S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

I'm just a the beginning stages of this swap and I'm in the process of gathering parts. I wanted to document progress (slow though it may be) so that I can post obstacles that I encounter, and to solicit input. I have found the existing threads to be extremely helpful and I hope to be able to contribute back.

Here is what I am starting with:
Attachment 1190628 +Attachment 1190633 +Attachment 1190634

My truck is a '54 GMC 150, which is a 3/4 ton. It is too stiff and large to be practical street vehicle, even after installing a T5 and 4.10 gears. My plan is to make it comfortable enough to drive that my wife will want to use it occasionally, and to get 2 kids into safely (my leash gets much longer as long as I have the kids with me).

The donor is a standard cab long bed, and the motor is a 2005 LM7 similar to the pic, from a Silverado that rolled (73,000 miles with heads that were replaced under warranty in 2012). Tranny is the 4L60e from the same truck, and I have all the harnesses, PCM and throttle controls from the same truck as well.

I have also acquired a rear end from a '76ish Camaro. This measures appx. 61inches from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface, which compares with 62.5 inches for my stock 150, and it has 3.43 gears. The good news is that I was able to swap the stock S10 straight across for the Camaro one.

I will most likely be purchasing cab mounts from AD Engineering. Thanks to the discovery of BlueJeep's thread, I realized that I can use the stock S10 bed, (with some cutting required). Therefore I will not need the bed supports, so the AD parts will be in the $550 range. I want my truck to be usable as a pickup for occasional hauling, so I will probably rhino guard the bottom, and for showing purposes I may cut and finish some veneered plywood w/metal strips that I can just lay on top of the bed to look like the original wood planks.

I am slowly selling the S10 parts I don't need to fund the new parts.

This swap will require me sectioning about 8-10 inches from my bed sides (in front of the rear fender) to fit the new frame. I believe this will look better proportioned and more balanced than my current stock bed. Due to the "embossing" of the bed sides and front on the '54 and 55 1's, raising the bed height relative to the sides is not really an option that I considered viable. Therefore, lowering will be accomplished via 2" drop spindles and 3" lowering blocks in the rear. I don't think I'll need to go lower than that.

Anyhow, thanks for reading. I hope to make some forward progress over the holidays.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

I'll tag along for the build...Jim

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Finally making a little progress. I have the truck stripped down to the frame, and have been selling parts to fund new ones.

I mocked up the Camaro rear w/3" lowering blocks and I've begun removing bushings from the rear leafs to replace with urethane.
Attachment 1200515Attachment 1200516

In the past on some other cars I've had to drill out/burn out the rubber bushings. In this case, once I drilled about 8-9 holes in the rubber I was able to wiggle and pound out the inner sleeve. The rubber came out with it so no flame was required. For the leaf spring bushing I made a couple cuts in the outer sleeve and hammered out the outer sleeve. Once I clean up the bores the urethane will go in. Wish I had more progress to report.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Looking like a good pile of parts!

I'm glad I could help provide some ideas, looking forward to seeing how you put it together.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Guys, I'm slowly making progress on preparing the frame. I have replaced control arm bushings and reinstalled the spring on one side. Now I realize that if I am to use the frame side of the stock motor mount, getting the nuts installed from underneath will be difficult (though probably not impossible) due to the spring and lower arm being in the way. I still have the driver's side apart so installing that will not be an issue.

Attachment 1222934

So, my question for those of you putting an LS motor into an S10 is...should I plan on using this mount, or will I just be welding a new plate onto the frame at a later point?

By the way, the frame now looks better than in the picture. I have most of it painted with POR 15. The degreasing has taken more time than anything else.

Thanks for any advice you can pass on.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Nice start, I'll be following along since I plan on doing just about the same thing with my truck.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

I'd just weld it on where you want it. trying to bolt it in the stock location just cantilevers it off and requires a bunch more material to make it strong in my opinion.

Here's mine:
http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/a...psaeb88de4.jpg

http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps20e29109.jpg

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Thanks, Blue Jeep. That's the kind of input I was looking for. I may be hitting you up for more pics down the road. Did you cut away at the frame to fit the cylinder in? I couldn't quite tell from the second picture.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Nope, didn't cut the frame at all, just cleaned off the paint where I needed to weld.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Limping Forward. I've only been getting about 2-3 hours per week done so progress has been slow, but I degreased and Por 15'd the chassis. Suspension bushings are in and I have to get one spring back in to close up the driver's side control arms. Then it will be on to mocking up the motor and tranny.
Attachment 1229521

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Frame looks very nice.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Made a bit of progress last week. Got my motor mounts and installed them.

Attachment 1235409

Attachment 1235410

Attachment 1235411

Then I had to drill and cut the frame to get a wrench on the back. Eventually I will burn these mounts in, when everything is finalized.
Attachment 1235407

Attachment 1235408

So, at least for the time being, the eagle has landed.

Attachment 1235412



I now need to set the motor and tranny at the correct angle and fabricate a tranny crossmember.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

I finally got my tranny crossmember fabricated and installed.
The welds aren't pretty, but hopefully they'll hold.

Attachment 1246363

Attachment 1246362

Now on to the cab mounts.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Really nice progress man, that's going to be a killer truck.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Finally a bit of forward progress to report. This is the new cab mount system that AD Engineering has put together. I bought the prototype from Robert and got it installed. His goal was to make it a complete bolt in, but I will be burning in certain areas in order to reinforce.

He made this so that the cab can be installed for stock height or lowered by about 3". Since I am using drop spindles in front and lowering blocks in rear I am using the "stock" setting.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/i...attach/jpg.gif

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Well, progress has been embarrassingly slow. However, I did get the front sheet metal off this weekend. Now that the truck is officially not drivable I will be dismantling the interior of the cab to get it ready to transfer.

