Doing LS Swap - I have no idea what I'm doing!

[kev2809]

here's a link and a picture to the sensors on top. I'd look over at lt1swap.com and start taping off the ones getting eliminated to make it less confusing.



https://www.ls1.com/forums/f6/list-s...hey-do-159572/

[EagleChief]

Originally Posted by kev2809

I don't know if I missed it, but what tank setup are you using?

I'm going with the Jeep Wrangler tank. If I remember right, I ordered one for a '90 model FI tank. I'm mounting it under the bed, behind the axle.

Originally Posted by Accelo

Here is a picture of where my ECM ended up. Yes it's connected, the wiring comes up between the fender well and the cab. I plan on painting it black but haven't got around to it yet. Factory holder behind it with a wire bail keeping it in.
My harness was a conversion, not custom, so I had only so much wire to work with.

Yea, I'm pretty sure I'm going to mount it in the engine bay. Probably on the driver side fender. I have an a/c truck, so that spot on my firewall is taken up by the heater/ a/c stuff.

Originally Posted by biketopia

Progress is progress!! I've been trying to get my Camaro fired up so I can get the truck moved in before my first kid is here in June, never enough time! As far as "where all the connections are located?" what all are you looking for, engine sensors, truck connections, others??

If you can, get that stuff done before you have your kid! Congrats by they way! I've got 3 of them (oldest will be 6 in a couple of months). All of my work on the truck is after 10pm. Hence, why I haven't finished my gas tank yet - I need to cut some more metal out, but their bedrooms share the garage wall.

Anyway, I was looking for a picture of the engine that showed where each connection point was located. I think I have most of them figured out, but I second guess myself too much and worry about hooking things up correctly. I have the injectors, alternator, coolant connection hooked up. Pretty sure I can do the transmission connections. But, there are several like the oil pressure (I think it's behind the engine), knock sensors, MAF (I'm afraid I may have a wrong connection type for it), and some others that I don't remember what they are called.

Luckily, all of my connections on the wiring harness are labeled. I just need to figure out where those connections are on the truck motor. I've seen a lot videos on the car motors, but the truck intake throws me off when when looking at pictures/videos 'cause they are slightly different.

[EagleChief]

Originally Posted by kev2809

here's a link and a picture to the sensors on top. I'd look over at lt1swap.com and start taping off the ones getting eliminated to make it less confusing.



https://www.ls1.com/forums/f6/list-s...hey-do-159572/

Thanks! I'll check it out. It's been so long since I've done any research that I dang near forgot about lt1swap.

[LS short box]

You can buy a npt adapter for the oil pressure sender so you can mount the oil pressure sender. Not knowing your gauge set up I would run the oil pressure sender directly to your gauge not thru the ECM.

[EagleChief]

Originally Posted by LS short box

You can buy a npt adapter for the oil pressure sender so you can mount the oil pressure sender. Not knowing your gauge set up I would run the oil pressure sender directly to your gauge not thru the ECM.

I was using one of the 3 gauge pods for temp and oil pressure, previously. I don't think my dash gauges work. I still have all of the that stuff ran into the engine bay. Wasn't sure if I'd need it with the new setup or not, so I left it all accessible. If possible, I may just reconnect that stuff until I can figure out the OEM gauges.

[EagleChief]

UPDATE**

I had some free time yesterday after work. Wife and kids were out running around, so I decided to work on the truck. I finished cutting out the crossmember under the bed. I now have room to get the gas tank mounted! I was going to use one of the crossmembers for the front side of the tank, then mount a piece of angle on the backside of the tank for support. But, it is still a tight fit under there (height/depth wise).
Has anyone made a full support frame for the tank? I'm thinking some 1" or 1.5" angle, and make a outline that matches up with the tank flange. Put some brackets on the outer edges to bolt to the frame. That way the tank could drop down inside the bracket, then raise the whole thing up to bolt to the truck frame. What do you guys think?

I also messed around with the wiring after I got finished cutting under the bed. I think I have everything figured out as far as connections go. I have most of them figured out anyway. The lower stuff I didn't get hooked up, but I am pretty sure I know where it goes. Since my truck is lowered, I need to raise the front end up to be able to get under it. But, my jackstands are still under the rear of the truck.

