So im new to all of this. Ive never wrote on any of these forums in the past but id like to share my experiences with this build and swap. I am by no means a professional mechanic or builder but im blessed with persistence and suffer from being a hardheaded individual. I decided to take on a project that was way out of my league but when i start something i damn sure finish it. I purchased a 1979 f150 short bed that was taken apart by the previous owner. the only thing that was put together was an engine and tranny sitting on a frame. I had about 15 boxes of random hardware that wasnt even organized. random bolts and wires all mashed together in several boxes. i decided to take it one day at a time. i started watching several youtube videos on various subjects. i tackled all the big items first and worked my way towards the little finishing touches. It took me exactly 3 months of 12 hour days to put the thing together. So the heart of the truck was all original. It had a 351 modified with a c6 tranny. dana front and rear axle. by trade im a technician so i tinkered in the cab a bit and installed an ipad in the dash along with various lighting components and also installed a push button start for my carbonated system. Everything ran fine aside the fact that it was a 79 engine and felt like the whole truck was going to explode when i took it past 50mph. The 39 inch tires didnt help either. Last year i lucked out with the purchase of a 2017 l83 engine and l890 tranny. it was pulled out from a wrecked silverado. Only had about 600 miles on it. I dropped the engine last year and had it sitting for about a year and a half because i didnt have the patience to do anymore work to it. i decided this past december to take the month off and finally get it running. Ill attached pictures of the finished build and try to explain more in coming posts.also i literally just finished it two days ago so ill have to take some photos of the new engine and tranny and also attached those in later posts. Let me know what you guys think.

i made a custom frame for my ipad install out of MDF it sits flush with the rest of the cluster bezel

Thats my monster

39.5 superswampers

Also pulled the truck door from the yard and painted it to match the rest of the truck

i lucked out and was able to find these door panels at the local junkyard.

I bought a sewing machine off craigslist for 40 bucks and upholstered the seats myself

 

I am pretty impressed. Especially with the interior. Keep the details and pictures coming.

 

I'm excited to see pictures of the engine and trans swap. I've had an L83/6l80 in my 74 highboy for a couple years and couldn't be happier.

 

I had to move a couple things around in order to sit the engine and all its factory components properly. As for the engine mounts I took the stock mounts from the l83 and shaved them a bit so it can sit in the existing engine mounting holes

 

what did you end up doing for a transfer case?

 

I had to convert it to 2 wheel drive because I have the 8l90. It's an 8 speed automatic and for some reason it's all fused at the bell housing. It's all one unit. Havent tackled the 4x4 issue just yet. I may convert it back in the future

 

Awesome truck! LSs are good engines that are crazy affordable.

 

Thanks brother. Yeah ls's are cheap and easy to find but this one is a gen v and its pretty expensive. Also i wasnt able to find much parts for it. hopefully in the coming year the aftermarket catches up cus i have so many things id like to do but little funds to do it.

 

Very nice job on everything. Good looking truck!

 

any new updates