[gmorin07]

So I’ve done a lot of searching on Google and the forms and I just want to confirm a few things. With the LS swap if I change the computer can I use the wiring harness from my 2.8 or will I have to upgrade to a 4.3 harness from a GEN2, and ECM?

I know about the radiator fans but if I upgrade the computer that means I can use a 4L60E or 700R4, correct?

What are the recommendations for upgrades other than headers and exhaust? If I get the engine from a junkyard with the intake to the air intake I should be ok correct?

I I think that’s it for now, but any advice, recommendations or tips are greatly appreciated!

Thank You
Glenn

 

[PeteD]

So I’ve done a lot of searching on Google and the forms and I just want to confirm a few things. With the LS swap if I change the computer can I use the wiring harness from my 2.8 or will I have to upgrade to a 4.3 harness from a GEN2, and ECM?

I know about the radiator fans but if I upgrade the computer that means I can use a 4L60E or 700R4, correct?

What are the recommendations for upgrades other than headers and exhaust? If I get the engine from a junkyard with the intake to the air intake I should be ok correct?

I I think that’s it for now, but any advice, recommendations or tips are greatly appreciated!

Thank You
Glenn

Recco you spend a tad more time researching your project. Books on LS Swaps aren't hard to find. Many similar are well documented in this forum 's archives if you'll look. All your questions are answered there.

 

[gmorin07]

Recco you spend a tad more time researching your project. Books on LS Swaps aren't hard to find. Many similar are well documented in this forum 's archives if you'll look. All your questions are answered there.

Will do I will search further but if anyone would like to add assistance it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[GSettle]

You need to be searching the "LSx Discussion" section instead of "V8 Discussion"

LSx Discussion

www.s10forum.com

 

[bk2life]

can I use the wiring harness from my 2.8 or will I have to upgrade to a 4.3 harness from a GEN2, and ECM?

think of it this way, you have an engine harness that controls the engine and trans. Then you have a body harness that controls lights, heater, ac, radio etc. Theyre 2 separate things. So the standalone harness for the eng/trans gets wired and will run and drive. The body makes it legal. There is no upgrading to 2nd gen. Also the engine/trans will be controlled by their own pcm.

I know about the radiator fans

what do you know about the cooling fans?

that means I can use a 4L60E or 700R4, correct?

if you use a late model engine, it makes 100% sense to use the late model computer controlled trans it came with. One should never say the words 700r4 and LS in the same sentence.

What are the recommendations for upgrades other than headers and exhaust

Everything. upgrade everything.

If I get the engine from a junkyard with the intake to the air intake I should be ok correct?

with the intake to the intake. i got nothing, you lost me hooch, come again zero, surely dont call me shirley

 

[gmorin07]

think of it this way, you have an engine harness that controls the engine and trans. Then you have a body harness that controls lights, heater, ac, radio etc. Theyre 2 separate things. So the standalone harness for the eng/trans gets wired and will run and drive. The body makes it legal. There is no upgrading to 2nd gen. Also the engine/trans will be controlled by their own pcm.

Ok so an ECM out of the truck I get the engine from


what do you know about the cooling fans?
a little bit I am pretty sure I would use flex-a-lite puller fans.

if you use a late model engine, it makes 100% sense to use the late model computer controlled trans it came with. One should never say the words 700r4 and LS in the same sentence.

Noted… so 4l60e then lol.

Everything. upgrade everything.
Ok then so from cam to

with the intake to the intake. i got nothing, you lost me hooch, come again zero, surely dont call me shirley

Well I was wondering to keep the intake manifold that comes with the engine to the actual air intake that provides air to the engine. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[aitch]

And the purpose of replication is........?

 

[Rhotpursuit]

You need to be searching the "LSx Discussion" section instead of "V8 Discussion"

LSx Discussion

www.s10forum.com

I moved it.

 

[gmorin07]

And the purpose of replication is........?

I answered his questions in the body of it I apologize for the confusion.

 

[aitch]

I answered his questions in the body of it I apologize for the confusion.

Missed that.

 

[gmorin07]

Missed that.

It’s all good

 

[gmorin07]

Anyone think a certain harness is better or what year to get a truck engine or anything?

 

[GSettle]

It’ll be easier for you (and us) if you spend your spare time for the next few weeks searching the lsx forums for all the swap info. Otherwise, you’ll have to expound every detail of your truck ( make,model,year RPO codes etc..) and what exactly you’re trying to swap into it. By the time you make that post, most people here won’t read it all, and you still won’t get the answers you’re looking for.
Spend some time reading here then ask the questions you don’t really know what to ask right now.
I’m not trying to be a jerk or anything but there are a lot of variables going on with a LS swap…From what I’ve read about here, no 2 are alike.
No body had similar problems I had (that I found here), and I didn’t have problems of some of the other guys on here. Meanwhile, bk2life, Lonnie, Rhot, and so many others make it look so easy to make it look like it came from the factory or a custom shop, but regular jackasses like me are just happy to spend hundreds of hours in the shop and a small fortune to get them running .
When you fire it up the first time though….That is gold!

