scottybaccus
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2014
- Posts
- 130
- Reaction score
- 6
- Location
- Central Texas
- First Name
- Scotty
- Truck Year
- 1987
- Truck Model
- GMC R1500
- Engine Size
- 6.0
Hi Y'all.
I'm a life long car guy, with a hotrod and custom chassis shop in Pflugerville, Tx, just a few minutes from home in Hutto. Like many of you, I grew up in a Square, and most of my memories had one in the background. My Dad had a '78 Heavy Half, purchased from my uncle's fleet. He bought them three or four at a time for his carpet and flooring company. Another uncle owned a well coring company and had a dozen, or so. Every road trip, camping outing, hunting trip had one involved.
I've done chassis work semi-professionally for 15 years, and decided to open my own place, and leave corporate America behind in December 2012. I've used a 2008 Tahoe for all my towing and hauling since then, but decided it was too much wear on such an expensive truck, and had no love of the payment, either. My '87 GMC Sierra Classic R1500 was acquired specifically to replace the Tahoe as a company truck. It must be just as reliable, capable and also represent my business well.
This is why I decided on a 2000 GM 6.0L and 4L80e. The motor mount adapter plates are my design, as is the trans cross-member. I've also gone way out of my way to make the install look very factory, and integrate well with the original truck. I've kept a stock dash with the Suburban electric speedo cluster, and stock radio. The column shifter is connected with a Lokar kit. I retained the LQ4 A/C compressor and mounting, and will have new hoses made up in a couple of weeks. I'm finishing the cruise wiring this weekend, and it retains the R1500 steering and brakes. I do have a 14 bolt axle with 3.73 and a locker waiting to go in. I used Hooker cast iron manifolds because of the excellent frame clearance and 500 hp flow they provide. I made up custom down tubes with braided flex joints to connect to the stainless Pypes 2.5" dual exhaust that features an X-pipe and Pypes mufflers. This system was installed with a double hump cross-member that I came up with to simplify routing the duals. The driveshaft is a 4" aluminum tube with 1350 joints (there's a 3R to 1350 hybrid at the pinion). It's good to 7900 rpm. The cooling system is comprised of '87 454 HD cooling radiator (2.5" core) with the OE top mount and pads, installed with a fan shroud I came up with for the twin 12" fans out of a '95 F-body. The waterpump was key to making this easy. It's from a 2010 Camaro, and has a driver's side/front outlet. A 2005-2008 Vette top hose is a perfect fit. The lower hose is from the 2000 GM truck. The waterpump install requires moving the idler down between the Alternator and P/S pump with a simple plate bracket, then cutting off the original ear to clear the top outlet of the waterpump. Air gets in via a 4" elbow and tube. I have a cone filter now, but hope to make up a cold air box with a flat panel filter soon. I just lowered the truck with CPP 2.5" modular spindles that accept stock brakes, with 3/4 of one coil cut off, and a Summit shackle & hanger kit. No notch for me. Air bags are planned with the 14 bolt to maximize towing capability.
Anyways, I'm super happy with how it has turned out. I'm now offering the mounts, cross-member and fan shroud for my customers, and got it on the dyno just a couple of days ago for a little transmission calibration and a check-up. With the stock 3.08 gear, it's clicking off just over 20 mpg and cruises our 85 mph toll road with ease.
I couldn't have put all this together without help from forums like this and LS1tech, so I hope to give some back for those heading down the same road. Please feel free to message me here via email, or look up me and my shop on FB and message me there. I'll be hanging around and chime in here and there.
Thanks!
I'm a life long car guy, with a hotrod and custom chassis shop in Pflugerville, Tx, just a few minutes from home in Hutto. Like many of you, I grew up in a Square, and most of my memories had one in the background. My Dad had a '78 Heavy Half, purchased from my uncle's fleet. He bought them three or four at a time for his carpet and flooring company. Another uncle owned a well coring company and had a dozen, or so. Every road trip, camping outing, hunting trip had one involved.
I've done chassis work semi-professionally for 15 years, and decided to open my own place, and leave corporate America behind in December 2012. I've used a 2008 Tahoe for all my towing and hauling since then, but decided it was too much wear on such an expensive truck, and had no love of the payment, either. My '87 GMC Sierra Classic R1500 was acquired specifically to replace the Tahoe as a company truck. It must be just as reliable, capable and also represent my business well.
This is why I decided on a 2000 GM 6.0L and 4L80e. The motor mount adapter plates are my design, as is the trans cross-member. I've also gone way out of my way to make the install look very factory, and integrate well with the original truck. I've kept a stock dash with the Suburban electric speedo cluster, and stock radio. The column shifter is connected with a Lokar kit. I retained the LQ4 A/C compressor and mounting, and will have new hoses made up in a couple of weeks. I'm finishing the cruise wiring this weekend, and it retains the R1500 steering and brakes. I do have a 14 bolt axle with 3.73 and a locker waiting to go in. I used Hooker cast iron manifolds because of the excellent frame clearance and 500 hp flow they provide. I made up custom down tubes with braided flex joints to connect to the stainless Pypes 2.5" dual exhaust that features an X-pipe and Pypes mufflers. This system was installed with a double hump cross-member that I came up with to simplify routing the duals. The driveshaft is a 4" aluminum tube with 1350 joints (there's a 3R to 1350 hybrid at the pinion). It's good to 7900 rpm. The cooling system is comprised of '87 454 HD cooling radiator (2.5" core) with the OE top mount and pads, installed with a fan shroud I came up with for the twin 12" fans out of a '95 F-body. The waterpump was key to making this easy. It's from a 2010 Camaro, and has a driver's side/front outlet. A 2005-2008 Vette top hose is a perfect fit. The lower hose is from the 2000 GM truck. The waterpump install requires moving the idler down between the Alternator and P/S pump with a simple plate bracket, then cutting off the original ear to clear the top outlet of the waterpump. Air gets in via a 4" elbow and tube. I have a cone filter now, but hope to make up a cold air box with a flat panel filter soon. I just lowered the truck with CPP 2.5" modular spindles that accept stock brakes, with 3/4 of one coil cut off, and a Summit shackle & hanger kit. No notch for me. Air bags are planned with the 14 bolt to maximize towing capability.
Anyways, I'm super happy with how it has turned out. I'm now offering the mounts, cross-member and fan shroud for my customers, and got it on the dyno just a couple of days ago for a little transmission calibration and a check-up. With the stock 3.08 gear, it's clicking off just over 20 mpg and cruises our 85 mph toll road with ease.
I couldn't have put all this together without help from forums like this and LS1tech, so I hope to give some back for those heading down the same road. Please feel free to message me here via email, or look up me and my shop on FB and message me there. I'll be hanging around and chime in here and there.
Thanks!
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From Ohio!
