Edit: 12/11/2023, after 12 years of inactivity, updates are rolling again. Gathering parts for a mild turbo build.

Hey guys, I'm sure I've posted here a little before, may be visiting more often as I dive into my little truck again.

So, let me get you guys up to speed right quick.

I got the truck in 2005 I think. I was 15. She had a three speed auto, a 4.3L V6, and a bad case of ugliness.





Skip to, say, 2008. Wheels, tires, grille, bumper, etc...



I was tired of chasing gremlins in the 4.3L and TBI system so I got frustrated and did some shopping, got together with my local engine shop, and we built this. Its was a Vortec 350 with some stock heads, a ZZ4 cam, Edelbrock intake, roller rockers, Comp push rods and a .30 over rebuild kit. It was around 10:1 with a Holley 4160 600CFM carb. The engine dyno put it at 367HP @ 5400 and 425TQ @ like 3400 if I recall correctly.





Oh, and around the same time, I switched it to (mostly, anyways) the 96 interior.



Now, let's get current. Starting in early 2010. Decided she either needed to go up, or go down....she went down. Put in Hotchkis front coils, and rear drop springs, and kept my Belltech shackle but in the 1" hole. Summit Sport Truck shocks all around.



Well. After driving the carb for a winter, etc...I decided I just hate carburetors. Kudos to the guys who like them, your a better man than I as far as patience goes. But I got tired of a hard starting gas pig that didn't run like I wanted, all the time. I had also recently bought a 2005 Silverado to daily drive and that got my head thinking all sorts of things...

So, fall of 2010! Brought this home, courtesy of a local truck forum:



Cant buy them much more complete than that! Probably could have stuck a battery to it and fired it right up.

Bye bye, 355.



And shortly after (November 2010):





I have never loved driving my truck so much. She runs great, all the time, and has good power to boot! Smooth, reliable, and 17MPG with a tune and a heavy *** foot.

Anyways, I did the swap myself. Fuel and trans lines were made with Summit Twist Tight 200PSI hose and Summit AN fittings, a harness from PSI (started to make one, got lazy), Airtex Vortec 350 fuel pump, Vette servo, basic Ebay CAI, etc. PCM work by Geoff at EPS in Baton Rouge, LA.

And here she is, one week ago.







MODS TO COME?

Well, Schoenfeld long tubes and a Magnaflow very soon. Still running stock manifolds, cobbled together pipe, and a 7 year old Blow 40.

Silverado E-fans and a 34" radiator.

I'm really looking at nitrous hard right now. I want a power adder for some extra fun but force feeding it is out of the budget right now if I want to afford the other things.

New brakes all around. Disks, pads, stainless lines front and rear, shoes, cylinders, etc.

A limited slip/locking differential.

Jeep Cherokee steering shaft. Eliminates the rag joint. Tighter response.

454SS/Sport steering box.

And well, other stuff.


Anywho, I kept it relatively short and sweet. I'll try to update from here on out and be happy to answer any questions about things I left out.

Cya guys.

 

Looks good!

 

how much was the harness from PSI. Was it good quality easy install? Nice truck man

 

Thanks! I think it was $440. It was really nice quality for the money. Dropped right in. A couple connectors were pinned backwards or wrong, I think the MAF and the MAP but I caught it with my scanner and fixed them. Minor issue. A pin pulled out of the OBDII plug so I called the guy at PSI and he sent me some new pins to fix it the next day. Good service. I'd recommend them.

 

Did you use the LS A/C compressor?

 

Nah. Have to notch the frame and stuff to make it fit, wasn't worth it. Some people have made custom mounts for the old R4 compressors by cutting up a SBC 350 bracket. Novak also sells a really nice aluminum bracket with all the hardware and other stuff, plus a brand new R4 compressor but its $578. I imagine they would sell the brackets without the compressor though.


Eventually I will get AC in it but I have had this truck with poor/no working AC for so long I'm used to it not being there.

 

Looks good...

I liked tuning and tweeking my old carb on my 440 I had, but cold weather to 100 degree summer just isn't carb friendly...With FI now days its really refined and tuning is even easier..

30 mins, 2 dyno pulls and my truck (with the FI LS1) was up 15 hp from A/F tweeks...try that with a carb while keeping your hands clean

 

Wow, it looks great. nice and clean.
I'm jealous

 

Nice work! Truck looks really clean.
Schoenfeld headers are my next upgrade as well. Let us know how you like them when you get them in.

 

Hi I'm Tim from Lafayette, completed a similar swap into my sons single cab Z71 earlier this year. Would you have the links to the CAI you utilized along with the Novak AC bracket you mentioned. That is all Im lacking. I have a ladder bar and tubbed 90 454 SS that I am going to be stroking a 6.0 to 454 ci look for the build at the beginning of next year.

Tim Bourque
Bourques Hot Rods
Caremcro La.