1967 C10 to LMM Duramax swap

[busta9876]

Starting this thread, will be putting a 2007 LMM/4L85E from an ambulance in my 1967 C10 pickup. I've had many engines in this in the past, including vortec 5.3, 6.0, 8.1, LT1 and even a Tune Port at one time. So far I've removed the 6.0L I had in it for the last 3 years, and its sold. Now working on seeing what will be needed to fit this much larger Duramax within the frame rails.

[jlbayes]

Oh I like dis.

[sootie]

any power adders planned? if so, what are the plans for the trans?

[SmokeShow]

I'm gonna need a towel. Look forward to see this come together.

[K204DR]

sweet

[Red Sleeper]

Should be a good combination.

What springs are you going to run in the front?

[DieselWrencher]

Very nice swap you have going on.

[Bodacious]

In for the info and I love the old heartbeats.

[busta9876]

Well I never get to do everything as fast as I want to, getting off to a slow start. I found out quick this won't be as simple an install as a LS into one of these trucks. I figured out with some oil pan modifications, and a high hump trans tunnel, this should fit okay with no other modifications to frame or body, which is a plus. So I sent the frame out to body shop to get frame straightened from previous owner shenanigans. It's back now, got the high hump tunnel and started working on oil pan. That's as far as I have got for now...more to come. The wiring should not be an issue, but there is a bunch of it. Going to take some time to weed out unnecessary circuits and remove to clean things up.

[busta9876]

Originally Posted by Red Sleeper

Should be a good combination.

What springs are you going to run in the front?

The front cross-member and a-arms in my 67 are from a 80s 1/2 ton pickup that had a 6.2 diesel in it. Should be enough spring to keep the front end up. I had a 8.1L Vortec in it at one time and it did fine.

[busta9876]

looks like everything is going to fit great after modifying the oil pan and high hump tunnel. This is going to use stock small block mount perches for the 1967 pickup, and stock style motor mount as well. One picture you can see, a simple flat plate can be bolted to the duramax, and then transfer the small block mount bolt pattern to the plate, drill and tap, exactly like the LS mount adapter!

[SmokeShow]

Make two sets of mounts.

[busta9876]

I found some time tonight to make some plate adapters. I'm going to make sure these will work before I clean up the edges. Time to put engine back in once again, set it on the mounts with mounts bolted to the frame, and mark holes for the mount, drill/tap.

[Chris Tobin]

Nice work, looking forward to seeing the finished truck!!!

[busta9876]

As usual nothing happens fast as I want it too. Had a hard time with shop getting oil pan welded without leaks...and warping. Finally got it all leak free and flat, and put back on the engine. Got the engine cleaned up some, got the LML exhaust manifold on drivers side. Working on fuel system and taking transmission apart to inspect, which will probably turn into a rebuild with some upgraded parts. TransGo HD2 for sure, not sure how crazy I want to go with horse power, probably do at least an input shaft.

[busta9876]

well the transmission took me WAY longer than I ever imagined. 1 week turned into 7 weeks to get the rebuild kit and torque converter. I was really busy during this time so not a big deal but would have had a little more done had I got the parts sooner. 4L85E got a Jake's stage 4 kit with 300M input, billet intermediate shaft. Jake's also built the triple disk 13" converter. Very nice rebuild kit that in the end was worth the wait.

I just got done with the transmission tonight, so should start putting it and the engine back into the truck and working on fuel system and wiring, hot and cold side plumbing.

[Red Sleeper]

Nice update on the transmission. Now as long as that's the only time you have to tear it down, the 7 weeks will be worth it.

[busta9876]

I got the front clip put back on the truck tonight, put the hood on and checked clearance, looks like I have about 1" on top of the alternator and a little more on the a/c compressor. Started looking at the wiring harness. This being from an express van, the wiring layout is a little different from a Silverado. I considered buying a pickup harness and add the TCM wiring for the 4l80e to it, but I think I'm just going to use what I already have. The harness is kind of nuts. At first glance some looms cross back and forth 2 or 3 times.

attached are some pictures of the completely stock van harness, and some changes I've made in about 30 minutes. I use process of elimination first, separate the wires, take out the plugs I know I don't need. Later I'll get pinout charts, schematics, removing wire by wire what I won't be using.

[Jonnylunchtime]

Originally Posted by busta9876

I got the front clip put back on the truck tonight, put the hood on and checked clearance, looks like I have about 1" on top of the alternator and a little more on the a/c compressor. Started looking at the wiring harness. This being from an express van, the wiring layout is a little different from a Silverado. I considered buying a pickup harness and add the TCM wiring for the 4l80e to it, but I think I'm just going to use what I already have. The harness is kind of nuts. At first glance some looms cross back and forth 2 or 3 times.

attached are some pictures of the completely stock van harness, and some changes I've made in about 30 minutes. I use process of elimination first, separate the wires, take out the plugs I know I don't need. Later I'll get pinout charts, schematics, removing wire by wire what I won't be using.

Nice Job getting that in there! X2 on sticking with the van harness, a truck harness means intake and coolant crossover changes too. It's badass as it is keep up the good work!

[busta9876]

Got a little more done on the truck. I took the stock up-pipes, cut off the tabs for the heat shields, and closed up the hole for the EGR. After removing the shield on the factory turbo down-pipe I've decided to go with an aftermarket 3 inch. It just looks restrictive in places. I think I have enough room for it. With the heat shield removed I have 3 inches between it and the firewall.

Got the fuel system mostly done. I need to figure out how I want to do my return lines. The factory plumbing is kind of messy. All 8 injectors return, CP3 has a return port, and the drivers side fuel rail has a port that goes to the return. All these pass through the fuel temp sensor, then return to the tank. I may run all these into an aluminum block and combine all those returns to one 3/8 line to the tank.

*after truck is wired, plumed, and running, its all coming back apart, going to paint and body. Frame will be blasted and painted, so please excuse the dirty underside.