What I've learned from LS swapping my Squarebody C10

[@undurdalip]

The part about doing three dohnuts and getting a cheese burger had me in tears 😭

[@davidbaxter6843]

Dude, I love you. Tell it straight. 1/2 the idiots don’t even have a car or truck just like you said yet they think they are an expert. Getting ready to do my 1st LS swap, but have been doing cars for a long time. We will be in touch. I am a Michigan boy also.

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

Sweet!

[@hardball107]

All wise words. I have been swapping LS's for almost 15 years. Did a few of my own, currently doing a chopped '68 C10 I put a small block in 12 years ago but mostly I help out friends and family as long as they want to work and have the cash. That's my biggest bitch, everyone wants a fast car but have moths in they're pockets or have other priorities. My experience is the same as yours and there are a bunch of workarounds to save money especially with the fuel system and mounts. I'm currently doing a '52 Chevy Deluxe for a buddy, just a cruiser but wants the reliability. He sourced a 4.8 with a 4L60 out of a running Silverado, bought the whole truck for $200 it had been hit between the cab and box hard. 161k miles. $50 Ebay mounts, a Walbro 255 pump and a Corvette filter/regulator with lots of hardline, everything else stock including the A/C. Hope to have it running in April. My C10 is getting a 5.3, oil pump, long tubes, cam and valvetrain upgrades. It sets on the same mounts so I could lift the engine retaining the stock oil pan and because the truck had an electric fuel pump for the carb I built a surge tank with a high pressure Walbro 255 in it. The 6psi pump circulates low pressure fuel through the tank and back to an unused tank vent unregulated. The high pressure pump feeds the engine and an Aeromotive regulator sets the pressure and returns the fuel to the filler neck of the tank. Easy-Peezy and cheap, I used a gutted heat exchanger tank out of a boat. I learned a lot on the first few swaps I did, I cut my costs almost in half and you can always upgrade later if you think you need it. PS- I also learned the hard way not to buy an incomplete engine.

[@MW-gh3lt]

I'm building a 79 fleet side shortbox. Thanks for all of the information man. Saved me alot of money on what I actually need to buy.

[@deanm4138]

Thanks for the straight forward to the point no bullshit videos Jr 👍

[@jasonjennings5833]

Realistic goals. Jr knows what he is talking about. This is my favorite group. He weeds out the assholes on the Facebook group the best he can. There is a lot of great advice. I’m glad I found it.

[@raythomasson8660]

Thanks JR. Have been waiting for a fresh new video. I appreciate your help and content.

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

My pleasure!

[@jeffcampbell2710]

You're absolutely right. I'm about to do my first one (why I waited I have no clue). And all the stuff for sale, different advice. I clicked on a video of a swap in a 66 Chevy truck, exactly what I'm doing. It's my driver/haul wood truck. And it was "You gotta have these $300 mounts, and you'll find them in our store". Or it was this, that, it was more like a home shopping show. If I had known more about the LS, I would've waited in 98 and not put a new Crate motor. It's been a great engine, good low torque for work, but not much go after a good takeoff. But, 10 miles to the gallon with the 3:73.

[@shadetreeracer3715]

I'm on #9 now just finished a 68 yours turned out good 👍

[@UcantBeSerious03]

thanks JR for all that you do. I never owned a LS yet - I'm a big block type guy

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

Big blocks are awesome, I'm just too cheap lol

[@sb0mb]

Let me introduce you into an 8.1/8.8 LOL

[@designandbuild3953]

Love your videos man! Good advice to bring me back down to earth after an overthinking orbit. Best of luck on your new business as well!

[@TylerRogersUSA]

Good timing on this one, my LS2 for my e30 has a thrown rod and I got really hung up on needing another aluminum 6.0... just pulled an iron 5.3 from the yard to get her rolling. Down the road if I feel like it's heavy and missing power I can build up an engine on the side

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

That's about exactly it... Get it running now, do the other stuff later, and later may never even happen lol

[@TylerRogersUSA]

@@TheDrivewayEngineer yup, it's finally sinking in to my thick skull. Thanks as always for taking the time to make content

[@TylerRogersUSA]

@@TheDrivewayEngineer Hate to bother you but I'm a few too many hours into understanding the ECU flashing with TunerPro and a homemade bench harness. (Confirmed working with PCM hammer) I have a 2003 5.3 with an OS 12579405 ECU but I want to put a manual trans behind it (T56). Is there an XDF thats going to play nice with me or am I going to have to paste all new engine parameters on a 5.7 LS1 reference? Is that even possible with my OS#? From what I'm reading, messing with the Deceleration fuel cutoff isn't fun. Sorry to bug you with specifics- I'm feeling like I picked the wrong ECU at the yard...

