Noob- Help needed 86 K10 5.3 Swap
 

Hey guys. First time swapper here. I have a really nice 86 K10 with 75K original mile on a turd of a small block 305. I recently picked up a 5.3 and 6l80E. I am going to keep the original instrument cluster.

Heres a list of questions I've got.

I want to run dual tanks, if I am not mistaken the stock tanks do not have baffles in them, should they be swapped out? Fuel pumps in the tanks, or inline?

How do I marry up the 6l80e to the NP208?

What temp sensor do I need to run the stock temp gauge?
What oil sensor do I need to run the stock oil gauge?

Truck is going to have a 4 in lift and 33's, currenty has 3.73's should I leave them or change up the gears?

Thanks for the help, I am sure I will have plenty more questions once I'm elbows deep

Re: Noob- Help needed 86 K10 5.3 Swap
 

For the gauges I would run a 90-91 Blazer/Suburban cluster so you can take advantage of the electronic speedo. You will have to repin the factory cluster harness to match the pins on the 90-91 cluster but the connector is the same

I also purchased the oil and temp sending units to match the 90-91 cluster. I tapped the oil cooler line housing for the oil pressure sensor and turned down the temp sensor and taped it to match the LS cylinder head. I used the original LS temp sensor on the drivers side head for the ecm and the other head has a plug in it that I installed the sensor for the gauge

Mine was 2wd so I'm not sure about the transfer case stuff , and I also ran a Blazer/Suburban tank in the rear for fuel

Re: Noob- Help needed 86 K10 5.3 Swap
 

Post up some pics. Sounds like a cool project. Yes should run baffled tanks, in-tank pumps and a high pressure selector valve are probably easiest. 87 stuff for tanks and sending units. Part numbers for the pumps and selector valve are well documented. Not sure on the six speed transfer case options or if you need a vss in the transfer case. 3.73 gears should be fine as those transmissions have a very low first and second gear.