79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Ok guys I am taking the step to start my 6.0l swap. Thanks to this forum and all of the great input from you guys who have gone before me, I am taking the first step. Tomorrow I am picking up a 6.0l 4l60e from a 2003 GMC Denali with 45K. So I am going to need alot of help. I OK with turning wrenches but this computer stuff scares me

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Subscribing.....

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Heck yeah man, dive right in. There is WAY more than enough knowlegeable and helpful people on this forum willing to help. Cant wait to start one myself.

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Yea I would not have tried this if I had not read the thread by Bob with the 5.3 swap. He made it sound easy. I got the engine today I will post pics as soon as I can. Thanks for the encouragement.

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

cant wait to see some progress on this. those 6.0's are no joke.

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

:metal: here goes another!!!

right on man... congrats on the big decision. you have to understand though... Bob's a FREAK! he can make cutting up a dash in a '68 look like just another day at the office!;)

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

This is my truck. It was the 1st truck my dad bought new 1979 GMC Sierra 305 2bbl. He loved this truck. He passed away in 1996 and my mom asked me to take it a couple of years ago, been working on it ever since. Here are a few pics:gmc2:

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

more pics

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

nice pics! truck looks like it's going to be killer!:metal:;)

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Sweet truck. Got mine the same way, three years later though.

Can you show how you mounted your seats?

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Subscribed fo sho!

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

The floor had to be cut and lowered 4 1/2 to 5 inches. Gas tank had be relocated to where spare tire was. The guy who did my paint and body was like Bob a "FREAK" when it comes to cutting and welding and making it looking factory.

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Wow, thats some serious nice work.


Thanks for the pics.

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Good Job!!
Looking for all the help I can get on my 5.3 swap and good luck on your swap!
Subscribed

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Bob aka "Glock" has a lot of great info on his thread and I will pass along any thing I learn, what to do and what not to do.

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Ok here it is...........:smoke:

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

gotta love the 6.0

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

:metal:

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Sweeet !!!!


I will be watching this one !!

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

subscribed :ito:

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

what seats did you use?

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

That engine is clean. The truck looks great. You'll love the 6.0L power.

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

man, i've been looking over your pictures and have a few questions?

1st can we see more?:lol:

but seriously, is that a custom piece of chrome that runs on the back side of the cab? and what did you do to that floor in the #12 post? i know you said it was lowered... but i'd like some details because that looks really good with those seats! looks factory....

and btw what mounts are you going with for the ls??

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

X2 on more pics. I would really like to see one of the colors together. Looks really good in the little bit we can see!

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Dennis the cab chrome is from LMC truck. The floor is the brain child of the guy (Max Craft) who did my paint and body. He is truly an artist. He positioned the seats and cut slots in the floor pan. positioned 4" channel to the right height and welded it in with sheet metal around it to close it off. He drilled holes on the channel and welded in studs to bolt them down. The seats are from a 2001 Sierra.

As for what engine mounts, I'm not sure any suggestions? I am in the planning stage now. still collecting parts. So I need all the help I can get on who to do the wiring harness, ECM re-flash, engine mounts, trans mount, Do i need a new trans crossmember or can I relocate? So all who have gone before me, lets here what you used..... Thanks in advance!!!!

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Jonboy: I posted a few more pics. The colors are from the 2008 GMC truck line. Ming Blue and Birch Silver. Sorry I don't have the color codes. The tag on the front is in honor of my dad. He was a POW in Korea for 3 years. He passed away in 1996 and he loved this truck. He bought it new in 1979, 1st new truck he ever bought. So when he passed I had to restore it.

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

sure is a beauty... i love to hear stories like this. nothing more special than something that was bought new years ago and passed down through the family.

as for the mounts, i was going to go with BRP http://www.brphotrods.com/Truck%20LS1.html but they cant garantee that the stock a/c will work in the stock location. still reasearching this...

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

This is a nice looking project! I will tuned in to watch this one.:ito:

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Well, I think you did your dad proud. The colors really look good together. From the first pics, it almost looked like a white diamond in the middle, it was hard to tell. The truck really turned out sharp.

For the PCM and wiring, you might try Jesse at wait4me, or Brendan at LT1swap.com

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Dennis: BPR is local for me I live in the Atlanta area. I called Phil the owner and he is a restorer. He has done alot of these LS conversions. I think you have to move the AC pump that is why I am still looking. The problem is the rear of the compressor hitting the crossmember the side rails will clear. I am looking into moving the engine forward 1". Have you heard about this. Also BRP's kit includes a new trans crossmember and I was told just move the stock one. Any input on this?

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

you can just move the tranny cross member instead of buying another.

i talked to Jeff over their yesterday and he wants me to send him an a/c compressor with factory lines to try and mount it to their test engine/truck. the only reason i'd go with their kit is if i didnt have to get a top mount a/c compressor and bracket. that would make up the price difference in the plates vs. brp's kit. i heard if you move the motor forward an inch you will have problems with finding headers/manifolds to fit and the trucks weight balance will be off or something like that.(?)

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

maybe you'd have better luck with those guys at brp. they honestly pissed me off the other day wanting me to ship out my own compressor on my own dime and not guarantee their kit and headers will work.

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

I will call Phil and take him my AC compressor and when I get an answer I will post and let you know. Good to know about the trans crossmember I need to save money were ever I can. I like BPR's headers. Very nice looking......

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Subscribing...

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

when you do a swap you will always run into clearance problems, you will need an A/C relocator to top passenger. I have seen some notch the frame to clear the AC but i wouldn't recommend that. You can use the same trans crossmember.

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

Another cool swap!

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

I am enjoying my 6.0 in the 71!

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

79gmc5.3

Great truck. We have a lot in common. My Dad, a Korean and Vietnam Vet, purchased his 79 Heavy Half GMC brand new and he gave it to me before he died in 2001. He ordered it just the way he wanted it: Oyster colored high-back buckets/headline/door panels etc (must have been a 70s thing), power everything, 2WD and two-tone blue. You can see a bit of it in the avatar.

I'm in the middle of totally going through it right now. At some point I need to start a build post.

Did you have to find another grille or is that the original? I know mine is bit different.

Again, great truck. I'm inspired again.

Mike

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

The grill in most of the pics is a 79 chevy from GM Goodmart because I could not find a new GMC Grill for that year. And the GMC grill in the front pic is the original I cleaned real well painted the whole thing black, taped off what I wanted to keep black and sprayed a silver/pewter and used a torch red for the GMC letters. And cleared the whole thing. Turned out much better than I thought it would. :metal:

Re: 79 GMC Sierra LWB 6.0L swap
 

I think I've said this before, but dang I love your truck.