@joebattle1 I should point out I will be dropping mine off at valley hybrids on July 30th. It has many finishing touches required that @orangefj45 and crew will be hopefully knocking off over a couple of weeks in August. Stockton isn't a million miles from you. If you have nothing better to do on a Monday I would be happy to let you get a feel for what one with a 5.3 feels like. Might help with ideas of whether its worth the expense or not.
Build 6.0 Vortec LQ9 - FJ60 Engine Swap - Old Blue's Heart Transplant
- Thread starter yukon721
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Oh yea... Georg and I are buds. He helps me out when ever I reach out. Sweet dude for sure.
I drove @goose4433 TBI 350 5.7. Smiles per miles are incredible. I literally started laughing the first time I dumped the clutch in 1st in his rig with the V8. I can't wait to do mine.
My old truck was a 350 TBI, great set up but these vortec rigs are a different animal again. If you liked the 350 you will love a 5.3 or bigger vortec
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- #124
Well started on the fan shroud. I just went ahead and ordered a universl kit from summit racing that matched my radiator core size. Figured its cheap ($50) and a good starting place material wise. Looked good out of the box. My fan is roughly 18.5” in diameter so with a 19” tall radiator core i had to extend the ring beyond the box itself so the fan would have a little breathing room.
A little arts and crafts time with the snips.
I’d say this is what ya get for using a universal kit. But in all reality, nothing is really a plug and play situation, putting a vortec into a FJ. This would be great if my motor were 1 1/2 inches forward.
That looks better but need a wider ring to make up some distance. So headed to local sheet metal shop for aluminum. Guy talked me into letting them wrap it up. Wasnt tough - welding aluminum is more of an aquired taste than steel.
Sure I could of just got the aluminum and ran the tabs and screw set that came with the kit to attach the ring to the box vs welding it - but may as well make er pretty. So it’ll be ready next week.
Wiring harness should be here tomorrow. Should keep me busy in the meantime. Starting to feel like I’m getting closer to a test fire. Gonna go out on a limb and say 2 weeks. Feeling Ambitious. Have some plumbing to tie up still.
A little arts and crafts time with the snips.
I’d say this is what ya get for using a universal kit. But in all reality, nothing is really a plug and play situation, putting a vortec into a FJ. This would be great if my motor were 1 1/2 inches forward.
That looks better but need a wider ring to make up some distance. So headed to local sheet metal shop for aluminum. Guy talked me into letting them wrap it up. Wasnt tough - welding aluminum is more of an aquired taste than steel.
Sure I could of just got the aluminum and ran the tabs and screw set that came with the kit to attach the ring to the box vs welding it - but may as well make er pretty. So it’ll be ready next week.
Wiring harness should be here tomorrow. Should keep me busy in the meantime. Starting to feel like I’m getting closer to a test fire. Gonna go out on a limb and say 2 weeks. Feeling Ambitious. Have some plumbing to tie up still.
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- Thread starter
- #125
If you’re following along I didn’t end up plugging that Oil Pressure Marks adapter so to speak..
1. Couldn’t find a plug to fit it.
2. Turns out that extra threaded hole fits the stock sensor off the vortec. It won’t be utilized but at least it takes care of that.
Don’t think i showed an image of the temp sensor adapter if anyone was wondering what one looks like. Here ya go if you are.
Also finally got around to checking hood clearance. Good news is hood clears the motor. Barely. Not so good news it doesn’t with the plastic cover dressings on. So i’ll have to shave a bit of the underside plastic to make er sit high, tight and clean. Not that big of deal so cant complain.
1. Couldn’t find a plug to fit it.
2. Turns out that extra threaded hole fits the stock sensor off the vortec. It won’t be utilized but at least it takes care of that.
Don’t think i showed an image of the temp sensor adapter if anyone was wondering what one looks like. Here ya go if you are.
Also finally got around to checking hood clearance. Good news is hood clears the motor. Barely. Not so good news it doesn’t with the plastic cover dressings on. So i’ll have to shave a bit of the underside plastic to make er sit high, tight and clean. Not that big of deal so cant complain.
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You can get a fan clutch with a longer tail shaft so it'll space the fan farther.
Edit: See the possible difference here in the clutch's bloc used on his build. You can also get extensions for your current clutch that just bolt in.
8x Series V8 Swaps
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- #127
Yeah I’ve seen mixed reviews on the extending out a fan clutch. Surely an option and did cross my mind. I just figured I’d go the shroud method since I was already playing with it.
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Sorry if you already posted details, but what model Griffin radiator is that?
Shroud looks nice so far for a universal kit.
Shroud looks nice so far for a universal kit.
The fan doesn’t necessarily need to be entirely inside the shroud. When I worked closely with a cooling performance guru in the heavy truck industry, he found the best cooling performance was when the fan was about 3/4” past the shroud. YRMV
Looking good, I would mimic the fan shroud arrangement right off the GM pickup/suv....proven solution with respect to fan depth in the shroud. Should be easy to find a friend or someone with a pickup/suv you can take some pics of....I'll send you a pic or two of my GM pickup with a 6.0 to show the fan shroud and fan if you want.
FWIW, My radiator fab shop shrouds to half of the blade depth (half sticking out of the shroud).
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- #132
All the parts I’ve utilized thus far are on the 1st page of this thread with links. I update it everytime I buy something. There will be a full list once complete. The radiator is on there.
