My '93 Chevy C1500...LS V8 Swapped. - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

SimpleGreen · 04-25-2012, 11:02 PM

I've had this truck since I was 15. I'm 23 now. I'll skip all the history and get to the the present. Honestly, she's old, tired, shakey, and has a reconstructed title because she was basically totaled in 1994. But she drives straight, doesn't look bad...and RUNS like a beaten house wife. These days she hangs out under the car port while I daily the Camaro.

In 2010 I swapped in a 5.3L V8 and 4L60E from a 2002 Silverado. LOVE it. Truck is pretty quick now. The engine is stock aside from a computer tune. The truck is lowered on Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires, Hotchkis suspension, etc. Handles really well for a truck. It also has most of the interior from a 1996 truck (the interiors changed between 94 and 95).

SleepWarz · 04-26-2012, 04:31 AM

Very nice, and classy wheels.

BACH · 04-26-2012, 06:23 AM

Nice truck. I have a '94 that's pretty much all original, and yes very tired 350 TBI. But she's not a quitter.

I've always wanted to change to the 95+ side mirrors like you did. How hard are these to swap? are they powered?

SimpleGreen · 04-26-2012, 09:02 AM

They are a direct bolt on. Everything in my truck is manual but I imagine the power mirrors wouldn't be too hard to figure out.

Mr Twisty · 04-26-2012, 10:44 AM

Nice!

BACH · 04-26-2012, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimpleGreen

They are a direct bolt on. Everything in my truck is manual but I imagine the power mirrors wouldn't be too hard to figure out.

Yeah but it not sure where to put the controls for power windows in a '4 interior. one of these days....

SimpleGreen · 05-05-2013, 10:23 PM

Well, I got back in the mood to fool with the ole truck...

So, how about some long tube headers, a Magnaflow, some stainless brake lines, and a front and rear Hellwig swaybar...

Fresh new headlights and parking lights? Sure.

How about a Jeep XJ steering shaft? Replaces the junky stock Chevy unit. Going to readjust the stock steering box to tighten it back up some as well.

And here are the electric fans I picked up from a 2009 Silverado. Also moving up to a 34" dual core radiator. Current one is too small to effectively cool under stress.

SimpleGreen · 05-05-2013, 10:26 PM

I cut all the old exhaust out this weekend. This exhaust has been hacked up over the years and through the different motor swaps.

Look at this garbage.

Put the headers in and went to the exhaust shop. I had them route it wide and high. I took the huge receiver hitch off today but I had them work around it on purpose so I could put it back on if the need arose.

SimpleGreen · 05-05-2013, 10:28 PM

Cleaned up a little under the hood, loomed up the last of the bare wires, and neatened it up a bit...

Thinking about 4.11 rear gears, a Detroit True Trac and a dyno tune at Futral.

white 2SS/RS · 05-05-2013, 10:44 PM

I love it. I'll always love that body style SWB.

RatRacer · 05-05-2013, 10:58 PM

Jealous here!
I had a '94 fleet side shorty w/ 305 & 4L60E that I sold to a neighbor 6 years ago @ 160K miles. He drives by my house every day with the exhaust and billet wheels I put on it still, but he repainted it using Maaco. My dogs still think it's me coming home, when he goes by.

Severocamaross · 05-05-2013, 11:06 PM

Sweet build! I have a 91 fleet side with a 350. Same year I was born and was handed down from my grandpa, drove it since I was 16 and I'm 21 now. This is totally my goal with it after I get some extra cash (camaro seems to take most of it).

The Blue Ox · 05-05-2013, 11:57 PM

Nice Build! And Pics! I have a 96 SWB Sportside with Vortec 350 that I bought new! One of the best mods I've done was put a 3.73 Posi in it! Really woke the truck up! IMHO, I really wouldn't put 4.11's, not unless you don't ever plan on driving it on the highway!

SimpleGreen · 05-06-2013, 07:36 PM

Thanks for the words guys, I love these trucks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Blue Ox

Nice Build! And Pics! I have a 96 SWB Sportside with Vortec 350 that I bought new! One of the best mods I've done was put a 3.73 Posi in it! Really woke the truck up! IMHO, I really wouldn't put 4.11's, not unless you don't ever plan on driving it on the highway!

4.11s put it at about 2500RPM @ 70. However, I won't be jumping into this part of the project soon. It's more a back burner item right now.

