84 K10 L33 Swap

Hey guys just getting going on swapping a all aluminum 5.3 L33 motor out of a 06 z71 into my 1984 Chevrolet K10 Shortbox pickup.



A little background on the truck:

I bought the truck when I was 17 years old and have slowly been making it my own. In high school a swapped a new 305 in it with a edelbrock high rise intake and carb. It sat for a while and is burning oil and fouling out plugs so I’m giving her some new life.

I got the donor truck from a buddy of mine over in Spokane for $500! It’s a 06 extra cab Silverado with the all aluminum 5.3 High output motor and 4l60e trans. It also has a posi rear axle under it as well so I’d like to swap the entire running gear under the 84 besides the transfer case.




I’d like to redo the fuel system, exhaust, suspension, and paint by the time it’s all said and done but going to start with the motor and running gear first.

Parts List:

Motor:
BTR Stage 1 truck cam
Chevy ls6 performance valve springs
BTR trunnion upgrade kit
Tejas Steelworks motor mounts
Tejas Steelworks ecu mount
Bored .020 over and decked the heads
.020 Pistons and ring set

Running gear:
Jags that run 208/4l60e adapter and vss
Corvette servo shift kit and fluid/filter

Electrical:
Bp automotive plug and play harness and a base tune done by my engine builder. Hope to get the truck dyno’d after it’s all up and running.

Fuel System
87 EFI tank with built in baffles
87 Sending unit
Walbro 255 fuel pump
Hotrod hose returnless fuel system
New inlet and vent hoses from LMC

 

This will probably be a slower build just because I’m remodeling my house and want to build a shop this summer. As of now I’m working outside next to my two car garage on the slab in the rain. Can’t wait to get all settled in.

Ordered up some Tejas Steelworks motor mounts last night to adapt the newer motor in my K10.

Got the hotrod fuel hose ls swap fuel system on the wish list along with some speed engineering stainless headers.

 

Existing 305 in the 84
Good boat anchor

 

Got some tanks out of a 87 a while back. In 87 the trucks came factory with throttle body injection so the tanks came with built in baffles. Today I ordered up a new sending unit and orings to get going on the fuel delivery system. Just need to order up the fuel pump and fuel lines to support the 58 psi or so the modern motors need.

Also ordered up the Tejas ecu mount to mount the ecu and fuse block close to the factory location to keep the wiring harness simple. I’m planning on repinning the factory harness myself to save money and get to know how the electrical system works a little better.

 

More work on the L33. Tested positive for the Kung Flu so haven’t been moving to fast this weekend.

 

Motor is out and getting a bath. Covid sucks ass.

 

Need some wire brushes from town and some bolts to get it on the engine stand and she will be all cleaned up. Top end looks pretty good.

 

Motors all cleaned up and ready for some hp upgrades. The truck actually came stock with the 799 casting heads which are the same as the 243 cast heads that came on the LS6 C5 Corvettes. Should make good power!

 

4l60e is out. She’s dirty and needs a little love. Hopping to do a corvette servo and a fluid/filter change and it will be ready to go.

First part showed up today!

 

Got the trans all cleaned up today

 

You do the swap yourself?

 

Awesome! I’m gonna try to do everything myself besides the motor work. I’ve got a buddy that’s built racing motors for years so he is going to go through the motor for me for trade on working on his shop. Fingers crossed it just needs a cam and a rering/rehone. Hopefully the wiring isn’t to bad

 

Donor truck is looking pretty empty. About to hit the scrap yard.

 

Dropped the motor off for a rebuild and ordered up a BTR Stage 1 truck cam and trunnion upgrade. Hopefully parts will start stacking up.

 

Parts!

 

The motor is ready for the machine shop! Crank bearings looked good still but the cam bearings were about to go. Not bad for 250,000. Aluminum Block is about 70-80 pounds I’d guess. Easy to move around.

 

Damn dude! Look at you go. You told me about this truck, glad to see it's getting some love

 

Finally getting to build it up! Been dreaming about it for a long time. I’m slowly collecting the parts I need. Gotta do it slow so the wife won’t realize how much money I’m spending on it

 

Fair enough haha. If you need any LS parts lemme know, I got an LS guy that always has too much overstock. Stock and modified he's usually got lots of spares. I'm working on a SquareBody right now too, but going more old school with a 454 big block..... That I'm strapping twin turbos to haha.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/speedys-1978-c10-squarebody-drag-truck.742840/

 

Right on thanks! Hopefully I’ll have all the parts I need with the donor truck. I’ve already made my money back selling parts off of it.