88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.
 

Traded an 84 GMC Sierra for this truck. When the trans started to slip several friends suggested we could LS swap cheaper than a trans. I bought an Avalanche for $750, kept, engine/trans, wire harness, exhaust, fuel pump and some small parts. Sold remainder for $805.

Harness is reworked stock harness, initially I used the Avalanche fuel pump until it died. Now I have a stock replacement for a 96 Vortec truck. Engine mounts are Car Shoppe, 1.5" setback. I moved the trans crossmember back the same amount. Air intake is a cheap Ebay piece for the new body style trucks. I ran it with open cats at first then welded up the exhaust with mandrel bends. I got the bends as scrap cut offs from a 2010 Camaro. I bought v bands, 4 straight pieces and 2 Dynomax bullets.

I'm still working on it as I drive it. Still to come are getting the gauges to work, and clean up the wiring. I have plans of doing some budget mods to the engine, hopefully swapping to a 4L80 and a 14 bolt.

Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.
 

Exhaust pics. A friend and I started with a pile of scrap and cut and pasted. Some how the tips moved between the truck and the table. Not paying attention, I fully welded one side, and discovered the mistake. I'd like them closer.

Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.
 

The front was lowered with Craigslist springs. The rear, another friend wanted a 6" drop, but had dropped hangers. I swapped with him and help with his drop. To grind off the rivets, I used a36 grit flap wheel on an angle grinder. I made a bracket to hold my e brake cables.

Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.
 

That brings it up to date. Newest projects not related to engine swap was fixing damage from hitting a deer. I pulled the clip off a 4wd Sub, used the driver's fender, core support, grill, and bumper. Also swapped on the tow hooks. Next project is replacing the door hinges.

Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.
 

i followed your build on mark's facebook page. nice to see you on here!

Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.
 

Thanks! Mark is one the best guys in this hobby. He helped a lot, and gave a lot of insight into this.

Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.
 

Exhaust video.

https://youtu.be/-johhUC4SY8

Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.
 

Fuel lines. There are a million ways to do it. I couldn't get the return line's braided section off, and broke a line wrench in the process. So I went with a fuel line repair kit and patched an adapter of sorts. After some research this is the permanent method I used.

Russell LS fuel rail fitting, -6 AN, -6 AN couplers, and -6 AN to o-ring adapters. Not pretty, but it is functional.

Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.
 

Realized it's been nearly three years since I updated this. Truk has a new yard mate, a 00 Tahoe Z71, has had a trans swap and has seen passes at 3 local tracks, Jakes's in Moulton Al, Baileyton, and Huntsville.

Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.
 

Newest addition swapped to a fleetside bed.

Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.
 

Right on

Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.
 

Cool truck. Nice work!

Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.
 

Your truck keeps getting cooler as you go. Now that you've done all your sheet metal fixes and tweaks is there one color of paint in the cards?

Re: 88 Stepside. Ls swap, daily driver.
 

do you remember what size tires were on the steelies? they look righteous, and my truck needs tires on the same era rallys.