 

[bk2life]

When you fire it up the first time though….That is gold!

everytime it's like the first time. Theres just something special about it..

 

[jslezak83]

I am in the middle of a LQ4 4L80E swap in my 1987 Blazer. It was originally a 2.8L 700R4. In 2002 I swapped a 4.3L 700R4 from a 1989 S15. A few years later I did a 305 TPI from a 1988 Z28, and then a 350 after the 305 gave up the ghost.

All these engine swaps were essentially bolt in, with some wiring mods. Each time, I had the engines in and out over a weekend, and then had to sort out the wiring.

This LQ4 swap has been on and off for about 6 years. I’m in too far now to back track, but if I could do it again, I’d get a fresh 350 crate engine and have called it a day.

None of the LS swap parts really account for the pre 1988 S10s. Exhaust clearance to the frame and steering shaft is lousy. Linkage for the column shift doesn’t exist. There is no bolt in solution for a trans crossmember for a 4L80E Blazer. My point? It’s going to take a lot of custom fabrication to get everything to work properly. If you want to slap together a race car, I guess this isn’t as much of an issue. I’m after OE fit and finish.

 

[jslezak83]

You will need to dissect the 2.8L harness to reduce it to only the wiring that is to the body. Things like gauges, wipers, power to the fuse panel all run through the 2.8L harness. Then you will have to integrate the LSx harness into that.

First gen. electrical info thread

this is a thread for electrical schematics, connections, routing, theory of operation, etc. on the first gen s10's. i had this on another forum and meant to bring it over here a long time ago. i pulled the schematics for an 86, i dont know the year spread. all the pics and diagrams are from my...

www.s10forum.com

This is a good place to start looking.

Once you have all that figured out you will want to go through the entire suspension and brakes. You don’t want a 37 year old death trap with way more power than it was ever intended to have.

 

[gmorin07]

I am in the middle of a LQ4 4L80E swap in my 1987 Blazer. It was originally a 2.8L 700R4. In 2002 I swapped a 4.3L 700R4 from a 1989 S15. A few years later I did a 305 TPI from a 1988 Z28, and then a 350 after the 305 gave up the ghost.

All these engine swaps were essentially bolt in, with some wiring mods. Each time, I had the engines in and out over a weekend, and then had to sort out the wiring.

This LQ4 swap has been on and off for about 6 years. I’m in too far now to back track, but if I could do it again, I’d get a fresh 350 crate engine and have called it a day.

None of the LS swap parts really account for the pre 1988 S10s. Exhaust clearance to the frame and steering shaft is lousy. Linkage for the column shift doesn’t exist. There is no bolt in solution for a trans crossmember for a 4L80E Blazer. My point? It’s going to take a lot of custom fabrication to get everything to work properly. If you want to slap together a race car, I guess this isn’t as much of an issue. I’m after OE fit and finish.

Yea that was kinda my thing lol

 

[oldeerslayer]

All these engine swaps were essentially bolt in, with some wiring mods. Each time, I had the engines in and out over a weekend, and then had to sort out the wiring.

This LQ4 swap has been on and off for about 6 years. I’m in too far now to back track, but if I could do it again, I’d get a fresh 350 crate engine and have called it a day.

My LQ9 into a 99 has been ongoing for 3 years. I was so sick of looking at it that I spent last summer repainting the barn and other needed things I had been ignoring.
Like Edgar Allen Peo's raven says "Never Again".
If I live long enough to do another swap into an S10, it'll be a SBC. You can put good aluminum aftermarket heads and a 671 blower on a SBC for less than what an LS swap ends up costing in both time and money. With the original oil pan. The guys on Roadkill figured this out long ago.

 

[gmorin07]

My LQ9 into a 99 has been ongoing for 3 years. I was so sick of looking at it that I spent last summer repainting the barn and other needed things I had been ignoring.
Like Edgar Allen Peo's raven says "Never Again".
If I live long enough to do another swap into an S10, it'll be a SBC. You can put good aluminum aftermarket heads and a 671 blower on a SBC for less than what an LS swap ends up costing in both time and money. With the original oil pan. The guys on Roadkill figured this out long ago.

Thank you… good information!

 

[bk2life]

has been ongoing for 3 years.

that sucks man... sorry to read that