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- #133
Yeah my fan will sit 1/2 to 3/4 inside once its all said and done. Depending how I mount the brackets I suppose. The final width of that ring will be 4 1/8””. It comes with a 3” ring in the kit. With the shroud box and ring combined the kit is 5.75” total from radiator Core as it comes out of the shipping box. For anyone who wants to know.
My motor could easily come forward another inch without any issues. So theoretically if ya mounted your motor in the right spot the universal kit would work right out the box.
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- #134
Thanks for the offer! I think it’ll be good to go once shes buttoned down.
- Thread starter
- #135
While i wait for my shroud to come back, I tackled the other cooling factors today. AC Condenser, Transmission Cooler & Power Steering Cooler.
Why the new AC Condenser you ask?
Lets just say when ya start out the only thing on your mind is getting that old motor out as quickly as possible and the new one in. You quickly realize none of this is going to happen overnight. But in the excitement of the moment ya may not pay attention to proper wrenching etiquette. Twisted her up nicely.
But after receiving the new shiny one. I’m kinda glad it happened.
AC Condenser installed
Next was figuring out how to mount the Trans and PS cooler. Not really many options with that line that runs accross the front of the AC Condenser.
Full Disclosure - a lot of this build is utilizing @FJ60Cam’s build thread. He’s helped a lot. Thanks Cam!!
Ran a 1 1/2” strip of 3/16” across, drilled some holes and mounted them. Trans cooler in front of that line. And PS behind. Be nice to have em both in front or both behind, but bends in that line make it difficult to do. Can it be done? Sure. Depends on how much you want to fab i suppose. Being that it is behind the grill - does it really matter?
Finished product. Wouldn’t be complete without a fresh beer in the picture.
Why the new AC Condenser you ask?
Lets just say when ya start out the only thing on your mind is getting that old motor out as quickly as possible and the new one in. You quickly realize none of this is going to happen overnight. But in the excitement of the moment ya may not pay attention to proper wrenching etiquette. Twisted her up nicely.
But after receiving the new shiny one. I’m kinda glad it happened.
AC Condenser installed
Next was figuring out how to mount the Trans and PS cooler. Not really many options with that line that runs accross the front of the AC Condenser.
Full Disclosure - a lot of this build is utilizing @FJ60Cam’s build thread. He’s helped a lot. Thanks Cam!!
Ran a 1 1/2” strip of 3/16” across, drilled some holes and mounted them. Trans cooler in front of that line. And PS behind. Be nice to have em both in front or both behind, but bends in that line make it difficult to do. Can it be done? Sure. Depends on how much you want to fab i suppose. Being that it is behind the grill - does it really matter?
Finished product. Wouldn’t be complete without a fresh beer in the picture.
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- Thread starter
- #136
Few items arrived today.
New trans Dipstick - Not too exciting.
A MAF unit - Little more exciting
What’s in the box?
- The exciting part - Wiring Harness
These are all Nylon covered electrical lines. And I must say they look pretty bad ass compared to the plastic ones. Start hooking these up here soon.
Also went and got some rubber blocks and universal Griffen Radiator Mounts. I’ll post some pics of how I mount the radiator once shroud is back, attached and all one unit. Don’t want to leave ya guys hanging on that portion.
I have a full week of uniterupted motor time next week so i’ll be trying to knock out whats left of this build. (Well whats left to at least start it and hear it run)
I am still waiting for my ECU. So that may be a hang up for a test fire. Fingers crossed it comes in.
New trans Dipstick - Not too exciting.
A MAF unit - Little more exciting
What’s in the box?
- The exciting part - Wiring Harness
These are all Nylon covered electrical lines. And I must say they look pretty bad ass compared to the plastic ones. Start hooking these up here soon.
Also went and got some rubber blocks and universal Griffen Radiator Mounts. I’ll post some pics of how I mount the radiator once shroud is back, attached and all one unit. Don’t want to leave ya guys hanging on that portion.
I have a full week of uniterupted motor time next week so i’ll be trying to knock out whats left of this build. (Well whats left to at least start it and hear it run)
I am still waiting for my ECU. So that may be a hang up for a test fire. Fingers crossed it comes in.
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- Thread starter
- #138
Yeah a bit of a concern. May have to give the grill a bit of a shave on the backside. Havent checked it yet, but had the same thought.
- Thread starter
- #139
Trying to systematically knock out each system this week. First on list was power steering. Obvious choice - relatively easy.
Had a high pressure hose made. Red racing stripe - no extra cost.
Routed it along with PS cooling lines. Have to throw a couple zip ties in there.
To the PS Cooler
Next was the transmission cooling lines. I purchased new ones. They come longer than needed with a bunch of hose and line that really just gets in the way and make it tough to route.
Exhibit A. - Getting nowhere
Cut em and got rid of some garbage up front.
Had a high pressure hose made. Red racing stripe - no extra cost.
Routed it along with PS cooling lines. Have to throw a couple zip ties in there.
To the PS Cooler
Next was the transmission cooling lines. I purchased new ones. They come longer than needed with a bunch of hose and line that really just gets in the way and make it tough to route.
Exhibit A. - Getting nowhere
Cut em and got rid of some garbage up front.
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- Thread starter
- #140
Added some AN fittings and braided line
Looks better
Connected to Trans cooler and done.
Next up Radiator / Cooling - guess this would be a good spot to throw in the finaized shroud.
Mounting is still in the works. Heater hoses routed.
Looks better
Connected to Trans cooler and done.
Next up Radiator / Cooling - guess this would be a good spot to throw in the finaized shroud.
Mounting is still in the works. Heater hoses routed.