JHart · 05-13-2013, 01:14 AM

How hard was the swap man???

69Z/28Camaro · 05-13-2013, 09:33 PM

That's awesome. I had thoughts of putting that combo in my truck but went with a cheaper idea. Got a TBI 350 out of a Corvette, roller motor. Comp Cam, headers and true dual Flowmaster exhaust. And it has a 4.11 rear with positrac. Runs great I think.

ksu04 · 05-14-2013, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHart

How hard was the swap man???

Curious about the swap too? I have a 92 that is being painted right now, I'll probably be looking to replace the old 350 some day.

SimpleGreen · 05-14-2013, 10:32 PM

The swap is really straight forward. If your comfortable with pulling and installing an engine, the little bit of extra thought to make the 5.3L bolt in and run isn't bad at all. One day I need to dig back through all my receipts and post all the part numbers, info, etc on all the boards I visit because people ask me a lot. It's a great swap though. Zero trouble in over two years. It's been new car reliable. I had one O2 sensor died temporarily and handicapping the truck for a couple hours after driving through flood waters after Issac (the connection filled with water) but it went away after it dried out and has been great ever since.

The Blue Ox · 05-14-2013, 11:21 PM

Very interesting! Looks and sounds like you done a good job on the swap!
Now that you've got all the hard work done simple green, you can easily swap that 5.3 for a 6.0 as they are real compatible! More cubes and a few more ponies!!

ksu04 · 05-15-2013, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SimpleGreen

The swap is really straight forward. If your comfortable with pulling and installing an engine, the little bit of extra thought to make the 5.3L bolt in and run isn't bad at all. One day I need to dig back through all my receipts and post all the part numbers, info, etc on all the boards I visit because people ask me a lot. It's a great swap though. Zero trouble in over two years. It's been new car reliable. I had one O2 sensor died temporarily and handicapping the truck for a couple hours after driving through flood waters after Issac (the connection filled with water) but it went away after it dried out and has been great ever since.

I'd like to see that, I'm really interested in trying this.

69Z/28Camaro · 05-15-2013, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Blue Ox

Very interesting! Looks and sounds like you done a good job on the swap!
Now that you've got all the hard work done simple green, you can easily swap that 5.3 for a 6.0 as they are real compatible! More cubes and a few more ponies!!

And a lot worse gas mileage. Almost isnt worth it. Probably better to just upgrade the 5.3.

@SimpleGreen, What did you do for the speedometer and transmission? I think if your truck is like 96 and up then it's no big deal because it's mostly electronic anyways. Mine is a 93 and is mostly still mechanical haha

The Blue Ox · 05-16-2013, 05:48 PM

Lols! Don't think simple green is worried about MPG's too much installing them 4.11's!

SimpleGreen · 05-16-2013, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69Z/28Camaro

And a lot worse gas mileage. Almost isnt worth it. Probably better to just upgrade the 5.3.

@SimpleGreen, What did you do for the speedometer and transmission? I think if your truck is like 96 and up then it's no big deal because it's mostly electronic anyways. Mine is a 93 and is mostly still mechanical haha

My truck is a 93 with a 96 interior. However, even if I had the 93 interior still the speedometer would have worked. It was electronic too. The transmission is a 2002 unit and is controlled by the LS PCM. The LS PCM sends the speedo signal to my 96 cluster fine. Actually, all my gauges work like stock.

As for MPG, it gets about 15-16 with me driving like an arsehole the whole time.

Strange Flavor · 05-16-2013, 07:55 PM

I put an LS1 in my 91. All of the gauges work fine. Don't have to do anything to alt and gas gauges. The 3 wire 98 ls1 temp sensor fixes temp gauge. Some minor soldering on the spedo to adjust it to the gears but I just tied those wires into the PCM wires going to the trans.

Strange Flavor · 05-16-2013, 08:02 PM

As stated by SimpleGreen, the whole swap really is easy. Almost everything can be found in the junkyard now, 2000+ up trucks are becoming more available there since they are getting old. All you need is some $20 motor mount re-locators and EVERYTHING already lines up.

