LS Swap Chevy Squarebody 1980 K10 with a NV4500

[@evanwachtendorf2083]

Good job Jon! Everyone watching this grab your favorite bottle of hooch and take a shot every time he call his rig a bad boy.

[@JonHolovach]

😂

[@raylandavazobadilla2867]

Nice swap, I am in the process of building my k10 but with transmission 700 and np208. Greetings from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico

[@JonHolovach]

Nice 👍

[@03nike80]

Nice I have a 76 k20. You got close to the set up I want in mine eventually.

[@the_uhhh_merica]

I tell ya what, I have almost the exact same set up, very very close, I opted for a mild cam, and a pro charger tuned for ideal daily driving. Don’t get me wrong, the pro charger was over kill but being able to pull a camper and accelerate going up a decent incline, or take it in the bogs is nice. Buy a 6.0 stock will haul a square body with no issues I tell ya

[@angiesmith9196]

A stock lq4 swap with an exhaust and performance tune normal dynos at around 360hp at the crank so yeah perfect choice for budget reliable power

[@joshpeterson7216]

Just picked up my Nv4500, waiting on the 205 and will bolt together this week...

[@JonHolovach]

Nice 👍

[@JS.730]

Really clean swap got an 80 k10 wanna do the exact same thing 6L nv nice rig man

[@JonHolovach]

Thanks

[@alderbottomoutdoors9794]

What a rock solid rig! I love it.

[@MattiTheEverythingMechanic]

So its been 2 years since this was made so that should be plenty of time to know the answer to this question i have. I am reading theres a discrepancy in depth to the input shaft between the LS motors and the old motors. The bellhousings are the same, but the LS motors have a different input shaft length that the stock pilot bearing cannot support. (Im not saying it was replaced with a stock bearing, just that im reading it will fail if you do). Did you have a premature input shaft failure on this truck with that bearing or did it work out ok? Supposedly the ls2/ls7 pilot bearings would support the input shaft adequately.

[@JonHolovach]

No issues I used a bearing for a 2005 2500hd with a 6L and nv4500. Worked good no issues so far.

[@MrYz250fman]

I just have one question. Is this truck a bad boy?

[@JonHolovach]

It is a bit of a beast that’s for sure

[@stefanmilazzo3093]

Did you have any work done to your NV4500 before you put it in? Or do you usually go pretty easy on the thing? I’m putting one behind my 6.5 diesel and hear horror stories of other people’s breaking

[@JonHolovach]

Didn’t do a thing to it. Came from a 90s high mileage diesel

[@JonHolovach]

It does grind going into third if I am rough on it and it has worked well for me. Was a great swap to do.

[@godofyota9541]

Sweet build brother!

[@bowtiebuilding]

What would be the advantage of a NV4500 over a 4l80e? Nice work btw!

[@JonHolovach]

They are a stronger trans. Plus the gear picking is nice. But a 4L80 is a good trans also.

[@steelmill888]

Nice build

[@JonHolovach]

Thanks

[@gentilejoshsaved1646]

So is it worth the effort? I have been thinking of just fuel injecting the small block. Whats your thoughts?

[@JonHolovach]

Was definitely worth the work. The LS is a way better motor then the SBC. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I wouldn’t waste the money on doing fuel injection to the sbc. Not worth it in my mind. Use that money towards a LS.

[@cameronf2758]

Get a performance truck cam for it. Theyre awesome.

[@JonHolovach]

Maybe one day. It runs decent and strong. Needs rear suspension work the most

[@msantoni32]

Hey I’m getting all the parts together to do the same swap on my 84, is the sm465 clutch holding up? Also would a clutch kit for the nv4500 work with the LQ4 flywheel?

[@JonHolovach]

I am definitely burning off the clutch at times. 38s and 3.08 gears aren’t the best combo for that clutch. Yes a nv4500 clutch will work. They came that way.

[@msantoni32]

@@JonHolovach ok wasn’t sure if there was a fitment reason behind putting the sm465 clutch in. Thank you, I’ll be picking up 3/4 ton rears with 3.73s this week. Going to be a while until the ls and no go in but have been watching your videos. They are very helpful!