[@CRXSLY]

2 years on running my pure stock LQ4/4L80E (find a local junkyard) in my '86 C10 and just love it! i would change a thing! keep the good work mister J ;)

[@SD70ACE-]

I approve this message. I love how you put things in context...

[@dillonblossom9992]

Thank you for the shout out much appreciated

[@kalbcorp]

170$ Ls 👐 Great to see videos keep up the good work JR

[@74stevedc]

Great lessons JR, most people have never ridden in a fast vehicle, never mind built one the internet is filled with some interesting characters.

[@squarebodybuilder]

Solid rant and everyone is an expert on LS swaps now I'm noticing. Prices to find donors is gotten out of hand. I ended up insulating my pole barn like yours with 1" foam board, insulation bat and covered with plywood (back when it was cheap) turned out great. holds heat much better. cheers!

[@RedEyedPatriot]

The only thing I'd change on my swap is id held out and gotten a 4l80e. Which I Will be doing soon, not gonna put a huge cam in it but I'm gonna get something better than stock. Just gonna daily the shit out of it. Always appreciate your videos.

[@hickoryridgefarms]

This is the same truck I want to build but a fleet side box. Subbed!

[@lanejohnson7656]

I have a lot of favorites when it comes to LS swaps... Pretty much all of it is my favorites. I was showing co-workers my Sonoma LS build and one that bought a S10 with a completed SBC swap proceeded to tell me everything I will have to do and need to complete the swap. Guy hasn't even touched his truck with a wrench and has no F'n clue the differences between swapping a LS and a SBC. I've literally had people that have never even owned a LS argue to the point it almost turned into a fist fight that a stock bottom end LS will blow up if you put a turbo, nitrous or whatever on a stock bottom end. You HAVE to buy all new head, rod and main bolts because they are single use and the gaskets will leak if re-used. Wiring harness information for a Sonoma/S10 is a treat. You go to a forum and people may say they have integrated the LS into the Sonoma/S10 but it appears its an evil sin to share any information because apparently Currentperformance owns the market on LS swapping a Sonoma/S10.. Especially when it comes to wiring. Literally had people look like they about ready to fist fight when you tell them if you are rebuilding the engine before you stick it in or if you are just putting it in direct from the donor/salvage yard. They get so mad like its their truck and their money... Probably my favorite is the people that say "The truck won't be worth the work and money once you are done".. My favorite response to those slow leaks is I didn't realize I'm doing it to sell and to make a profit..lol.. Another fun one is in my case my truck is currently 3 different colors. I hit a deer with it with the 4.3 in it so the front clip is currently primer, the bed is another color because instead of fixing dings, dents and rust around the wheel wells I bought a $200 bed. The cab is another color and has rust on the rockers and cab corners (floors and everything else not only still have paint but all the build stickers). Its hilarious that people see rust on cab corners and rockers and call it a rust bucket. I think the funniest guy was one that payed $2,500 for a truck and $4,500 for his LS and transmission and said after he gets dings repaired he is going to paint it.. He says don't start off with a rust bucket..lol... I paid $1,500 for the Sonoma and drove it 4+years with the 4.3, $200 for the rust and virtually dent free front clip, $200 for a rust free and virtually dent free bed and $500 for the entire LS donor truck.. Cab corners and rockers are maybe $150 and not terribly hard to put in and I will be just as ready for paint...lol

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

The S10 community is interesting for sure... That's why I mentioned looking for advice in more than one group, it seems, in every market, certain people, like Current Performance, win all the hearts and minds, and that's the only way to do it from then on lol. It's never the only way to do a thing.

[@lugnut2612]

Dude,i just stumbled on this channel,and im a new sub! No one will tell it like u did to the point.Its nice to hear a down to earth answer to all the internet hype. Im ready to buy a hp tuner and get a cheeseburger!!!

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

Thanks for the sub!

[@prancstaman]

Happy Sunday to you too. :)

[@endo71]

Subscribe. I needed this video today. Building an 82 C10 and have a complete donor truck. LQ4 but I’m keeping my stock 4 speed (several reasons), for now anyways. The part that I’m hung up on is electronics. I’m building something I can cruise in with my little guy, fry some tires, that’s it…not racing it. I just wanna have the factory loom redone and run a microsquirt or HP Tuners but of course everyone is trying to get me to spend $1-2k on harnesses and fuel management. It’s a deep rabbit hole.