I do have one question regarding a connection at the front of my manifold. I'm not sure what it is for, or if anything goes to it. I don't think I have a connection for it, but I could be wrong. It sits at the front top of the manifold, directly behind the air intake connection. It is vertical and appears to have some vacuum ports associated with it. Is this something I need, or does it get deleted?

[kev2809]

did you order the tank straps for that tank? I was trying to fab up something too, instead I moved a crossmember back and used the tank straps that match the tank. and for the top straps I bought a strip of aluminum and bent it with my hand to contour the tank and bolted it down

[EagleChief]

Originally Posted by kev2809

did you order the tank straps for that tank? I was trying to fab up something too, instead I moved a crossmember back and used the tank straps that match the tank. and for the top straps I bought a strip of aluminum and bent it with my hand to contour the tank and bolted it down

I have not ordered tank straps, but have debated it. I may go ahead and do that, just to be on the safe side.

Edit** Somebody beat me to it. I thought I had a good idea for mounting the tank... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MmoDVzQNb8

[kev2809]

yup that absolutely works too. im guessing the weight of the tank with gas would keep it from sliding in there? I was just paranoid and didn't trust just the bottom straps, which is why I tried to make some top straps as well

[LeesTruk]

That looks like the emissions recirc. solenoid. It's a "normally closed" valve, so you can either remove it or leave it in place. Various vendors sell plug kits for the hole, if you remove the valve, or just use a pipe tap(if you have one of that size, I believe it's 1/4npt) and get a pipe plug for the hole.

[Accelo]

Originally Posted by LeesTruk

That looks like the emissions recirc. solenoid. It's a "normally closed" valve, so you can either remove it or leave it in place. Various vendors sell plug kits for the hole, if you remove the valve, or just use a pipe tap(if you have one of that size, I believe it's 1/4npt) and get a pipe plug for the hole.

I'm not positive but you may need a plug like this.
EGR plug;
LS EGR Intake Plug

[kev2809]

yup...one on the right is for the sensor you circled in the picture you posted above. the one on the left is if you actually have an EGR valve. it would be to the left of the sensor you posted above.

[aknovaman]

ace hardware sells a rubber expansion plug for $1.69. that works. or just screw a bolt into it with a little RTV and be done.

[EagleChief]

Originally Posted by LeesTruk

That looks like the emissions recirc. solenoid. It's a "normally closed" valve, so you can either remove it or leave it in place. Various vendors sell plug kits for the hole, if you remove the valve, or just use a pipe tap(if you have one of that size, I believe it's 1/4npt) and get a pipe plug for the hole.

Originally Posted by Accelo

I'm not positive but you may need a plug like this.
EGR plug;
LS EGR Intake Plug

Originally Posted by kev2809

yup...one on the right is for the sensor you circled in the picture you posted above. the one on the left is if you actually have an EGR valve. it would be to the left of the sensor you posted above.

Originally Posted by aknovaman

ace hardware sells a rubber expansion plug for $1.69. that works. or just screw a bolt into it with a little RTV and be done.

Thanks all! That makes me feel better. I was really scratching my head trying to figure out what plugged into it. My harness didn't have anything that reached up there, so I was really confused.

[EagleChief]

It's not much, but I did get a plug for the sensor and installed it this past weekend. Then had a couple of minutes to hook up the ground on the wiring harness and hooked up the connections for the transmission. I was going to start hooking up the knock sensors and the starter, but my kids started waking up from their naps and I had to call it quits.

So, I'm down to O2 sensors, knock sensors, and the starter for the main harness. Then figure out how to mount the ECM and then wire up the individual wires to the truck. I still need to get the gas tank mounted and fuel lines run.

Those of you that have used the Wrangler tank, how did you run the filler neck? I'm still trying to figure that one out.

[EagleChief]

I got the engine side of the harness hooked up. And, I think I figured out a mount for my computer. How much clearance do I need for the hood hinges? I'm going to mount the ECU on the fender well, but realized I may need the room on the upper portion for the hood hinges to move.

I also just ordered one of the pedal brackets that are sold on here. I was going to try and make my own, but by adding up the time I end up spending on it, then trying to work it into the schedule at work (plus material), I'm better off buying one that is already proven.

