throttle and 4L60E. No cables to mess with.

 

[Blue85]

Is the 2nd picture your setup? Do you already have a place to clip the end of the TV cable or are you trying to fabricate that? Jegs sells this:

but I also made one once out of some flat stock and used a machine screw.

I also think the F-body bracket will work, but you would have to fab up some mounts to tie it something... Jegs also sells various brackets for different conversions, but I don't see any that are bolt-on for LS.

Is there any kind of throttle cable bracket in place now? What year did these all become throttle by wire? Before that there must have been some kind of bracket for a throttle cable. Perhaps that bracket can be grafted together with a 700&TBI or TPI bracket.

 

[496truck]

IIRC

99-02 were DBC
03- were DBW

Or somewhere close to that range. Most did the swap using the 4L60E that came with the engine or a manual trans so a TV cable wasn't needed. And now the DBW stuff has been produced for many more years it's much more common.

 

[PWagon]

Is the 2nd picture your setup? Do you already have a place to clip the end of the TV cable or are you trying to fabricate that? Jegs sells this:

but I also made one once out of some flat stock and used a machine screw.

I also think the F-body bracket will work, but you would have to fab up some mounts to tie it something... Jegs also sells various brackets for different conversions, but I don't see any that are bolt-on for LS.

Is there any kind of throttle cable bracket in place now? What year did these all become throttle by wire? Before that there must have been some kind of bracket for a throttle cable. Perhaps that bracket can be grafted together with a 700&TBI or TPI bracket.

You wouldn't happen to have the part number for this would you? I'd like to order one, but I cannot find it on Jegs site.

 

[Blue85]

Look here: http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS-Performa...Cable-and-Extension-Brackets/1250058/10002/-1

 

[Teck]

Martin this is why I went to dbw, but I was going to have to rebuild my 700 too.
I totally understand the $100 to death thing.
This is one thing I would not try to cheap out on because if the TV cable is not right you can burn up you tranny real fast.
Sounds like you are getting it going. If I can be of any help let me know.