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

You can use the factory harness as is without doing anything, if you want

[@victorcoates2838]

Drive it around in the city a few Sundays and drive it to Alabama once just for my dad to see his old truck with a heart transplant

[@matthewward627]

You might make a lot of sense, I totally agree.

[@71branch]

As usual you're 100 percent CORRECT. 😀🤙🏿👍🏿

[@scoopthereal2353]

Great knowledge

[@76ChevyC10]

love the truck! bought a 04 van with a 6l and 4l80 thinking of swapping my 76 c10 this summer

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

Do it! You'll love it!

[@christopherwall5018]

You’ll love it !

[@gentilejoshsaved1646]

Whatever, that'll never work!!! Haha I love your attitude. I say it all the time, " you can't always buy your game" Maybe, but those guys are supporting guys like me anyway.

[@jasoncook1085]

Good advice brother I appreciate it

[@pauldeyoung1681]

Hey jr what did you use for boost control? I am currently putting a gt45 in my elcamino. (Same build you have in Darrell) . I followed exactly.

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

This specifics will be in an upcoming video, but I just keep it simple with a wastegate and a spring lol

[@derelict_wanderer]

Need to put some faded graphics on the door and officially make that thing your personal shop truck. As far as straightforward swaps, fullsize Jeeps are really easy. There's a guy on that specific LS swap group that makes reasonably priced motor mounts that bolt into the factory frame horns and allow adjustability fore/aft and side/side to get the engine where it works best for you. I went against all the naysayers and kept the 727. I had no desire for a electronic transmission, plus had just had the 727 rebuilt. Everyone said I was wasting my time, but NOBODY could back up their statements with reasons other than the advance adapter kit was incomplete in the hardware dept. I had to make a couple of trips to the store for bolts, but it worked beautifully. Yeah, some things had to be thought out. The shifter linkage had to be mounted differently and I had to fab a small bracket. A Lokar cable for kickdown mounted to the dbc throttle bracket controls the shifts. I couldn't be happier. I did my own research. Ignored the crowd saying it couldn't be done/I was wasting my time. Oh, and I am using the 4.8 when they all claim (like you say they do) "bUt YoU nEeD a 6-pOiNt-Oh!" The 4.8 has double the horsepower stock over the original motor. It also has 15-20 lb-ft more torque. It does just fine.

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

A shop truck I won't drive 5 months out of the year isn't very helpful lol

[@derelict_wanderer]

@@TheDrivewayEngineer Yeah, but for those other months.... Just imagine. A summer cruise in and free advertisement....

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

I'm good 😂

[@roadmasterk6019]

Very impressive, this upload...

[@Justwalkawaygarage]

You should do a reoccurring myth-busters video series of all the bullshit people post. This was awesome.

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

That's a really great idea!

[@alonzofloyd8140]

Nice Trip

[@trentdawg2832]

Where did you get the rims for Darryl and what size are they….I have a ‘73 short bed fleetside and those rims look very attractive to me!!!!

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

They're US Wheels Rat Rods, 17x9

[@Darkeiser.7]

You got lucky on motor and trans. Yards around here are generally picked clean.

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

I didn't get lucky at all. Not one bit. I have videos pulling engines everywhere from Canada to Mississippi and everywhere in between without issue.

[@willwebb1934]

I Appreciate this video!!!

[@The_Nameless_Entity]

I just picked up a 79 stepside also and was thinking about doing a LS swap. Dont know much about LS swaps, so your video has a ton of useful information I could use. Could you recommend a wire harness that is simple to follow?

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

My chassis harness is a universal Speedway unit. My engine harness is factory truck

[@KazDolla1]

I get you said do not buy an incomplete engine. But honestly I purchased an lq4 missing alternator , waterpump and harness. .. honestly it's difficult to find a 6.0 for a good price. So I feel it was best that I go to a pull apart and pull everything myself. And I feel I saved several $100 dollars

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

If it was in a Pull A Part, you could have just added everything from a 5.3 for one price, which is what I should have done, but I was being lazy that day

[@davidgriffiths5897]

just got fed up with the 350 in my 69 impala time to swap it out to a 5.3 with a th400 behind it... wish me luck lol

[@Swaps-n-Stuff77]

Love the information you provide for us D.I.Y. Guys

[@bradschultz1011]

great video. the facebook groups are brutal for telling you that it takes $3000 (or some dumb number) to do a swap. What did you do for the fuel lines? I dont want to buy all kinds of fancy "an6" lines and shit. Is it possible to use the stock steel lines?