04-25-2012, 11:02 PM	#1
SimpleGreen Drives: 2012 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Southeast Louisiana Posts: 722	My '93 Chevy C1500...LS V8 Swapped. I've had this truck since I was 15. I'm 23 now. I'll skip all the history and get to the the present. Honestly, she's old, tired, shakey, and has a reconstructed title because she was basically totaled in 1994. But she drives straight, doesn't look bad...and RUNS like a beaten house wife. These days she hangs out under the car port while I daily the Camaro. In 2010 I swapped in a 5.3L V8 and 4L60E from a 2002 Silverado. LOVE it. Truck is pretty quick now. The engine is stock aside from a computer tune. The truck is lowered on Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires, Hotchkis suspension, etc. Handles really well for a truck. It also has most of the interior from a 1996 truck (the interiors changed between 94 and 95).

04-26-2012, 06:23 AM	#3
BACH Delving the Ordure ... Drives: '10 2SS/RS 6M CGM, '94 Z-71 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Houston - Cypress Posts: 188 View My Garage	Nice truck. I have a '94 that's pretty much all original, and yes very tired 350 TBI. But she's not a quitter. I've always wanted to change to the 95+ side mirrors like you did. How hard are these to swap? are they powered? __________________ Me: Hey babe, do you mind if I spend a little money on my car? Wifey: Your hobbies are expensive...(deep sigh). How much this time? My journal: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164741

04-26-2012, 10:44 AM	#5
Mr Twisty Drives: the 2nd amendment home Join Date: May 2008 Location: OK Posts: 13,293	Nice! __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin Great Racing Quotes "Never run out of real estate, traction and ideas at the same time." "I was doing fine until about mid-corner when I ran out of talent." "Don't brake until you see God, just don't meet him"

05-05-2013, 10:23 PM	#7
SimpleGreen Drives: 2012 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Southeast Louisiana Posts: 722	Well, I got back in the mood to fool with the ole truck... So, how about some long tube headers, a Magnaflow, some stainless brake lines, and a front and rear Hellwig swaybar... Fresh new headlights and parking lights? Sure. How about a Jeep XJ steering shaft? Replaces the junky stock Chevy unit. Going to readjust the stock steering box to tighten it back up some as well. And here are the electric fans I picked up from a 2009 Silverado. Also moving up to a 34" dual core radiator. Current one is too small to effectively cool under stress. __________________ 2012 1LT/VR - CAI - Dynomax VT- RX Breather and Can - VMAX TB - Splash Guards - 20% Tint

05-05-2013, 10:26 PM	#8
SimpleGreen Drives: 2012 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Southeast Louisiana Posts: 722	I cut all the old exhaust out this weekend. This exhaust has been hacked up over the years and through the different motor swaps. Look at this garbage. Put the headers in and went to the exhaust shop. I had them route it wide and high. I took the huge receiver hitch off today but I had them work around it on purpose so I could put it back on if the need arose. __________________ 2012 1LT/VR - CAI - Dynomax VT- RX Breather and Can - VMAX TB - Splash Guards - 20% Tint

04-26-2012, 04:31 AM	#2
SleepWarz Banned Drives: 1991 New Yorker, 69 Tbird, ABM2SSRS Join Date: May 2009 Location: BC Canada Posts: 2,259 View My Garage	Very nice, and classy wheels.

04-26-2012, 09:02 AM	#4
SimpleGreen Drives: 2012 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Southeast Louisiana Posts: 722	They are a direct bolt on. Everything in my truck is manual but I imagine the power mirrors wouldn't be too hard to figure out.

05-05-2013, 10:28 PM	#9
SimpleGreen Drives: 2012 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Southeast Louisiana Posts: 722	Cleaned up a little under the hood, loomed up the last of the bare wires, and neatened it up a bit... Thinking about 4.11 rear gears, a Detroit True Trac and a dyno tune at Futral. __________________ 2012 1LT/VR - CAI - Dynomax VT- RX Breather and Can - VMAX TB - Splash Guards - 20% Tint

05-05-2013, 10:44 PM	#10
white 2SS/RS Drives: ADM Built 2011 2SS/RS A6 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Waxahachie, Tx Posts: 428	I love it. I'll always love that body style SWB. __________________ ADM Scoop, CAI Intake, VRPW, GT11 cam, 1 7/8" Stainless Works, 3" Magnaflow, Yank SS3600, 3.45 gear 1.63 60' / 7.39@93.2 / 11.61@115.0

05-05-2013, 10:58 PM	#11
RatRacer Drives: 2011 SGM LS A6 & 2012 IOM 1LT A6 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: S.W. Florida Posts: 369	Jealous here! I had a '94 fleet side shorty w/ 305 & 4L60E that I sold to a neighbor 6 years ago @ 160K miles. He drives by my house every day with the exhaust and billet wheels I put on it still, but he repainted it using Maaco. My dogs still think it's me coming home, when he goes by.

