Summer Project.
Jan 23, 2008 | 06:51 PM
#1
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TECH Apprentice
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 333
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From: Ontario, Canada
Summer Project.
Hey Everyone.
Im contemplating ideas here. First i will start off with a little something about the project. Im a 17 Year old High School student. Ill Be finishing school in june, then having chest surgery in july or august. Anywho. I bought a Camaro when i turned 16, that i restored and drove all summer, when winter rolled around, my dad went out and bought a now '07 F150 Lariat, and donated his old '97 GMC K1500 pickup to me as a winter driver.
The truck it self has seen better days. I was used as a display truck in 1996 at autoshows for GM to show the new models or whatever. Anyways, 11 years later, it has 274000 Km's on it, the cab corners are rusting out, its been in the ditch, got the door ripped off by a cement truck (weird story), its been beaten up on a construction site for 3 years, and now ive got it. Long story short, my camaro was in worse shape, and i see potential in this truck.
Way im looking at it, floors are solid, frame looks good, interior is spotless, its 4wd, ext. cab, with a short box, and i got it for free. No complaints there.
Anywho, I had a long conversation with my dad about re-doing the truck during my 5 month surgery recovery time. Dad said What ever i put towards the resto, he will double it. Ive got $2k in the bank, so thats $4k ive got towards it.
C/K Resto has good prices on patch panels that i would need, and ive got alot of time to pull the box off and clean rust off the frame to coat it and whatnot, also theres a few junkyards around here with decent body parts for them.
Big question im asking is in regards to the motor. The motor has seen little maitinence before i got it (i take care of my vehicles religiously), the oil pan is leaking a tad, its got piston slap, has the "Damp, no start issue" (I literately was outside blowdrying the engine in the -14*c weather trying to get it to start so i coul go to school), and all the other narsty issues with high milage engines.
We have a 2004 5.3L LM9 here. Dad bought it to put into his '70 t/a then ended up going for an LS2. Its a complete motor, intake to pan, harness, computer, MAF, manifolds, EVERYTHING, is there. What would it take to drop this motor in? Im framiliar with LS1 swaps into F-body's but not into trucks.
What would i have to do tranny wise? What do i have to do with wire splicing and sensors? Exhaust is no issues, i can fabricate something myself.
Im most certainly capable of doing it all, i won the Schools engineering award, ive got top marks in all my tech classes, i landed a job at an aerospace fastener company doing building maitience and fabrication.
All help and input is GREATLY appreciated!
Sheldon.
Oh, sorry for the novel
Im contemplating ideas here. First i will start off with a little something about the project. Im a 17 Year old High School student. Ill Be finishing school in june, then having chest surgery in july or august. Anywho. I bought a Camaro when i turned 16, that i restored and drove all summer, when winter rolled around, my dad went out and bought a now '07 F150 Lariat, and donated his old '97 GMC K1500 pickup to me as a winter driver.
The truck it self has seen better days. I was used as a display truck in 1996 at autoshows for GM to show the new models or whatever. Anyways, 11 years later, it has 274000 Km's on it, the cab corners are rusting out, its been in the ditch, got the door ripped off by a cement truck (weird story), its been beaten up on a construction site for 3 years, and now ive got it. Long story short, my camaro was in worse shape, and i see potential in this truck.
Way im looking at it, floors are solid, frame looks good, interior is spotless, its 4wd, ext. cab, with a short box, and i got it for free. No complaints there.
Anywho, I had a long conversation with my dad about re-doing the truck during my 5 month surgery recovery time. Dad said What ever i put towards the resto, he will double it. Ive got $2k in the bank, so thats $4k ive got towards it.
C/K Resto has good prices on patch panels that i would need, and ive got alot of time to pull the box off and clean rust off the frame to coat it and whatnot, also theres a few junkyards around here with decent body parts for them.
Big question im asking is in regards to the motor. The motor has seen little maitinence before i got it (i take care of my vehicles religiously), the oil pan is leaking a tad, its got piston slap, has the "Damp, no start issue" (I literately was outside blowdrying the engine in the -14*c weather trying to get it to start so i coul go to school), and all the other narsty issues with high milage engines.
We have a 2004 5.3L LM9 here. Dad bought it to put into his '70 t/a then ended up going for an LS2. Its a complete motor, intake to pan, harness, computer, MAF, manifolds, EVERYTHING, is there. What would it take to drop this motor in? Im framiliar with LS1 swaps into F-body's but not into trucks.
What would i have to do tranny wise? What do i have to do with wire splicing and sensors? Exhaust is no issues, i can fabricate something myself.
Im most certainly capable of doing it all, i won the Schools engineering award, ive got top marks in all my tech classes, i landed a job at an aerospace fastener company doing building maitience and fabrication.
All help and input is GREATLY appreciated!
Sheldon.
Oh, sorry for the novel
Jan 23, 2008 | 06:53 PM
#2
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
Oh, i forgot to add. Im essentially looking to restore it to a good shape, replace brake parts, re-do suspension (planning on a 6" lift)
Then Paint it after (my dad and i painted my camaro)
Then Paint it after (my dad and i painted my camaro)
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