My 85 C10
 

Hello Everyone, I am in the middle of an ls swap on my 85 C10.
Tons of parts purchased... Needs body work like a dead man needs a cofffin. But here we go.

So far, Here's somewhat of a parts list...
'98 LS1/4L60e I have had complete sitting in my shop for 12 years or so.
(also have an L33 & a 4L80e I may throw in the truck instead)
1 set of 243 heads & 1 set of 799's at the machine shop getting cleaned up.
Plan in ditching the heads on the LS1 currently.
Lokar LS1 48" throttle cable
Lokar throttle cable bracket-billet Part #TCB-40LS1
Tejas Metal Works transmission mount
(Will be switching from the Dirty Dingo motor mounts to Tejas Metal works)
Drive shaft was made at DriveTrain of Mesquite in Mesquite Texas
PSI engine harness for LS1/4l80e
411 PCM, ditched the '98 PCM
Lunati double valve springs
Comp Cams pushrods
Lokar billet column shift arm kit Part #ACA-1800
Spectra Premium 31 Gallon tank for an 87-91 K5 Blazer or a Suburban
Part #
Spectra Premium Sending Unit Part #
Walbro intank pump
Corvette Filter/Regulator
Used a mix of Earls&Russel fittings for -6AN fuel line
Taylor 9mm Spark plug wires
NGK Iridium Plugs
Pace Setter long tube headers for 98-02 Body
Wheels-22" Coys
Pirelli tires 265/35r22 on the front, 285/35r22 in the rear.
DJM drop spindles/coils front, flip kit rear
(Competition Specialties Triangulated 4link with coil overs going on the rear soon along with Ridetech control arms Upper&Lower)

Re: My 85 C10
 

I guess some pics are needed!
Attachment 1598202
Attachment 1598203
Attachment 1598204
Attachment 1598205
Attachment 1598206
Ls1/4l60e are in the truck. Need some opinions on adapting the 4l80e to the LS1. I know Circle D have stalls available, but I believe the stall speed is only up to 3000rpm for their 278mm.

Re: My 85 C10
 

Attachment 1598207
Attachment 1598208
Transmission crossmember
Attachment 1598209
Ebay billet steering wheel
Attachment 1598210
Fesler billet lock knobs
Attachment 1598211
Lokar Billet throttle cable bracket

Re: My 85 C10
 

used 2 Earl Fittings to adapt to the two Metric fittings on the feed & return ends of the sending unit to -6AN

Re: My 85 C10
 

Attachment 1599417

Attachment 1599418

Attachment 1599419

Removed these center hood hinge springs. Started installing these hood struts from Wamrods!!! Awesome product!

Re: My 85 C10
 

Attachment 1599598
Notice the cable end of the rod. To use the Lokar throttle cable with the clevis end, the split at the end could be a problem. It also wont work with it running parallel with the firewall.

Re: My 85 C10
 

Attachment 1599599
Heated and pinched closed

Re: My 85 C10
 

Attachment 1599604
Heated and twisted

Re: My 85 C10
 

Attachment 1599605
Attachment 1599606
I'm using the 48" LS1 throttle cable, I can't remember which part number it is.
Later on, I'll install the billet pedal. Part #BAG-6165

Re: My 85 C10
 

Attachment 1599608

Attachment 1599609

Removed the junky two piece transmission crossmember. Installed the new one from Tejas Metal Works. I'll get some pics soon showing it from underneath the truck.

Re: My 85 C10
 

Re: My 85 C10
 

Got most of the way through installing the Wamrods hood strut kit. I still have to make small notches in the hood for it to close. Followed the directions with the kit, and drilled three 5/16" holes into the fender. Measure more then once! Luckily I have small hands and wrists but if you don't, mounting the pieces to the inside of the fender are difficult.

Attachment 1600003inside the passenger fender looking down.

Attachment 1600004looking at the passenger side of the hood towards the cab.

Re: My 85 C10
 

looks like youre getting it knocked out! keep it up!

Re: My 85 C10
 

Trying too! Working 30 hour shifts and off for 18 hours with no days off this year has really killed me having much time haha. Hopefully I'll have everything put together by the end of January. I plan on taking it all apart after that and having the frame and tons of other stuff powder coated in Hobbs, New Mexico.
I am going to try and knock out most of the body work while the frame is there then get it all back together.

Re: My 85 C10
 

yeh that will definitely take up a lot of spare time, however, itll come in handy when it comes time to start rounding up the rest of your parts. mine has been nickel and diming me already and im not even to the nickel and dime stage! haha

Haha, I understand! I have to buy a torque convertor and a few other things. After having the truck almost 16 years, I am almost done buying parts for it haha.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: My 85 C10
 

I finished up the Wamrods hood strut kit install today. Well worth it!