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

Depends on what you're starting with. I couldn't use my steel lines on my C10 because there was only 1, it could have been a return though. My fancy AN lines were like 40 bucks lol, if you check the link in the description, all the lines and fittings I used are in there.

[@jrskeels6040]

U made a 12 minute video on lessons learned on la swapping a c10.... man im willing to bet I could make a 12 hour video on lessons learned lol. Some of them I learned and then relearned lol.

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

Same, I still do the same dumb shit sometimes lol

[@jrskeels6040]

@@TheDrivewayEngineer yea man I got a c10 and a c20 suburban in the driveway that I sometime wonder why I did what I did lol. Like why I cab/chassis dually swapped c20....

[@sipdunkin]

Arkansas has the best prices on car stuff

[@lilpoindexter]

I wanted an LQ4 so I bought a 2005 yukon denali😀

[@nathankrug111]

How much could you realistically build a junkyard turbo kit for? , I have an 02, 5.3 with a stage 4 BTR cam , built 4L 60 E with 3200 Stall converter 4:11 gears with locker 12bolt , I swapped this whole set up in an 81 long bed cut down to a short bed with a lot of help from watching your videos. The truck is honestly so much fun to drive now it will burn out anytime I need it too I’ve just always been intrigued with a single turbo on an LS

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

Lotta variables, I could probably do it for 600 bucks or less if I wanted to build the absolutely cheapest kit and the lowest price was the end goal

[@dresdensvo]

@@TheDrivewayEngineer He wants a "KIT" as in all the parts in a box with detailed no thinking required instruction book . Cheap requires cutting welding and problem solving ability's that are never a "kit"

[@bluecollarhotrods9781]

Good advice on the Lokar linkage. I have yet to try, but I keep thinking that the factory cable from a 99+ truck or SUV can be adapted.

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

Probably, it is a push/pull style

[@sb0mb]

Lokar linkage is a pos hated every one i have messed with, half the time if i can incorporate a factory column with shift cable it works like it is supposed to.

[@NDB390]

Would really like to talk to you and reach out somehow for some solid info. Not really sure what would be the easiest way.

[@nopleaseno2515]

……if I were you…..that’s the line I always get!!!

[@knarfyarg2737]

Hey how can i contact you with a stoopid question but id rather here the straight up answer from you

[@ictcarguy3162]

Is the ECU mount the OE style for the 99-06 trucks? Looking for a better mount set up.

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

No, it's a late 90's S10 mount

[@ictcarguy3162]

@@TheDrivewayEngineer Much appreciated!

[@bigredracer7848]

21👍's up DE thanks for sharing

[@bigredracer7848]

lower compression bigger chamber more fuel in air in the cylinder makes you go faster if you're naturally aspirated this is the ticket if your turbocharged you just got to hang on

[@ernestomejia110]

what manifold is that holding the turbo? Also, I have a GT 45 turbo that I havent installed yet, but it looks huge and is heavy. Have you ever heard of any issues with those exhaust bolts holding all that weight?

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

It's held up thousands of them for thousands of miles.

[@JSCB-365]

If you're gonna get an incomplete engine for whatever reason like more CUBES or lower milles get a complete one for parts so you don't drive that I'll up.

[@augienajera642]

Hell Yeah!!!

[@trentdawg2832]

Has Darryl always been a 6.0 or did you have a 4.8/5.3 in the beginning?

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

It went from a 406 to a 6.0, for now.

[@ictcarguy3162]

Did you rebuild everything while you were at it? Lol.

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

This engine did get new cam bearings when the old ones came out with the cam lol

[@jasoncook1085]

I think I would have to have a bacon cheeseburger lol

[@codyharris7288]

do you ever change the ring hap for boost I'm building a 408 stroker that I want to boost

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

Nope

[@808redneckify]

Hahaha clowning on that guy that said buy a holley 😆 I didn't know holley was all bluetooth no wires lol 😆

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

It really irked me lol

[@jay75460]

Where you get those wheels

[@87shaneOmac]

J.R. What’s a good budget converter for my 05 Colorado with a 4.8 sloppy stage 2 gt 45 and a 4l80e?

