TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

6.0 LS2 and T56 6 speed swap. 1965 C10 short fleet BBW. Truck was bought new by my dad. He gave it to me a few years ago. Spent most of its life in a garage. Very good condition. The suspension is completely rebuilt, 4 wheel disk brake conversion, rebuilt 12 bolt rear with Eaton posi-traction, front sway bar. Rebuilt bed and under-bed gas tank with internal fuel injection pump.

The truck is to drive and use as a truck.

My overall direction is to keep the truck very much as it could have looked in 1965 with stock stance and update the electrical and mechanical systems to as modern a level as I can. Make as few alterations to the original truck parts as possible. Keep all the original parts.

Engine Swap OBJECTIVES:

• Good highway cruising. The 283 with 3 speed and 3.73 rear gears is not good for 70 mph highway cruising. Engine runs way too fast, likes to overheat, poor gas mileage.

• +20 mpg on average commute to work. I had an LS2 in a 2003 Vette and it averaged around 23 mpg on the commute.

• Clean running, low emissions. Use full 2005 level emissions systems except the fuel vapor recovery system.

• Use all the available electronic and mechanical systems possible that were on the 2005 engine: cruise control, drive by wire, power steering, hydraulic clutch, air conditioning, electric fans, OBDII gage info, etc.

• Keep all the original gages operational.

I did a lot of pre work before I took the truck off the road, end of August 2009. Here are some threads on that:

• Classic air cleaner for LSx motor
o http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=412824

• Hydraulic clutch conversion
o http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=300087

• Electronic dash panel
o http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=360205

• Power steering conversion
o http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=374519

• T56 Shifter location change
o http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=300892

• Hood spring removal and install
o http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=378660

• Fly by wire gas pedal
o http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=300335

• Cruise control stalk
o http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=324015

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

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Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

Took a little bit to read through all the info you had posted on there, but I gotta say that you've got one very nice pickup there. Congrats on the successful engine instal, and the very nice job of doing it. I'll bet she's a real cherry out on the road. Looking forward to followinga long with the AC install.

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

Amazing job! You are awesome.

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

Nice skills man congrats BUT... wheres the video :metal:

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

very nice install. I really like the little led panel.

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

Thanks Fryer. I follow your build closely. I got the same inspiration as Alan gives from some guys at work. Just do somthing on the project every day no matter how small and it will get finished.

Thanks. From your handle maybe I could have gotten some welding advice. What I mostly learned to do is sharpen tungsten.

Thanks shortbed. I guess I will have to borrow a video camera...

Thanks 68. Yea I like gages and lights.

TR

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

Well thank you. I'm afraid though that for the first time around my build is going to be pretty boring compared to yours. Not much in the way of cashflow to play with newer air/fuel technology, so I will most likely be rolling on a basic carbed setup (at least I am working with an Olds engine). But I will keep that thread going as my first assembly will not be the last time the truck gets torn apart. One bolt at a time, she'll get there. Thanks again for sharing all of the photos and information on your build, someday I hope to be able to use it to help me figure out my own messes. :)

:chevy:

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

i cannot say how happy i am to find this site. your write ups have to be some of the best i've seen anywhere. thank you very much. this was SO helpfull.

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

Thanks BigJoe,

I appreciate the kind words. This is a great site. Members just help and encourage each other. What could be better than that.

Good luck,

TR

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

nice build. everything looks top notch!

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

Hey TR can't believe i missed this thread! Must've been because it was posted during the summer months. Thanks for the info. I went to greenville once for a couple of days. What a nice place. Love that pedestrian bridge, impressive.

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

Thanks NCD

Thanks Structures, Nice work on your cab. I am thankful I didn't have to do any patch panels. If you come this way again let me know and we will go for a ride.

TR

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

Amazing- sharp truck.

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

This is an AWESOME truck....but is there a video??

I'm doing a LS swap into an '87 square body...but I found another low milage LQ9 at a local wreckers that I'm thinking about picking up and saving for my grandpa's old '66 if I can ever convince my uncle to sell it to me....

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

Nice pick-up! Have any videos of it?

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

Thanks men,

No videos. I got the AC condenser installed this weekend and she is back on the road again. Some plumbing to the compressor and she will be ready to charge the system.

TR

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

Awesome write up with documentation and pics. As well as the attention to detail in your workmanship. I'm speechless. :jdp:

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

Great Job TR. I'm doing almost the same swap except I'm building the ls2 from the block up and using a tko 500 or the Tremec RS 500. What a great write up and perfect timing for me. Thanks. I'll keep watching for the AC install.

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

Thanks Alan, I check your build every day. I can't tell you how much I have learned from it.

Thanks Stroker, I follow your build as well, awesome work. The LS2 will be worth it. Driving the old truck now is a real pleasure. 400 horses and a six speed can't be beat.

TR

Re: TR65 LS2 T56 Engine Swap 65 C10
 

You might have seen my build thread, but I'm doing an ls2 swap also. I'm assuming you ran into a problem with the power steering pump also because it looks like you made or bought one and welded it on. Do you have any pictures or specifications of what you did to make it work. I was thinking about maybe just swaping a lq4 power steering pump on because I dont think they have any problems, but any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.