05-05-2013, 11:06 PM	#12
Severocamaross Drives: 2010 camaro ss m6 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: San Antonio tx Posts: 7 View My Garage	Sweet build! I have a 91 fleet side with a 350. Same year I was born and was handed down from my grandpa, drove it since I was 16 and I'm 21 now. This is totally my goal with it after I get some extra cash (camaro seems to take most of it).

05-05-2013, 11:57 PM	#13
The Blue Ox Drives: 2010 SS L99 Inferno Orange Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Texas Coast Posts: 804	Nice Build! And Pics! I have a 96 SWB Sportside with Vortec 350 that I bought new! One of the best mods I've done was put a 3.73 Posi in it! Really woke the truck up! IMHO, I really wouldn't put 4.11's, not unless you don't ever plan on driving it on the highway!

05-13-2013, 01:14 AM	#15
JHart I haz camaro again :) Drives: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Union, South Carolina Posts: 641	How hard was the swap man??? __________________ 2010 Camaro 1SS(back in a camaro again, yessssss!) 2010 silverado z71 ccsb(sold, old dd) 2010 camaro1ss(sold, missed, will have another someday)

05-13-2013, 09:33 PM	#16
69Z/28Camaro Red Big Block Camaro Drives: 93 C1500, VR Big Block 70 Camaro RS Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 956	That's awesome. I had thoughts of putting that combo in my truck but went with a cheaper idea. Got a TBI 350 out of a Corvette, roller motor. Comp Cam, headers and true dual Flowmaster exhaust. And it has a 4.11 rear with positrac. Runs great I think. __________________ my Camaro. 3 year frame off resto. Prepping for a nasty 454

05-14-2013, 10:32 PM	#18
SimpleGreen Drives: 2012 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Southeast Louisiana Posts: 722	The swap is really straight forward. If your comfortable with pulling and installing an engine, the little bit of extra thought to make the 5.3L bolt in and run isn't bad at all. One day I need to dig back through all my receipts and post all the part numbers, info, etc on all the boards I visit because people ask me a lot. It's a great swap though. Zero trouble in over two years. It's been new car reliable. I had one O2 sensor died temporarily and handicapping the truck for a couple hours after driving through flood waters after Issac (the connection filled with water) but it went away after it dried out and has been great ever since. __________________ 2012 1LT/VR - CAI - Dynomax VT- RX Breather and Can - VMAX TB - Splash Guards - 20% Tint

05-14-2013, 11:21 PM	#19
The Blue Ox Drives: 2010 SS L99 Inferno Orange Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Texas Coast Posts: 804	Very interesting! Looks and sounds like you done a good job on the swap! Now that you've got all the hard work done simple green, you can easily swap that 5.3 for a 6.0 as they are real compatible! More cubes and a few more ponies!!

05-16-2013, 05:48 PM	#22
The Blue Ox Drives: 2010 SS L99 Inferno Orange Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Texas Coast Posts: 804	Lols! Don't think simple green is worried about MPG's too much installing them 4.11's!

05-16-2013, 07:55 PM	#24
Strange Flavor Drives: 2011 2SS, 91 LSX Silvarado Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Louisiana Posts: 22 View My Garage	I put an LS1 in my 91. All of the gauges work fine. Don't have to do anything to alt and gas gauges. The 3 wire 98 ls1 temp sensor fixes temp gauge. Some minor soldering on the spedo to adjust it to the gears but I just tied those wires into the PCM wires going to the trans.

05-16-2013, 08:02 PM	#25
Strange Flavor Drives: 2011 2SS, 91 LSX Silvarado Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Louisiana Posts: 22 View My Garage	As stated by SimpleGreen, the whole swap really is easy. Almost everything can be found in the junkyard now, 2000+ up trucks are becoming more available there since they are getting old. All you need is some $20 motor mount re-locators and EVERYTHING already lines up.