Re: My 85 C10
 

Re: My 85 C10
 

Attachment 1600645

Attachment 1600646

Attachment 1600647

Attachment 1600648

Attachment 1600649

Re: My 85 C10
 

Not sure how my pics came out sideways

Went with a 278mm Circle D 4l80e 3000-3200rpm stall convertor. Got it in about 3 business days. Looks amazing!!! Excellent customer service
Posted via Mobile Device

I also ordered a TCI flexplate that is dished like the ls1 flexplate and the convertor is made to fit the flexplate of the ls1/4l80e. Part number for the flexplate is #399753
Posted via Mobile Device

I decided to go ahead and get the billet throttle pedal from Lokar while I was ordering parts.
Posted via Mobile Device

I have been working 2 weeks on, 1 week off here more recently so I have a little more time now to plan ahead and work on the truck. My Circle D stall and TCI flexplate arrived during my 2 weeks on at work. Getting everything planned ahead to pull the 60e out and put the 80e in. I ran some fuel lines but one of the -6AN push lock fittings for the fuel rail didn't work so I had to order a different style of Russell's fittings. I test fit the 98-02 fbody efans to my 4 core radiator and started wiring up two relays. The wiring is temporary, I want to see if the efans work and still undecided on where to stick the efan relays.

Before I get started running wire for the fuel pump to the K5/Suburban tank.
What size wire should I use? I believe the amp draw of the walbro 255 fuel pump is somewhere around 10-15amps. If anyone could please help me out here, it would be greatly appreciated!
Posted via Mobile Device

Here is one of the 243 heads with Lunati dual springs, milled a tiny bit amd new valves.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: My 85 C10
 

I ordered 3" in/out BlackWidow race mufflers and a 3" Xpipe. Will post pics soon after I get them in and ran to the long tube headers!

Re: My 85 C10
 

Glad to see you're still at it.

I am using an LS3 water pump and I used 3/4 water pump spacers from ICT Billet. Not sure if I uploaded pics yet, I will try to. Also got the Lokar billet 71-72 C10 pedal mounted, Lokar 48" throttle cable ran from the pedal to the firewall. I still have to cut the cable to fit to the throttle body. Please excuse the mess of dirt, truck sits out side currently and west TX sucks
Posted via Mobile Device

The LS3 water pump has the same spacing as the truck accessories. Also has the upper radiator hose coming off of the driver side. I used a 2010+ Camaro upper radiator hose to go from the water pump to the radiator.
Posted via Mobile Device

The hole in the firewall is square. The Lokar cable wont be able to tighten down on the firewall with the supplied parts from Lokar. You can use some washers, although I don't know what size needed. I used two billet spacers that came with the Lokar pedal. If you look at the picture of the throttle cable going into the firewall, you'll see what I'm talking about.

So anyone using a Lokar throttle cable, make note that you'll have to do something to make it stay put at the firewall and attach to the rod on the pedal. I uploaded a picture somewhere on the first page showing a rod I twisted on an oem throttle pedal.
Posted via Mobile Device

In the engine bay pic, you'll be able to see the billet washers supplied with the Lokar pedal.
Posted via Mobile Device

Got my rockers back from the machine shop. Had the COMP trunnion upgrades installed. The second picture shows how beneficial the trunnion upgrades are. The stock rockers are anemic, and crack easily. A guy that worked with me has a '14 Camaro with an LS3, Fast intake, huge cam, etc. The car busted a rocker a day before I picked up the updated rockers for my C10. We were able to find one replacement rocker for his car. The LS3 rockers are not the same as the LS1 rockers btw.

Posted via Mobile Device

Not any interesting updates. 4l60e is out, 4l80e is ready to go in. Old speed cable, fuel lines, transmission lines, column shifter are out. I got new fuel lines ran, all the plumbing and the wire harness is all hooked up. I had to swap the water temp sensor that goes into the driver side head. The '98 LS1 has a 3 wire sensor, my harness was made for a 2 wire sensor. Luckily I dound one in my stash. I have to order an IAT sensor or the motor will run horribly. I don't plan on using a MAFS and going with a speed density tune.

Re: My 85 C10
 

I was thinking for a while how I was going to deal with the fuel tank filler on the blazer tank. I wanted the filler neck to go into the bed of the truck. I decided to cut the neck off and fill the hole on the tank. I ordered a neck and billet cap kit from Tanks, Inc. Here are some pics!

Re: My 85 C10
 

Re: My 85 C10
 

Attachment 1751078
Attachment 1751079

Re: My 85 C10
 

Re: My 85 C10
 

Today I got some of the parts I have been waiting on.
Wilwood D52 Black anadized calipers for the front
Still waiting on the rotors from SSBC that I ordered months ago...
Shoenfeld Headers-1302LS1 that were horribly packaged, hope they fit!
And Ridetech front end reinforcements!
Pics coming soon.
I also got everything needed to get the 4l80e in and it’s time to pull the 4l60e out.
I got the iat sensor so now I can hopefully start the truck and get it running after the headers are on.
Still have to do boring stuff like fill it with oil, coolant, Transfluid after I swap the trans

Re: My 85 C10
 

I was going to load the C10 on my trailer and take it home from my budddy’s shop to work on it. I had a flat tire on the trailer, so I got that fixed this morning. After that I noticed my trailer ramps were missing... I think someone took them from my buddy’s shop. I had the ramps custom made last year to load the truck onto my trailer. Looks like I’ll have to call and get more made, and I won’t be able to get much done on the truck until then.

Re: My 85 C10
 

Wel that just sucks. Sounds like the new ones, you better find a way of locking those down on the trailer, so no one can just walk away with them.