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  1. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    So I'm guessing by that comment that I should have loosened the trans mount bolts when i pulled the LM1? I didn't, so they're right where they were as long as I've had the truck. No worries on tailshaft alignment? I think I'll start here. Should I have left off the torque rod brackets...
  2. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    OK, good progress this weekend. Got the new engine dropped in once the oil pump was replaced (cheap insurance), but once it's bolted up to the transmission, the motor mounts don't seem to be behaving. I was able to get one bolt in the passenger side mount at the rubber mount-to-crossmember...
  3. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    Well, hopefully the new engine is going in this weekend. Got it all pretty - just need to grab an AC compressor and swap the oil pump (no real need AFIAK, but prudent). Used a spray ceramic for the block and heads and direct-over-rust ACE grill paint for the manifolds and some frame touch up...
  4. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    OK, maybe someone knows - i pulled the engine mount brackets off my old tired engine and they have some spacer/bracket things behind them which I didn't bother to notice exactly which way they went back on and last night realized they aren't symmetric. I'm assuming, based on some google, that...
  5. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    And...now I've ordered my VSS encoder from Dakota. I almost bought the SEN-4160 and the 8000 to 4000 conditioner and then saw the SEN-4165 magnet-on-driveshaft kit which will not require the signal conditioner. So YAY, save some money. Maybe in the future I'll get the fancy one, but I'm...
  6. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    Well, I got my new driver's side exhaust manifold today. Found one from an '88 Burb - has an AIR tap which I'll use for EGR and has Oxygen sensor port in the collector. Only have to weld an Oxy port on the passenger pipe now and do some creative Home Depot tubing (in copper for now) to plumb...
  7. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    Thanks, so initially the trans wants heat from the engine, only later does it want to shed heat. Interesting. Found a factory gauge cluster with big speedo and tach, small voltage, coolant, oil press and fuel. VERY tempting, but it's in wood grain, not aluminum.
  8. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    The only problem is finding an '87 manifold. I'd love the tank and sender from an '87 LWB too, but there's none in my local yards. I found a 89 suburban (square body) manifold, with AIR tap but it comes off cyl 1, not at the collector - not sure if that would be OK. Out of curiosity, why...
  9. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    I'm not saying it isn't better to have an external cooler but there's some flaws to the 50/50 versus 100/100 argument you present here. It's a matter of fluid heat transfer not just mass flow rate. For a given surface area (be that the rad with built-in cooler or a stack of trans cooler, AC...
  10. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    OK, more parts ordered yesterday - autozone.com has a special for 20% off and free shipping if you spend (pre-discount) $100. So i got a new oil pump (high volume, with screen) for about $40, a new oil pump shaft, new plugs (Bosch has a $1/ea rebate), oil filter ($8 Fram rebate if you purchase...
  11. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    OK, I have a fuel system question on this build - I was looking at the Painless instruction manual (no, I don't have their harness, just trying to glean as much info as possible). It talks about needing a regulated fuel supply to 55psi. I just did the spider assembly on an identical engine and...
  12. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    Well, some progress last night. I was able to extract the EGR fitting from the L31 exhaust manifolds (thanks, portaband) by slicing off enough casting to release some compression, then add a wrench, rest penetrant and a big hammer. And, viola, save $10 on the fitting. I'm still not 100%...
  13. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    Out with the old... The old LM1 cam out today. :pepper: Yanked it by myself with some help from Mr chain hoist and Mr comealong. I'm very thankful to have a friend with both a crane in his backyard and a girlfriend kind enough to let me borrow some space for this project. The stipulation is...
  14. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    Here's a couple pics of the new engine as I'm cleaning it. Hope i can remember where all those plugs go! So, on the EGR, must it come off the exhaust before the O2 sensor? It may be easier and cheaper to just add a bung instead of tuning it out.
  15. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    Hmmm, interesting idea to have the manifolds drilled and tapped. Could most any machine shop do that or does someone special need to be contacted? Anyone care to weigh in on the pros and cons of maintaining or deleting the EGR system? I'm taking today to clean up the old engine lots of...
  16. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    Hmmm, interesting idea to have the manifolds drilled and tapped. Could most any machine shop do that or does someone special need to be contacted? Anyone care to weigh in on the pros and cons of maintaining or deleting the EGR system? I'm taking today to clean up the old engine lots of...
  17. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    no inspection on anything this old in GA. I'll plug the EGR port and have it tuned out. If i get the tune done for 89, 91 or 93 octane fuel will I lose much by not having EGR? Also, anyone know the pinout for the bulkhead connectors from a 97 Suburban? I need to know what to splice to...
  18. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    Today's update - looks like I'll have to get a little deeper in my pockets than anticipated just to really get going. Some exhaust reading has informed me that the Vortec manifolds will hit the Square's frame, so i'll be keeping my old manifolds. Well, they (of course) don't have provision for...
  19. benjaminearle

    Semi-complete Vortec swap

    Well, i bought my L31 yesterday. I'll put all my updates over here: http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5795&goto=newpost Why does everyone keep telling me that 4hrs to pull the engine isn't bad? Felt like 4 hours of hell to me. I was spoiled as a youth to have a...
  20. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    Well, budget for 4+ hours to get the L31 out if you are working on the floor of a civil war era barn with a bag (yes, bag) of tools. Or spend the money and get a dressed engine that's already cut out. I just didn't trust anyone to get me the WHOLE harness. Hard to type today with my beat up...
  21. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    Oh boy, got my engine yesterday. Started off a beautiful day. Went to church in the morning and sang next to my wife in the pew. Afterward I forwent lunch to get changed and get a few tools piled together to help extract my pickup's new heart from the cadaver of a '97 suburban - 188k miles...
  22. benjaminearle

    L31 (Vortec 5700) swap

    Getting my engine tomorrow '97 L31 Vortec 5700 already had the intake gaskets done and heads gone through, coming out of suburban that got hit. Good price since I'm going to pull some wrenches to get it out. Will get a VSS encoder from Dakota and figure out a return-style fuel system...
  23. benjaminearle

    Factory Style Seatbelts

    OK, so I'm putting my '79 back together and went ahead and forked over the $80 each for new seatbelts from LMC. My old ones were frayed and wouldn't retract. So, i finally get around to putting them in 5mo later and they're not the dual-reel style that came in the truck. They have a single...
  24. benjaminearle

    Semi-complete Vortec swap

    was that kit i linked to "perimeter valve cover gaskets" and "6-hole intake gaskets"? It was supposed to be model-specific to a '79 K15. Maybe the picture is clip art? Good to know about the bolts. That's money I don't want to spend.
  25. benjaminearle

    Semi-complete Vortec swap

    So, in the last few months I've gotten a little short on coin and will be postponing the Vortec swap. In the meantime I need to get a head gasket and radiator so the old mill can haul these 3 tons around. I'm looking for head gasket advice like: Should I go ahead and do both Is there a...

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