97 LX gets a v8 and more!

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SNLC

OCD
Supporting Vendor
Joined
Sep 9, 2004
Threads
183
Messages
13,038
Location
Boise - Idaho
Website
www.snlandcruisers.com
So a buddy of mine in Colorado has been on the hunt for an 80 series with a bad motor or with high mileage. He wants an 80 with a v8 which is why he has been seeking the truck with a bad motor. He has been looking for like 3-4 months at least but I think we just found the right truck 100 miles from me.

It is a 97 LX, California truck with a bad engine. Really clean truck besides the bad motor. Body and chassis look stellar, seats have the typical 20yrs of use look to them. He has already got a locked 95 Cruiser.

So here is our plan;
-6L with 6L80e. We have a specific budget so if we can get this within that budget that is what we are after, if not a 6L with the 4L80e. A 5.3L or a 6.2L are also on the cards but due to budget I think we will end up with the 6L, hopefully with the 6L80e.
-We will use either the 60 series split case or the 80 t-case. I am pushing for the 60 split case.
-Locked axles from the 95 going in. We will just swap them out with the LX axles.
-2.5" lift, 33-35" rubber. I am pushing him to go 35s.


Right now this is it, we are not doing bumpers or other mods, he will do up the seats/interior but not until later. Once he has the truck on the road I am sure he will do more to it but for now keeping it basic and simple and within budget on the build. I should be getting the truck over here to my shop next week, weather depending, right now we are getting lots of snow and I want clear roads to tow it back here. During January we will source the engine, trans, adapter, lift, tires and other items we will need. He is putting that ball in my court for the most part, I will source the engine & trans and get the best I can with what he has to spend. I am probably going to KoH so right after that my buddy will come up here to my shop for a week and we will bang out as much of this as we can. We are just going to mount up the drivetrain, I will then take the truck to Boise, Idaho to a few guys I know over there. One being 208 Motorsports who will do all our wiring and tune. Another in Boise being exhaust shop/work.

I will document this build as it happens. Obviously it won't be until February until we get the truck in the shop and start yanking and cutting. In the meantime, get the LX here to my shop and acquire all the gear we need. Here is a few pics of the LX for now.....

97 lx 1.webp

97 lx.webp

97 lx 2.webp


Cheers
 
60 t-case it-s part time for you while US specs 80 all come with all wheel drive .. full time t-case.

There are more adapters available for split cases than 80 t-cases

and 80 t-case it's sightly more reduced than BF1A ( 60 t-case )
 
I have an all aluminum 5.3L and 6l80e I would sell. Only has 34k miles on it. Pm me if interested
 
Love where this is going.
Lots of Pics, we are very visually stimulated.
Thanks for taking time to document.
 
I "know" a guy that sells leathers. Lol Nice build. Subscribed
 
I "know" a guy that sells leathers. Lol Nice build. Subscribed


I am sure you will be selling my buddy a leather kit at some point. It sure looks like the LX needs it.

Cheers
 
I can't keep track of all of the vortec swap threads, but the one I remember with a 6-speed auto had issues with hunting for gears. Have they sorted this stuff out yet?

Either way, super interesting.. I'll be watching this one.
 
Why would running a 6l90e create gear hunting? Curious
 
Subscribed

Has a budget been set for the conversion


We are shooting for $10-12k and that is with the purchase of the truck. LX ran us $2k so I see no reason we can't get this done for our budget.

Cheers
 
Yeah... Sounds like a tune issue or bad vss
 
Why would running a 6l90e create gear hunting? Curious

I'm with ya... the 6l90 or any other trans wont create it, but a bad tune on both the engine and trans side will.....
 
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