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

Ryan Jans at Tampa Converter

[@87shaneOmac]

@@TheDrivewayEngineer Thanks. I called and he was really helpful. Having him build me one.

[@83regal19]

👍🏽

[@19ADAM80]

👍🏼

[@cannabean5]

Like the smoothie wheels. 17"?

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

Yep, US Wheels, 17x9

[@raythomasson8660]

And no, my 2 LS engines are still sitting on the floor of my shop, "soon

[@ModernBeastx1]

Well the only thing i would disagree with is the "All of the fastest ls in the world are 4.8 and 5.3s" that's not true at all. But otherwise nice video.

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

I didn't say the fastest LS in the world. I said the stock bottom end record holders.

[@ModernBeastx1]

@@TheDrivewayEngineer My mistake.

[@joshuarivera7622]

Question, what do u recommend for oil pan? Can I use stock?

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

On a squarebody? My pan is stock

[@joshuarivera7622]

@@TheDrivewayEngineer all I needed thank you brother

[@robertr6153]

@@TheDrivewayEngineer How far down does your oil pan hang? I am putting a 5.3 in a 73 GMC 1500 2wd, and I'm going to lower it about 2". Don't want the pan hanging down below the crossmember and hitting on stuff. "some say" you need to get a shallower car oil pan or it will. I have the engine, complete. It's a 5.3 out of a 99 silverado. I am also going to keep the manual transmission that came in the 73.

[@ramirezbrian86]

Ugh do you have a HP tuners I can buy?

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

No, they're all over the internet for 300 bucks lol

[@julzam9660]

Discovery Channel bull is right. Lol

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

They've gone a long way astray from showing Jessie James beat a piece of sheet metal until it's a gas tank lol

[@alldabeanzracing9650]

how much power you going for with the gt45? 500-600?

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

It made 580 last time and ran out of fuel

[@TheDrivewayEngineer]

But, I really don't care lol, I wouldn't even put it back on except to show people how easy a basic setup is, and that they, again, don't need all the bullshit the internet tells them to buy

[@sinistersilverado965]

The 4.8's are faster because they get better traction because they progressively build boost

[@nathanielmackinnon6738]

Lmfaoooo 😀😀😀 love it

[@stivic923]

The swear words in this video have really offended me

[@lanejohnson7656]

I'm sure he is sorry...lol

[@SweatyFatGuy]

I agree, getting the entire vehicle is much better than just a bare long block. Not many people can park 15 trucks in the yard for parts though, but one should be enough. Those guys who claim they know everything, but have never built anything, drive a crap box, and don't work on their vehicles are annoying at best. They are all over the internet. In Michigan... yeah, I am stuck here too, in the UP. Its freakin cold up here right now, it says 2F right now. I've had a 76 C10 for about 25 years, had a Pontiac 400 in it for a while, but needed it for a GTO. Swapped a 454 in the C10 and the 4mpg was a bit much even with a 700R4 behind it. Looked for an LS to swap in, found a 5.3 in the local junkyard, they dropped the price from $650 to $300. Its still sitting on a stand. Found a 6.0 with a broken lifter, so it got a cam and 706 heads, then dropped in the truck with a Th350 I had laying around. Last summer I got a bit nuts, and started dragging home all the 2500s I could find, because my 99 is beat to death but only has 130k on it. Don't judge me, I do lots of vehicle builds, everyone needs 70+ vehicles, right? Finding 2wd transmissions is tough here in the UP. 4x4 is easy. So even though I can rebuild them, I still need to find the tailshafts and housings to convert them. Managed to find a couple 2wd 4L80s, one from a van with the vortec sbc in it. Still works. Now I have something like eight 5.3s and seven 6.0s, a 4.8 and the 5.7 in the 98 Formula. Im a huge Pontiac nut... not an LS guy, go figure. Don't ask how many Pontiacs I own, and only the 98 is not Pontiac powered. yeah... I'm nuts. I gotta get the C10 running, it makes yard tetris so much easier when they run, and I need a parts chaser. Have 80 and 88 short box 2wds that need a swap too. Good thing I have plenty of engines and parts now. Might be selling the 80 when I get it done. Its a manual trans truck so I need to find a 2wd manual trans for it. Summit had them for sale $1500 brand new... so, there is that. I'm new to putting videos up, not new to working on and building stuff. Big into ethanol, I make it from tree sap and cattails, allows me to run 13:1 compression in my 455s as daily drivers. Also cheaper than pump gas, and way less than race gas. So making vodka is part of the hotrod project too now.