Regarding the ECU - the fins that are on the bottom of the ECU body - are those for cooling only? Can I drill through those for a mount? I hope so! 'Cause I found a bracket in my garage that will fit those perfectly, as long as I can drill some mounting holes through those fins, or spines, or whatever they are called.

Also thought about going ahead and ordering my mufflers, but I'm not sure what size exhaust to go with. Any suggestions on that? 2.0, 2.25", 2.5" 3"? I have no idea.

[jones6826]

Can you share a link for the pedal bracket? I'm going to need one of those too.

[Accelo]

Here is what I did. Clears the hinge just fine. It is mounted on the factory bracket. I plan on adding the additional screw. Haven't had time yet.
Truck is running and driveing with the computer in this position. I had to loosen the inner fender to get the harness installed between it and the cab.
If you look close you can see the harness between the heater and air-conditioning hoses running from the motor to the ECM.
I did remove the ECM case and power-coated it in whats called "almost chrome." Without the recommended clear coat.

[EagleChief]

Originally Posted by jones6826

Can you share a link for the pedal bracket? I'm going to need one of those too.

Here you go. It's over in the LS Swap Classifieds section: https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=651123

[EagleChief]

Originally Posted by Accelo

Here is what I did. Clears the hinge just fine. It is mounted on the factory bracket. I plan on adding the additional screw. Haven't had time yet.
Truck is running and driveing with the computer in this position. I had to loosen the inner fender to get the harness installed between it and the cab.
If you look close you can see the harness between the heater and air-conditioning hoses running from the motor to the ECM.
I did remove the ECM case and power-coated it in whats called "almost chrome." Without the recommended clear coat.

I like that spot, but I have the big AC/Heater box over there and don't have the room to mount anything in that area. Guess I could mount it to the box?

Here's an older pic with the past motor...

[EagleChief]

Got my computer mounted and cables connected last night. I'll have to grab a picture. I ended up mounting it to the driver side inner fender, closer to the front of the truck. I can still access the headlights and horn locations.

I mocked up a bracket for the fuse block. I'll probably get that made at work tomorrow. I'm going to see what scrap material we have that I can cut it out of (steel or stainless), thin gauge stuff that can be bent easily, but hopefully won't bounce too much when mounted.

My dad and I fabbed up a frame for the gas tank this past Sunday & Monday. I have to grind a little on it to clean it up, but it's almost finished. I'll have to test fit it to figure out my mounting height, then make some brackets to attach it to the truck frame.

[EagleChief]

Got a bracket made for the fuse block. Also ordered the gas pedal adapter bracket and got it test fitted. I painted them both last night (flat black) and will hopefully get some time tonight to install them.

One question I have: where do you guys install the TAC module? I'm guessing it goes under the dash somewhere, right? The harness that goes from the pedal to the module is not very long, so I don't see the module going in the engine bay. The second part to this question, how do you fish the TAC plug from the wiring harness through the firewall? I really don't have anywhere that I can get the plug to fit through. I guess drill a new hole in the firewall?

[Accelo]

It depends on the computer. Some are integrated into the ECM. Some take the TAC module. I do know the computer and pedal have to match as their are several versions out there and they do not interchange. To answer your specific question we need more information, year of the motor and what it came out of. I suspect the information is in this thread but I didn't read through all 12 pages.
Cheers

[EagleChief]

Originally Posted by Accelo

It depends on the computer. Some are integrated into the ECM. Some take the TAC module. I do know the computer and pedal have to match as their are several versions out there and they do not interchange. To answer your specific question we need more information, year of the motor and what it came out of. I suspect the information is in this thread but I didn't read through all 12 pages.
Cheers

I have the TAC module and all of the wiring. I'm just trying to figure out where to mount the TAC module itself and how to get the wiring/plug through the firewall. I tried looking to see if there was a place that people have used in the past, that I could pass it through, but couldn't find anything.

[Accelo]

Sorry, I completely missed the last question.
Consider enlarging the hole where the stock linkage would transfer through the firewall.
If the wiring from the computer is long enough to go through the firewall I would consider mounting the TAC module under the dash.