1966 C10 Short Stepside LS Conversion

[1966c10LS]

Frame is back from the powder coating. Ready to be put back together.

[1966c10LS]

A few more pictures. Its starting to come together.

[Captainfab]

Looks good

I haven't heard back from Chad since I got back from vacation about picking up a steering box adapter plate. I don't remember if he wanted a booster bracket too.

[thepartsguy]

What size tires are u running?

[chad64chevy]

wow, now that's an update! what the hp numbers you will get with the supercharger? i'm thinking of a turbo but the supercharger are nice too!! will it clear the inner fender??

[1966c10LS]

I will be putting some Budnik 20" wheels on it. 235/45R 20's front. 335/30R20's rear.

[1966c10LS]

Originally Posted by chad64chevy

wow, now that's an update! what the hp numbers you will get with the supercharger? i'm thinking of a turbo but the supercharger are nice too!! will it clear the inner fender??

Thanks, I am happy with how the truck is coming together. Chad at ESDC of Spokane is putting it together. When it is together we will run the numbers on his Dyno. The engine has a few upgrades, we are hoping for some pretty good numbers when we run it.

We are going to have to do some work on the inner fender on that side to make everything work.

[1966c10LS]

Originally Posted by thepartsguy

What size tires are u running?

I will be putting Budnik 20" wheels on it. 235/45R20 on the front. 335/30R20 on the rear.

[1966c10LS]

Some more progress. Here is the pictures.

[Notch1988]

Looking good, keep the updates coming.

[siggyfreud]

Awesome build! Just stumbled upon it. Did you have to notch the frame for that PS to clear? Looks close!

[1966c10LS]

Originally Posted by siggyfreud

Awesome build! Just stumbled upon it. Did you have to notch the frame for that PS to clear? Looks close!

We did a c-notch for the rear end only. We are updating the steering to early 70's to fit with the power steering with the LS. Everything is tight but clearances are there so far.

[1966c10LS]

We put the font fenders and bed on so we could measure wheel sizes. Ordered them this week. 6 weeks to tires and wheels!

[1966c10LS]

Latest pictures. Wheels came in, truck is coming together.

[1966c10LS]

A few more pictures

[1966c10LS]

I would like some input from those of you that have installed LS motors in your C10 trucks. I will need to install the wiring harness soon, I am wondering what instrument clusters you have used. I am wanting to use the stock instrument cluster or possibly use a cluster from a 2002 truck if that is possible. Have any of you that have done this got pictures you would share and what worked best for you. BTW I'm not going with Dakota Digital, just my preference.

[reaper71]

This may not be the direction your going for, but I use Speedhut Gauges in all my builds (6th set so far) They are 100% fully customizable I.E. back light,font,tick style,bezel,pointer color face color etc.
The speedo is ava. in GPS so NO cable ran to the transmission! and the gauges can be programmed to use with any sending unit on the market!
Also on speedo....60ft time,1/4 mile time,direction,recorded top speed,and elevation.
check them out for reference.
The pic below was from Blakes build on a 67 GMC.

Mark.

[1966c10LS]

Hey thanks! I will look into them.

[scoot_mcgrute]

Originally Posted by 1966c10LS

I would like some input from those of you that have installed LS motors in your C10 trucks. I will need to install the wiring harness soon, I am wondering what instrument clusters you have used. I am wanting to use the stock instrument cluster or possibly use a cluster from a 2002 truck if that is possible. Have any of you that have done this got pictures you would share and what worked best for you. BTW I'm not going with Dakota Digital, just my preference.

I'm going with the factory gauges for my LS swap I'm working on. I'll adapt the factory sending units to the LS, should be pretty straightforward from what I've seen/heard.

Oil pressure will be the mechanical gauge and the tube will plug in to the factory LS sender position. I'll need an adapter I'm sure but I haven't looked that far into it yet.

For the temp gauge, there is a plug on the front of the head that is M10 threads so I will either modify the plug to take NPT threads or find an adapter that will get me where I need to go.

Love the progress you've got going on!

[1966c10LS]

Thanks, I really want to just keep the stock cluster. Everytime I find something I think I would like better I come back to the stock dash.

[scoot_mcgrute]

Originally Posted by 1966c10LS

Thanks, I really want to just keep the stock cluster. Everytime I find something I think I would like better I come back to the stock dash.

Just found this for the temp sender. It'll go in the port on the passenger side head at the front. There should be an allen head plug in there now.

https://www.amazon.com/Engine-Adapte.../dp/B015NG418C

[jweb]

Originally Posted by scoot_mcgrute

I'm going with the factory gauges for my LS swap I'm working on. I'll adapt the factory sending units to the LS, should be pretty straightforward from what I've seen/heard.

Oil pressure will be the mechanical gauge and the tube will plug in to the factory LS sender position. I'll need an adapter I'm sure but I haven't looked that far into it yet.

For the temp gauge, there is a plug on the front of the head that is M10 threads so I will either modify the plug to take NPT threads or find an adapter that will get me where I need to go.

I agree , that's what I did on my '51 and plan to do the same on my '64 suburban. It was pretty simple and it's hard to beat the factory look. I got oil pressure from the block off plate near the oil filter and drilled and tapped the M10 hole in the head for the coolant sensor. If you are using a modern transmission the Dakota Digital ECD-100 will convert the signal for the speedometer.