Attachment 1302006

After 60 years of running the truck looked a bit sad.

Header Question
 

I received my headers and put them in for a mockup. They look like they're well built, and they should fit the frame well. However, they do get close to the spark plug wires and the dipstick.

What are your thoughts on this?

Attachment 1304842

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

the new ad kit look pretty good. do you have any pics of radiator mount and bed mounts? It almost looks like that kit would allow you to mount cab as high or low as you wanted by drilling new holes.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

I have the radiator mount still in the box. I hope to do the preliminary cab swap in the next couple weeks, and then I can mock it up. He designed the support to mount to the front sway bar holes. He says you need to cut the bottom of the core support, but that it will take an original AD radiator and still clear the steering box.

As far as the bed goes, I am using the corrugated metal bed from the S 10, so the bed support locations will be per the original ones, though I'll probably have to add some at the front most point.

The entire cab mount is indeed adjustable, and new holes can be drilled. However, once I know where everything will sit, I will be welding things in, after which it will no longer be movable.

I will post pictures when I get the work done.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

By the way, within a 1/2 hour of removing the running boards, I had hit my shins on them 3 times. So I engineered, designed and fabricated this hi tech system to avoid future shin collisions.

Attachment 1307063

If anyone needs plans please let me know:)

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

That's kind of HI-TECH, don't know if I can handle that;):lol:...Jim

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

subscribing, cool truck. yup I make my running board brackets bolt on for that very reason. You asked about the headers being close to the plug wires? I'd say put some heat boots on them. the v8 s10 headers for ex are terrible for clearances, so I run boots on the wires, mainly on pass side.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Thanks,99. I will look into heat boots.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

cool, hard to tell by pics but is the flange causing problems too? maybe trim them up a bit.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

That is high tech I can understand.... great idea. Really good build and I will be following along. Love an LS in an AD truck!

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Cut the flanges off and Tig on some stainless v bands. Those old 3 bolt flanges leak badly even when new. I did that on my engine run stand and they seal up perfectly. Total cost is less that $50 and I never have to buy gaskets, ever. Plus you can rotate and angle the flanges for added frame clearance.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

I'm still a ways off from having to deal with the exhaust, but it doesn't look like there will be an interference-especially since the flanges rotate as stated above.

Novaman, do you have pics? I don't have a tig-only a mig, and I don't know what Vbands are.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

I can take some tonight and post to my photo bucket. I would never use regular gasket flanges after once using v bands.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Finally some decent progress to report. I was able to go to the shop until around 1:30 last night.

Attachment 1309254

Attachment 1309255

Attachment 1309256

Attachment 1309257

Its amazing what you can get done with a big chunk of time, a few beers and no interruptions.

I will be removing cab at some point to work on the underside, but for now I can start mocking up the core support, steering, brakes etc.

By the way, if any of you purists are out there (not sure they'd be reading this thread) I have a great rolling '54 150 chassis that you'd be welcome to.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

looking good I need to find some time to work on mine, oh and I have an extra frame as well

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Great progress last night! Looking really good.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

moving right along, can't wait to get a lift. also wish I were closer, I'd nab that frame right up.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

I got some work done this weekend on mocking up the front sheet metal. I can tell it will need to come on and off a few times to get it right. Mainly because the inner fenders make it difficult to work around.

Attachment 1312336

Attachment 1312337

This core support (AD Engineering) is designed to allow you to use the original radiator.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

looking good, I was just telling another guy on here. the radiator is the most annoying part of these builds. With that kit, is it adjustable height wise as with their cab mounts?

It looks like a nice set up. inner fender deal sux too, most all the s10 builds I see gotta cut them. I personally love the look of the inners so fabbing up some custom ones on these trucks just isn't my deal. Lining up the front end is alot more work than people think.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

99, he does have it to be adjustable by the same 3" as the cab mounts. Dropping would involve much more cutting of the tranny tunnel and other areas of the firewall that would conflict with the tranny (as well as raising the bed height) , but I know that many people opt for this. The kit is designed to be plug and play but I'm not sure my truck will align exactly with the parts, so I will be augmenting the system a bit.

Yeah the inner fenders are a drag, but there may be a way to make vertical cuts in them and them bend the bottom portions out (away from the motor) and reweld. I think I will try to find some spares (they don't necessarily need to be from an AD) just to practice on.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

cool, whats the lowest frame off height they offer? everything I'v seen seems a little high to me. But like you said, the lower you go the more you have to modify. That design seem different then their old one, I'v caught glimpses of. It enclosed the whole front of frame and had bumper brackets on it. I thought that looked pretty professional looking.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

I got my core support tacked in. I made a hybrid with the old support and the new piece that I received from AD Engineering. It still needs to be plug and perimeter welded, but at least it is back to one solid unit. This will not quite fit a stock radiator. I am going to see if I can get about 1.5" taken off the bottom and reuse.
Attachment 1316257

Then I need to shim to get the exact height, and then pull the whole thing apart to start working on the steering and brakes.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

well that kinda sux you can't use the stock rad, for all that work you did. but now days there are sooo many different aluminum rads out there you'll find something I'm sure. If you go that route.

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Just joined the thread. Bout to start the same build with my 55 1st. Looks awesome up to this point!!!

Re: S10 Frame Swap w/ AD and LS motor
 

Do you have the info on these mounts? I take it this will allow me to bolt my 1st gen SBC350 right in using the S10 V6 4.3L mounting holes?