No problem with using the GM transmission, it would probably improve your fuel efficiency since both the engine and transmission are controlled by the factory PCM. There are several aftermarket tuning software packages for the GM gen III & IV V8 PCMS, and a bunch of people that will "tune" your PCM if you mail it to them. There are also aftermarket wiring harnesses and pcms as well, the list goes on.

 

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Sounds GREAT! congratulations!

 

Thanks! It still needs a lot of loose ends tied up and the waterpump needs to be replaced, it was leaking out the weep hole. Before I can truly drive it I also need to figure out a throttle cable since my truck had hard linkage all the way to the carburetor. I also need to refine my clutch linkage, but it may only need a strong return spring.

 

On the throttle cable you may think about getting one from a 1978-1979 with a 300, they had a cable assy. integrated with the pedal assy.

 

Yea i noticed that. Do you know if pedal end of the cable shielding mounts to the engine block or the firewall?

 

it mounts to the firewall, I can send a pic when I get home of the ones I have

 

That would be awesome. I really appreciate it.

 

Made a quick bracket for the throttle cable out of some aluminum angle. I used a Mr. Gasket Universal Cable and the stock 351m pedal, but I bent the linkage back towards the cab about 2 inches.



Mounted my VSS in the pto plate on the transfer case reading the 4 low gear. I made a bushing for the sensor out of black pipe on the lathe, drilled a hole in the PTO cover and welded it in place.



I also got my clutch linkage sorted out and was able to drive it down the street today. Not far and not fast because my booster is bad and no rear brakes, but whoa! A huge difference from the tired 351m.

 

So why did you go with a 5.3 and not a 6.0? Fuel mileage? I'm just asking because I'm a power junky and bigger tends to be better.

 

Can you explain the theory behind why the VSS goes on the 4L gear? Isn't there a way to just use the stock speedo hole with an electonic pickup?

Not criticizing-I love the work! Just curious.

 

Mainly because the 5.3 can be found much cheaper than the 6.0. I don't have a great deal of money to invest in this project, hence some of my solutions that require time more so than money.

Thanks! Dakota Digital makes a VSS adapter that uses the oem speedometer gear, but unfortunately for the ford np205 transfer case you cannot use their pass through unit and that would mean that my factory ford speedometer would not work. I really wanted to keep all of my factory gauges operable. Hopefully the 4L gear tooth spacing is not too wide for the GM VSS and it reads fine. I won't know until i get it wired in and read it with my scan tool.

 

Bravo on the swap!!! I must say that the Community has responded very rationally!! I'm shocked out of my head! I've done the same swap to my 1997 which was a victim of the 4.2 hydrolock. The swap was a 2wd and I used a T56. I've got 100 hp and 100 ft/lbs over the 4.2 AND get mid 20s on the highway. The mechanical part of the swap was amazingly simple. I'm not an electrical wizard so the electricals took much longer than it should have. I might document the whole swap. I've had it for about 6 months now. I'm building a 5.7 LS1 now for propane specific use. That's my next adventure with this truck.

 

Thanks! Yea I'm really surprised that there were no negative responses in this thread. For me, the engine choice was based on price and ease of adaptability to my existing NP-435 transmission. The GM gen III V8 has the late model ford engines beat in this respect. Feel free to post pictures of your swap in this thread, I'd like to see it. With the current price of LPG or CNG its hard not too look into a conversion.

 

You made that look easy, nice work!

Sam