[@nates9353]

I put an nv4500 in my blazer. What did you use for a shift boot? I can’t find on that fits with my factory np208 shift cover. Yours looks decent.

[@JonHolovach]

I got it from Napa can’t remember the part number I would have to check with them tomorrow and see if they could find it.

[@JonHolovach]

OES 4199014 Napa part number. I had to cut the top hole bigger so the shifter could pass through. Dorman part number 9245405 also.

[@nates9353]

Thanks!

[@DarkLinkAD]

Thinking of slappin a sm465 to my 5.3

[@JonHolovach]

I did debate going that way. My sm465 kept piping out of 3rd. So that’s why I went to the NV4500.

[@DarkLinkAD]

@@JonHolovach Which one you think you'll get more miles out of

[@JonHolovach]

The NV4500 I like it a lot more then the old sm465. Between the old 350 and the 6 inch lift and 35 inch tires the sm465 wasn’t the best trans in my opinion. The 6L LS and the NV4500 make this truck awesome to drive

[@bvrgrn1038]

What gears are you running? That fuel mileage report would be fantastic. Thanks dude.

[@JonHolovach]

3.08s. Just did a longer trip and was 14 mph. It wasn’t all Hiway over half was gravel roads. It can be worse also depending on how hard I push it.

[@thomaspatterson4062]

Do you get driveline vibrations with that slip yoke sticking out that far?

[@JonHolovach]

No it actually drives good. I do get one from the front driveshaft when it is locked in 4wd. But that shaft runs at an extreme angle. I should’ve got the rear driveshaft made a hair longer though and got more of that slip yoke in there. But right now it all works ok.

[@adamprice4177]

How did you keep it stock an original with the key? What wires did you hook up from the square body bulkhead coming out of the firewall to fire up the computer

[@JonHolovach]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5SqmYiPgpyAd5o I have a video up about the bulk head wiring

[@jamazonnewyork3221]

cool transmission swap

[@JonHolovach]

Thanks

[@lsu614]

That’s the factory slave cylinder out of the 92 Howd you get it to attach to the pedals?

[@JonHolovach]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4q6dmWKqcapZ9U

[@JonHolovach]

Yes from 92 k2500

[@dommeister4004]

Know this is two years old but I’ve got an 83 K30 with a 454 that I’ve already swapped a nv4500 into. Just bought a lq4 and contemplating going carb with it intake and msd. You got any parts list for motor mounts headers hoses ect? Any insight is greatly appreciated

[@JonHolovach]

I have other videos up of the motor mounts and have a video of the headers. Rad hoses are from the 2005. Heater hoses are bulk. Don’t do carb. Fuel injection is the way to go. In my opinion.

[@dommeister4004]

@@JonHolovach well I’ve got a 5.3 I had a custom comp cam cut for and love the sound and drivability but it’s got a 4l60 and 3200 stall. I’m afraid of cam surge if i custom cut another cam so I’m leaning toward a 750 quick fuel and intake with msd to run it

[@dommeister4004]

What’s the bare minimal lift you think it would take to clear the stock oil pan? I know you’ve got 6” but would 2” or 4” springs clear the pan? This truck is bone stock far as height. It’s a cab and chassis truck with the narrow 14 bolt drw and Dana 60

[@JonHolovach]

@@dommeister4004 hard to say on lift. 6 gives me miles of room. Can’t see why a 4 wouldn’t work. 2 might be close but could work.

[@dommeister4004]

@@JonHolovach nobody around here has really swapped a k30 truck. I got nothing to really go buy. Hate to buy the oil pan but don’t want to buy a big front spring and the 235s look tiny on it

[@Mrsmuffins]

What headers

[@JonHolovach]

Schoenfeld Headers 1302LS1.

[@DdDten]

Fire it up

[@JonHolovach]

I have videos on her and on TikTok of it running

[@jayswisher575]

What headers did you use?

[@JonHolovach]

Schoenfeld Headers 1302LS1. Had to weld in a 02 bung in the drivers side one. It was in the way of my suspension.

[@jarvislarson6864]

Meh,early ls suck no low end power for almost no fuel mileage gain. gen 4 ls is okay,LT is where it's at