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My "Official" Stepside Restoration Thread and LS Swap 2021

Overview Gallery Discussion
Yes if I kept it stock I could have saved probably $1000+
Also I forgot to mention, none of this includes the fuel system because I already have a high pressure fuel system for the EZ EFI. Literally all I have to do is use the fuel rail to -AN adapter and hook up my existing hose. If I didn't have that, it's probably another $300+ in fuel system upgrades.
 
ZooMad75 said:
LS swaps are cheap they say...

I've come to the realization, most who keep that myth going are the ones that haven't done one. It's possible to go cheaper if you don't get new accessories like the power steering pump, water pump, better intake, and stick with stock manifolds. I spent a little less than you have so far when I did my 5.3, but the engine was free and I traded for the harness/ecm. But mine lacked any bolt-on parts so I had to buy coils and brackets, intake with injectors and fuel rail, manifolds, accessory brackets, power steering pump, alternator, flex plate.

Back to the build. Looking great so far. The preparation you are going through now is going to pay off at the install. Keep it up.
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Agreed, just think if they really do it that cheap how monkey rigged it is. I have so much into mine I bet I could have bought a GMPP 6.2L E-ROD.
 
More baby steps on the wiring:
I'm using a Dirty Dingo ECM Mount to bolt the aux fuse block and power distribution block to the back of the ECM. I'll make some stand offs for it to mount in that orientation on the driver's fender well.
This will be a fun challenge to get everything wired correctly while the hardest part is doing it cleanly.

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PS: Tessa tape is the shit. Gonna use a lot of it 8n this harness.
 
Made a MS Paint scribble of how I plan to wire my fuse panel.

I'm going to pre-wire an A/C compressor clutch relay because it's much easier to do now and I know sometime in the future I'll want to add A/C and I'll want the ECM to to control it. For now it'll just hold a "spare" relay. Unfortunately I ran out of fuse space so I'll have to use an inline fuse. I also plan to terminate the other A/C wires in the harness to a weather pack connector near the ECM rather than keeping them in the harness and having the connectors flopping around in potentially the wrong locations because I have no idea where the future compressor or pressure switches will go. When that time comes I'll just run a separate harness from my connector to wherever it needs to go.

AUX FUSE PANEL.png
 
New Wheels and tires!!

Found these on FB marketplace. Only 1k miles on the tires. 285/70R17 BFG KO2s on 17x9 American Racing aluminum wheels.

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The old tires where pretty worn and out of balance. The truck rolls much better now and the setup is a hair lighter and quieter. The new look is going to take some getting used to, I've had the old setup for nearly 15 years! Honestly having run the old MTZs for that long is a testament to how good those tires are. I put them through hell!



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Apparently my son approves:

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Fuse/relay panel finished!
This panel is a pain in the butt to put together with the green silicone weather strip pieces because you have to push the wire through first, then strip and crimp it because the terminals don't fit through the holes without making a larger hole than no longer seals around the wire. As you can see it gets a little busy with the jumpers and such. It got pretty hard to keep things at just the right length. Without those weatherstrip pieces I could have made it look a hell of a lot cleaner but hey this isn't too bad so I'll happily move on to finish up a few more connection and then I can fully loom the harness and call it done!

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Unfortunately this swap is going to have to wait until the winter now at this point as our second baby is due in about 4 weeks and there is way too much on my honey do list before he comes to properly dedicate the amount of time this will take to have fully installed. Besides it's best at this point not to take down a running and driving vehicle in the middle of the driving season/nice weather.
 
Looks great! When you get sick of the 5.3 and want to put a 6.0 in mind i'll take the 5.3 off your hands
Where in NH are you living? I'm in alton bay now. We will have to meet up someday
 
tomford said:
Looks great! When you get sick of the 5.3 and want to put a 6.0 in mind i'll take the 5.3 off your hands
Where in NH are you living? I'm in alton bay now. We will have to meet up someday
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Sent you a PM
 
Chevy305 said:
Also that Hurst shifter is soooo freakin sweat!!!! I rowed through the gears a few times and I'm pretty sure my dick moved a little. The throw is really short and tight. Its a HUGE departure from the very sloppy SM465. I can't wait take it for its test drive! burnout
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All these pictures are gone. Got any that work?

Martin
 
Ya Photobucket screwed up my photo links. I have all the photos, it would just take too long to fix them all. I replied to @78SWB build thread with a couple pics. I have plenty more I'd you'd like to see more.
 
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