Engine Swap

We decided to see if we could make it do a burnout.  Because of the Detroit Locker this meant spinning BOTH 35" tires.  Even in low range I just couldn't get a good spin going.  It's still fun to watch (and listen to!) though. 
Click HERE to watch me try a burnout!
Attempt #2

If this was your engine, you would want to swap it too!

I have purchased a Chevy LT1 (5.7 l V8) to put in.  It came with a 4L60E transmission that is basically the electronic version of the 700R4.  I'm going to run a Atlas 2 transfer case with a 3:1 low range.  This setup should be good for 300hp and about the same amount of torque.  Here is a list of other things I have bought to complete the swap:

27.5x19 Griffin aluminum radiator from Speedway Motors
Transmission cooler from Speedway Motors
B&M Sportshifter from Summit Racing
Aux heater from 4Wheel Drive Hardware
Engine mounts from M.O.R.E.

Other stuff in the works:
Custom front and rear CV drive shafts from Tom Woods

First thing is to make some working room.  All the cross members unbolt and come right out.  It took less than an hour to get it to this point.

Yank that thing out, there is a real engine waiting to go in!  Man that is a small tranny.

We knew the frame rails were close together, but after it's all out it starts to look more worrying.  Well, no turning back now!

Dropped it in for a test fitting.  The exhaust manifold sits right on top of the frame rails.  Damn.

You can see it better here.

At least the radiator was a good fit.

We swapped the exhaust manifold sides so now they dump in the front instead of the back.  Looks like it might just work.   Here the engine is sitting in the bay about how it will end up.  The weight was about perfect, and the truck is sitting level.

The next trick is to more the steering box out of the way.  We are going to relocate it about 2-3 inches outboard.  This should allow us to move the engine an inch or two to the side clearing the exhaust and making room for an Atlas 2 transfer case.  This might just work.

I sent the engine and tranny off to be rebuilt.  I figured no since going to all of this trouble again, might as well put in fresh units.  You have to be patient if you want the work done right, and it was over two months waiting for to get the engine back.  Should be worth the wait.  Here are the engine and tranny back from the shops.

Here's what I felt like!

Well, I had a change in careers and found myself with a few weeks extra.  With a baby on the way I decided I'd better get off my rump and get this thing done!  I put in a bunch of long days but in the end it was well worth it.  The truck is now running, but I didn't get a chance to take many pictures or take a bunch of notes on the way.  Here are a couple things I did manage to get on film.

One of the biggest issues with using the drive train I chose (and why I was told it wouldn't work!) is that the original cross member is in exactly the wrong place.  I wasn't to bothered by that, I just hacked it out and put a new one in!  You can see the new one and where the old one was in this shot.

This shot shows why the old cross member couldn't stay.  The Atlas 2 transfer case is right where the cross member would have been.

Here you can see the motor mounts and where we clearance the frame.  This was a test fitting, afterwards we pulled the engine and welded everything up.  We also plated up the frame where we made room for the exhaust.  It shouldn't effect strength much since we used 1/4" plate to cap the hole.  Also all the stress points are behind the cut (engine, suspension) so it shouldn't have any problems at all.

And now, a word from our sponsors...

OK, I don't really have any sponsors, but I did stick the stickers that came with all the hot rod stuff I got on the drivers side of the truck.  You can see how much I left out describing in the frenzy to get it done.  You can also see the hood scoop I put on to help with cooling.  At least it's discrete.  You can also see that the rig is still pretty level.  It appears that I didn't change the weight much with the swap, so it should still behave about the same.

Here's the working end of the scoop.

So, do I have any parting thoughts?  Yeah, leave 3 times the amount of time you think it will take, and 4 times the money!  Was it worth it?  Well, I still have a bunch of stuff to do before it will be running and shifting right.  But I did take it to the car wash to rinse it off and it felt like there was some power to be had.  After I was done I headed to grab something to eat.  As I pulled out traffic came on suddenly and I mashed the throttle.  This was the first time I had done that and I laid rubber all the way till it chirped into second.  Sure the tires were a little damp, but DAAAAAMMMMMMNNNNN.