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What would you be looking for in an LS swap tutorial / video?

K30Blazer

K30Blazer

1/2 ton status
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I plan on adding another video to my youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/jwmerrick/featured and want to focus on the LS swap. The first video I did that talked about my LS swap got a lot of views, but I feel that there is more to talk about.

When I was researching my LS swap I found myself searching between about 10 sites to get all the information I needed. Some were very detailed about the wiring, or cooling, or engine procurement but not one stop shop kind of thing.

I hope to address the major and minor common issues with this swap. This is how I have broken it down and would appreciate any feedback you think could make it better or more thorough

1.) what engine - LQ9 vs LQ4, iron block vs steel, junkyard vs turnkey etc. What to look for, what to run from. If buying from craigslist, what to expect, what is necessary
2.) what trans - 4L80 vs 4L65 700R4 etc etc. What, where and why
3.) Harness - custom made or de-pin and rewire the stock one
4.) PCM - where to get it tuned, why and how.
5.) Installation - Motor mounts, trans mount, engine crossmember. The art of fitting the LS.
6.) Cooling - steam vents, radiator requirements, electric vs manual fans
7.) AC and other accessories - how to fit them, what to look for regarding fitment etc. Headers.....
8.) SMOG - this is an issue for me in CALI but not one that isn't surmountable.
9.) Fueling - return vs returnless, PSI requirements.....


Anything else I might be missing??
 
since i plan on doing this in the next year or so... id say throttle body ie dbw or dbc and maybe cruise control. maybe adapters such as engine mounts and any adapters to work with different transmissions. for instance ill be using the nv4500 so what pressure plate or fly wheel for autos.
 
For number 1 you mean iron block vs aluminum.

Sounds like a solid idea.

For 2 the manual trans adaptations are very easy...you should include info on those. Understandably someone in California would not pass smog without an auto but some people like myself are smog exempt.

3 has me most interested. Difficult subject as everyone has their own needs. That would be the hardest video to make unless you have a harness made. Its one of those things where you need to have a harness spread eagle on the floor and dissect each part...

4 is another excellent subject. What comp to look for...will an auto comp work worth a damn with a manual trans? Different trans compatibilty? Again a smog thing for some people. What are the options when getting a tune etc...

Smog is a good one too. More specifically your experience with getting an inspection and re stickered....
 
white90burb said:
since i plan on doing this in the next year or so... id say throttle body ie dbw or dbc and maybe cruise control. maybe adapters such as engine mounts and any adapters to work with different transmissions. for instance ill be using the nv4500 so what pressure plate or fly wheel for autos.
Click to expand...
For what it's worth, I just pulled my NV4500 out. I have everything you'd need to mate it to an LS if you're interested.
 
also gonna add shift linkages, shifters and transfer case up there. Adapters needed, what works with what (good luck trying to mate a 205 to a 4L60) etc.
 
Exhaust fitting.....I know there's a lot of different ways to do it. I've read everything from cutting/reworking the frame to make headers fit, stock CTS-V and Trailblazer SS manifolds, regular old truck manifolds and aftermarket stuff like Shchoenfeld and Hooker.
 
right on. I am working on my outline right now and already up to three pages. No way this will all fit into one video. I try and keep each video under 5 minutes so I am thinking we are approaching about 5 videos.

Stoked to be doing this. I learnt so much doing this swap, but it was at the expense of exhaustive internet sleuthing. There seemed to be very few if any place that answered all the questions that I had. I hope to provide a walkthrough soup to nuts about how to do this swap in K series. What to look for in a motor, turnkey or craigslist, harness prebuilt or stock, manual or auto trans, what transfer case, LM7 vs LQ9 vs LQ4 etc etc

Keep the ideas coming. I am not gonna shoot this for a few weeks, but want to make sure I cover everything.
 
anyone know how to edit the original post. I would like to add the ideas into it but can't figure out how to do so. Want to add cruise control, gearing and drivelines to the outline.
 
+1 This is a great idea. There's lots of info and products out there for the 2wd trucks but not much for 4x4's besides the handful of builds on here. It'd be nice to get all of the manifolds/headers, exhaust routing, crossmembers, and other 4x4 square body specific stuff in place.

I'll be starting my CA swap pretty soon too so getting any smog related info put together would be a big help to a bunch of people. Stuff like no using headers (except shorties), how to do the exhaust with which CARB approved cats, exhaust routing and O2 sensor locations, hooking up the evap system, getting the PCM to read the fuel pressure and level so it functions like stock for the ref inspection, etc. I've found bits and pieces of info in a bunch of different sites but having it all in one place would be awesome.
 
Last edited:
4wheelinfury said:
anyone know how to edit the original post. I would like to add the ideas into it but can't figure out how to do so. Want to add cruise control, gearing and drivelines to the outline.
Click to expand...
At the bottom of each post that you create there should be an "edit" link, just under your sig. To edit the title of the post, use the "thread tools" button at the top right of the post.
 
This is a great idea! I haven't ready everyone suggestions but I think focusing on all the little details involved would be beneficial. Items such as the wiring, linkages, cooling hoses, trans cooler, etc. etc. There is a lot of information out there in regards to the motors and transmissions already.
 
I swapped in an LS/4L65 into my C10. Went easy, but I'm all nervous about dealing with something that needs 4x4. Say, I go 6.0/4wd 4L80 and want to use my passenger drop 241. I need to swap from cable to VSS tail cone. I don't know anything more than that (adapters, use speed sensor in trans or T-case? etc)
 
Transfer case / Driveshaft changes needed
VSS / Speedometer requirements

Great idea, I'll be diving into an LS swap at some point, I'll be watching!

-Rob
 
Must be a subscriber thing. I can't edit, oh well. I will keep the suggestions in here and make a master list


Here is what I have so far with the ones in bold added:

I hope to address the major and minor common issues with this swap. This is how I have broken it down and would appreciate any feedback you think could make it better or more thorough

1.) what engine - LQ9 vs LQ4, LM4 vs LM7, iron block vs aluminum, junkyard vs turnkey etc. What to look for, what to run from. If buying from craigslist, what to expect, what is necessary
2.) what trans - 4L80 vs 4L65 700R4 etc etc. What, where and why
3.) Harness - custom made or de-pin and rewire the stock one
4.) PCM - where to get it tuned, why and how.
5.) Installation - Motor mounts, trans mount, engine crossmember. The art of fitting the LS.
6.) Cooling - steam vents, radiator requirements, electric vs manual fans, trans cooler
7.) AC and other accessories - how to fit them, what to look for regarding fitment etc. Headers.....
8.) SMOG - this is an issue for me in CALI but not one that isn't surmountable.
9.) Fueling - return vs returnless, PSI requirements.....
10.) VSS, tailshaft, driveline, transfer case swaps and compatibility
11.) Throttle body options, sizes and drive by wire vs throttle cable
12.) How to add cruise control
13.) Shift linkages, shifter options, moving off the column etc etc
 
blazinzuk said:
Only thing I can add is make sure your info is correct.

There are alot of wrong info out there
Click to expand...
ha ha. For sure. I plan on crosschecking and fact checking several places and have a couple people lined up to proof read my outline before I spout off inconsistencies. Heck I might even post it up here for fun
 
All the little things that you don't think about when you start gathering parts or start the actual swap.

Although I have fixed my TPI 350, I still have the itch to swap in an LS/4l80 combo for some reason.
 
Will do, I do feel that if you do your homework and make a good purchase of the engine, you shouldn't have to get a lot of other stuff. I am gonna start a thread on the 4L80 vs 4L60 as I don't see the need for the 80 over the 60
 
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